Need a new welding helmet
- Thread starter 69supercj
- Start date
Firestarter Fred
Well-known member
I have had good use out of my 35 dollar hf auto darkening welding helmet. I guess if you have the money splurge on what ever you want. I know that they range from 40 to over 300 dollars. For 35 bucks though, you can't beat the hf imo.
kazlx
Well-known member
I use a Speedglas 9100XX and would buy it again in a heartbeat. I would suggest either buying a nice auto darkening or using a fixed shade the old school way. IMO, cheap auto darks are just that, cheap. I don't trust my eyes to Harbor Freight...
McLean
Well-known member
x2 on Kazlx.
I bought a Nexgen on Ebay for ~200 bucks a few years back. I love it. The big lens is awesome and there are tons of settings. I've only heard good things about the Speedglas products too.
I bought a Nexgen on Ebay for ~200 bucks a few years back. I love it. The big lens is awesome and there are tons of settings. I've only heard good things about the Speedglas products too.
brianpgriset
Well-known member
You missed a great deal on a Jackson WH40 SmarTIGer BUT you can still get it for 90 after mail in rebate.
http://store.cyberweld.com/jabasaaudawe.html
http://store.cyberweld.com/jabasaaudawe.html
stonewellmark
Well-known member
69supercj....check around...that tweco helmet is a chinese knockoff helemt.....its good but not $99 good. You can find it on fleabay without the Tweco name on it for around $40. Checkout reviews and youtube. Whats the budget??
What type of welding are you doing? What is your top budget?
Do you have one of those? They look really feature packed for the $. Makes me kinda skeptical. What are your thoughts?
You missed a great deal on a Jackson WH40 SmarTIGer BUT you can still get it for 90 after mail in rebate.
http://store.cyberweld.com/jabasaaudawe.html
Do you have one of those? They look really feature packed for the $. Makes me kinda skeptical. What are your thoughts?
DeadSock
Well-known member
X3 (and I have the same) ...
MotoDave
Well-known member
X4
I got mine used for around $100, some new lens covers and a batter and its worked good as new for me since.joshmodelskidoo
Well-known member
i have this one. great for home or work as long as you dont do it every day. the strap is to light for constant use but i love it.
brianpgriset
Well-known member
I did buy. I mostly do tig welding now. Just have a bit of arc time on it but it seems well made, comfortable, and the clarity is very good. I am comparing this to an older Hobart AD adjustable helmet and a good ol' Huntsman 411P with a gold fixed shade lens.
I got mine for $50 so I think I got great deal. Still worth it for $90 in my opinion.
kazlx
Well-known member
I use this helmet and love it, it's very clear and works great. Much better than wasting money at HF, or paying tons for one of the big names.
skyking
Well-known member
I use a Harbor freight $ 40 helmet . I tear them up too fast to buy an expensive one.Ive had two blow out of the truck.
Zeke
Well-known member
I have 3 auto darks, and 2 passive fixed shade models, one a #5 for cutting and one a gold #11 in case the others fail. The auto darks I have are HF, Speedglas, and the Jackson SmartTIGer mentioned. Thumbs up to the Jackson for performance for the price. Even overall performance regardless of price.
The Speedglas takes a very expensive outer guard protective lens. The Jackson takes one more expensive than the typical 2 x 4.25. If you're stick welding out of position, give that some consideration as you will use a lot of lens protectors.
The Speedglas takes a very expensive outer guard protective lens. The Jackson takes one more expensive than the typical 2 x 4.25. If you're stick welding out of position, give that some consideration as you will use a lot of lens protectors.
I have the same one and love it, had a hf before which worked fine but the 3m is much nicer.
pepi
Well-known member
Get a good one.
Xtremetalworks2
Well-known member
Speedglas is by far the lightest and best autodarkening IMHO...I use a 9100&9002x Very HAPPY with them the 9100 is a super light weight which is great for productiion welding !
Doubt you will find them for 100 unless you go used !
Doubt you will find them for 100 unless you go used !
toolman1967
Well-known member
I use a Hobart Auto Darkening helmet, I have had it for years and its works just as good today as the day I bought it.
Tim the Toolman
Tim the Toolman
Bigblue&Goldie
Well-known member
I have a Miller Elite and it's bad ***! I had an Optrel I really liked, but the batteries went bad and they aren't replaceable.
I understand cheaping out on some tools, but you only have one set of eyes and I don't trust mine to Harbor Freight.
I understand cheaping out on some tools, but you only have one set of eyes and I don't trust mine to Harbor Freight.
superspec
Well-known member
Miller digital elite here. My dad has the HF and I'm just about ready to give him mine so that I can save him. Recently he compared and saw the difference. I'll be going to speed glass or miller with vent system.
R.Anderson
Well-known member
I have a Miller Elite and it's bad ***! I had an Optrel I really liked, but the batteries went bad and they aren't replaceable.
I understand cheaping out on some tools, but you only have one set of eyes and I don't trust mine to Harbor Freight.
Open it up, I have not ran into a electronic device I could not find replacement batteries for. You may need to do some hunting/cross referencing and maybe a little solder work to replace them. If it has a battery they had to buy from some where to put in there product.
If HF hoods are inadequate in protecting one's eyes they would not be able to sell them. I have a Miller Elite and the blue flame HF hood. I like the miller elite's window size but I find my self using the HF more due to lighter weight and surprising more comfortable than my Elite.
hedhunter9
Well-known member
My dad has a speedglas that I used for years. I went thru 3 HF ones and could not get one that worked right.. The sensors did not pick up right on 2 of them, and the 3rd one the reaction time was wayyyy tooo slow...and they were too dark.
I picked up a Miller digital one for $169 and boy do I love it... It is every bit as good as my dad's speedglas, maybe better as it has more adjustments than his. (his speedglas is pretty old).
I can see much better using the Miller, which helps me weld better..
Bob
I picked up a Miller digital one for $169 and boy do I love it... It is every bit as good as my dad's speedglas, maybe better as it has more adjustments than his. (his speedglas is pretty old).
I can see much better using the Miller, which helps me weld better..
Bob
I have a Miller Elite and it's bad ***! I had an Optrel I really liked, but the batteries went bad and they aren't replaceable.
I understand cheaping out on some tools, but you only have one set of eyes and I don't trust mine to Harbor Freight.
Replace them on your own.
My old miller is the same way, I just soldered in a button cell battery, works great, $3 every year for good measure. It just seems like too good of a deal.
I'd really like to try one out of curosity. I do 85%+ tig work these days and use a basic fixed jackson $40, large window, good head set with a gold glass lens. I've never seen a auto dark that could compare in clarity and "warmth" I will call it. Great puddle detail and no worries about breaking it or arc flash. 69Supercj, I would really check this Jackson out. See if your local weld shop will let you test drive one.
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I've spent a lot money on helmets over the years, currently I have 4,
Speedglas 9100XX
Miller Elite(not Digital Elite)
2 of Lincoln Viking 3350.
I use the Lincoln the most, reasons are, bigger window than others, grinding mod.
the Speedglas headgear is hard to beat, by far the most comfortable helmet I've every tried on.
if I were you I would get the Speedglas 100. best bang for the buck. about $150.
I ordered 2 of these for the other guys in the shop, they are very happy with them.
Speedglas 9100XX
Miller Elite(not Digital Elite)
2 of Lincoln Viking 3350.
I use the Lincoln the most, reasons are, bigger window than others, grinding mod.
the Speedglas headgear is hard to beat, by far the most comfortable helmet I've every tried on.
if I were you I would get the Speedglas 100. best bang for the buck. about $150.
I ordered 2 of these for the other guys in the shop, they are very happy with them.
Richard D
Well-known member
I've used a hand-me-down cheapo auto dark for years. Even if the lens fails to darken, your eyes are still protected. I'd also wager the high-dollar lenses are made by the same Chinamen as the cheapos.
Daddyoneleg
Active member
I use the Speedglas 9002x everyday and like the weight and size.Lately it has been flashing me by flickering out and defaulting to the min shade 9.[not the off/cutting setting] When carbon gouging or 1/4'' welding it has been too hard on the eyes to use. The replacement lens unit is 500.00 here in Canada.It was purchased with an air supply kit.The only reason I will get the new replacement lens is because my company will be paying the tab.That being said I have yet to see a helmet with the same fit ,finish and light weight.... -Cheers , The battery is fine
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Bigblue&Goldie
Well-known member
The cartridge is sealed and filled with some sort of glue on the inside. Not worth the hassle. I use it as a grinding mask now.
HF sells all kinds of stuff that is inadequate, yet people buy it up.
have 5 Huntsman 411P all set up differently.....
different gold lenses and different magnifiers
TIGing at 5-20 Amps and 4" away is way different than 200 Amps+ at 2'
wait 'til you get old
there's an old full stick helmet around here somewhere
I'd never trust my eyes to electronics
different gold lenses and different magnifiers
TIGing at 5-20 Amps and 4" away is way different than 200 Amps+ at 2'
wait 'til you get old
there's an old full stick helmet around here somewhere
I'd never trust my eyes to electronics
skyking
Well-known member
HF sells all kinds of stuff that is inadequate, yet people buy it up. [/QUOTE]
My half assed HF helmet sits on top of a half assed welder !!!!!!!
Seriously , some of you guys are incredible welders and live under a hood while most of us just weld now and then .
[/QUOTE]My half assed HF helmet sits on top of a half assed welder !!!!!!!
Seriously , some of you guys are incredible welders and live under a hood while most of us just weld now and then .
R.Anderson
Well-known member
The cartridge is sealed and filled with some sort of glue on the inside. Not worth the hassle. I use it as a grinding mask now.
HF sells all kinds of stuff that is inadequate, yet people buy it up.
Thats a bummer on the electronics being potted, at least you still have a use for it.
That is true about alot of HF **** people buy, but I will vouch for this hood. I wanted a cheaper backup hood so I checked this one out and it looked worthy of trying so I did and for the price it was worth it.
PCO6
Well-known member
I have a Lincoln Viking helmet and a relatively inexpensive Auto Weld helmet that I bought at Princess Auto. Both are auto darkening and meet the same specs. I can't say that one works any better than the other but cheaper one is a lot more comfortable.
neonnblack
Well-known member
Another speedglas user. Awesome helmet.
cyato
Well-known member
Love my Speedglas 9100XX. Huge improvement in visibility for me over my 8 year old Milier Digital Elite.
dr_clyde
Well-known member
I have a Jackson nexgen, and 2 Jackson gold 10 shade fixed lenses. I use the auto dark for out of position, weird angle welding where I can't nod my helmet down. Can't complain. A couple of my co-workers have the Lincoln Viking helmets and are happy with them.
One of the best welders I know uses a blue flame HF helmet. He's a cheap, grumpy old ******* though. I won't use one, but he uses it every day.
If you're set on auto dark, I'd look no further than Jackson. I have zero complaints about their products. For my money though, it's hard to beat the clarity of a gold 10 shade in a $40 Jackson shell.
One of the best welders I know uses a blue flame HF helmet. He's a cheap, grumpy old ******* though. I won't use one, but he uses it every day.
If you're set on auto dark, I'd look no further than Jackson. I have zero complaints about their products. For my money though, it's hard to beat the clarity of a gold 10 shade in a $40 Jackson shell.
BD1
Well-known member
Miller Elite for me. I only have one set of eyes. Try your favorite ones out. There is a difference.
R.Anderson
Well-known member
"What hood do you use" would make a great poll I think.