[TheForge] Cheap Autodarkening Welding Helmet.

[dann]

RE: UV...

At Winnebago Industries, weld shop , the welding instructor recommended / 
required that everyone wear  their standard issue 2.5 darkened welding / 
safety glasses ( prescription lens or plastic safety glasses ) under the 
welding helmet, and then to adjust the darkening power of shield  or lens 
of   the welding helmet accordingly.

By the way, the instructor tried and liked my harbor freight auto darkening 
helmet.   Several years ago,  I didn't buy the cheapest one: mine cost 
Harbor Freight $ about $130 on sale from a standard price something 
like  $179, which was still cheep compared to  Cadillac  which I believe is 
branded  "speedglas" then  retailing  nearly $300 .

I thought ( and still think)  that $130 was cheap compared to the cost of a 
pair regular or  bifocal glasses, and considering how many times over the 
years that  I welded little stuff  WITHOUT my helmet because  of the hassle 
/ fighting with my standard  "nod" helmet.

Dann Johnson


At 12:19 PM 8/12/03 -0400, you wrote:
>But why do you think a cheap helmet is a risk to your eyes?
>
>Distinguish between visible-light, which only dazzles and leaves an
>after image, and UV which burns and destroys the eyes.  Most glass and
>many plastics stop virtually all the UV.  Does anyone have any reason to
>believe these cheap helmets do not?
>
>Bruce
>NJ