I need a recommendation for a welding helmet

[MOS3522]

My nephew is starting a once-a-week intro welding class after school on Thursdays. The tuition for the class was my birthday gift to him as he's in 12th grade finishing high school. He's waiting to hear back from a few schools but is going on to study engineering next year (knock on wood)

Before he starts the class, I would like to get him a decent -- but entry level -- welding helmet/shield that he can use for the class. Good enough, but not top end, recognizing he may need to upgrade it later should he continue in the trade. FWIW, this intro class is MIG welding only.

Does anyone have good recommendations of what to look for? Auto darkening? Lightweight? Cool graphics?

Appreciate any help - TIA!

 

[Snapped-off]

Miller and Lincoln offer basic auto darkening helmets. I have a Selstrom at work that's not bad.

 

[joel_400]

I've got a Lincoln, that I won in a raffle...it's high dollar, but I like my cheapo Hobart much better! Seems everytime I use the Lincoln the battery is dead, but I've only replaced the battery in my Hobart once or twice since I've owned it, around 4 years. I've known some guys to have good luck with the Harbor Frieght ones as well. If you get them on sale it's hard to beat the price.
Joel

 

[Kaervak]

I've had my Hobart Pro Series helmet for almost ten years now. Great helmet, nice big viewing area, very adjustable head gear and pretty light overall. The autodark has always worked flawlessly and it has a grind mode too. The Pro series doesn't exist anymore, at least in name. It's been changed to the Inventor series now and has had a couple minor tweaks. Definitely a very good helmet without a crazy pricetag.

 

[ItsNemo]

Auto Darkening definitely, otherwise he's likely to get flashed.

I have a Miller Digital Elite for myself and a Lincoln low-range one for guests (not sure model, it's some hardware store special, but decent). Either brand along with ESAB or 3m Speedglass or Optrel are all going to be fine.

 

[corn chip]

miller ,lincoln and esab all have cheap entry level helmets. they would be good enough for a kid in his first welding class. if he pursues welding further ,he'll quickly realize why the cheap ones are cheap

 

[corn chip]

Auto Darkening definitely, otherwise he's likely to get flashed.

I have a Miller Digital Elite for myself and a Lincoln low-range one for guests (not sure model, it's some hardware store special, but decent). Either brand along with ESAB or 3m Speedglass or Optrel are all going to be fine.

im a big fan of speedglas ( have two at work and two at home ) ,but their least expensive model that i could recomend in good conscience is $300. im doubting the op wants to get that far into a helmet for a young kid. theres one model about $265 but its bare bones and doesnt even have delay adjustment. avoid this helmet imo.

miller classic is only $109. 8-12 shade. has full range adjustment for delay and sensitivity. i think this would be my pick for a young kid just starting.

but the op made no mention of what his actual budget is.

 

[MOS3522]

Budget is as little as possible that gets a quality helmet. I'm already out 2500 bucks for the class, so it's been an investment already! But my nephew is a good kid and worth it.

 

[mogandave]

I am a Speedglas fan, but if my kid was going to take a once-a-week MIG welding class I would buy him a fixed-shade big-window Jackson HSL-100 or similar.

If he goes to Engineering school he will not need a welding helmet and if he decides to be a welder, he'll have to decide what he likes. Engineering degree with an AWS Inspector certification would be great.

A high-quality, fixed shade helmet should cost about $50 and will have readily available consumables and will last twenty years or more.

 

[tarmy]

Plenty of good advice…but do NOT FORGET that the fumes can be very dangerous too.

I have one set of eyes and lunges…so I spent the extra money to protect them. Not saying you should…but I hope the instruction he is getting include adequate breathing protection and that he get the best you/he can afford helmet/eye pro.

 

[dr_clyde]

I use a fixed shade Jackson Shadow with a #10 gold lens. It’s about $50. It’s also NOT auto darkening. Welders used fixed shade hoods for years and years before automatic helmets became prolific. I prefer the large window, crystal clear lens optics and the rugged, simple headgear. They don’t have batteries to go dead, the don’t break when do drop them or get them wet, and they use cheap, readily available cover lenses.

Once he graduates and starts his career he can then choose whatever hood he wants.

Auto darkening helmets are convenient and nice to use, but by no means required. I own a few and use them occasionally when I need to, but by and large I much prefer the fixed shade Jackson.

I made my living for the last decade or so by welding, and have a LOT of hours under various helmets. I grab the Jackson 99% of the time, and I’ve got some really nice automatic helmets.

 

[mogandave]

Fumes from MIG welding are typically not very harmful, particularly not in a well-ventilated school environment.

 

[HamAndEggs]

I got into Welding last year, got the Hobart 770890 and I'm very happy with it

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07MKRYWMD/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[nadogail]

IMHO, an Auto Darkening helmet will help anyone starting out to be a better Weldor. Mine came from Harbor Freight about 10 years ago.

Being Solar powered I have yet to need a battery change.

 

[mogandave]

IMHO, an Auto Darkening helmet will help anyone starting out to be a better Weldor.

How?

 

[HamAndEggs]

How?

As a new Welder myself, I don't need another thing to worry about!

Just like learning to drive with an Automatic is easier, lets you focus on less

 

[mogandave]

As a new Welder myself, I don't need another thing to worry about!

Just like learning to drive with an Automatic is easier, lets you focus on less

So guys that learned to drive automatics are better drivers than guys that learned to drive a stick?

Are guys that learned to weld with a MIG welder better welders than guys that learned to weld with a stick welder?

 

[HamAndEggs]

So guys that learned to drive automatics are better drivers than guys that learned to drive a stick?

Are guys that learned to weld with a MIG welder better welders than guys that learned to weld with a stick welder?

I never said the end result was any better, just that the learning is easier. At least it is for me anyway

 

[corn chip]

Plenty of good advice…but do NOT FORGET that the fumes can be very dangerous too.

I have one set of eyes and lunges…so I spent the extra money to protect them. Not saying you should…but I hope the instruction he is getting include adequate breathing protection and that he get the best you/he can afford helmet/eye pro.

the adflo are top notch and worth every penny but most people cry when they see the price. that kids welding school will likely have fume extracters and he can wear a $30 respirator in addition to that.
i use a company supplied adflo. 9100mp hard hat version. if and when they buy something new ,ill probly talk them out of another hard hat style as i work outside and have no overhead dangers. i would like to try the g5-01 if im able to convince them to buy another adflo

 

[charbar]

Lincoln has a couple different kits that include an auto darkening helmet, gloves, chipping hammer, wire brush, magnet etc for under $200

 

[nadogail]

How?

Because you will be allowed to pay attention to your puddle and not have to worry about protectecting your eyes from the arc.

 

[mogandave]

Because you will be allowed to pay attention to your puddle and not have to worry about protectecting your eyes from the arc.

Is it your position that someone wearing a fixed-shade helmet has to worry about protecting their eyes? If so, why?

I think it a good bet one can see the "puddle" better with a $50 fixed shade helmet than with a $100 auto-darkening helmet. I would also bet one's eyes are better protected as well.

I have nothing against auto-darkening helmets, I have a couple and think they're great, but the idea that you can see better in them while you're actually welding is ridiculous.

 

[dr_clyde]

Auto darkening helmets are a pretty recent thing, only within the last decade or so have they really become affordable and halfway decent for that money. Before that they were pretty expensive and truthfully not that nice to use. Somehow welders learned just fine before that.

A fixed shade lens has worked since the advent of arc welding. They’re simple, cheap, and easy to use. For some reason people put up all kinds of barriers to learning and with welding they use the helmet as an excuse for bad welds and poor technique. Using a fixed shade is not hard and something every welder should know how to do. All it takes is a nod of your head and you’re welding. That’s it. Just a little practice with timing and holding still until you’re ready.

As far as safety, you should be wearing safety glasses no matter what helmet you’re wearing. Any incidental flash or accidental arcing will be mitigated with the glasses.

To each their own, and if it really means that much to you, get whatever helmet you like. But to say the fixed shade helmets are inferior, unsafe or harder to use is really not correct. They’re just a little different, that’s all.

 

[brownbagg]

.

 

[rpcraft]

IMHO, an Auto Darkening helmet will help anyone starting out to be a better Weldor. Mine came from Harbor Freight about 10 years ago.

Being Solar powered I have yet to need a battery change.

I have heard it be said that many training programs do not allow harbor freight and century branded stuff. I have never experienced it myself, but just what I have heard. Also for a good lid buy once and cry once I would advise. True color lenses with a big viewing section seem like the smartest way to go and those are all auto darkening that I have seen. I personally have one of the Hobart Auto Darkening ones and it is fine but not super comfortable with the head rig. I'm probably leaning to one of the lincoln ones because I have heard their head gear is pretty comfortable so may be making that move.

 

[GaryM909]

I am a firm believer of using a fixed lense welding shield when learning to weld. Lenses are cheap and don't quit on you. Plus if a person learns with one then they can pretty much use anything.

 

[corn chip]

I have heard it be said that many training programs do not allow harbor freight and century branded stuff. I have never experienced it myself, but just what I have heard. Also for a good lid buy once and cry once I would advise. True color lenses with a big viewing section seem like the smartest way to go and those are all auto darkening that I have seen. I personally have one of the Hobart Auto Darkening ones and it is fine but not super comfortable with the head rig. I'm probably leaning to one of the lincoln ones because I have heard their head gear is pretty comfortable so may be making that move.

im not sure about training facilities but on the railroad we're only allowed to use speedglas. luckily the company provides them for us because the adflos we use are $2500. most other brands probly wouldnt survive long in this envirnment and i think thats why they use speedglas exclusively

 

[Steve_P]

Even once they were available, I hobby welded for years without an auto darkening helmet; since I only welded a few times a year I figured it wasn't worth buying an auto darkening helmet. I finally got an auto darkening helmet and was amazed how nice it was to have, and how much easier it made welding for someone who only does it very occasionally. It was one of those purchases that I should've done years earlier. I have a HF, but it's 10+ years old, so I obviously don't know if what they're selling now is any good. Mine doesn't have a battery, it's never failed me, never hurt my eyes, etc. I don't think you need to spend $300 on one, especially for someone that's going to go to college next year for engineering. I also understand the pro welder opinion that you don't need auto darkening, but for me, and I think most hobbyists, it's totally worth it.

What I have looks like this one, but again, mine is 10+ years old

Standard Auto-Darkening Welding Helmet

Amazing deals on this Adj Shade Auto-Dark Welding Helmet at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

 

[dr_clyde]

im not sure about training facilities but on the railroad we're only allowed to use speedglas. luckily the company provides them for us because the adflos we use are $2500. most other brands probly wouldnt survive long in this envirnment and i think thats why they use speedglas exclusively

Eh, I can see the railroad wanting to just control what you used for stock and safety reasons. Hard to keep a bunch of different lenses and filters and whatnot for dozens of different helmets. Employers are required by OSHA to provide any and all safety equipment needed on the job, and a large company like a railroad just chose whatever the salesman said is a good one and provided that for everyone. Keeps the paperwork to a minimum. Especially if you're using a PAPR, I would want all my employees to use the same unit for ease of supply.

Speedglas is an fine helmet, but they're nothing special. You pay a LOT of 3M tax on them, they're pretty proud of their name. I don't have any reason to believe they're more or less durable than other brands. If durability was the chief concern, they'd probably not use an auto darkening in the first place. But that said, I've never had a lens fail out of the Miller, Jackson or Lincoln helmets I've owned, and I've had a LOT of different lenses over the years. I've used a few Speedgas helmets over the years and was pretty surprised how mediocre they were compared to helmets that cost half as much. For the money they charge, they had better make my coffee while I weld too.

All the pipeliner guys I see use either a plain *** fixed shade, a pancake or fibremetal pipeliner with an auto insert or Miller's Ti series. And those guys put helmets though some serious ****.

 

[crewchief888]

i have 2 miller prohobby AD hoods. (1 in the garage, another in my service truck)
1 negative thing is They use proprietary cover plates but do some with a couple spares.
also have a jackson BigJ hood ive had for many years. the jackson is the hood i learned to weld with many years ago

 

[joshmodelskidoo]

I have a welbuilt brand I believe. I got it for northern tool years ago. It has a small viewing area and only 2 sensors so if something is between the helmet and the weld you have to reposition because it won’t work but no battery required. I picked up the titanium from hf and it is nice and has a way bigger viewing area and better color so its easier to see but it takes batteries. I haven’t been in any wierd spots so I couldn’t tell you if the sensors get blocked but it does have 3or sensors. I do hear good things on the hf valcan helmet to.

 

[corn chip]

Eh, I can see the railroad wanting to just control what you used for stock and safety reasons. Hard to keep a bunch of different lenses and filters and whatnot for dozens of different helmets. Employers are required by OSHA to provide any and all safety equipment needed on the job, and a large company like a railroad just chose whatever the salesman said is a good one and provided that for everyone. Keeps the paperwork to a minimum. Especially if you're using a PAPR, I would want all my employees to use the same unit for ease of supply.

Speedglas is an fine helmet, but they're nothing special. You pay a LOT of 3M tax on them, they're pretty proud of their name. I don't have any reason to believe they're more or less durable than other brands. If durability was the chief concern, they'd probably not use an auto darkening in the first place. But that said, I've never had a lens fail out of the Miller, Jackson or Lincoln helmets I've owned, and I've had a LOT of different lenses over the years. I've used a few Speedgas helmets over the years and was pretty surprised how mediocre they were compared to helmets that cost half as much. For the money they charge, they had better make my coffee while I weld too.

All the pipeliner guys I see use either a plain *** fixed shade, a pancake or fibremetal pipeliner with an auto insert or Miller's Ti series. And those guys put helmets though some serious ****.

so the railraod is paying $2500 a pop just so they dont have a bunch of mismatch brand equipment in the supply room ? you cant be serious. LOL LOL



i guess its the same reason they buy snapon and proto usa handtools. surely its because they dont want a cluttered hodge podge bunch of different brand tools. LOL.

lol it has nothing to do with lesser tools not holding up to the rigors of daily hard use. or people getting hurt when cheaper tools dont work right and break.

how you feel about speedglas makes no difference to me. i use the stuff virtually everyday , if i felt there was something better , more rugged , more reliable , higher qaulity.... i would be the first one to shout it from the roof top

 

[corn chip]

theres not a company in the history of the universe that doesnt pinch a penny every chance they get and railroads are no different. mller ,lincoln and optrel all offer less expensive papr and standard welding equipment. why buy the very most expensive stuff if other brands do just as good for much less money. hell , why not just buy a bunch of $120 jacksons and a $30 respirator. lol

 

[dr_clyde]

so the railraod is paying $2500 a pop just so they dont have a bunch of mismatch brand equipment in the supply room ? you cant be serious. LOL LOL



i guess its the same reason they buy snapon and proto usa handtools. surely its because they dont want a cluttered hodge podge bunch of different brand tools. LOL.

lol it has nothing to do with lesser tools not holding up to the rigors of daily hard use. or people getting hurt when cheaper tools dont work right and break.

how you feel about speedglas makes no difference to me. i use the stuff virtually everyday , if i felt there was something better , more rugged , more reliable , higher qaulity.... i would be the first one to shout it from the roof top

Good for you?

Clearly you’ve never had to deal with the logistics of supplying expensive consumables. Just a few different part numbers can get out of hand fast. I’m sure it was easiest for them to just pick one and stick with it. Probably get a volume discount too. The railroad is buying those helmets because they check the boxes they need and can simplify everything by just making that the standard.

BTW, a PAPR is expensive no matter who makes it, it’s not like you’d be saving much going with someone else.

And yeah, I’d expect the railroad to supply nice stuff. They’re right behind the government in powerful and rich organizations. Makes sense to me an organization like that would want to control every detail. I’m sure they want good stuff, and yeah, I’d be shocked if they bought cheap stuff. Cheaper to buy a snap on wrench than pay the insurance claims for injuries on broken tools or to replace them regularly from breakage.

3M makes nice stuff. But they’re not gods gift to welding helmets. I’ve used them, they’re fine. Nothing amazing though. I’m glad you like yours. I’d like it too if someone gave it to me for free.

Sounds like I’d hate working at a railroad. Welding helmets are a very personal thing and if a shop tried to tell me what helmet I HAD to use I’d tell them to pound sand. Guess that’s why I’m self employed…

 

[mogandave]

Eh, I can see the railroad wanting to just control what you used for stock and safety reasons. Hard to keep a bunch of different lenses and filters and whatnot for dozens of different helmets. Employers are required by OSHA to provide any and all safety equipment needed on the job, and a large company like a railroad just chose whatever the salesman said is a good one and provided that for everyone. Keeps the paperwork to a minimum. Especially if you're using a PAPR, I would want all my employees to use the same unit for ease of supply.

Speedglas is an fine helmet, but they're nothing special. You pay a LOT of 3M tax on them, they're pretty proud of their name. I don't have any reason to believe they're more or less durable than other brands. If durability was the chief concern, they'd probably not use an auto darkening in the first place. But that said, I've never had a lens fail out of the Miller, Jackson or Lincoln helmets I've owned, and I've had a LOT of different lenses over the years. I've used a few Speedgas helmets over the years and was pretty surprised how mediocre they were compared to helmets that cost half as much. For the money they charge, they had better make my coffee while I weld too.

All the pipeliner guys I see use either a plain *** fixed shade, a pancake or fibremetal pipeliner with an auto insert or Miller's Ti series. And those guys put helmets though some serious ****.

Speedglas was a great helmet long before 3M bought them.

Speedglas helmets cost about the same as comparable name-brand helmets.

The last plant I was in we were using all Speedglas helmets over twenty years ago. It was the most cost-effective auto-darkening option for us at the time.

How cost effective a helmet is when used in production has a lot more to do with durability, reliability, availability and price of consumables and how well the guys like them than what the initial cost is.

Cheap helmets are fine for home use, but in production, a helmet you can't get parts for or that the guys don't like is worthless.

 

[dr_clyde]

Speedglas was a great helmet long before 3M bought them.

Speedglas helmets cost about the same as comparable name-brand helmets.

The last plant I was in we were using all Speedglas helmets over twenty years ago. It was the most cost-effective auto-darkening option for us at the time.

How cost effective a helmet is when used in production has a lot more to do with durability, reliability, availability and price of consumables and how well the guys like them than what the initial cost is.

Cheap helmets are fine for home use, but in production, a helmet you can't get parts for or that the guys don't like is worthless.

I’m not saying they’re bad, but they’re not the end all be all either.

A while back I asked my welding salesman what the best welding helmet available was. Cost no object, I want the best, I’m thinking about upgrading soon. He said no such thing, too many variables. What’s amazing for me might be **** for you. I specifically asked about Speedglas and he told me not to waste my money. He wouldn’t recommend them. Recommended Optrel to me but I have not yet pulled the trigger. I don’t weld as much as I did then and my employees can weld me under the table right now as it is.

What can I say, I’m not trying to start a fight. I’m glad you guys like the Speedglas. Every one I’ve tried had an uncomfortable headgear and poor optics compared to a gold fixed lens.

I don’t use a PAPR so I can’t comment on those, I’m sure 3M has that pretty dialed. 3M safety gear is pretty top notch generally speaking.

 

[mogandave]

I’m not saying they’re bad, but they’re not the end all be all either.

I don't remember anyone saying they were.

A while back I asked my welding salesman what the best welding helmet available was. Cost no object, I want the best, I’m thinking about upgrading soon. He said no such thing, too many variables.

Correct. It's like asking who makes the best cue-sticks.

What’s amazing for me might be **** for you.

Well, I doubt that. What you might think is the best, I might think is just okay, but I doubt I would think it sh*t.

I specifically asked about Speedglas and he told me not to waste my money. He wouldn’t recommend them. Recommended Optrel to me but I have not yet pulled the trigger. I don’t weld as much as I did then and my employees can weld me under the table right now as it is.

Were his lips moving? (just kidding) Optrel makes (or at least made) a fine helmet, and that's what we had in the plant I worked before the last one. The Speedglass seemed just as good and were a significant cost savings over the Optrel for the new plant.

Welding salesmen are in business of selling consumables, that's their bread-and butter. They make more selling lens covers and head-gear part than they do selling helmets.

What can I say, I’m not trying to start a fight. I’m glad you guys like the Speedglas. Every one I’ve tried had an uncomfortable headgear and poor optics compared to a gold fixed lens.

Most of guys we had loved or at least liked them. I only ever worked as a welder a few months, and that was back in the '80s.

I don’t use a PAPR so I can’t comment on those, I’m sure 3M has that pretty dialed. 3M safety gear is pretty top notch generally speaking.

What is great about 3M is that all their stuff is good. It's often (at least arguably) the best, but it's never junk, at least in my experience.

If you only have a few guys, just buy them what they want. What a helmet costs will generally not be much in the scheme of things. If you have twenty guys welding, inventorying consumables to keep them going is a nightmare.

 

[corn chip]

i hate to tell ya the bad news but optrel is a indoor only helmet. your salesman , if he had a sliver of knowledge on the subject , should of mentioned that. optrel dont know how to make a proper filter so the sensers are so finiky they trigger in the sun light ,rendering the helmet useless for outdoor work (well unless you cover the sensers with electrical tape) lol. why do you think my optrel is sitting in the corner collecting dust. $350 paper weight

 

[corn chip]

if you want a free optrel ill give ya mine just to get this pile of **** out of my garage. worst $350 ive ever spent. pm me if ya want it no joke

 

[mogandave]

if you want a free optrel ill give ya mine just to get this pile of **** out of my garage. worst $350 ive ever spent. pm me if ya want it no joke

In all fairness, they were the sh*t thirty years ago.