3M Speedglas cover plate rip-off?

[Beerhippie]

I mean, I know everything 3M is a premium price, but I thought this was ridiculous.

I've been having increasing trouble seeing when welding lately. I bought a new 3M helm about a year ago as my old one died, but damn, were my eyes getting that bad?

After arranging and carefully following a diagnostic tree, I finally narrowed the problem down to this:



Yeah, I guess that could do it.

So I needed to order a new cover plate. Off to Azon.

Sheee-it! $30 for a plastic cover plate!!!??? Oh well, it is 3M.

Well, the package arrived today:



I guess 10 for $30 ain't such a bad deal....

 

[whateg01]

It would be way more if it was optrel.

 

[dnschmidt]

^^^^ True fact!

 

[Wamsutta]

I need to order some covers for mine too. Mine is the NC9002.

 

[Beerhippie]

They'd likely last longer if I didn't need to hold the helm about three inches from my work. But I do. Sixty-four year-old eyes are not as good as twenty year-old eyes!

I'm looking for a trade-in if anyone has some spare twenty year-old eyes....

 

[whateg01]

They'd likely last longer if I didn't need to hold the helm about three inches from my work. But I do. Sixty-four year-old eyes are not as good as twenty year-old eyes!

I'm looking for a trade-in if anyone has some spare twenty year-old eyes....

I started using cheaters a few years ago after being in denial for a few years before that.

 

[The Cobbler]

I just added 2X cheater to mine. not sure I like it . need to get too close to the work to focus .

 

[Beerhippie]

I started using cheaters a few years ago after being in denial for a few years before that.

That's with cheaters and 2 diopter lenses in the helm.

 

[Lwel9226]

What shade setting do you use???

LynnW

 

[Beerhippie]

What shade setting do you use???

LynnW

Depends on what I'm doing, now doesn't it?

 

[ArcReactorKC]

Depends on what I'm doing, now doesn't it?

It does, but can you name a few examples of what settings you most commonly use?

 

[Beerhippie]

Usually 9-10 MIG, 8-9 for TIG. Again, depends on settings and conditions.

 

[Beerhippie]

It does, but can you name a few examples of what settings you most commonly use?

I don't think the Speedglas is the best choice of auto-helms. There are other, less expensive choices that I might consider. The 100 model I have is about as basic as it gets and still cost a lot.

This is what I paid for mine:

https://bakersgas.com/collections/3...ackhelmet100wauto-darkfilter100v-07-0012-31bl

 

[whateg01]

I've never heard it called a helm. Helmet or hood. Helm is what we drive the ship with.

 

[Beerhippie]

Helm is often used in armor as a more A-S version of Helmet. It's also shorter.

I hear welders out here use it a lot, too.

 

[Wamsutta]

What shade setting do you use???

LynnW

I always start off at 10 and adjust from there depending on the amperage and the brightness of the puddle.

That Speedglas has to be turned on first! I try to remember that but often forget.

 

[rust in the eye]

Sheee-it! $30 for a plastic cover plate!!!??? Oh well, it is 3M.

Well, the package arrived today:



I guess 10 for $30 ain't such a bad deal....

Maybe time to change the thread title?

 

[Beerhippie]

I always start off at 10 and adjust from there depending on the amperage and the brightness of the puddle.

That Speedglas has to be turned on first! I try to remember that but often forget.

Yes it does! And it turns itself off if it doesn't detect flash after five minutes or so. That's the one that usually gets me. Tack a few things together, tip the helm up to get some more stuff lined up, flip it down and... MY EYES!

Biggest problem I have is the Speedglas DOES NOT like LED lighting! Especially from behind, for some reason. The LED lights will cause it to randomly black out when you most need to be able to see. Which ***** as ALL my shop lights are LED.

 

[Sumboodie]

I run mine way past that point. Put on some readers, that helps to see.

 

[Beerhippie]

I run mine way past that point. Put on some readers, that helps to see.

Cripes sake, I'm 64 years old! You think I don't know about cheaters?

 

[Lwel9226]

Depends on what I'm doing, now doesn't it?

I have used a #9 for 98% of everything I have welded for the last 60 years....
The reason I asked was, if you were using a dark lens (11 - 12 or darker) I was going to say trying a lighter lens might help....

LynnW

 

[LopezBart]

I find the following helpful as my eyes (and the rest as well) have gotten older:

• Use reading glasses similar to those that work on the computer. Don't try welding in progressive lenses; lining up your helmet, glasses and work is a total pita.
• Use additional lighting if needed; this helps if you work is shaded in particular.
• A welding fume remover (for shield gas welding like TIG or MIG) or just a serious blower for stick will let you get closer to the work if needed.

 

[jmdirk]

Yes it does! And it turns itself off if it doesn't detect flash after five minutes or so. That's the one that usually gets me. Tack a few things together, tip the helm up to get some more stuff lined up, flip it down and... MY EYES!

Biggest problem I have is the Speedglas DOES NOT like LED lighting! Especially from behind, for some reason. The LED lights will cause it to randomly black out when you most need to be able to see. Which ***** as ALL my shop lights are LED.

I had the same original issue a few weeks ago. Not with a Speedglas, but after swapping in new front and back protective covers, it's like night and day difference.

Interesting your comment about the LED lights. I've had the same issue with mine, a cheap Antrel unit. Just randomly blacks out. I wasn't attributing it to the LED shops lights, but that certainly could be it. Maybe time to add something to the back of the hood to block out the ambient light.

 

[Beerhippie]

I had the same original issue a few weeks ago. Not with a Speedglas, but after swapping in new front and back protective covers, it's like night and day difference.

Interesting your comment about the LED lights. I've had the same issue with mine, a cheap Antrel unit. Just randomly blacks out. I wasn't attributing it to the LED shops lights, but that certainly could be it. Maybe time to add something to the back of the hood to block out the ambient light.

I want some kind of hood that covers the back of the helm, but I'm not much at sewing and no one seems to offer such a thing. When possible, I weld outside and I have be think about not having the sun at my back.

Welding outside is what makes me believe that the LED lights are causing the helm to trigger at the wrong times. It doesn't do that outside.

 

[K13]

I want some kind of hood that covers the back of the helm, but I'm not much at sewing and no one seems to offer such a thing. When possible, I

They are available from a number of sources.

Google Search

www.google.com

 

[whateg01]

Why would LEDs from the back cause problems? The sensors are on the front of the lens.

 

[Beerhippie]

Why would LEDs from the back cause problems? The sensors are on the front of the lens.

Yeah, that's part of what puzzles me, too--but it does seem to be the problem.

Thanks, K13--sometimes knowing the right name for something is the whole ball game.

 

[Beerhippie]

We'll know if the light from the back is the problem soon as my back cap for my helm gets here!

Now for the fogging problem....

 

[whateg01]

We'll know if the light from the back is the problem soon as my back cap for my helm gets here!

Now for the fogging problem....

Just drape a hand towel over the back and see if the problem goes away. No need to wait for a specific piece of fabric

 

[K13]

I doubt LED back lighting has any effect on the helmet triggering unless you are turning your head upwards unknowingly or it is reflecting off something into the sensors but a back cover will help immensely with visibility.

 

[danielbuck]

I know I don't change my clear cover often enough. Every time I do, I think "Damn, I can see so much better now!"

Next time before swapping out the cover, I'm going to try using some plastic polish on it, see if that does anything.

 

[Beerhippie]

I doubt LED back lighting has any effect on the helmet triggering unless you are turning your head upwards unknowingly or it is reflecting off something into the sensors but a back cover will help immensely with visibility.

Visibility is the #1 reason for me. I mostly need it when working outside.

 

[K13]

Visibility is the #1 reason for me. I mostly need it when working outside.

Even inside it will make a huge difference. You don't realize how much the reflection off the lens inside the helmet restricts your visibility until it is gone.

 

[Wamsutta]

Yes it does! And it turns itself off if it doesn't detect flash after five minutes or so. That's the one that usually gets me. Tack a few things together, tip the helm up to get some more stuff lined up, flip it down and... MY EYES!

Biggest problem I have is the Speedglas DOES NOT like LED lighting! Especially from behind, for some reason. The LED lights will cause it to randomly black out when you most need to be able to see. Which ***** as ALL my shop lights are LED.

Does it help to turn the sensitivity down?

 

[whateg01]

Yes it does! And it turns itself off if it doesn't detect flash after five minutes or so. That's the one that usually gets me. Tack a few things together, tip the helm up to get some more stuff lined up, flip it down and... MY EYES!

That would be as annoying as digital calipers that you have to turn on before use.

 

[bdbecker]

I doubt LED back lighting has any effect on the helmet triggering unless you are turning your head upwards unknowingly or it is reflecting off something into the sensors but a back cover will help immensely with visibility.

I agree... there's something else causing it to blink. We use LED lights in our weld shops and issue our welders Speedglas hoods. We're talking nearly two hundred people across three different buildings. If LEDs were triggering the hoods, I'd know about it. We have had issues in the past when a xenon bulb makes it into the shop, usually in the form of a strobe light on a forklift or some automation we've put in.

 

[Beerhippie]

I installed a rear hood/cover on my helmet and the blinking problem is gone! I thought it was from LED light entering from the back--even 'though that makes NO sense with the sensor in front--and indeed it was.

Here's what I got:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CNND7LGW?tag=atomicindus08-20

I bought it mostly for glare reduction when welding outside, but if it solves the blinking, so much the better. It also makes it much easier to see when welding inside--I guess I wasn't aware of how much glare there was.

 

[Wamsutta]

I installed a rear hood/cover on my helmet and the blinking problem is gone! I thought it was from LED light entering from the back--even 'though that makes NO sense with the sensor in front--and indeed it was.

Here's what I got:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CNND7LGW?tag=atomicindus08-20

I bought it mostly for glare reduction when welding outside, but if it solves the blinking, so much the better. It also makes it much easier to see when welding inside--I guess I wasn't aware of how much glare there was.

I bought the Lincoln version of that. It's made to fit a Lincoln 3350 helmet. I don't have a Lincoln 3350 helmet, but I ordered it anyway.

That goes on the long list of dumb things I've done in my life.