got myself a mig welder yesterday from ebay however i havent got a welding mask i ve got the plastic hold up to your face but no glass/platic in it so am looking round for options the one the bloke i got it from had a 2 shade thing lighter at the top the glass ones on ebay all have different shades what shade do i need
I bought one of these a few months ago and cant fault it at all http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TRUE-FUSION-TOP-SPEC-AUTO-DARK-WELDING-HELMET-MASK-/110598209937?pt=UK_BOI_ProtectiveGear_RL&hash=item19c02ac191
was toying with one of them but the cheapest i ve seen was 30 quid and i am not normally tight when buying stuff but as i only paid 60 quid for the welder i d rather try n keep cost down till i know how good a welder i am
I brought a cheap 20 odd pound one of eBay and found it did not go dark enough when welding with argon shield as it burns bright . Could just be me as it herts my eyes plus I have photosensitive epilepsy so should not look at flashes . So I went to BOC after that and paid around 50 odd pounds and it's loads better and has darker settings .
No worries, its where i learnt to weld, once you can get your welds to look like the pictures, your there, I got scraps of metal from an engineering place round the corner from me in the same sort of thickness at bus metal and practiced on that, Good luck with it, its quite good fun really
Let's be honest, money aside this is your eyes and vision your playing with. Don't be cheap, get a bloody good mask. A mask will always be cheaper than your eyesight! Mine cost
A big tip to avoid the nasty trip to the A an E. Always wear sunglasses when welding..(something a welder told me!!) and a daft hat but thats just welders!!! Make sure they fit under your mask so you forget about em. (I have some tinted chainsaw safety specs!! :-[ couple of bucks but once on you forget about em!!) If you ever get it wrong your eyes will be really thankfull!! Ive only ever had arc eye once and after a night at A n E with them putting creams an stuff in my eyes vowed never ever again!!!! You dont notice its happening until an hour or so after and then you think they are sat there pouring salt in your eyes!!! :'( :'( :'( Something you never forget and never go back too!! trust me!! My thought is pay more for the mask than the welder!! Because your worth it! !!!
http://www.welduk.com/Results1.asp?Category=49 i've got the 2nd one down and its really good, this is a really good site for all your welding equipment!
I managed to burn both my arms whilst doing alot of plug welds in short sleeves doh! I didn't notice until later, it was a bit like sunburn and stung for days.
Reactolite welding screen is the way to go, make sure no skin is exposed to the welding arc, consider wearing a dust and fumes mask when welding in confined spaces 20 years welder/fabricator...oil and gas industry
