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Optrel Panoramaxx Welding Hood

Discussion in 'The Tool Shed' started by 47v6, Nov 13, 2022.

  1. Nov 13, 2022
    47v6

    47v6 junk wrecker! 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    USA
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    I decided that I needed a new welding hood. My old3M speedglas https://bakersgas.com/products/3m-0...CwZLIbHlCX5yUoVS2_SWEFgA8IgydVMAaApL7EALw_wcB
    Worked fine, but its old now. The newer hoods have different optical technology or so they say. Work has money for tools, so I bought this https://www.zoro.com/optrel-panoram...rce=ExactTarget&utm_medium=Email&utm_content=

    I got it for a bit over 400 bucks. Zoro had the best price by 100 bucks and when I hesitated, they sent me a 20% off coupon.

    The Panoramaxx hood is weird. Its light, the headgear is ok and it has good vision, mainly because the lens is closer to your eyes, so its an effectively larger view area. You have to charge it with a micro USB before use and they don't give you a charger with it.

    The charging port is annoying to get to and its on the inside of the hood, not in a convenient place outside. The grind button can get pressed accidentally and it doesn't automatically darken when that happens. I got flashed and there is no easy way to tell if its in grind mode.

    The hood rests on your nose. I hate this a lot. If you don't bring the hood down with your hand evenly and perfectly straight, it hits your nose. Forget flipping your hood down with a head nod. There is a piece of thin foam you have to stick in there.. Why they didn't do this at the factory is beyond me.

    When using the hood outside the optics are not any better than any other hood. In fact it might be worse. this is their statement,
    "The panoramaxx clt combines a 600% increased panoramic field of view with the exclusive Crystal Lens Technology, which allows a brightness level of 2.0 in the closed state and gives the welder a true-color and detailed view of the weld pool."

    When MIG welding outside in sunlight, this is utter BS. My old 3M is way better for that...

    Now, for the good part,

    I used this hood inside my shop to TIG weld some tooling.. All I can say is that if you can sit at a table and weld stuff in a controlled environment, this hood give clarity that is kind of unimaginable with the 3m. I could really see there weld puddle and add filler wire much more effectively. The optics are quite amazing..

    So, while I do not really recommend this hood, it does do what it claims to do in the correct setting. If there was a hood designed like the 3m or similar with these style optics, it would be awesome.
     
    Stakebed, Danefraz, Ol Fogie and 4 others like this.
  2. Nov 14, 2022
    Jeepenstein

    Jeepenstein Me like Jeep..

    North Central FL
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    Man, the 3M speedglass is the way to roll.. When they first came out with the air purifying hoods I bought three for my welders ($9,000 worth). I thought they were gonna cry.. I wish I had bought myself one then .. No money now haha..
     
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  3. Nov 14, 2022
    47v6

    47v6 junk wrecker! 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    The speedglas has been really excellent, but the optics are just not comparable to the panoramaxx for TIG welding. For MIG outside.. Maybe a fixed old school would work fine.. The auto darkening feature outside is kind of annoying on any of these hoods. It goes dark and then if you turn the sensitivity down you might get flashed. I like the gadgetry aspect of auto darkening.. Gotta be careful about cheap ones like harbor fight. I found that using them, while they seem to darken correctly, if you weld all day with one, the next day your eyes have been burnt like it allows the non visible spectrum in to a degree.

    I like the idea of the PAPR hoods and for sure if I was using flux core or arc, I would get one. I mostly make tooling and parts with TIG though, so if I have smoke, I have a bad weld with contamination... Mash that pedal and hope for the best at that point.

    Before the PAPR hoods, all the old welders were approaching 60 and the ones older than that were all dead...Shipyard guys..
     
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  4. Nov 14, 2022
    danielbuck

    danielbuck Uncle Buck

    USA
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    I have a Crystal 2.0 Optrel. It really is quite amazing, it's extremely bright when not welding.

    The only thing I don't like about it is the grind button. I don't wear a welding helmet while grinding (prefer glasses/goggles instead), and I've accidentally hit the grinding button more than once. I'm tempted to find the wires to the button and clip them.

    Other than that, it's an amazing helmet :) I find it to be pretty good for MIG welding in direct sunlight. But I don't have anything else to compare it to except for super cheap auto-darkening helmets.
     
    47v6 likes this.
  5. Nov 14, 2022
    47v6

    47v6 junk wrecker! 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    Seems like I would probably have liked the Crystal 2 more than the Panoramaxx. I also do not like the grind setting for the same reasons. Looks to be the same for both hoods.
     
  6. Nov 14, 2022
    Jeepenstein

    Jeepenstein Me like Jeep..

    North Central FL
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    I'm sending that to my welder buddy.. haha..
     
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  7. Nov 14, 2022
    Alan28

    Alan28 Well-Known Member 2022 Sponsor

    Châtillon en...
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    I am not a big welder, I bought a helmet of quality at 100€, I didn't know that there was very expensive ones.
    For other activities with a risk, grinding but also garden work with tools, wood work, I have an old welding helmet, I replaced the dark glass by a 5mm thick polycarbonat glass.
    This kind of helmet protects from parts coming from below at the same time!
     
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  8. Nov 14, 2022
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Tantallon, Nova...
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    That's a good idea Alan, you've got me thinking :)
     
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  9. Nov 15, 2022
    Alan28

    Alan28 Well-Known Member 2022 Sponsor

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    Yes, we have 2 eyes only... When on my lawn mower, I recently received something in my protective goggles, it is marked now. Maybe a small stone which came back hitting a tree, I don't know, but I use protection always now.
     
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  10. Nov 15, 2022
    Alan28

    Alan28 Well-Known Member 2022 Sponsor

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    I just would add on this protection idea that, generally, when you have to hurry up you don't take care, and then, accident. A man I knew making steel building, had to hurry, he had forgotten something on the roof of a construction... no rope, he crashed down and died.
    The same for me, I don't put gloves for a job, just 2 minutes, and some blood. 1 millimeter cut in the skin and no good.
    That's why, when I was riding my motorcycle and late, I was driving slower.. and never more than 3 seconds dreaming at something else Thant looking at what in front (and behind). It is exhausting, but it worked well for me, never any problem.
    On a motorcycle, some millimeters can decide of your future !
     
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  11. Nov 15, 2022
    73 cj5

    73 cj5 Not ready for the junkyard yet

    Clinton, Mississippi
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    Haven't tig welded with mine yet but my Esab A50 is still chugging along. I primarily use it outside and I have never been flashed to date. Visibility is great and the headgear is comfortable.
     
    Ol Fogie likes this.
  12. Jan 6, 2023
    47v6

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    UPDATE!!!

    This thing is hot garbage. Flashed me 3 times today while trying to MIG weld some 16 gauge exhaust pipe inside. No reason to do this what so ever. I called the manufacturer all mad and wanted a fight, but they just told me they are going to send me a new one. Don't even have to send the old one back.

    Apparently they are giving them away.

    See how this all works out...
     
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  13. Jan 6, 2023
    Dave Deyton

    Dave Deyton Member

    Fuquay-Varina, NC
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    The old Speedglass 9100 I got used from a guy in welding class for $50. Still works, but really showing its age. Been considering the Optrel Crystal 2.0 for a while now.
    Got a couple of Miller hoods that work OK, but the Speedglass is my go to.
    Haven't pulled the trigger on a new Crystal 2.0 but it is tempting me. A friend has one and says it is amazing.
    I need to see him and check it out one day.
    I have found if I wear the progressive lenses, my welds suffer.
    I've got some straight magnifiers in the shop and use them for TIG welding. I always forget them and go in the house. Then I finally realize everything looks weird and have to go back out to the shop and get my real glasses.
    Still thinking about a replacement helmet.

    Dave
     
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  14. Jan 6, 2023
    vtxtasy

    vtxtasy oldbee 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor

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    An old welder that I used for large piping and whatnot, didn't use no stinking auto stuff and mostly stick. He could lay it down.
    Last time I saw him in his 70's rig he was 73. This has been about 5 years.
    Strangely, I was thinking about him this morning before seeing this post and maybe calling
    his wife. A sign?
     
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  15. Jan 6, 2023
    47v6

    47v6 junk wrecker! 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    finished the welds with my Speedglas... The optics are not even close, but I like my eyesight better.
     
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  16. Jan 21, 2023
    47v6

    47v6 junk wrecker! 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    Optrel sent me a complete new Panoramaxxx hood this week. I charged it up and will be using it to tig weld up some tooling here in a bit.
     
  17. Jan 21, 2023
    vtxtasy

    vtxtasy oldbee 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor

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    Called and spoke to his wife for a bit. He is 79 and turning 80 soon. He was out in the field still welding. He will stop when he drops cause he likes it.
    Burning the rod!
     
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  18. Jan 27, 2023
    47v6

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    I used the replacement hood today TIG welding up a spare tire carrier for my CJ. The auto set was too low of a shade, so I had to adjust. The optics and clarity of this one is even better than the last. Its didn't flash me, but the first one didn't right away either.

    The clarity of what you see with this hood is remarkable. I am sure there are other brands with similar technology, and for basic mig or arc welding this hood might not really matter that much... But TIG welding at a bench in a chair in my shop with this hood is very nice.
     
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  19. Jan 29, 2023
    1947cj2a

    1947cj2a Member

    PNW
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    I have an old speedglass for mig and arc. I have a nice Lincoln with the new tech, its more of a blue light when welding which i like much better for TIG as i can see a lot more clearer.
     
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