auto-darkening hood vs. high power laser

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

Would the HF auto-darkening hood be sufficient vs. a high powered laser?

Or should I specifically buy laser safety glasses.

 

[General Geoff]

definitely get wavelength-specific goggles/glasses.

 

[MoonRise]

Laser?

Laser specific protective eyewear (goggles).

A welding hood/helmet protects your eyes from arc welding hazards, not laser hazards.

 

[American Locomotive]

A welding helmet is designed to block UV light and attenuate visible light. Not suitable for laser use.

 

[pcmeiners]

Wait till you see the cost for laser protection, pair of plastic googles, $200 or more

 

[rlitman]

A welding helmet is designed to block UV light and attenuate visible light. Not suitable for laser use.

Well, sort of. A/D hoods will passively attenuate both UV and IR, with minimal visible light cutoff. Some do this by filtering the light. Better ones reflect more than they filter.

The problem I can think of, especially for the filtering kind, is that the filter may deteriorate when exposed to the laser, which is far higher in . Also, they're most effective at blocking UV, so I would not trust a welding helmet with an IR source more intense than welding light (which a laser most easily can be).

 

[Olafur]

Auto darkening - never.


Lazer beam can be burning your face while the sensor in the hood doesn't get any light to trigger.

 

[APEowner]

An auto darkening helmet has several sensors located around or near the view port that detect an increase in light levels mostly in the UV range. When one of the sensors detects a that the light level has reached the trigger point it darkens the view port. As rlitman indicated the darkened view port blocks a broad spectrum of light mostly in the UV range. The problems with trying to use an AD helmet for laser protection are:
1 unless the beam hits the sensor the helmet won't darken
2 When it is dark it may not block the correct wavelength
3 If it's dark, and blocking the correct wavelength it probably doesn't block it enough

 

[gungatim]

AD helmets block whether they darken or not. there is special piece of bandpass glass in the laminated sandwich. the frequency it blocks is not sufficient for a laser.

 

[kd3pc]

Would the HF auto-darkening hood be sufficient vs. a high powered laser?

Or should I specifically buy laser safety glasses.

your eyes, do what you want. Oops - before that get a book and read up...welding is a sudden bright light...

laser is an acronym for a way to amplify and focus..

two entirely different things.

where do you guys come up with this stuff? Just because some one posts something online, doesn't mean it is true or even safe in the least bit.

But anyway, your eyes (or worse) - go for it. Let us know how it works out.

 

[sonoronos]

This has to be a troll post.

Laser safety glasses all the way.

Do you have someone that works with you that actually knows laser safety?

 

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

This has to be a troll post.

Laser safety glasses all the way.

Do you have someone that works with you that actually knows laser safety?

Bought a laser online. It's basically a little more powerful than a pointer.

I think the concurrence is to buy laser safety glasses. Guess I'll have to shell out some more dough...

 

[2oolhound]

Be aware there are 5 classes of lasers. I would expect yours would be a class 1. The expensive laser glasses are for class 3's and class 4 which carry radiation and even their reflections cause cancer through the eyes.

 

[dnschmidt]

Dumbest question of 2017 by far. IT'S YOUR EYES!!! You don't screw around with them. You buy whatever the laser manufacturer recommends and that's that. Further proof that education in America has reached an all time low.

 

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

Lasers are one thing i don't know much about and wanted to be safe. Sorry for asking the question.

 

[rlitman]

Dumbest question of 2017 by far. IT'S YOUR EYES!!! You don't screw around with them. You buy whatever the laser manufacturer recommends and that's that. Further proof that education in America has reached an all time low.

I'd say that's a real stretch. For starters, please tell me when in history American education included laser safety.

Some would say that the public should not be able to buy dangerous lasers online. I would not go that far either, but just like fireworks, they do require some safety and personal responsibility.

At least the OP knows to be asking questions. Even if the questions are not the right ones, it is a start.

 

[kd3pc]

I'd say that's a real stretch. For starters, please tell me when in history American education included laser safety.

Some would say that the public should not be able to buy dangerous lasers online. I would not go that far either, but just like fireworks, they do require some safety and personal responsibility.

At least the OP knows to be asking questions. Even if the questions are not the right ones, it is a start.

I am 61, and for as long as I can remember lasers are the "death ray" machine at least back to 3rd or 4th grade. At 4th grade we knew not to shoot "our eye out". The two constructs required nothing more than a BB gun and comic books (graphic novels by today's standards)

So in reality our education DOES include lasers and shooting your eye out...I asked my wife, girl opinion needed to see if she had the same experience at 55 years old...and yes.

2ndly, don't think the units on the auction site, are only class 2 or class 1...you can buy offshore stuff all the way up to burn steel and cutting power.

bests to all.

 

[Firebrick43]

Years ago in USMC I was a Huey/super cobra mech. There are two layers on a cobra, a really high power one on the targeting unit, another powerful but less so one on the 20mm Gatling gun so pilots could see point of aim with nv goggles on. One ouch black night in hell(29 palms California) I was on tow duty ring the tug. As the walk crew was hooking up the bar and tow wheels I saw a very faint light. Couldn't figure it out at first and realized it was the gun laser, which is pointed right at the cab while the chopper is parked. Went in and told it was impossible by an avionics cwo. The skids have a switch that shuts down the lasers on the ground and the lasers are supposed to be invisable to the eye.

Well the cwo went out and instead of using nv goggles to see if it was on proceeded to look at the lazer and was amazed to see that it was faintly visible and was indeed eon even though it was on the ground. Some idiot mis wired it to the main power switch and main power was on for the strobe while towing.

Spent the next day getting checked out by eye doctors. I had minimal damage, felt like welders burn. Still have 20/15 vision. Doctor said the laser striking the plate glass at an steep angle probably scattered enough to save me. The Cheif warrant officer wasn't so lucky and had some permanent damage and it was extremely painful for a while.

Now I work on industrial and cnc machinery. On machine is a 2kw trumpf to etch connecting rods 1mm deep for cracking. Better believe me I use proper goggles whe the enclosure is opened for maintence!

 

[Dr Stan]

I'd say that's a real stretch. For starters, please tell me when in history American education included laser safety.

Laser safety and all other safety concerns should be addressed in the appropriate technical education. When I taught machining, foundry practices, welding and forging I did not cover lime poisoning/burns from concrete as it was not appropriate for these trades even though I was quite aware of the potential safety issues. I did make damn sure they knew how to properly light and then shut down an oxy/acetylene torch.

When I had an 25 watt engraving/cutting laser I most assuredly covered laser safety such as never cut or engrave PVC and eye protection. People get into trouble when they think they can just read up/watch a YouTube vid and become a carpenter, welder, machinist, etc. This is especially true of those with a MBA.

 

[Dr Stan]

I am 61, and for as long as I can remember lasers are the "death ray" machine at least back to 3rd or 4th grade. At 4th grade we knew not to shoot "our eye out".

You're just a year younger than I. I fully remember the US Army demonstrating a laser carried in a step van. At the time they were rated in Gillettes, or how many layers of razor blades could be penetrated. I was probably 5 yrs old at the time and the van was at a street fair in Ashland, OH.

 

[Dr Stan]

As far as welding helmets go, avoid the cheap HF and other brands that are available. Do you really want to trust your vision to a $50.00 or less welding helmet? Get a Speedglas or equally good helmet. The helmet should last a lifetime and keep you out of the ER, for at least laser eye burns.

I was very lucky and found one on CL for 1/2 normal price. The owner was getting ready to go to seminary and decided he just didn't have any need for it anymore.

 

[yamaha0343]

As far as welding helmets go, avoid the cheap HF and other brands that are available. Do you really want to trust your vision to a $50.00 or less welding helmet?

This! A welding helmet is not something to cheap out on. Same for the laser glasses. Get the right PPE for the job!