Lincoln Viking 3350 vs Miller Elite

[toplessHO]

I see quite a bit of *^%$** my Miller Elite quit etc.
I dont see this with the Lincoln so leaning towards that
So wheres the best place to buy? I see a $50 rebate on the Viking
so wondering if theres any black Friday deals out there.

 

[finn]

Just my opinion, but I think both Lincoln and Miller have jumped the shark and priced themselves out of the novice / beginner / hobbiest market.

This coming from someone that has Miller mig and plasma equipment but switched to HTP and now, for my latest purchase, Primeweld.

 

[GeoBruin]

Just my opinion, but I think both Lincoln and Miller have jumped the shark and priced themselves out of the novice / beginner / hobbiest market.

This coming from someone that has Miller mig and plasma equipment but switched to HTP and now, for my latest purchase, Primeweld.

We're talking helmets here...

 

[NC Fabricator25]

Just went through the same debate, needed an upgrade from my Antra off shore helmet that hasn't been functioning reliably lately. Seemed the lower end price point for premium helmets is in the $3-$400 range. The Lincoln 3350 has solid reviews all around, and the $50 debate sealed the deal. I just ordered from IOC, $300 "sale" price, free S/H, and a nominal discount ($10?) for first time customers, plus rebate. Best deal I could find.

Only Black Friday deals I could find were on the lower end helmets.

Good luck.

 

[toplessHO]

Just went through the same debate, needed an upgrade from my Antra off shore helmet that hasn't been functioning reliably lately. Seemed the lower end price point for premium helmets is in the $3-$400 range. The Lincoln 3350 has solid reviews all around, and the $50 debate sealed the deal. I just ordered from IOC, $300 "sale" price, free S/H, and a nominal discount ($10?) for first time customers, plus rebate. Best deal I could find.

Only Black Friday deals I could find were on the lower end helmets.

Good luck.

thanks for that

The Lincoln says 3 yr warranty so hope that never need to try that out.

 

[corn chip]

does the lincoln feel like a cinder block on your head with a filter that big ?

 

[finn]

We're talking helmets here...

My main helmet is a Speedglas.

Ordered an unknown brand from Amazon Friday.

There must be hundreds of brands of welding helmets out there, but I am unaware of any minimum performance standards. Fu
nny how they are all the latest and greatest technology but none of the ads include any sort of performance specs.

 

[Sweetcorn]

Just my opinion, but I think both Lincoln and Miller have jumped the shark and priced themselves out of the novice / beginner / hobbiest market.

This coming from someone that has Miller mig and plasma equipment but switched to HTP and now, for my latest purchase, Primeweld.

I'm up to my eyeballs in Miller equipment and I'm happy with everything but the helmets. I'm done buying those for the foreseeable future.

I just bought an Optrel Crystal 2.0 and like it a lot so far, but I haven't had it long enough to talk about durability.

If this Optrel doesn't hold up, I'll probably go back to Speedglass. Honestly wouldn't look at another Miller at this time.

Ive only played around with a Lincoln 3350 but it felt pretty heavy to me so I opted out.

 

[brownbagg]

the viking not bad, not heavy, the outer plastic covers giving me a glare

 

[GeoBruin]

does the lincoln feel like a cinder block on your head with a filter that big ?

I went with the 2450 for that reason. I haven't encountered a situation where I couldn't see, but I also don't weld out of position much.

 

[scooby074]

I got a older Miller Big Window Elite. Ive been happy with it. The lens **** the bed a few years ago and Miller went good for it so I cant complain. Headgear has been tough and its pretty comfortable. It eats batteries and the autodark is a bit too sensitive for grinding.

But compared to the state of the art its a POS if Im being honest. Its a 10+ yr old helmet so things have come a long way. I tried a Speedglass big window and its night and day better. Clearer, brighter, more comfortable. I almost pulled the trigger on one last year. If the BWE finally dies again, thats what Im getting.

 

[whateg01]

I'm very happy with my Lincoln. The only thing I don't like, compared to my old optrel is that I have to take it off to switch to grind mode.

 

[corn chip]

My main helmet is a Speedglas.

Ordered an unknown brand from Amazon Friday.

There must be hundreds of brands of welding helmets out there, but I am unaware of any minimum performance standards. Fu
nny how they are all the latest and greatest technology but none of the ads include any sort of performance specs.

yes theres safety standards the shell and filter are suppose to meet. sometimes but maybe not always , on the side of the box youll see something like : complies with csa z94.3 and ansi z87. also it should say something about the compliance on the owners manual in the box. at the very least ,i believe the shell ,outer cover lens and filter are required to have safety rating on them ( molded in , cast in , laser etched in ). safety glasses i believe have the same requirment. look on the inside of the frame ( sometimes on the lens also ) you should see something like z87+.
heres the big question. is it possible for those lesser known ,sketchy ,under the radar companies to skate past the safety ratings. im sure its possible some how.
i barely trust my eyes in a expensive well known helmet. no way in hell im putting on some cheap amazon garbage

 

[toplessHO]

"i barely trust my eyes in a expensive well known helmet. no way in hell im putting on some cheap amazon garbage"

hence why Im here not comparing HF stuff.

This would be my sons first helmet dont want him ruining his eyes like a few welders I have known.
Many years I struggled with 12&13 fixed lens at the advise of my eye doctor,but I bought the Lincoln 4C lens
and am happy with it.
As I understand the new Lincoln has an external button to press for grinding

 

[corn chip]

I went with the 2450 for that reason. I haven't encountered a situation where I couldn't see, but I also don't weld out of position much.

ya i dont get it. maybe people want to see the entire room with those jumbo filters. few years ago i tried the miller infinity (3350 equivalent) for a short time. felt like a dump truck on my head

 

[gerlbaum]

Have you considered a Jackson? I bought their arc angel trusight ii and I am very pleased.

 

[toplessHO]

Just went through the same debate, needed an upgrade from my Antra off shore helmet that hasn't been functioning reliably lately. Seemed the lower end price point for premium helmets is in the $3-$400 range. The Lincoln 3350 has solid reviews all around, and the $50 debate sealed the deal. I just ordered from IOC, $300 "sale" price, free S/H, and a nominal discount ($10?) for first time customers, plus rebate. Best deal I could find.

Only Black Friday deals I could find were on the lower end helmets.

Good luck.

whos IOC?NM I found it
thanks

 

[toplessHO]

just ordered from Baker gas as Ive dealt with them in past
they matched the price of IOC including coupon

 

[toplessHO]

Got the 3350 from Baker,very fast shipping.
So I did a comparison here.
A while back I replaced my autodark lens in my old helmet with the new 4C Lincoln lens....very nice.
I kept my old helmet because I havent found one as light as it.
So heres a side by side comparison.
Granted the 3350 is beefier and has larger picture window but its almost 2x the weight.

 

[boom_bap]

I've had two Millers. The first one was a hand me down and it still works just eats batteries. I purchased a newer one when they came out with clearlight 4/5 years ago. It has been great no issues with it at all. Hasn't crapped out or anything. It was way cheaper then than now though. the prices are insane these days for hoods. I'd probably go speedglass if I were to do it all over.