Not logged inAmerican Welding Society Forum
Forum AWS Website Help Search Login
Up Topic Welding Industry / General Welding Discussion / AO Weld Cool Lens or other
- - By DLZBM169 Date 11-16-2010 20:35
I have some AOSafety gold filter plates. They look exactly like the old cobalt blue ones but have a different designation on the actual lens. Instead of AOWC10 is says AOSFG10H. Like I said it's very similar, the filter is sandwiched between two pieces of glass. Does anyone know what the difference is between the two?
Parent - - By Johnny Walker (***) Date 11-16-2010 23:29
The weld cool was supposed to put off radiation I heard one time but I got two a 12 and a 10 used a xray hands sniffer it didn't beep so idk ?
Parent - - By Robert48 (**) Date 11-17-2010 02:05
I don't know much about the "cool blue" lenses. All I know is they go for a fortune on ebay. My question is if people will pay up to $300 for them why does a manufacturer not try to capitolize by producing them again. I mean what did they go for when they were available.
Parent - By Johnny Walker (***) Date 11-17-2010 02:46
Idk either
Parent - By Tyler1970 (***) Date 11-18-2010 23:42
last i hear was like 60 bucks
Parent - By ssbn727 (*****) Date 11-18-2010 09:32
Hi DLZBM169!

Please check out this link form an older thread in here regarding the very same lenses:

http://www.aws.org/cgi-bin/mwf/topic_show.pl?pid=177427;hl=AO%20Weld%20Cool%20Lens

Here's another thread which will give you enough infor to satisfy one's curiosity on this subject:

http://www.aws.org/cgi-bin/mwf/topic_show.pl?pid=181033;hl=AO%20Weld%20cool%20lens

Finally, Here is the link to all of the threads previously posted on this topic in "THE WORLD'S GREATEST WELDING FORUM!!! SO WELDCOME!!! :) :) :)":

http://www.aws.org/cgi-bin/mwf/forum_search.pl?words=AO+Weld+cool+lens&user=&board=0&min=&max=&field=body&sort=time&order=desc

By the time you read them all with all of the listed links included, you will be much more informed on these lenses than before and that's a promise! ;)

Respectfully,
Henry
- - By DLZBM169 Date 11-18-2010 13:05
Henry, thanks for all the links. I read through them but my question still seems unanswered. I didn't see anywhere that there has been a comparison between the AOSFG and the AOWC. I know that the AOWC is the old Weld-Cool lens but I am not sure what the AOSFG is. It looks just like a Weld-Cool in the sense that it has the filter sandwiched in between to layers of glass and is also gold mirrored. Is it possible that they are the same lens just a newer version?
Parent - - By ssbn727 (*****) Date 11-18-2010 22:02
The technology is similar only improved from the original AOWC... In other words, the older lens were made from glass with the specific chemicals added when the glass was being manufactured... Now the newer AOSFG lenses are made of a proprietary polycarbonate (similar chemicals are blended into the polycarbonate as part of the proprietary manufacturing process, and then coated with 24K gold and finally coated with the exclusive DX  anti-fog hard coat to minimize fogging, scratching, static and chemical attack and to protect the gold coating.

Now to answer your question from another perspective... The AOWC acronym stands for American Optical Weld Cool, and AOSFG acronym stands for American Optical Safety Filter or Film Gold. ;) So the difference is the 24 Karat Gold Filter or Film.

Here's the link for the .pdf on the newer lens from AO Safety which is now owned by Aearo Technologies Group which is part of 3M...

http://209.200.67.149/pdf/headnface/weldcool.pdf

Here's the Aearo Technologies Group home page:

http://www.aearo.com/default2.cfm

Here's AO Safety's product home page with links to all of their .pdf's which cover their wide variety of safety products:

http://www.aearo.com/industrial/prod_lit.cfm

If you want to discuss with their Technical Support department any other questions regarding their products, you can use this link:

http://www.aearo.com/industrial/techsupport.htm

Hopefully this will answer your question. ;)

Respectfully,
Henry
Parent - - By DLZBM169 Date 11-19-2010 00:30
Hmm so the gold filter is a polycarbonate that is sandwiched between the glass pieces now? Weird. Looks exactly like the old AOWC's like I said except for the new designation on the lens itself. Are the new glass AOSFG lenses as rare as the old ones?
Parent - - By ssbn727 (*****) Date 11-19-2010 02:43 Edited 11-19-2010 02:45
No, and they're less expensive... Think about it... The newer AOSFG's are being produced as we speak, and the older AOWC's are no longer in production since the early eighties if my memory serves me right. ;)

Bottom line is the fact that each of these lenses were made by two totally different companies using the same name brand... However, one can achieve the same results one would get from the older lenses at a less expensive investment by following the recommendations I listed in some of my previous posts, and the components are more readily replaceable compared to replacing an older version broken lens. ;)

So you need to decide which route to take in order to eliminate sodium flare which is what makes the Weld cool lens unique and yet can also be achieved by using these newer "athermal" welding filter lenses from Phillips safety...

Here is the link to the Athermal welding filter .pdf info:

http://www.phillips-safety.com/store/images/Welding-Safety/pics/AnthermalTechData.pdf

Here's the thread where I list what I currently use that results in a much clearer, focused view of the weld pool than can be observed even with the older type AOWC's:

http://www.phillips-safety.com/store/index.php?cPath=40_58

These are the specific safety glasses I use:

http://www.phillips-safety.com/store/index.php?cPath=40_58

All of this info can be found on this previous thread:

http://www.aws.org/cgi-bin/mwf/topic_show.pl?pid=181011;hl=AO%20Weld%20Cool%20Lens

You decide which is better suited to your preferences. ;) I'm done with this topic. ;) 

Respectfully,
Henry
Parent - - By joe pirie (***) Date 11-22-2010 01:55
i tried a phillips gold lens wasn't impressed. id take an old  AO cool lens .
Parent - - By ssbn727 (*****) Date 11-23-2010 03:03
You need to buy the Anti-sodium flare safety glasses and use them with the Phillip welding lens in order to get the same clarity of the puddle Joe. ;)

Respectfully,
Henry
Parent - By Chris2626 (***) Date 11-23-2010 05:00
philips safety lens with gold mirror. I've turn a few people at work onto this lens, about the closes you will get to a ao weld cool hell I've compared with my original AO there the same other then the weld cool maybe a spec more soothing because it is such a deep blue color but as far as being clear there the same in my book and my eyes are pretty good.

Thanks Henry, I don't know how muich money I would have spent if it wasn't for you telling me about this lense, it's been a long search for a clear lense

Chris
Up Topic Welding Industry / General Welding Discussion / AO Weld Cool Lens or other

Powered by mwForum 2.29.2 © 1999-2013 Markus Wichitill