Made in USA Welding Helmet

[oldtimehockey]

I just became the owner of a Miller 211 mig unit and wish to get a good Made in USA welding helmet.

Can anybody make a recommendation? I've seen some good reviews for the Striker Stealth helmets but I am unsure of where they are manufactured.

Are some of the Jackson helmets a good USA choice? Thank you for sharing your time and experiences.

 

[Skin]

Not even sure there is such a thing, at least for auto darkening.

 

[chrisa7164]

I think Fibre metal are still made in the USA. I know all the ones I have were

 

[BD1]

I like the Miller Elite.

 

[Skin]

I like the Miller Elite.

China. Its a nice helmet though.

 

[Stephenw]

Go Swedish, or go home.

Speedglas

 

[Rezeppa]

This is something where COO is not a good determining factor. Everyone has an opinion when it comes to a welding hood. You should go to a welding supply and try them on flip them find the most comfortable and easiest for you to use. Listening to others opinions are worthless in this decision. I have a narrow head and I have always felt Speedglas and the super lightweight Jackson's were the most comfortable and easiest for me to use so that's what I buy. Again though what works for me might not be comfortable for you.

 

[zkling]

Do you want an auto dark or passive/fixed shade helmet?

I'm pretty sure that the jackson helmets are USA made. I know my cheap fixed shade jackson is.

 

[Todd.Brock]

Jackson Nexgen is made in USA. I have one and like it a lot. I don't weld for a living so all day comfort is not crucial. Mine is auto darkening , has a weld, grind, torch (me thinks) mode? Sometimes in the garage it picks up sunlight and won't un darken. It's kind of weird, I need to swap out the batteries and give it a try.

 

[theknurl]

oldtimehockey;
here's a thread about helmets, lenses and cheaters;
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=214547&page=2

 

[ADSR]

Go Swedish, or go home.

Speedglas

Had 3 of them. My digital elite beats them all IMO.

 

[zkling]

Sometimes in the garage it picks up sunlight and won't un darken.

Are you sure it is the sunlight? I've had AD helmets act goofy with overhead florescent lighting. Maybe try adjusting the sensitivity of it. Just another reason I like the cheap fixed shades, not much to screw up, just what I need.

 

[theknurl]

Are you sure it is the sunlight? I've had AD helmets act goofy with overhead florescent lighting. Maybe try adjusting the sensitivity of it. Just another reason I like the cheap fixed shades, not much to screw up, just what I need.

zkling;
+1,000

like i need more electronic BS in my life.....

my Panasonic answering machine has decided to only record 1 message.......it just overwrites the previous one
i come home there is 1 message and 17 missed calls and 16 PO people

my buddy Bob makes ECUs and electronic motorcycle instruments like GPS speedos for Bonneville

the gauges have a photocell on the face so you don't get blinded at night but you can see the in direct sunlight, he's been doing it for ~25years

any cell phone do that?

not, that i know of

its like having digital Amp/voltage meters on a TIG or MIG machine vs a knob with a dial......which will fail 1st?????

as if we don't know and how do you see the digital meters when you're on the pedal/trigger?

 

[iroc409]

the gauges have a photocell on the face so you don't get blinded at night but you can see the in direct sunlight, he's been doing it for ~25years

any cell phone do that?

not, that i know of

My Samsung Android-based phone does that (S3), and I'm sure many others do as well. My Sony laptop does it, as well (in Windows; not so much in Linux).

 

[Todd.Brock]

I will try it outside. Thanks. Can't help with the answering machine...flip the cassette tape maybe?

 

[oldtimehockey]

I am so pathetic, I don't even know if I want an auto dark or fixed lens...green lens or gold lens...etc, etc.

I have no real welding experience so I am a blank slate...I wouldn't know what a good helmet even feels like.

Sorry but thank you again for all of your opinions...

 

[Todd.Brock]

I too learning to weld. It sucked getting all set up and then have to try and find where you wanted to weld in the dark. I have a Lincoln fixed shade hood that was 30 bucks at lowes. It works great. Not comfortable though. I wanted auto darkening so it was one less thing to worry about. Just my .o2.

 

[zkling]

If you can go for it, I'd get a nice auto dark helmet, especially since it sounds like you will be doing quite a bit of mig work. I primarily do tig work so the fixed shade is my go to majority of the time. The only reason I have an older miller auto dark helmet is because I won it in a promotion type thing. Otherwise I would not and could not spend the bucks for a nice one.

One tip with the fixed shade helmets. If you do go that route, use a halogen or other type of flood light to illuminate the work piece. I find that I can see just enough through a #10 shade to start my arc where I want.

 

[oldtimehockey]

Pardon my ignorance, but what is fixed shade versus auto dark? See how stupid I am...all you pros are laughing right now...glad I could help you get a few laughs for today. Open up a brewski and set a spell, I've got a million of them.

 

[oldtimehockey]

I'll just be welding in my dopey garage...forgot to mention that...nothing glamorous at all...

 

[my58]

Many of the pros will tell you its best to learn the correct way from the start, often that means old school.

This is the 1 time I will say since you are going to have enough of a learning curve as is, go with an auto darkening. with the auto darkening you can keep your lid down all the time, when you strike or start welding it will automatically darken and protect your eyes. A fixed mask will need to be flipped up and down. It is not difficult but it is a bit of an art and 1 more thing you do not need to deal with when starting out.

I have a number of lids but I can agree with the member who suggested the Miller Elite. I love mine.

You also got a great welder in the 211. Autoset is a nice way to start, however pretty quickly you will be wanting to adjust the settings yourself.

Watch the many HOW To mig weld videos on you tube. There is great information out there. be sure to use proper safety gear, good gloves and welding jacket is a must.

Get some scrap and start practicing, then fabricate yourself a welding table.

Have fun and remember everyone was new to welding once. There are no stupid questions and the beautiful welds you see guys on GJ laying down comes from years of experience. You to will eventually get there.

Keep us posted on your progress.

 

[jpinca]

Gotta say I've been pleased with the harbor freight auto darkening helmet

I'm sure the name brands are better, especially if you weld for a living.

 

[buening]

If you go with an autodarkening helmet, get as big of a window as possible. Nothing ***** any worse than looking through a tiny lens IMO. I bought a gently used Lincoln 2450 Viking helmet on ebay for $100 and am very happy with it, and I'm just a garage welding newb

 

[oldtimehockey]

So I am seeing that auto dark and fixed shade are 2 different things...auto dark sounds great to me.

Does fixed shade mean that the darkness of the lens cannot be adjusted? Some masks I see say the lens darkness can range from 8 or 9 up to 12 or 13?

Can I assume you can have a variable darkness lens that can also come on automatically when you start welding?

Seems as though auto dark with the capability to darken (or lighten) the lens would be pretty nifty.

Thank you.

 

[buening]

It is very handy, as you don't have to constantly flip the hood up and down each time you stop and start welding. It automatically darkens when you start welding, and lightens back up so you can see when you stop welding. If you have the extra budget, I highly recommend one.

 

[64Trvlr]

I've got 2 Huntsman fiber hoods I really like.

 

[oldtimehockey]

Thank you My58...you are very kind.

Thanks to all for your time and opinions, I appreciate them.

 

[krautracer]

The Jackson helments are still made in the USA. I worked there for a while.
I have one off the Nexgen helments. I really like it alot.

 

[cnc-me]

I'm happy with my Jackson Next-Gen.
Made in USA.

 

[cnc-me]

Gotta say I've been pleased with the harbor freight auto darkening helmet

I'm sure the name brands are better, especially if you weld for a living.

Had one of those in the past, and it worked very well.
Like the shade dial being on the outside.
The head gear is good as well.
The only problem is you can't replace the batteries in them.

 

[innealtoir]

China. Its a nice helmet though.

For what it's worth I believe they are coming from South Korea.

I vote Huntsman Slider if you are on the cheap for a fixed shade! If cheap auto darkening maybe a cheap Miller or Jackson? (Don't waste your money on HF, imho.)