welding mask advice please

[justdan]

reet , im needing a new welding mask , to be honest a aint got a clue what in looking at ....
my welding a cheapy from ac welder from aldi

any advice would be greatful

[Dannyboy]

Make sure you get a light activated one mate, speedglass masks are one of the best but the price shows! you can pick a half decent mask up off ebay for £30-40, be ample for what you wana do.

[justdan]

I don't need to be looking at what lense is in it or anything like that Do I ? ....... Been looking a eBay and got a could eyed up , let the bidding commence

[fudge]

now i will put my 2 pence worth in, since i am a welder by trade

now the cheep ebay ones all look good etc, but some times arent as good as you think, and if you look at the arc with out any dark lense you can permantly dammage your eye.
when i started i had a cheep ish one at about £40 and tbh it was all good etc, but lasted about 2 years.
if you can streatch to about £100 i would, as you will get alot better kit. and i am cuttently using a welding mask that is about £700 wile i am working.
and this place is allways a good look for welding stuff
http://www.ukwelder.com/ as i have ordered a few bits off there
and here is the welding mask section, off as well i would order a few clear lenses for them.
http://www.ukwelder.com/shop2/shop_index.php?page=welding_helmet_menu

[jonnyjeep]

il agree with fudge on this one my work supplied cheapie 40/50 quid masks they are ok but i prefer my own speedglas, and as its you eyes id pay a wee bit extra. ps if you get an autotint visor keep it in the house outa the damp and cold if its not gona be used all the time and itl last you a lifetime

[justdan]

http://www.ukwelder.com/

Omg it amature welders p&£? .. .......... Credit card prepare for a beating

[fudge]

and when i get the money i will be buying my self one of these
http://www.ukwelder.com/shop2/shop_index.php?page=speedglas_9100_air
this is similar to what we use at work, and are the dog's dangles

ohh and if you would like any tips on stick welding etc just ask, as well i would only buy 6013 welding rods, do not try 6010's, they will scare you, as they set alight, 7013's and 8013's wont strike well.
and for my little 130A welder i use at home i only use 2.5mm 6013 welding rods and i get them in a 5kg box, the cheepest way

[4x4 bobby]

All the advice given is all sound but depending how much welding you intend doing depends if you need to pay megga bucks if like me you only weld every now and then you don't want to pay for something that's so expensive. I've got a £40 reactive mask and it serves its purpose very well.

[Dannyboy]

This is the thing, its all good getting told to buy a 6-7-800 quid lid but are you gona be welding for 8hrs a day everyday? Im also a welder by trade and ive had speedglass masks with air streams and there great if your stood at a bench or your welding ali or stainless but again depending what your doin, not always the best for the job in hand. Ive got a couple at the min and i find the masks around the 100quid mark do just as good job, for me the air stream filters n pipes get in the way when your laid in mud and sh1t under a loading shovel repairing a cracked prop...

[justdan]

There is some great points gents ! I'm thinking I'm going to go for the 100 squid mark , I'm a firm believer in you get what you pay for ! I'll not be welding much prob only a couple of times a year to be honest ! The mask my welder came with is more use as a chocolate tea pot .......

Please look for for next question , more welding/sill repair advice wanted

[Drift]

reminds me I must return Gresters mask

[justdan]

[gregster]

@ Dwifty

Hey Fudge...have you still got the mask I did for you???

[Dannyboy]

Greg, im defo guna be needing to give you my truck to practice on bud!!!!!!!! that looks bang on!!

[fudge]

yea still got it. tho a few scratches on it

i dare not use it incase i dammage it

[gregster]

Classic...how to turn something useful into something you cant use...paint it!

Try compounding the scratches Matt, so long at they are not down to the plastic or basecoat....The lacquer is 2k Dupont IIRC, so should be as hard as whats on your truck..Just try not to flex it too much as you polish it as the clear will only flex so much. Then give it a good coat of resin wax, sould slide rather than scratch then mate.

[MrTom]

[Drift]

[gregster]

My thoughts exactly Ste......
....especially worrying as much air brushing involves being bent over for periods of time whilst concentrating hard on something else!

[4x4 bobby]

Can i post my mask down then Gregster????????? Would look great with a nice design on it!