Hello,

Just got a good used MIG welder and got started welding today. :D Anyway, there was a cheap welding helmet included and I don't know if it's the helmet or maybe just me. I did a couple of welds, and I can't see much when I weld. I only see the actual arc and not much around it. I tried different settings (variable darkness) but it barely makes a differens. If it's only possible to see this little, how can you acctualy follow edges, or lines? Or did I just get a shitty helmet?

And how are the welds? Some of them are ok, but I'm not posting any pictures!

/Carl

 

What brand helmet is it?

For MIG welding you want it to be at about #9.

 

I live in sweden, so you guys don't have it. It's like a $25 helmet bought from a place not known for quality stuff. I'm going to get a new good one with the auto dark feature (not sure what you guys call that), but I thought I could practice some more before spending the $$. Maybe I should just break out the credit card and get it now?

This helmet has a variable setting from 9-12, but if I run it at 9, it feels like the arc is too bright, and any darker, I can barely see what's going on around the arc. Maybe I'm just not used to it yet.

/Carl

 

I generally use shade 10 for MIG. Just lean in closer, it'll make it so you can see what's going on.

You will want to have the gun close to the workpiece, then nod to drop down the helmet and strike the arc. You should be able to follow the edges of the workpiece and see the molten metal flowing. I don't watch the arc. I watch what is illuminated by it.

Just keep practicing, and you'll get used to it. get the autodarkening helmet for christmas

 

Alright, good. I got about 2 hrs free time today, so I'll get cracking practicing

/Carl

 

you can get a solar powered auto darkening welding helmet from harbor freight for 50.00
http://www.harborfreight.com/c...46092

 

The glass in the helmet I have really sucks. Today when I practiced some more I noticed that the glass acctualy blurs my vision. It makes everything fuzzy.. But when I get really close I can see what's going on and acctualy make a pretty decent weld. But I don't want to ruin my GFs planned christmas gift by getting my own helmet when christmas is only a few weeks away

/Carl

 

How far away from the weld are you? Your suppose to be pretty close, maybe like a foot or less away from the weld, your not suppose to be like standing with your head 5 feet from the weld... Dont be afraid or nothing

 

I'm about 6-10 inches from the weld. Think I'm getting more used to where and how to look though. Getting better with each weld, but I still think it's hard following what I'm doing. Maybe I dare posting some pics after the next session

/Carl

 

people who say #9 to #10 shade, this is correct depending on the thickness of the material and the heat range you are using. Do you have the lights on above your head? if the light is getting into your helmet, the reflection will cause you not to be able to see. I use a bandana to block off most of the light at the open areas at the top of my helmet. It also helps to keep the flying sparks from burning your scalp.

 

anything about a ten shade and any old hood will work ps dont try to be a pretty boy a hoods a hood as long as the light dont leake by the lense

 

I've been at it a couple of more times, I have gotten used to not seeing much, but I'm going to borrow my neighbors helmet just to check if mine is crap or if it's supposed to be this way. Having some trouble getting the settings right also, but I think I'll get a hang of it soon.

My first "real" welding will just be replacing some rusty pannels on my Austin Mini from 73. It's not a honda, but it will be powered by one

/Carl

 

some companys make cheap lenses and a cheap lense is exactly what u get normaly the one that are a peice is the plastic dark lenses if u are burnin your eyes jump up to a 11 lense over the years burnin you eyes will really mess them up i know i have lost 22 percent eye site in my right eye and hey on the mini if it was me i would spot weld it so it dont worp it props out on the mini

 

I run about a shade 10 for everything until I get to 200+ amps.

 

Just a little update on the weldning helmet. My gf got me a new one for christmas, and oooh wow what a difference! I can now see what I weld! It's acctualy fun to weld now, and I seem to get a pretty good result, and plenty of penetration. Since I am welding on 25 year old sheetmetal, I burn through now and again, and I am getting quite good att fixing holes

Only regret so far is not getting the helmet earlier, but atleast the gf got the noce feeling she got me a really good christmas present

Ordered up som new pannels to get the rust fixed on the car. Maybe I'll post some pics ones I get started.

/Carl

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by rug &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">My gf got me a new one for christmasl</TD></TR></TABLE>

Nice
now marry her!

 

The cheapest gifts will make a man happy. My girlfriend bought me a couple spools of MIG wire, and a couple 6 packs of lowenbrau. I nearly tackled her in a fit of joy.

I just switched from a HF autodarkening helmet to a non-autodark miller....I can see now! I used to get pissed because I couldn't see anything, and stop welding for a bit. Now you can't pry the gun out of my hand, I'll go at it for hours and hours a day.

 

I have a Jackson auto helmet, fixed shade #10. I've darkened it to a #12 with an add-on shade. I can see really well with the #10 but get a bad headache. With the #12 I use a halogen light to help with visibility when the helmet is in standby, it also helps when welding.

My advise is get a name brand helmet, they are worth the $$$

Gabe

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by gabepari &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I have a Jackson auto helmet, fixed shade #10. I've darkened it to a #12 with an add-on shade. I can see really well with the #10 but get a bad headache. With the #12 I use a halogen light to help with visibility when the helmet is in standby, it also helps when welding.

My advise is get a name brand helmet, they are worth the $$$

Gabe</TD></TR></TABLE>

welcome to ht! try to ignore the idiots, there is tons of good info on here!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by gold EF &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Nice
now marry her! </TD></TR></TABLE>

Acctualy I should, but I'm waiting to see if she will accept my garage time when I really get started on the car

No, really, we already have 2 little boys together (2,5 and 3 month) so it's about time. Just waiting for the right moment! (plus ring and the acctualy marriage is expensive! I'd rather spend that money on something else...)

/Carl