auto dark welding mask, not dark enough?

[dustboy]

I just picked up today a little Lincoln MIG welder.

With it I bought an auto-darkening mask, figuring the extra $100 will save me a ton of frustration in learning. But after using it I still see spots.

It does get dark when the arc starts, but apparently not dark enough? What am I doing wrong? Should I keep using it or return it before I go blind?

 

[CharlieV]

Woah! Get that helmet straightened out. Depending on the brand you should be able to adjust the speed it turns on and the shade. My last helmet was a Miller autoshade, cost around $200. It was fully adjustable, look in the instructions manual, but it quit a few months ago and the screen was almost as much as the helmet. My new helmet is a Jackson, it cost in the high $240's. I purchased it from cyberweld and am very happy with the response of the auto tint. Night and day over the Miller. Both helmets I have had had a little digital screen at the bottom that lets you know what you have it set at. If you have good eyesight you should turn the sensitivity and the shade way up. If you purchased it from a shop, they should be able to help you. Once you use and auto darkening helmet you won't want to go back. You should be able to tune it so your eyes don't have to adjust to it and no spots! Good luck, I love to weld. My next non-work welding project is a set of frame mounted rock slider/rocker protectors.

 

[Antichrist]

Is the lens variable shade or fixed shade? Sounds like it's fixed shade, if it isn't defective. If fixed, try welding outside in the sun, or with really bright lights on. This will cause your pupils to constrict and the weld arc might not bother you as much.
But really I'd get a variable shade unit.

Personally I just use a "normal" helmet and use different shade lenses depending on what and where I'm welding.
I have several helmets:
A Jackson

A Fibre-Metal

And a huntsman my favorite, which is 26 years old.

If you aren't using an auto darkening lens, just adjust the pivots so they barely hold the helmet in the up position. Then you get yourself situated to weld, then a slight flick of the head drops the helmet in to place and off you go.
If you have your hands braced like you should, flipping the helmet down won't move your hands out of position.

 

[AndrewP]

It sounds like you are getting flashed. All the auto darks block UV even if the shade part doesn't get dark, so your eyes should be protected. I close my eyes just at the moment I trigger the arc and then watch the puddle, which isn't quite as bright as the arc start. I set the shade # to 10 for just about everything.

Get this checked out asap and don't weld until it's right

 

[spressomon]

I just picked up today a little Lincoln MIG welder.

With it I bought an auto-darkening mask, figuring the extra $100 will save me a ton of frustration in learning. But after using it I still see spots.

It does get dark when the arc starts, but apparently not dark enough? What am I doing wrong? Should I keep using it or return it before I go blind?

i had a Miller auto darkening hood and it did the same thing especially when I was outside with sun at my back; didn't like it especially considering its cost. So I took it back...and went back to my $75 hood and saved $125.

 

[davegonz]

I use a cheapo Harbor Freight (~$50) auto darkening with variable shades. It has worked fine for the last 2 years. Is yours battery or solar operated?

 

[UK4X4]

"I use a cheapo Harbor Freight (~$50) auto darkening with variable shades"

same here has both speed and darkness adjustment, same one is sold by northern tool as well

 

[dustboy]

This one is labeled Lincoln, but it seems to be made by Jackson. Nothing adjustable.

I do have sensitive eyes and I've been using it in low light in my shop, so maybe better ambient light would help? Also I'm wondering if the solar cell hasn't completely charged the battery yet. The instruction manual is useless.

I really like the auto-dark idea, the old pros maybe able to strike the arc with a blink and a nod but this is a real help to a learner like me.

 

[gabepari]

You can get +1 or +2 lenses from local welding shops (airgas around here). I have a +2 in my headgear since my eyes are pretty sensitive. Others have used my helmet and can't even see through it, but it works for me. I think I paid $5 or $10 for the lense, it just inserts between the auto unit and the front glass, doesn't affect the operation.

 

[Antichrist]

I really like the auto-dark idea, the old pros maybe able to strike the arc with a blink and a nod but this is a real help to a learner like me.

You should do what's right for you, but remember, even the "old pros" were once learners just like you. And for those of us who've been around awhile, there was no such thing as auto darkening when we were learning.