Need a new welding helmet

[lynnbilodeau]

I bought a cheap auto darkening helmet at Tractor Supply about 5 years ago.

It died today. I have some welding I have to do tomorrow nite.

It looks just like the one that HF sells (paint scheme is diff).

I am not a pro. But, I don't believe my eyes are any less valuable just because I do this for fun, hobby, home improvement type stuff.

I need a decent helmet that I can buy locally that won't break the bank. Because I am not a pro, I prefer auto darkening.

Anything available for $200 or less?

Suggestions.

 

[xela456]

the prostars from praxair work pretty well they run in the 130-200 range i believe. I had one a while back before i was robbed that functioned perfectly. 175 bucks and made in the USA to boot. as you said your eyes are just as valuable as the pro's doing it with a 1300 dollar miller fresh air setup. i wouldnt trust my eyes to a 30 dollar HF either

 

[pdham]

I have a hobart I love, it has battery and solar charge. It also has auto grind which allows you to grind without it going dark. It accepts cheater lens. Got mine from Northern tool around $100. By the way the best money I spent on a welding helmet was the cheater lens I put in it.
Have fun

 

[75ford]

miller digital pro hobby! awesome helmet, was 180 at my local praxair

 

[RedneckWelder]

Hundred bucks will get you a Hobart at Tractor Supply that will do the job.

 

[ngonerogwu]

Check out the KOBALT at lowes. 99.. Great clarity ratings, large view, comes with a bag.

 

[Fender1325]

I have the auto darkening with the blue flames from HF. I think it was 50 or 40 I forget. Cant complain.

 

[rockinacummins]

Fastenal sells good ones. My local weld shop has a whole array of hoods from $50-100. I have a Tractor Supply Hobart that I've abused for a long while. Works fine. I've seen guys using the HF and they really liked them. Atwoods has one that looks almost identical. Thats what we have out on the farm. Basically they all do the job...

 

[Rory Bellows]

I have a Hobart auto dark that came with my Hobart handler 180 in a package. It works great and I like it. But, I want to buy a Jackson Truesight. I've had the Hobart for about 8-9 years and it works perfectly but for a new helmet I'm going to go either Jackson Truesight or Lincoln Viking 3350. I really want a Truesight although I have no experience with it. I still want it.

 

[wagon]

Can't really go wrong - a shade 10 is a shade 10, whether you spent $350 on a hood or $20.

Just make sure you like the headgear and that it has the features you want (grind mode, cutting mode, big window etc)

 

[SS8UUP]

Can't really go wrong - a shade 10 is a shade 10, whether you spent $350 on a hood or $20.

Just make sure you like the headgear and that it has the features you want (grind mode, cutting mode, big window etc)

While that may be true, better helmets with a shorter switch time and more light sensors will help prevent accidental flash. They also typically have better head gear and larger viewing windows.

There are places to try and save money however you only have one set of eyes, I don't understand people risking there vision over a few dollars.

My vote goes to the Miller digital elite, I have one and it is no comparison to the 99$ Hobart I also have in the shop. Another nice thing is it has an LCD mode indicator on the inside which shows how it is set. This gives a visual que that it is turned on. My Hobart has a simple on button and you just have to trust that it is on and working the first time you strike an arc.

 

[lynnbilodeau]

I am not too proud to buy used. I found a used Snap-on. This isn't normally something I would go to Snap-on for, but for the right price, maybe.
Does anyone know who makes the Snap-on welding helmets?

 

[young_buck]

I picked up a lincoln variable auto darkening for $100 and it's a great helmet, you can get them at almost any hardware store

 

[WhiffySpark]

While that may be true, better helmets with a shorter switch time and more light sensors will help prevent accidental flash. They also typically have better head gear and larger viewing windows.

There are places to try and save money however you only have one set of eyes, I don't understand people risking there vision over a few dollars.

My vote goes to the Miller digital elite, I have one and it is no comparison to the 99$ Hobart I also have in the shop. Another nice thing is it has an LCD mode indicator on the inside which shows how it is set. This gives a visual que that it is turned on. My Hobart has a simple on button and you just have to trust that it is on and working the first time you strike an arc.

You do realize your eyes are protected even if it didn't switch over, correct?

 

[Zeke]

You do realize your eyes are protected even if it didn't switch over, correct?

We get that all the time. While there may be protection, it still blinds you. Just no need for problems especially with TIG. Jackson makes some of the best for the money.

 

[sailah]

I have an arc one vision I bought a few years ago at my LWS. It was around $200 if I recall. I tried on lots of high end helmets as I was treating myself from using the HF $50 special. The reasons I chose the arc one were lightweight, my LWS guy had parts for it on the shelf like the lens covers, the lens is huge which makes a big difference, it's very comfortable. My buddy works there and gives me a screaming deal on anything I want. I was prepared to spend more but he said they sell lots of these helmets and everyone likes them. He said that's what he would buy with his money, good enough for me.


I use mine only for TIG.

http://www.arc1weldsafe.com/products/category/vision

 

[crewchief888]

i have 2 miller prohobby hoods.

1 i bought from cyberweld ~$140 to the door.
2nd one i won in a drawing from matheson welding supply (via facebook)

far and away better than the cheap northern tool AD i had at work , and a less expensive AD hood from a LWS that died after 11 years of use.

 

[angrystroker]

We get that all the time. While there may be protection, it still blinds you. Just no need for problems especially with TIG. Jackson makes some of the best for the money.

Quote:
Originally Posted by WhiffySpark
You do realize your eyes are protected even if it didn't switch over, correct?

^^ Yep that is a lame statement and should be taken as a joke. One could always have sunglasses in case the helmet fails.

 

[Ckengine]

I have a save face I got on Amazon that I like a lot 180 degree welding lense is nice for tight spaces. I haven't had it to long so durability is yet to be seen.

 

[John Mc]

I teach this stuff for a living. Students tell me that they can see better with my $300 Speedglas with no cheater, than a $100 Miller or Hobart with a cheater. Part of what that extra money buys you is better optics, and better sensitivity for TIG.

If you can afford it, don't skimp on safety and quality.

 

[RedneckWelder]

I teach this stuff for a living. Students tell me that they can see better with my $300 Speedglas with no cheater, than a $100 Miller or Hobart with a cheater. Part of what that extra money buys you is better optics, and better sensitivity for TIG.

If you can afford it, don't skimp on safety and quality.

I have to agree with this.

While a cheap autodark will get you buy for a while, going high grade will not be regretted.

My auto hood is a Jackson Balder BH3. I only use it for tight spaces where I can't flip the hood.

My normal hood is my Fibremetal tigerhood with a quality lens in it. For me I can see the puddle better with it than anything else.

I gave my cheap starter Hobart to Dad once I upgraded because he wanted an autohood and doesn't weld often.