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Going back to school !

aka rotten
Start in two weeks going to a tech.school to learn to weld.I bought a welder other day and got a auto dark helmet. Never heard of em but saw them mentioned in an artical bout weldin so i bought one of them too.Cant wait to see the looks i get when this 83[soon to be 84]geezer shows up for class with all the young folks!Recon i oughta bring teacher an apple?Thanks,Paul
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Comments

10 comments

Date Votes
  • shoff14
    Be careful with those auto dark helmets and tig welding. Some of the cheaper ones are not made for it. Good luck showing those people up, you might be surprised though, there will be some middle aged adults in the class.
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  • Permanently deleted user
    Its wonderful you are going back to school....One is NEVER too old to learn and I know you will have fun....

    Good luck...
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  • LOKO383
    Paul, jump in w/both feet, your goin to have fun know matter what [:D],Loko
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  • aka rotten
    Didnt know that bout auto dark helmets!!How do you know if its safe?I bought it thru the miller dealer that i bought welder from, Idont know what a cheep helmet is but i paid bout 120 something for it.What do i need to know?
    Thanks,Paul
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  • jwb267
    quote:Originally posted by aka rotten
    Didnt know that bout auto dark helmets!!How do you know if its safe?I bought it thru the miller dealer that i bought welder from, Idont know what a cheep helmet is but i paid bout 120 something for it.What do i need to know?
    Thanks,Paul


    if you bought it from the dealer it should be ok
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  • shoff14
    quote:Originally posted by aka rotten
    Didnt know that bout auto dark helmets!!How do you know if its safe?I bought it thru the miller dealer that i bought welder from, Idont know what a cheep helmet is but i paid bout 120 something for it.What do i need to know?
    Thanks,Paul


    as said, it should be. I am talking about some of the ones like from harbor freight and other industrial supply stores. What happens with them is that there is a delay from the time you strike an arc until the mask is dark. Not only does it delay, but it delays getting up to the correct darkness shade. For low amp TIG welding you need to have 11, 12, 13 rated helmet. The cheap auto darks that have an adjustable darkness shade do not get up to darkness quickly enough. Even though its milliseconds, with repeated use it could cause damage. I would not believe that a dealer would sell you a true piece of crap, so you should be ok.
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  • Captplaid
    Used on of those auto dark helmets at work about six months ago. It belonged to a guy who was off with a broken foot. I was welding next to the glass furnace in a VERY hot and tight place.

    The liquid crystals started to meld and turn to liquid. I thought it was smoke on the lense, but the dark spots slowly grew. By the time I realized the lense is melting, I couldn't see much.

    Scared the crap out of me, especially when it was somebody else's helmet. Fortunately, everything was OK when it cooled back down.
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  • Ramtinxxl
    Be careful when welding. According to reports, welders did THIS today across the street from where my wife and son work.
    http://tinyurl.com/3buwxe
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  • Aspen79se
    I start back to school in about a month. Congratulations on returning to the classroom. Bring an apple for the teacher, that will be hilarious!
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  • dongizmo
    quote:Originally posted by shoff14
    quote:Originally posted by aka rotten
    Didnt know that bout auto dark helmets!!How do you know if its safe?I bought it thru the miller dealer that i bought welder from, Idont know what a cheep helmet is but i paid bout 120 something for it.What do i need to know?
    Thanks,Paul


    as said, it should be. I am talking about some of the ones like from harbor freight and other industrial supply stores. What happens with them is that there is a delay from the time you strike an arc until the mask is dark. Not only does it delay, but it delays getting up to the correct darkness shade. For low amp TIG welding you need to have 11, 12, 13 rated helmet. The cheap auto darks that have an adjustable darkness shade do not get up to darkness quickly enough. Even though its milliseconds, with repeated use it could cause damage. I would not believe that a dealer would sell you a true piece of crap, so you should be ok.

    +1
    IIRC,
    Some have 1 sensor, some have 2, look on the front of the shade, you will see either 1 dot or 2, 2 dots means 2 sensors, and a better shade. Keep the plastic shield on the front clean also, replace when dirty.
    Don
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