Well, at HTP, we always listen to our customers. And whenever we can, we put their suggestions into production. For example, many of our customers are repairing cars, working on equipment, or welding in areas which aren't so well lit. Standard auto-darkening helmets are a shade 4 in the light state (the light state is when you aren't welding and can see through the helmet), which is comparable

Striker Helmets
(listed left to right)

Striker #90135-M

Striker Variable #90130-M

Striker Ultra XL #90130-60-M

Head Gear - you told us you wanted a good quality headgear. Nothing is more frustrating than spending a lot of money on an auto-darkening helmet only to find it has a cheap headgear. We improved the ratcheting headgear of our striker hehnets to a push & lock.

But how do these things work? Very simply put, when you strike the welding arc, the light from the arc is sensed by a photo electric eye on the auto-darkening cartridge. The eye sends a signal to a solid state circuit board in the cartridge that is powered by 2 AAA batteries providing 700 hours of welding time. The circuit board then applies a small electric current to the welding lens, which makes it dark- en. And all of this happens in 1/12,500 of a second - the fastest auto-darkening helmet on the planet!  

Are they safe? 1/12,500 second is fast, but it's not the speed of light. However, OSHA requires that Auto-Darkening Welding Hehnets have a passive safety device (something that will protect you from a flashburn all the time). This is the band pass filter. It's what gives the lens its blue tint. Now what exactly do we mean by "band pass"? It means only cer- tain "bands" or "wavelengths" of light can pass through, and doesn't let any other "bands" through. So simply put, the "band pass" filter only lets visible light through, but filters out the infrared (IR) and ultraviolet (UV), which are the damaging rays, to a shade 14. The bottom line is this; if you have a Striker Helmet on your head, start welding, and for some reason forgot to turn it on, or it failed to darken, you have more protection from a flashburn than you would if you had a conventional helmet with a shade 12 lens in it. In fact, these helmets are so safe that I recommend taping off the sensors so they can't see the arc for plasma cutting. That way, the helmet stays in the light state. Because the plasma cutting arc still has dangerous UV and IR rays, but doesn't have a very bright arc a Striker helmet in the light state is the best way to plasma cut.

Finally: All striker Helmets use standard cover plates. Strikers are powered by 2 "AAA" bateries which are inexpensive and easily replaceable, not solar cells that can break or not recharge fast enough for tack welding. And all Striker helmets are made in America and backed by a 2-year warranty.

For our friends who wear Bi-focals:

Let's face it, some of you wear bi-focal glasses. I've heard the complaints - your glasses fog up, you have a hard time lining up the bi-focal lens and the welding lens at the same time, and so on. Well, did you know there are magnifying lenses (commoonly called "cheater lenses") available? These magnifying lenses come in different magnifications to match your bi-focal prescription. They fit all helmets whih use standard 2" x 1/4"lenses and fit all the Striker helmets (XL's require an adapter). If you wear bi-focals, then try one of our magnifiers - it's sure to make welding much easier.

Which helmet is right for you? Compare the specifications of each helmet in the table below, or click one of these links to see the helmet in more detail: Striker   Striker Variable   Striker Ultra.