Welding helmet headlamp?

[ajchien]

I’ve been using a 2400 lumen spotlamp to light up the workpiece, but the light is somewhat cumbersome to use. I’m thinking of using a headlamp mounted to my helmet. How many lumens should I be looking for? Anyone have suggestions? I’m just a home project guy, but my welds are like 20 times better when I can see better.

 

[Southern83]

I use the lights from Miller on my hood at work. Not the best quality light but they are handy.

You shouldn't need a really bright light. It should just help before you strike an arc.
What shade lense are you using?

 

[ajchien]

I use the lights from Miller on my hood at work. Not the best quality light but they are handy.

You shouldn't need a really bright light. It should just help before you strike an arc.
What shade lense are you using?

im using an el cheapo $50 helmet from HF. It goes from 9-13 shade. I’m on the lowest setting at 9 and it’s too dark. I can see the puddle, but I can’t see enough to know when to stop. I can make a decently straight line, but I often stop short or go too far after my mark.

If this is better remedied by a better helmet that has more adjustments to let me see better, that’d be great. I’m in the buy twice, cry twice group. Well, sometimes I’m in the buy 3+, cry 3+ times group. Seriously though, I think I weld 3 times per year, for home projects, so if there’s a helmet that is $500+ I’m probably not buying it. Last few projects were making a lift/wheels for a chicken (duck) tractor, putting a latch on an outdoor fence, and making a waste oil funnel collection contraption.

 

[2oolhound]

I weld about once every week or two but often it's for 2 - 3 hours (stopping to grind or chip only). Sometimes I'll weld 2 - 3 hrs a day for a week steady. I tried bright lights so I could follow my join but have realized it's my eye sight not the light level. I now use 2X safety glasses under my helmet. I have to keep my head about 1 ft. away from the bead to get focus (so you have to watch the fumes) but this has been a huge improvement for my welding endevors. I watch the puddle and then have to lift the arc to light up the join ahead of the puddle so I can follow on a straight line. I now see a clear view of the join I'm trying to follow instead of blurriness.

That said a helmet light is an interesting idea as with ageing eyesight lots of light is a big thing.

 

[Kenstone1]

There are a lot of recharge headlamps on the market
The one I have is no longer sold on amazon though but what I like about it is it is adjustable/pivoting up/down to move the light center to where you want it.
One of these could be mounted on your helmet with the battery pack also.
Cheap enough:

Amazon.com : rechargeable headlamp

This one is the closest to what I have/use, way cheap/gets good reviews:

FVSA Rechargeable Led Headlamp Flashlight 1100 Lumen, 10000mah 3 Lighting Patterns Adjustable Zoom Head Lamp, Head Flashlight for Running Camping Fishing Outdoor, Father day Gifts for Men Dad husbands - - Amazon.com

FVSA Rechargeable Led Headlamp Flashlight 1100 Lumen, 10000mah 3 Lighting Patterns Adjustable Zoom Head Lamp, Head Flashlight for Running Camping Fishing Outdoor, Father day Gifts for Men Dad husbands - - Amazon.com

www.amazon.com

Depending what type of welding you are doing spatter could tear up the light though.
I use mine a lot (on my head) just doing general shop work as it aluminates shadowy areas.
jmo,

 

[ajchien]

I weld about once every week or two but often it's for 2 - 3 hours (stopping to grind or chip only). Sometimes I'll weld 2 - 3 hrs a day for a week steady. I tried bright lights so I could follow my join but have realized it's my eye sight not the light level. I now use 2X safety glasses under my helmet. I have to keep my head about 1 ft. away from the bead to get focus (so you have to watch the fumes) but this has been a huge improvement for my welding endevors. I watch the puddle and then have to lift the arc to light up the join ahead of the puddle so I can follow on a straight line. I now see a clear view of the join I'm trying to follow instead of blurriness.

That said a helmet light is an interesting idea as with ageing eyesight lots of light is a big thing.

Do you think something like a “cheater lens” would be an alternative? I already wear glasses. I feel that glasses+safety glasses+welding hood might get cumbersome.

 

[corn chip]

what kind of welding you doing? if its a fluxed process youll want to either get a small fan or weld outdoors with some wind so the heavy smoke isnt obstructing your view. it can be nearly impossible to see anything if the smoke gets to thick.
as for the HF helmet. theyre very bottom of the barrell but your probly aware of that. most any reputable helmet brand will be worlds better regarding the lens qaulity. for the money i feel the miller digital elite is hands down the best helmet on the market. it does eveything fairly well imo. $250 normal price but i got mine on sale around $215 i believe. also ive got optrel and speedglas at work. theres other good helmets but theyll cost more.
cheater lens is only a magnification plate that goes on the inside . it magnifies what ever your looking at. nothing more and nothing less. i use one because my near vision isnt that good. so no it wont make you see better through smoke or make anything brighter.

 

[Honch]

I use these, they have motion sensors so I don't have to try and turn them on and off with welding gloves on.

 

[Kenstone1]

what kind of welding you doing? if its a fluxed process youll want to either get a small fan or weld outdoors with some wind so the heavy smoke isnt obstructing your view. it can be nearly impossible to see anything if the smoke gets to thick.
as for the HF helmet. theyre very bottom of the barrell but your probly aware of that. most any reputable helmet brand will be worlds better regarding the lens qaulity. for the money i feel the miller digital elite is hands down the best helmet on the market. it does eveything fairly well imo. $250 normal price but i got mine on sale around $215 i believe. also ive got optrel and speedglas at work. theres other good helmets but theyll cost more.
cheater lens is only a magnification plate that goes on the inside . it magnifies what ever your looking at. nothing more and nothing less. i use one because my near vision isnt that good. so no it wont make you see better through smoke or make anything brighter.

yep,
For flux core smoke I use this Ryobi drill battery fan


I weld outside and don't need another outlet to run this fan.
It works a treat, blowing away the smoke.