Subject: Re: Auto Darking welding helmets

From: [email-masked] (Paul Amaranth)
Date: 25 Jun 1996 14:05:11 GMT

I have an L-Tek (or is that L-Tec?) helmet. It's adjustable for 11-13 for 
arc welding and 5-7 for gas.  It's powered by a solar cell so there are no
batteries to replace.  The only complaint I have is the internal
LCD display that specifies the selected shade has pretty poor
contrast and is difficult to read.  I have to double check to make sure
I pressed the right button, but	I've never misread it yet.

At the time I bought it, it was a little cheaper than the Hornell and
my local welding supplier was pushing it.  I've been very happy with
it and wouldn't be without it.

--
Paul Amaranth  Manager User Services - office: (810) 370 4541 (also voicemail)
               (e-mail)     [email-masked]         
               URL http://www.acs.oakland.edu/~amaranth

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From: [email-masked]
Date: Sun, 30 Jun 1996 05:20:16 GMT

[email-masked] (Garfield) wrote:

 The
>Hornell APC-V I have says it's equiv. to a #3 filter when lightened
>(i.e. the lense is ON, but not darkened by arc), a #5 when the lense
>is OFF, power is off), 

I have a Hornell unit too!  I have been very happy with it.  The unit
that I have does not have the side lenses, but I still like it just
fine.  When I bought it, the units with the side lenses had just been
introduced, and were not widely available.  As mentioned by the
original poster, the Hornell unit only has minimal shading when it is
turned on.  It is worth every penny.  

>and from 9-13 adjustible when darkened, of
>course, just like yours. There is a noticeable difference between #3 &
>#5 when in a poorly lighted area. This is another thing I like about
>the Hornells, that they lighten up further when you turn them ON. So
>they have 3 states, Lightened (when power is ON-#3), Normal (when
>power is OFF-#5), and Darkened (when power is ON and arc is struck
>#9-13). The book says that you can use either the ON or Normal state
>with torch welding. In all states, the UV & IR shield is working. If
>the Jackson lense doesn't get lighter when you power it on, maybe you
>want to try out a Hornell side by side.

>BTW, I got the Hornell hood that has the side lenses on it (not for
>weld viewing) which gives an added help in low light level since you
>get peripheral vision of your surroundings.