Looking for opinions & info on welding helmets

[rpmwwe]

I'm going to buy a portable mig welder (Hobart Handler 140) in the very near future and I'm going to need to get a helmet. I'm looking for opinions & info before I buy. I would like to keep the cost of the helmet under $100 if possible. Any suggestions on what to buy and things to watch out for will be helpful...I'm a novice. Thanks.

 

[Vernmotor]

Well right or wrong this is what I bought...I like it..seems to work well.
http://cgi.ebay.com/HTP-Auto-Darken...5|66:2|65:12|39:1|240:1318|301:0|293:1|294:50

 

[nissan_crawler]

Miller elite, but it's going to cost more than $100. There are other threads on this.

Frankly, if you just can't spend the money right now, I would get a cheap plain jane hood, and buy a good auto-darkening when you have the money.

 

[nadogail]

I bought a Harbor Freight autodarkening hood about two years ago. It works for me. I can weld, but I do not call myself a weldor.

The only complaint I have about the hood is that the knob that adjusts the shade is too easy to change. In true mechanic fashion, I fixed this problem with a tiny bit of duct tape.

My welder is a Hobart AC/DC Stickmate

 

[Vernmotor]

Yea ..I add to that and say if you weld alot or for a living .I would buy a better helmet.I only weld once in a while..might go a month without welding..

 

[musgofasta]

I have the Kobalt Pro Helmet. I think it's about $100. Works absolutely great, lots of adjustment ability.

 

[rickairmedic]

RPM I am onna take a guess and assume you are buying your welder at tractor supply if thats the case then the best bang for the buck hood I have found is also made by hobart its a fixed shade 10 autodark and usually under $70.00 . I also have a Miller elite big window but for the money I dont think you will go wrong with the Hobart I have been quite happy with the one I have.

http://www.tractorsupply.com/webapp...20|14236|44148?listingPage=true&Special=false


Rick

 

[nadogail]

I have it on good authority that Hobart and Miller welders come off the same assembly line, different paint and decals on the identical machine. Miller bought the Hobart welder name, and now sell their lower end welders under the Hobart name at a lower price through outlets like Nothern, Lowes, etc.

I presume this would be true for Welding Helmets also.

I still think I got the "biggest bang for my buck" at Harbor Freight.

 

[rickairmedic]

Hobart and Miler welders are not the same yes they are both made by miller now but the components inside are not the same components . The millers are built more with production ( professional ) welding in mind where the Hobarts are built more for Hobbiest use . With that said I own a Miller Elite Big Window auto dark Hood and The Hobart autodark hood I linked to earlier for a basic hobbiest the Hobart is a great hood and I would still be using it regularly if it were not for the fact a fellow board member on a differant board had not made me a deal I couldnt refuse on the Miller. I have owned pretty much every autodark Harbor Freight sells and after putting on the Hobart for the first time I couldnt get rid of the Harbor freight hoods quick enough the differance in visability was night and day between them so for $70.00 the Hobart is a little more than the HF hoods and worth every penny.

Rick

 

[nissan_crawler]

Yep Rick, I think I've had 3 people use my Miller Elite, then promptly buy one themselves. I've had several say they notice a difference with their vision and eyes after using it. Anybody that's been flashed (by a welder) knows you don't go cheap on your helmet. Yeah, some get by with it, some don't.

 

[atvmech]

3M Autoglass.....badass

 

[vbtj]

I have a Miller Pro-Hobby series that I got from Cyberweld for $125 shipped. It's an auto-darkening hood and adjusts from 8-12. It is also extremely light weight.

 

[Todd.Brock]

If budget is concern, I bought a Lincoln Helmet with a large window for about 35 dollars. They are at Lowes/Home Depot. It isnt auto adjustable but it serves the purpose for welding every 2 months.

 

[bry@n]

I have heard good things about Astro helmets. They can be found on the bay for $80. Auto darkening etc...I use a Miller digital Elite. I got a screaming deal and couldn't refuse.

 

[Mezzanine]

I would second the advice to get something to tide you over until you can afford a really good hood- you might find you dont need one at all! When you are ready to spend a little more, I have found nothing nicer than the Optrel Satellite that I own. They can be had on Ebay for a good discount.

C

 

[krooser]

I bought a budget Speedglass on eBay from Indiana Oxygen. It's, by far, the nicest helmet I've used in 40 years of welding. I don't weld alot anymore but it's lightweight and even the small window doesn't seem to restrict my vision. Mine was way under $200.00...

http://cgi.ebay.com/HORNELL-3M-SPEE...el?hash=item350159291930&_trksid=p4634.c0.m14

 

[thewelder]

I had a jackson nexgen sold it when the miller elite came out used that until christmas when my fiance bought me the speedglas 9100XX. Love it best helmet i've ever used. Go with speedglas, they have models in the $150 range you won't be disappointed. If you cant afford that right now go with a huntsman, comfortable, light weight and cheap as dirt.

 

[phy6]

I have an Optrel Satellite that i've been using for a while, I like it. It goes up to 13, so using it for TIG is comfy. It was about 300 I think. I also have a couple non auto-dark with a large viewing area--Hobart or Miller I think. We changed one of them to use a gold lens, and it was a noticeable improvement. You can make things out much clearer with a gold lens, the spark is yellow and brown instead of green-ish. If you get a regular helmet, see if the gold lens add-on is an option.

 

[MJC]

I used to use the auto-darkening, I'm back to the old flip cans, doesn't matter to me. Get one with the bigger lens and figure out what lens you need. I use a #9, but some people have more sensitive eyes. Plus I mostly TIG weld, which is much easier on the eyes than MIG welding. If I was to get back into structural ARC, I would put in a #12 shade.

MC

 

[Ign]

If you cant afford that right now go with a huntsman, comfortable, light weight and cheap as dirt.

x2. Glad to see someone else appreciate Huntsman. The headgear on my $25 Huntsman still stays up and flips down only when I want it to, even after several years of use. Very positive and responsive.

 

[trackwelder]

Speedglas great optics and very light.

 

[twarren]

Hi guys. No one has mentioned Lincoln helmets. I was at the Indy Dealer Expo this weekend and the Lincoln people had a booth. I looked at a "Vista 2000", anyone have an opinion on this helmet?

Warren............