[TheForge] Re: Anyone own one of these? Opinions?

[Kenneth Mayer]

>Date: Wed, 08 Jan 2003 17:07:26 -0500
>From: "Bruce Freeman" <FREEMAB@pt.fdah.com>
>
>Is flash BURN really an issue here?  "Burn" implies actual damage due to =
>UV on the eye.  (SOME of this damage does heal, but you may be right about
=
>it being cumulative.  I simply don't know.)  What I WOULD expect is flash =
>"dazzle", where the bright visible (non-UV) light dazzles you, causing =
>your pupils to shrink, leaving an intense after-image, and generally =
>making it difficult to see =AF but without doing permanent damage to your =
>eyes.


[snip]

All of the newer helmets I've seen have a polycarbonate plastic filter in
addition to the darkening filter.  Polycarbonate (a/k/a "Lexan") absorbs
99%+ of the UV light.  The flash you see before the filter auto-darkens is
just a bright flash of light.

I just bought a Hobart auto-darkening helmet from www.brwelder.com
Adjustable darkening shades 9-13 and about the largest viewing window of
competetive models.  The ratchet suspension is fully adjustable.  Harbor
Freight sometimes has them on sale.  Its *much* easier to weld with one of
these.

Ken
:-)