I was looking at getting an electronic auto darkening welding mask, as I want to have a go at fixing the rust on my Z. I have a cheap mig welder, which isnt particularly suited to the job, but thats another story. It came with a cheap mask, the kind you hold with your hand.

The shop I went to (an auto store) had solar powered ones.

Has anyone any advice whether to get a solar powered one or a battery powered one.

I didnt get the solar powered one, as most of my welding would be done at night time in a shed. but once I got home I started thinking that mig welding would produce UV radiation, which might power the mask?

Anyone know if this is how they are designed to work? or would it be no good to me.

i cant see as the battery drain would be very much in a mask, however if there is a big price diff, then that would be my deciding factor....just my thoughts.

I have a solar one. You charge it outside for a couple of days and then it works outside of direct sunlight. You need not be in the sun for it to work. But from time to time you should put it back out in the sun for a day to recharge it. I think it is probably lighter than one with a battery would be, which is nice.

I have a Lincoln Electric solar mask, no battery and no need to set it in the sun to "charge". The lens operates from the area light and the light produced from the welder, there are solar cells in the front of the lens that generate the power to operate it.

I went with solar because it will always work, nothing like finding out in the middle of the night that the batteries are dead and you can't weld!

My advice is buy the best helmet you can afford, you only have one set of eyes and a good helmet will last a lifetime.

For steel with a mig I use a Harbor Freight solar mask, I have used several big buck auto masks, and all of them will cause my eyes to itch with an hour or more use, the best protection is an appropriate articulated dark shade-while it is a pain to work around, used apropriately, your eyes will not itch no matter how long you use it. The auto darkening masks darken as the uv is generated, and do allow miniscule levels of uv into your helmet and using through time does allow the effects to accumulate(Itchy eyes is the proof), the standard shield allows no uv into the helmet, so you accumulate only uv free time and the frustration off having to move the helmet before and after each pull of the trigger.

I have gotten where I close my eyes as I pull the trigger and open them immediately after-it does not stop the itching, but it does extend the time it takes for it to start. I also give my eyes at least a full day between welding more than an hour at a time. Will

I've got the battery operated mask it uses two AAA's. I can't see these two little batteries effecting the weight very much. But it did suck when the batteries died and I was all ready to weld. Good thing the remote to the TV had the same batteries.

I have a solar one. You charge it outside for a couple of days and then it works outside of direct sunlight. You need not be in the sun for it to work. But from time to time you should put it back out in the sun for a day to recharge it. I think it is probably lighter than one with a battery would be, which is nice.

Here in the Northwest that would drastically shorten my welding time. We see very few days of sunshine days in a row, during the winter months of the year. I own several hoods and have had no ill effects from any of them. I like my solar the best because of size and shape when working in enclosed places otherwise I use my battery powered one.

For steel with a MiG I use a Harbor Freight solar mask, I have used several big buck auto masks, and all of them will cause my eyes to itch with an hour or more use, clip.

I have had darkening problems when using a TIG but, never with my MiG. I have had less problems since I went over to the auto darkening hoods.

I am with you Will, if I was having trouble with my eyes I too would go back. You must use a really dark gold lens ?

Most of what I do now is tig, I use this http://tinmantech.chainreactionweb.com/html/tm2000.php

for aluminum, and follow this chart http://www.saftgard.com/anonymous/catalog/Welding.pdf (I go one shade darker) for steel.

Will

As my brother would say "You just build tinker toys" but, you are good at it. We also agee on the charts. My last hood I did pick up a variable lens that actually works really well. Thanks

Jim

I got a free Hobart auto darkening helmet when I bought my Millermatic 135. It would flash my eyes on occasion, and I was beginning to think auto darkening wasn't the way to go. Then someone on hybridz suggested the HF helmet, and showed me that it had the same size viewing area as my helmet and darkened in 1/20000 of a second, so I figured what the hell. I bought it on sale for $50, and I don't think it has ever flashed me yet. I've heard that they need to be replaced every so often. I've been doing a hell of a lot of welding on my car and it still seems to be functioning well after a good 6 months. I'm sold on it for mig use anyway.

I bought one of those Habour Freight masks .. that auto darkens for $50 .. just like the one Jmortensen has.. LOVE it

i bought cheap auto welding mask its battery and solar works great man i thought going from old green lens to colour was good but auto is awsome can us your hands to hold job

As far as worrying about a old small mig id say u dont need much better for body work i did all my bodywork with small mig works great on thin which most of a zed is up to 5/16 or 3/8

main thing a welder told me was clean it before u weld it either grinding wheel or strip and clean wheel makes all the difference to a good finish

i learnt the hard way on datsun 510 and 200b welding rusty painted thing panels is a real art