Optrel Satellite Welding mask

[leon phelps]

Hello,

I am the sad owner of an Optrel Satellite OSE Evolution welding mask. I purchased the mask three years ago. I have used it no more than 40 times. I paid over $380 for the mask. It was supposed to be the super duper state of the art mask that would give my eyes the best protection humanly possible. At the time, I was learning to weld at the local tech school for adult continuing education. I know that I only have one set of eyes. I would not skimp on something so important in life.

So here goes my saga. I started doing some welding again a few months ago. I was having trouble with my eyes twitching. I stopped welding for a couple days figuring my problems was probably from reading. I do computer networking for my main source of income. I also own a marina and do everything under the sun to generate revenue at the marina. With the crappy economy, the marina is on the back burner since disposable income is at an all time low. I took a job doing some small welding to a trailer frame. After two or three months of my eyes bothering me, I decided to go to the doctor. I went to a Dr Merrick Kane. He is one of the pioneers in Lasik technology and a doctor at the Wills Eye hospital in Philadelphia. Doctor Kane told me chances are my problem was eye strain related. So I dealt with the problem. My eyes stopped twitching for a while. Then I started welding again.

My problems came back. I asked around to a few welders in the area who work at the Philly Kaverner Ship yard. They all told me my problem was with the mask. Something about certain wavelengths of light traveling through the mask, while the important ones were blocked.

I then looked at my mask. I tried to put the mask in grind mode. Grind mode will not black out the mask when sparks are present. The mask would not go to grind mode. Now I know something is wrong with the mask. I then took my mask to the dealer (AIRGAS of Bensalem, PA), where I bought it. After a week of ignoring my calls and wasting my time, I called back and got the manager who told me the mask was made in 2004 and that the warranty is for only two years. I know I purchased the mask in September of 2004.

Bottom line is I have only used this mask less than 40 times. That breaks down to $10 per use. I am on the original clear cover.

If anyone here has any suggestion for how I should procede to help get a replacement for free, let me know. I think I am being realistic that a barely used mask should have held up better.

Thanks for any input with my problem.

Joe Francano

[SavageSunJeep]

Joe that might be a struggle. The fact that you claim you have used the helmet less than 40 times over a 4 year time frame just does not hold water to anyone that works on that side of the counter...They have no idea how often you have used your helmet. In fact you might well have been wearing your helmet as daily wear for all they know.

That helmet has this feature:

"Eye Protection - Several LCD's and special filters provide permanent Shade 14 protection from dangerous UV and IR radiation, even in the unlikely event of total filter failure."

Even in the event of total failure you are getting Shade 14 UV and IR protection. Yet you say you are having problems with your eyes. You very well might have over sensitive eyes. Plus what shade are you using on the helmet.

I own that helmet and I cannot say enough good about it.

[FM117]

I have a Optrel about the same age with lots of time on it.
Not had any issues with it or my eyes.
I'd recommend contacting Optrel directly and see if they would
offer any help. Often a end user will have better luck than
a actual dealer handling with some issues. It is out of warranty
but some companys have some written/unwritten "goodwill"
policies that may help.
I'd stay out of the long tale of eyesight woe and just state that the
grind function died. Be nice!
Dave P.

[leon phelps]

Joe that might be a struggle. The fact that you claim you have used the helmet less than 40 times over a 4 year time frame just does not hold water to anyone that works on that side of the counter...They have no idea how often you have used your helmet. In fact you might well have been wearing your helmet as daily wear for all they know.

That helmet has this feature:

"Eye Protection - Several LCD's and special filters provide permanent Shade 14 protection from dangerous UV and IR radiation, even in the unlikely event of total filter failure."

Even in the event of total failure you are getting Shade 14 UV and IR protection. Yet you say you are having problems with your eyes. You very well might have over sensitive eyes. Plus what shade are you using on the helmet.

I own that helmet and I cannot say enough good about it.

I had nothing but good things to say about this until the problems.

Since you are misinformed about the helmet, there is an original clear cover and an original head band; both are different from the replacement items. This was pointed out to me by the person at the counter of the local supply shop. Also, the number of scratches on the plastic parts of the helmet would show how much use the helmet has. I buy all of my welding supplies from the place, so they pretty much know I am telling them the truth. Any person who is behind the counter that would counter the claim would never get a dime of my business again.

I use the 9-13 range, 10 setting and fast delay.

I am still finding it hard to believe that a product that markets itself as the best in eye protection can have such poor response and policies to potential problems with customers.

It is possible that my eyes have changed, but the lack of ability to put my helmet in grinding mode, one of the big selling points for the helmet, should be a concern to the company.

[deafman]

try a longer delay

I weld on light steel, mig welding, and probably strike 1,500 arcs a day sometimes. I use the auto shade set at 12 and a medium delay. A short delay will often give me tired eyes by lunch and a #10 shade will make me see spots. A medium delay will let the puddle dim a little bit. The darkening in the lens may not be uniform either.

[leon phelps]

Thanks for the info. I have tried the 12 setting. No real changed in the puddle I see when welding.

There is no medium setting, only fast or slow.

I really never saw spots, just the twitching in my eyes.

[FusionKing]

I would contact the mfg. Counter people do not weld and good help is hard to find. BUT mfgs ARE scared of lawsuits.
I find electronics work better when used frequently sometimes...I would twist all the knobs and flip all the switches many times and weld with it a bunch.

[mudsplasher]

I have an Optrel Satelite that is approximately a year old. I work away from home as a merchant seaman, and my hood sits in the dark for upwards of two months. If I try to use it straight from the bag, I will get flashed and the grind mode will not work. If I allow it to sit out for a couple hours it works just fine.

I also have a Miller Elite, which I take to work with me. I prefer the Optrel due to the better visibility. I don't take it because some folks at work have sticky fingers.

[paulrbrown]

Leon, what color shirts are you wearing, light colors are very bad for reflecting UV and then bouncing them inside the helmet, laundry detergents actually have UV reflective agents in them to make clothes look brighter. go to dark clothes and make sure the helmet is down far enough to prevent light from sneaking underneath, hope this helps,Paul

[Vicegrip]

Do you have any symptoms of UV damage like "sand in the eye" or burning sensation the night after welding or seeing a light haze almost like there is slight smoke in the room? If not you might be condemning the helmet for something it is not directly a part of. ether way don't take any chances with you eyes use fresh batteries or charged helmet or try a standard glass helmet and see if the problem persists.

I got singed a little by using a a helmet I modified to fit a respirator under. I was using it for one of the typical little jobs that grows. I was not using the respirator and the unblocked opening let in enough UV to give me a toasty chin and a slight eye burn.

[FusionKing]

And maybe you are just being "mind controlled" by your welder

It is a very addicting thing you know....maybe you're just having flashbacks from your recent welding experience and really need to get back at it to get your fill

What are you welding on and what machine have you been using??

My advice: WELD MORE....you'll adjust and try a regular hood while yer at it.

[Broccoli1]

I would contact the mfg. Counter people do not weld and good help is hard to find. BUT mfgs ARE scared of lawsuits.
I find electronics work better when used frequently sometimes...I would twist all the knobs and flip all the switches many times and weld with it a bunch.

Why should they be scared?

This product provides protection even if it fails to go dark- worst you are going to get is sore eyes- Welders Flash- No permanent damage. All UV rays are blocked by the Clear state of the Screen- I don't know of a helmet that does not provide this protection- Clear Safety glasses provide this UV- Protection.


Just the fact of welding- ya know going from Light to dark-dark to light could be causing simple eye fatigue.

He would have to weld with another Hood to determine if this is the case.

New Hood- same problem= fatigue
New Hood-No eye twitch- then the Optrel could be the culprit.


Joe,

Have you tried putting the hood under a light for a spell to see if the Solar cell can be recharged?



(I have the same hood)

[leon phelps]

I have tried leaving the hood in the sun per directions from someone at the AWS board.

I called corporate on Monday. I left a voice mail. My call was returned an hour lated. I was told that the person would check with the decision maker and get RIGHT back to me.

After waiting two days, I called again today. I made sure I got to speak to the decision maker. He informed me that my problem should be from a dead battery that Optrel does not want to service. He told me he had a demo unit from a corporate account that he would ship to me free of charge. He said for liability reasons he could never admit that the malfunctioning hood was responsible for my eye problems...wink wink.

Obviously waiting to get the correct person at the corporate office was the necessary step. I usually blow my stack and go nuts with these problems.

I made sure to explain to this guy that I bought the hood from a local distributor. I paid $400 plus for the hood. I had no interest in buying another cartridge for $200 plus. I also told him if I was forced to pay for anything, I would make sure to never buy another Optrel product.


Lets hope the cartridge gets here in working order and that I will be welding again in a few days.

Thanks for the help and for the sarcasm.

It is appreciated.

[ridesideways]

i would never use a helmet that is only powered by solar cells. does the optrel have batteries, or is it strictly solar? my helmet is a jackson nexgen and has both batteries and solar-- wouldn't have it any other way.

[tnjind]

I love my nextgen, I have used the Jackson Journeyman- POS. and the Speedylens niether have 4 sensors like the Nextgen. Nextgen= no flash, period.