[TR] Welding Helmet Question

[Randall]

> Harbor Freight had one at $80 and eBay has a bunch of new ones
> listed at $30 - $50.

Most likely the same thing HF sells, bought on sale.  I see a lot of that.
Sometimes it's even drop-shipped from HF.  I bought mine direct from HF for
$50 plus tax (but no shipping).

> So I'm guessing the difference lies in various
> construction aspects of the helmet itself.

Not surprisingly, the HF model looks and feels cheap.  Thin plastic, not
very rigid.

> Will the less
> expensive ones do the job 

My Dad has been using one for a couple of years now, with no reported ill
effects.  And my eye doctor says that if it was letting enough light through
to be harmful, you would notice the effects.  Too much UV (for example) will
"sunburn" your corneas, which makes your eyes feel like they are full of
sand.  Too much visible light leaves dark spots (afterimages).  So I
conclude that they will do the job; at least until they quit working at all.

But I've not tried it myself yet.  The welder is the next "garage
improvement" project, after the big air compressor gets hooked up.

Randall