[TheForge] autodarkening SHIELD! overload

[Peter Hirst]

I think most of the pricing has to do with the bells and whistles and paint 
jobs.  To me 99.9 % of the value is in the autodark function alone.  Never 
mind all the adjustable shades etc.   And I got that value for about 50 
bucks by popping a new shade in my old shield.  End of discussion as far as 
I'm comncerned, unless you just want to feed the beast.


----- Original Message ----- 
From: <ironstash at comcast.net>
To: "Blacksmithing List Sponsored by ABANA" <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Wednesday, March 11, 2009 5:56 AM
Subject: Re: [TheForge] autodarkening SHIELD! overload


> There are plenty of good auto shields out there today with all kinds of 
> bells and whistles and a wide price range also.
>
> The Cadillac seems to be the 3M hoods for weight and performance. Their 
> newest hoods are very pricey, up to $500 list price. When using that hood, 
> the clear and crispness of the optics was like looking through a high 
> dollar hunting scope compared to a low end scope. It was a startling 
> difference.
>
> Miller, Jackson, 3m, Arc One, Sellstrom, and Kemper all have great hoods 
> though. I have been using a Kemper 750 for 10 years.
>
> I look for reaction time in an auto darkening hood, (at least 20,000ths of 
> a second),the number of sensors, where I am going to be using the hood; 
> Over head, heavy use, tig welding ect..., If I am going to be tig welding, 
> am I going to be doing low amp stuff. Many hoods will not stay dark at low 
> amps like 5 - 25 amps.
> How heavy is the hood and will it take a diopter without modifying the 
> lens holder.
>
> Do you want the hood to have a shade adjustment from 9 -13? Do you want to 
> have a grinding and cutting mode? If you are going to be welding outside 
> in the bright sun, most auto hoods will be dark on you from the reflective 
> light. Miller has a "X-Mode" that works in the bright daylight an works 
> off of the current present. If you buy a hood from some stores that also 
> sell tractor parts, they have their hoods made at a lower price but the 
> replacement inner and outer cover plates are a bastard size.
>
> Does that completely confuse you?
>
> Alfred McClure
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