Eyes hurt with Miller welding helmet

afazz · Mar 24, 2020

I had a Miller digital elite mask for ~10 years and it broke a few months ago, so I replaced it with another Miller. I bought the Infinity ClearLight Lens 280045 from Cyberweld. Immediately after using it, my eyes hurt while welding. It isn't welders flash (headache, sandy/bloodshot/water eyes, etc) but feels like I just looked at a bright flashlight. I tried adjusting the shade, delay, sensitivity, and everything else I could figure out how to adjust, but it still hurts my eyes and gives me the blotchy spots where the arc was, if that makes sense. I've switched to a $15 #13 fixed shade for now until I can figure it out, but obviously that's not a great solution.

Any ideas or thoughts? Is this something to be expected with the clear lens masks instead of the older ones that started at ~shade 5?

https://store.cyberweld.com/miwehebldiin.html

Jazz1 · Mar 24, 2020

Return the hood, its faulty. Tell vendor the issue. Refund or replacement. Possibly Miller changed suppliers of the lens but I would want to exchange to give the Miller another kick at the can

BFBOB · Mar 24, 2020

Something's wrong!! Get rid of that helmet; don't risk your eyesight!

NUTTSGT · Mar 24, 2020

Are you seeing a flash when you first start ?

Dead battery ?

dogdog · Mar 24, 2020

NUTTSGT said:
Are you seeing a flash when you first start ?

Dead battery ?

That was my first thought... but not sure never owned a miller helmet... the HF ones is sealed... and it is not rechargeable... the Jackson I have has the battery easily accessible, takes 2x 2045

scooterbum46 · Mar 24, 2020

Take it back and give Miller a chance to make it right . My experience with them from a few years ago is that they wanted happy customers.

xOccupantx · Mar 24, 2020

Change the batteries.

I know it’s brand new, but that’s exactly what happens when the batteries are low.

Jazz1 · Mar 24, 2020

xOccupantx said:
Change the batteries.

I know it’s brand new, but that’s exactly what happens when the batteries are low.

A quality hood operates properly or not at all. Nothing in between. The lens operates at 1000’s of milliseconds.

Bretny · Mar 24, 2020

This is why I only use a normal non auto hood. All it takes is a few millaseconds of a flash and I get what your describing.

driz · Mar 24, 2020

That’s just like my buddies El cheapo acted when it quit . Sore eyes and it welded ok just seemed bright and uncomfortable. Return it for another.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

carmantl · Mar 24, 2020

I weld for a living and use an Elite. I haven't tried any of their newer hoods, but when any of our crew have problems with their hoods.....Change the batteries.

NUTTSGT · Mar 24, 2020

I've had to set my old Hobart hood outside in the sun for a while once or twice when I go long periods of not welding.

xOccupantx · Mar 24, 2020

Jazz1 said:
A quality hood operates properly or not at all. Nothing in between. The lens operates at 1000’s of milliseconds.

Cool story, but I have the same exact hood which I’ve used everyday for 8 years.

That is exactly what happens when the batteries get low. So it’s best to change them yearly as preventative maintenance.

Wamsutta · Mar 24, 2020

xOccupantx said:
That is exactly what happens when the batteries get low. So it’s best to change them yearly as preventative maintenance.

Does that mean the lens can't react fast enough if the batteries get low on voltage?

ItsNemo · Mar 24, 2020

Get new batteries but put a meter on the old and new (use the 10 amp setting) and see what they read first. Will tell you pretty quickly if the old batteries were dead or not.

Otherwise, I'd exchange it. I have a digital infinity and can't say I've ever had the feeling of sore eyes from it.

afazz · Mar 25, 2020

Thanks for the tips, I'll try new batteries and see if that helps. I'm a little concerned that battery life affects the switching speed and skeptical that the new batteries weren't good enough, but I'll try it first before contacting Miller.

bbbarracuda · Mar 25, 2020

I don't know what batteries are included with welding masks, but i always throw away any batteries included with a new piece of equipment. Most "free" batteries are worth less than free.

kald · Mar 25, 2020

Are you getting reflections back inside your hood?

I like my helmet adjusted off my face and it happens to me if I wear a light-colored shirt to weld in. I made a neck/throat guard out an old glove wrist piece to block the light and it helps.

They make aftermarket ones but I wen the cheap route.

eaglefan1 · Mar 25, 2020

Bretny said:
This is why I only use a normal non auto hood. All it takes is a few millaseconds of a flash and I get what your describing.

This!! Nothing moves as fast as light does, not even auto lenses.
Pipeliner hood with a inch removed from top and bottom. Surgical tubing for a secure and comfortable fit. American Optics lens. Money maker

scubadoober · Mar 26, 2020

kald said:
Are you getting reflections back inside your hood?

I like my helmet adjusted off my face and it happens to me if I wear a light-colored shirt to weld in. I made a neck/throat guard out an old glove wrist piece to block the light and it helps.

They make aftermarket ones but I wen the cheap route.

This, the infinity doesn't cover the chin as well as the elite and the side flare out more than the flat sided elite. It also tends to sit further from the face even after adjustment. I would fashion a leather chin cover or buy one from Miller, Tillman, or Black Stallion to name a few. I have seen the same problem with this same hood and it was from reflection.

afazz · Apr 15, 2020

Updates! The Covid had me distracted but I finally ordered some fresh Energizer CR2450 batteries. They made no difference. Here are some videos, I’ve started testing with LED flashlights because the same thing happens.

Fresh batteries, brand new from McMaster-Carr good until 3/2029

Here are two clips that illustrate what I’m seeing, you can see the bright flash just before the mask switches.

And here is a comparison with the same flashlights used on a #13 fixed shade mask, proving that the flash is not a back reflection.

I also tried a few different techniques to block back reflections as suggested, and was seeing the same problem. Ask here is a shot of the mask itself.

So am I crazy, is this mask defective, or just junk?

garfunkle24 · Apr 15, 2020

eaglefan1 said:
Nothing moves as fast as light does, not even auto lenses.

Gravitons do. Just sayin.

eaglefan1 · Apr 15, 2020

Had to google that one

Eyes hurt with Miller welding helmet

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Super Moderator

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Super Moderator

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member