What recommendation for welding helmet and gloves

[Zeeman]

I'm pretty sure I'm going to purchase my first MIG welder. It's the Lincoln Weld Pak 140. I've used a stick welder, but never a MIG, and it's been a long time since I welded anything.
What would be a good, relatively inexpensive shield and gloves? Thanks.

 

[sberry]

Go right to HF for this. I bought a hood from them as a backup and finally used it after my spensive one shate. It had served me well but I like the HF better. There may be better hoods but I like this one better. The headgear is good and there is a motion switch for on/, way better than fumbling with buttons and it has worked perfect for a year now. I would consider another year to be in the plus side and it was nice to only have 50 parked in spare parts. Going to catch another on sale for road work and again as a backup plan.

 

[Cope]

I've had a Jackson Journeyman for 12 years, but my new favorite is the HTP Stryker line. $99-140.
http://www.usaweld.com/Striker-Welding-Helmet-s/84.htm

For gloves, I like Tillman; they have a large variety to choose from.

 

[L.Cheapo]

I use a Miller Digital Infinity helmet. No it wasn't cheap, yes it is awesome. The viewing field is huge, settings are endless, and it works as it should. I make my living in another field with my eyes, so protecting them is paramount.

My only gripe with it is that it is heavy, but you do get used to it.

I use the Miller lightweight mig gloves. They're nice, and they work as intended. I prefer dexterity to extreme heat resistance. Just don't grab a weld you just made and you'll be fine.

I will add that both of the above cost me practically nothing with the promo Miller ran until Dec. 31 last year.

 

[Zeeman]

Thanks for the suggestions guys.

 

[gmwelder86]

Use a fibremetal pipeliner day in and out. With a nice lens it has served me well and made lots of money.

 

[WILD-BILL]

I'll second the HF helmet. I have 2 of the Metal Head design one's. One at work where I do mig and tig and the other at home which is used for tig only.

I like this because the viewing window is above the solar cell instead of below it like all the others and it lines up with my line of sight better. It also has a little better head gear then the blue flame design helmet as well as being ready for a cheater lense if you decide to go that route.

 

[Stooge]

These have been my go to mig gloves and helmet for the last few years.
Nice, big viewing area, comfortable headgear and works well, controls for it remind me of my last miller pro nondigital helmet. I used to have a Miller digital elite that i got for free from work, but unfortunatly broke it. I liked it but if i had to pay for it, i would be going with a speedglass for the price.
http://store.cyberweld.com/hohoweheimbl.html
And Tillman elkskin stick welding gloves. More dexterity than most of the mig gloves ive used and have been going strong with fairly regular and no shrinkage in the fingers for a good while now. I had been using the tillman gel palm pad, which were comfortable but didnt have same flex as the elkskin ones and didnt last as long

http://store.cyberweld.com/tiweglsuprbl.html

I know people have had good luck with the HF helmets, i bought one as a backup or if i have a second set of hands. Tried it a few times and had alot of heavy eye fatigue, (although it was never enough that i was flashed) that i dont get with other helmets. Possibly doing some damage to my eyes or someone elses was enough to toss it.

 

[BreeStephany]

I love my Speedglas hood, but I know they are a bit more on the pricier side. I do know a lot of people who really like their harbor freight auto darkening hoods. In regard to gloves, Black Stallion pigskin mig gloves... absolutely love the dexterity.

 

[gt1guy]

It depends on how much you plan to weld. Couple welds here and there throughout the year, anything will work. Buy the cheap ****. Once you get up to even a couple big projects a year, quality gear becomes worth the money.

I use TIG gloves for all welding. I just like the extra dexterity they give.

Just replaced an old Miller digital Elite helmet with a Optrel Vegaview 2.5. The Optrel is absolutely fantastic. I think the Miller and the Optrel are about the same price. Not cheap, but worth it.

Kevin

 

[Tom.C]

Kobalt. Huge view area, full adjustability, multiple sensors, solar rechargeable, $110 can't freakin beat it, use one every day.

It has everything a 300 to 500 dollar helmet has

 

[Zeeman]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys. I was in such a hurry to get a welder, and start on my tool chest, I just bought the Lincoln hood and Lincoln red and black gloves at Lowes. I like the gloves, but the hood, not so much.

 

[gdocktor3]

Check out Save Phace for hoods. They're very affordable and Snap On sells them they're that good. My eyes are extremely important to me and I don't care what anyone says, I'm not trusting one from HF. That's just insane IMO. You notice WILDBILL recommended a HF and his text is in blue. He probably doesn't even know....


Save Phace can be found cheaper on eBay, Amazon, etc, but here is their main website. http://www.savephace.com/Welding/EFP-Helmet

 

[MrGiggles]

Spent A LOT of hours behind a HF helmet. The first lasted 5 years, still works but I dropped it from a ladder and broke off the adjustment knob. The only time it flashed me was when I tried welding with the sun in the lens.

Eye doc says all is good.

I don't know what the deal is, but the lens on my new helmet is not as clear. The older style without the adjustable delay was better.

 

[Tim37]

I use a arc one they start at about $100,. So far I'm happy. For gloves what ever cheap leather gloves I get ahold of just don't grab the red/orange glowing parts.

 

[ItsNemo]

I use a Miller Digital Infinity helmet. No it wasn't cheap, yes it is awesome. The viewing field is huge, settings are endless, and it works as it should. I make my living in another field with my eyes, so protecting them is paramount.

My only gripe with it is that it is heavy, but you do get used to it.

I use the Miller lightweight mig gloves. They're nice, and they work as intended. I prefer dexterity to extreme heat resistance. Just don't grab a weld you just made and you'll be fine.

I will add that both of the above cost me practically nothing with the promo Miller ran until Dec. 31 last year.

Nice to hear that...I've got an infinity on the way for myself too.

 

[Jeepster04]

So far I'm liking my miller classic series auto helment. I always check it by pressing the reset button and looking at a light or the sun. Done me well so far and its fairly adjustable. It was only $72 But Ive only welded maybe a dozen times. Cant justify a more $$ unit.

I need some better gloves. Have the typical space man welding gloves that are so awkward you can hardly move your hands.

 

[bczygan]

So which of the HF helmets are the best?

Black Friday has the blue flame design auto darkening a good one?

On sale for Black Friday this weekend for 39.99.
http://www.harborfreight.com/catalogsearch/result?q=63122

Bill

 

[WILD-BILL]

Which one would be best is a matter of your opinion.

All I can say is I used one of my coworkers blue flamed hoods prior to buy my metal head hoods and really didn't notice any difference in being able to see the weld puddle.

As I mentioned earlier, The inverted viewing window, positive stops on the head gear, and the ability to use a cheater if I wanted is what put it over the other models they carry.

 

[lukedwag]

Miller helmet

Tillman gloves

 

[Lacota]

I have a Clutch ( Northern tool) auto helmet at home and it works well. They have one with a larger viewing area than mine for a little more maybe 68$ . they have given me there online website price if it differs.

 

[Lacota]

Here is a picture

 

[velillen01]

I got a Antra AH6-260-0000 Solar Power Auto Darkening Welding Helmet when i picked up my Hobart 210. I like it so far.

For gloves ive been using Tillman. But only cause i got a free pair or two. But i do like them

 

[johndeereman]

Miller or Hobart helmet (I have both)

Tillman gloves

 

[Jamie V]

Maybe it's just me but why is every recommendation for an auto tinting helmet? No one uses a regular old helmet anymore? No batteries to die, nothing in the field of view, nothing blocking the sensors. If I'm doing critical tig welding I'll go to my auto but everything else I use the old flip down Jackson.

 

[PBCampbell]

I'll second Tillman gloves, although I've never had another good brand of gloves. Tillman's fit my hands...well, like a glove, lol.
I have limited experience with auto helmets and like Jamie V prefer old school hoods. Fibre Metal is what I use when I weld. Nice and light and decent head harness. I don't weld for a living though.

 

[four.cycle]

I'm not a welder, but if I was.....

 

[katiexoxo]

I was wondering.. why don't people just use safety glasses with a dark lens instead of helmets? Is it to protect the face skin? If so, why not just put a fabric hood or sock+ safety glasses? Less heavy than a helmet

 

[Jamie V]

I was wondering.. why don't people just use safety glasses with a dark lens instead of helmets? Is it to protect the face skin? If so, why not just put a fabric hood or sock+ safety glasses? Less heavy than a helmet

Multiple reasons. Welding light will burn your skin if exposed (like sunburn) so you need the helmet to protect your skin. Next there are sparks flying around and they burn your face so it shields from them. Then it's to direct the fumes around your head so you don't breath them.

So your fabric hood wouldn't stop the fumes, and the sparks could burn through that fabric. The lense you need to protect your eyes is so dark you can't see through it so by the time you put them on you can't see where to start welding.

 

[velillen01]

Maybe it's just me but why is every recommendation for an auto tinting helmet? No one uses a regular old helmet anymore? No batteries to die, nothing in the field of view, nothing blocking the sensors. If I'm doing critical tig welding I'll go to my auto but everything else I use the old flip down Jackson.

I like the auto darkening just for the ease of it. I can adjust how dark it goes "on the fly" and also after welding if I need to hit a spot with a grinder its a simple turn of a knob (that I can do without taking the helmet off) to go into grind mode for the minute or two I need it.

Just a convenience for me I guess you could say. Though im just an at home guy.

 

[Zeeman]

Thanks for the posts guys. I was in a hurry, so just got the Miller cheap helmet at HD, and the Miller Red and Black gloves. I'll probably upgrade the helmet one day.

 

[Mark in Indiana]

Since I don't weld very frequently, and I learned how to weld using a standard lenses, that's what I stick with.
Hobart helmet from Rural King: 15$.
Gloves from HF: 10$ for a 3 pack.

 

[brownbagg]

I was wondering.. why don't people just use safety glasses with a dark lens instead of helmets? Is it to protect the face skin? If so, why not just put a fabric hood or sock+ safety glasses? Less heavy than a helmet

miller makes them, its like a cloth hat and cloth face shield with auto darking googles