Auto-Darkening welding hood???

[cudabee]

Happy "real" Memorial Day to all Mopar fans. I need info on these auto-darkening hoods...appreciate any comments. I've had a NAPA product (China)for over six years. It has been great for stick welding 1/4 and heavier steel. About a year ago I started replacing floor pans and many other parts on a '69 B-body. Hood worked fine. Now, lately I've had problems getting the hood to darken. It's a "solar type" I guess. It gets its power from the arc. I'm using a small mig welder. It still darkens fine when using the larger stick welder. My question is...is this hood done for, do I need to replace it? Do they quit working after a while or is it just not made for tack/spot welding body metal? Thanks for any suggestions.

- Blinded by the Light

 

[Jerry Hall]

Storage in dark places can make them not function correctly. Some say to store in a bright place to keep working good. I'm not sure so we replaced it.

 

[Sixpaksteve]

Cudabee - My auto darkening hood has a small battery in it. Does yours? Mine also has a tiny adjustable dial inside the hood and I'd have to change the setting if I went from MIG to stick welding.

 

[khryslerkid]

I made the mistake of storing my auto darkening in a cabinet for awhile. Got it out one day, stuck an arc and had to wait five minutes to get my eyes back again!

Check if yours has a battery, keep it out in the light for a few hours to see if it activates again. You can look through the lense and hold it up towards a florescent light or out towards the sun light to test it. Some do have a low battery warning light. Make sure your settings are correct if it has them.

 

[khryslerkid]

It gets its power from the arc. I

It gets charged from natural daylight just like any solar charging device.

 

[Fran Blacker]

Clean the area where solar power is absorbed.

 

[Beekeeper]

I have two millers in the cabinet at work that are stored in the bags they come with they work every time no issues. I do remove the batteries from them when storing long term if I don’t the batteries will be dead of course that’s not huge they are just run of the mill coin cell.

 

[Budnicks]

Mine is a ol' Lincoln it has a little watch battery
it's stored on top of my welder, just habit
it took like 12+ years to start having problems
well except for the shitty head bands & adjusters
breaking like 3 time in that same period of time

anyway, Maybe try ?
go to a jeweler
they have a great assortment of smaller size batteries

I couldn't find mine anywhere

never would have thought of this;
my dad went to the jeweler to have his watch repaired
just needed a battery, 5-min.'s or less job $5
& I asked the ol' jeweler guy;
if he had a good assortment of small watch type batteries
told him;
"what for" my welding helmet autodark
& he said;
bring it in & he'll match it up with something that will work
20 mile round trip $10 in gas & $5 later no problems
"he had the battery in stock"

 

[gkent]

I wonder how many guys out there store their helmets in dark lockers at work or in their car trunks, truck boxes, storage bags, etc. !!

My Miller (and any quality helmet I've owned) has an "on" switch. If you fail to turn it on you're going to know it real quick - it'll be like looking at a weld through sunglasses. There is no "off", they time out after 5 minutes or so.

My guess ... a) check for an "on" switch b) check for a battery (or two). Its likely not a setting since a stick welder would take a higher setting than a small mig. If none of the above then its probably time for a new one/. FWIW, mine will darken from grinding sparks or pointing it at a light bulb.

FWIW, I've had a couple cheapies that lasted years and were only replaced for a more comfortable unit. I had a VERY EXPENSIVE 3M Speedglas unit and the auto darkening screen was toast after only a couple years. It flashes on and off which seems to be a fairly common issue with 3M's !!

 

[451Mopar]

I have a Jacksom TrueSight welding helmet. It takes 2 AAA batteries. It will time out turn off after not seeing an arc for several minutes, or can be turned off by holding the power button down for a few seconds.

 

[steve340]

Sometimes the solar powered ones get a bit insensitive when they get older or it is quite dark were you are welding.
Try brightening up the work area with another light source.
We used to weld inside stainless tanks and you had to hang a lead light in there to get the helmet to work.

 

[493 Mike]

I have two millers in the cabinet at work that are stored in the bags they come with they work every time no issues. I do remove the batteries from them when storing long term if I don’t the batteries will be dead of course that’s not huge they are just run of the mill coin cell.

Except they are rather expensive for the size.
Mike

 

[493 Mike]

I have a Lincoln hood and store it in the black bag that it came with-always works fine (until the battery dies).
Mike

 

[metaldad]

mines a miller, stored in its carrying bag, with the batteries removed

 

[Ranger16]

I store mine in the box it came in, but while I'm setting up the welder, I put it in the sunlight for :10 minutes or so to charge it. So far, so good.

 

[69L48Z27]

I have a Hobart hood and it has the area that looks like a solar panel. Started acting up and found it has 2 AAA batteries. Replaced those and it works great. It also has the on switch.

 

[Bb70charger500]

Well I can't afford a super nice good I've had one from homedept or Lowe's had a non replaceable batt in it didn't noticed when I bought it !
My current is a harbor freight it was a hole $60 or so it's been with me for about 10 years now no problems out of it . I had a solar panel one at work I used (not mine) God I hated it so much ! If sometimes worked sometimes didn't !

 

[beanhead]

..If you guys would stop being such pusses you might save a few bucks

 

[beanhead]