Al. welding helmet

[HEATNBEAT]

I posted this at MM last year. But I thought I would share it here also.
I measured my welding helmet and just free handed this. I just wanted to make something for me for a change
AL_WELDING_HOOD_3.jpg
here I show the offset of the beadroller dies

AL_WELDING_HOOD_1.jpg
lifting the center for the lens

AL_WELDING_HOOD_4.jpg
lens mounting area this will be cut out latter

AL_WELDING_HOOD_5.jpg
I did some wheeling and welding

AL_WELDING_HOOD_6.jpg
plannished the weld on my Mechammer

AL_WELDING_HOOD_7.jpg
tacked the bottom

AL_WELDING_HOOD_9.jpg
made a hand tool to put the wire on the edge.

AL_WELDING_HOOD_10.jpg
I went around 3 x to get to this stage

AL_WELDING_HOOD_11.jpg
bend over 180 degrees

AL_WELDING_HOOD_12.jpg
installing 1/8 al. welding wire on the edge

AL_WELDING_HOOD_13.jpg
I wanted to put a 5/8 offset on the edge

AL_WELDING_HOOD_14.jpg
I still have to cut out for the lens and mount the head ban

AL_WELDING_HOOD_16.jpg
I'll finish it when I get a wild hair for now it is just a wall hanger

[chris@whiterhino]

Man thats bad ass! I like that alot!!

[mr.c]

Rick: Nice work. Interesting approach using the bead roller to raise up the lens area.
I am not sure that it would be a good idea to actually use a metal helmet. It would make a nice antenna for collecting electrical radiation that could give you a decent shock. That combined with a sweaty headband.
Many years ago I had my racecar outside in the dark warming it up. I saw a spark in a place where I wouldn't expect one. It was jumping from a hose clamp to the radiator shroud. It was not touching any metal. It was acting as an antenna collecting electrical radiation from the sparkplug wires (real wires not carbon). Enough collected energy to make a decent spark. I am sure any type of electric welder puts out way more energy than some ignition wire. Just a heads up. Not meant to be a pun but it could be.

[Irrational Metalworks]

I have used aluminum and magnesium helmets that I hand made for about 18 years now. I have worked on race cars inside, outside, underneath and everywhere else a guy can stick his head, and never once have I had even the slightest shock. I know it could happen, but so far so good!
I built mine the same way Huntsman does, shape, fold and rivet. Rick put way more work in his! That will be a nice helmet Rick. There is some time invested in that!