TIG helmet differs from other helmets?

[bw77]

There is a thread on the forum about the Jackson Safety WH40 SmarTIGer.

What makes a helmet TIG specific?

Does TIG require a different helmet than those used for stick and Mig?

 

[Buckgnarly]

Only difference I know is some use a magnetic field sensor as opposed to light sensor. TIG is not always bright enough to trigger the light sensor.

 

[Stooge]

Only difference I know is some use a magnetic field sensor as opposed to light sensor. TIG is not always bright enough to trigger the light sensor.

this
most helmets i see can just be adjusted to satisfy mig and tig with lens adjustment and or the use of the emf sensors. my miller elite has an "x" mode that ive used when doing tig, plus it comes in handy when theres a drop light or some other light source near by that can screw with the sensors otherwise.

 

[kamesama980]

I dunno but my non-specific welding helmet with a photosensor works find. only time I've had a problem is if I'm welding in a funny angle on something and it's in the shadow. It's done that with MIG too though.

 

[firebox40dash5]

Only difference I know is some use a magnetic field sensor as opposed to light sensor. TIG is not always bright enough to trigger the light sensor.

Somewhere I've got a cheap-ish autodarkener, I think a Miller or Hobart, that I bought at a pawnshop. IIRC it says something along the lines of TIG over 20kHz or something not triggering it for some reason.

 

[zkling]

As mentioned they are "designed" to better sense the low amp arc used in tig welding and in some cases the high frequency. I've tried a few of the auto dark "tig" hoods. My favorite is still the big window jackson fixed with a gold glass lens in it. The clarity, puddle detail and color just cannot be matched by an electronic hood. Plus no need to worry about blocking a sensor or the like. The optrel line is VERY nice but $$$$$. Honestly for the little money the Jackson smartiger is selling for, I'd like to try it just to see how it compares. But me thinks I'll stick with their $40 basic.

 

[Vegaman_Dan]

Shoot, my cheapo auto darkening helmet is a bit TOO sensitive at times with it blanking out if it sees the cooling blob of metal on a bead. I'm a bit too lazy to adjust it though since I'd rather have it be oversensitive than not flip and damage my eyes.

 

[Murphy4570]

Most good helmets are adjustable as far as sensitivity goes. I have a Miller helmet that cost around $160 or $170 that has such a feature, as well as adjustable from 8-13 for darkness level.

 

[RedneckWelder]

Shoot, my cheapo auto darkening helmet is a bit TOO sensitive at times with it blanking out if it sees the cooling blob of metal on a bead. I'm a bit too lazy to adjust it though since I'd rather have it be oversensitive than not flip and damage my eyes.

From what I've heard having it still dark as the molten metal cools to dark is a good thing since that supposedly puts out damaging IR/UV rays. Don't know how true that is or how bad they are but hell better safe than sorry


Most of your autodarks are adjustable sensitivity these days. Some features that really help with TIG, particuarly low amp tig or where your hand positioning is blocking the sensors, are more than two arc sensors and the sensors that detect not only light but have the aforementioned magnetic field sensor.

Otherwise the helmet is the same as a normal autodark helmet. If you do a lot of low amp/wierd angle tig then you may want to consider a helmet with features designed to cope with that.

 

[K13]

Shoot, my cheapo auto darkening helmet is a bit TOO sensitive at times with it blanking out if it sees the cooling blob of metal on a bead. I'm a bit too lazy to adjust it though since I'd rather have it be oversensitive than not flip and damage my eyes.

From what I've heard having it still dark as the molten metal cools to dark is a good thing since that supposedly puts out damaging IR/UV rays. Don't know how true that is or how bad they are but hell better safe than sorry

Any auto darkening helmet that meets up to the ANSI Z87.1 spec is required to provide full UV and infrared protection regardless of whether the shade darkens or not. The sensitivity of the shade should have no bearing on whether or not it is protecting your eyes just the comfort factor of not having a bright light in your eyes.

 

[PowerDubs]

The Jackson you are talking about doesn't trigger from light.

And yes, at $54.95 shipped it was a hell of a deal on an excellent helmet.