[TheForge] Auto Darkening

[Paul]

I suppose that there are regional colloquialisms for everything... hence 
the living language 'English', but 'round here the 'welding shields' 
have always been referred to as hoods or helmets. That aside, it may be 
well to note the language used by numerous manufactures of the devices.

Regardless of the 'correct' usage of the word 'helmet' the industry that 
manufactures and sells them calls them helmets.
see:

http://www.millerwelds.com/products/welding_protection/head_face/helmets/elite/
http://www.westernsafety.com/optrelwelding/optrelweldingpg1.html
http://lincolnelectric.co.in/products/viking-welding-helmets.asp

To further muddy the water, the term shield is more commonly associated 
with 'face shield' when referring to safety equipment, and relates to 
that part of the helmet that is associated with the lens and it's 
protective qualities.
ANSI z87.1 lays out some of those standards.

The bit regarding the change in contrast that I mentioned is purely 
empirical. I may have wrongly assumed that the contrast filtration ratio 
had changed, but my call to Speedglas ( now owned by 3M I believe) led 
me to believe that the characteristics that I described were understood 
by the tech guy that sales transferred me to. While he may have only 
been trying to sell me a new lens cartridge, he did understand my 
problem as stated, the new Lincoln does not have the vision 
characteristics that the Speedglas does and continues to have. I just 
don't use it anymore... I just haven't thrown my old helmet under the 
bus as yet... it has, after all, been with me for some time.

Based on my 42 years of welding in the piping industry (as long as we 
are exposing our ages here) I will continue to call my personal welding 
protective gear a helmet... no one in my industry would know what I was 
referring to if I called it a shield.

Paul


On 6/6/2011 6:59 AM, Cindy and James wrote:
> Geez, after seeing Dave M's age, I must be the only one on here younger
> than Cornelius!
>
> I had my cataracts removed this spring and treated myself to a new
> "welding vision device".  My choice was an Optrel
> http://www.optrel.ch/us/index.php?site=expert&product=e680
> made in Switzerland.
>
> It is a bit expensive and may not be suitable for the weekend or
> occasional welder.  I've tried a lot of "helmets" over the years.
> Vision wise, the Optrel is superior in my opinion.  It is also light
> weight and easy to wear.  The only hood/helmet that might be easier to
> put on would be the old Jackson with the surgical hose in the back that
> never needed adjustment.  I loved that thing but in those days I could
> SEE w/o magnification.  Over time, I could put down a pretty good bead
> but I had trouble seeing where it was going!  Few things more irritating
> than running a bead where it does not need to go.  I also like the grind
> function that lets you set it at shade 4.  Helps keep the crap out of
> your eyes.  Yes, I do wear safety glasses ALL the time but they aren't
> perfect protection.
>
> After my eye surgery, I wear reading glasses under the hood when I
> weld.  I've given up on the cheaters that fit over the lens, for some
> reason I can't keep them in place and the tape is always coming off.
>
> Nothing is as good as a young pair of eyes!  Keep yours protected as
> best you can afford.
>
> James
>
>
-- 
Paul
WB9HCO
My Grandfather WAS a blacksmith...
and it didn't do me one damn bit of good.
All opinions are the personal beliefs of the author, and are based on decades of experience... so use your best judgement, I'm just a lowly crafstman.
  "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." -Albert Einstein
"Life is hard...it's harder if you're stupid" John Wayne - Sands of Iwo Jima