Welding helmet choice

[bumblebee]

I was using an older lincoln electric auto dimming helmet the other day and after 10 minutes of practicing my welds I was seeing spots and had a slight headache. I had a lot of start and stops in that time though. So now I'm looking for a better helmet. I am looking at two different helmets and am not sure which to go with. The two are

Lincoln electric dark fire
Miller classic VS
This is all new to me so any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[77Mini]

I have never tried either of those but I have a speedglass and really like it.

 

[Zeke]

Many including me like Jackson products. I sold an older Speedglas after getting a new Jackson.

 

[JJThrasher]

Professional or hobbyist? If the latter I recommend HF. I used one for a couple welding classes. Several weeks, 5 hours a day, 4 days a week in a booth. Never let me down. If pro I believe there are better helmets out there from welding safety companies that don't actually make welders.

 

[drewvdw]

Personally, I'm a big fan of Save Phace's offerings, they fit closer to your face so you aren't bumping your helmet as much in awkward/confined places.

 

[rice rocket]

Professional or hobbyist? If the latter I recommend HF. I used one for a couple welding classes. Several weeks, 5 hours a day, 4 days a week in a booth. Never let me down. If pro I believe there are better helmets out there from welding safety companies that don't actually make welders.

There was a communal HF welding helmet that was around the garage I was in during college. It was known as the "flasher".

If you care about your eyes, you should not get the HF helmet.

 

[johnt2k7]

http://www.lowes.com/pd_396400-47120-SGY-A11_1z0wchw__?productId=3773821&pl=1

Best Budget helmet iv used, 4 light sensors, adjustable shade, sensitivity, and delay, as well as Grinding mode and its $99. Also has a 3 year warranty just go to your local Lowes and swap it out if you have problems.

they also have a newer model with a taller viewing area and the shade adjustment on the outside of the helmet for $125

 

[wadeclinton]

I have a miller digital elite and a Jackson with an EQC. I much prefer the Miller. I've had the Jackson for 4-5 years. The Miller is about a year or so old. The Miller is lighter. I've used a speedglass, I like them too. At the time, Miller was cheaper so it got the nod for purchase.

 

[Blazinzuk]

Here is the fact , all auto darkening helmets have passive protection. So if it fails to darken you won't hurt your eyes. Not so sure if your dumb enough to keep welding with it what they do. With my Jackson nex gen. You have to turn it on. A buddy welded for 15 to 20 seconds with it off. That's long enough to destroy your eyes. Yes he saw spots cause it's only a shade 5 when in its light state. The UV protection kept him from getting flash burn.

I have flash burned my eyes ( being stupid) it's extremely painful.

Anyway. I like a helmet that will deform easy and not crack. At least 4 sensors for auto darkening helmets. Replaceable batteries. I rarely hear anyone talk about the head gear. I recommend trying your helmet on. I also like to have a helmet that I can go to just about any store and get cover plates. More adjustability is nice.

 

[dogdog]

everyone that have the auto helmet thought they are solar powered.... weird.... no body think of changing the batteries in them especially some that don't even have a battery tab to change...including the HF ones.... then continues to weld when batteries are weak or failed....


anyways... I wouldn't recommend the Jackson NexGen, Mine doesn't seems to want to shutoff automatically or the battery kept draining just from storage over one Winter.... I am on my 3rd set of CR2450 batteries now... and they are pretty penny each., The plastic tabs on them seems to break easily as well. But once the batteries are replace they are a little better than the HF unit.

 

[Blazinzuk]

My Jackson next gen will go about a year before it needs batteries. I only weld probably 3 hours total weld time every week. Sometimes a alot more sometimes a bit less.

Also I typically buy a 6 pack of the batteries for 10 bucks.

 

[fastbike02]

I have a HF special and so far I like it! After I got it adjusted it worked fine, I used it for about 4 hours yesterday welding in some overhead beams will no eye strain at all.

 

[WWShop]

I have a Lincoln 3350. Very nice. Big viewing area, four sensors, nice headgear and pretty comfortable to wear. If you have a Northern Tool around, check out some of their helmets too. Decent quality at a decent price.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

I have a 3M Speedglas and love it, great helmet. Mine has the side windows and largest screen (but not the pointless grinding mode.) and it's really good. Very comfortable, lots of adjustability, and lots of dimming settings. They're not cheap, but they're well worth the price.

 

[Stooge]

im really liking my Hobart Impact helmet, very similar to the Miller digital pro hobby I had before but with a larger viewing area and slightly cheaper, a hair over $100 from cyberweld. can use it all day without any strain and is very comfortable. I used to have the Miller Digital Elite before that, but it got crushed when a wheel fell on top of it. it was good but I got it for free from my work/ITW/miller, if I was paying for it I don't think it was worth the price point. next helmet I get will probably be a Speedglass just because I want to try one and like the way they look.

I bought one of those Harbor freight helmets just to keep as a backup incase I had a helper or something but after using it for a bit and playing with the settings, (a few hours total over a weekend) it was retired to on top of a cabinet never to be used again. I know some people like it, but it caused me way too much eye strain/ fatigue and wasn't worth the risk/ irritation to me.

here is the Hobart one I've been using for a couple of years now, great value for money in my opinion, http://store.cyberweld.com/hohoweheimbl.html

 

[gdocktor3]

Don't get a HF one that's all that matters. I have heard lots of good things on the Save Phace helmets and they are rather inexpensive.

 

[John T]

I have a speedglass 9100x
Very nice but the headgear *****.

Oh BTW,
Its a Hood

Not a helmet.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Stooge]

^Tomato/TomAto

Helmet
https://www.millerwelds.com/safety/helmets

Helmet
http://www.lincolnelectric.com/en-us/equipment/welding-gear/helmets/Pages/helmets.aspx

Helmet
http://store.cyberweld.com/autdarwelhel.html

Helmet
http://www.weldersupply.com/C/32/Helmets

Helmet
http://weldfabulous.com/Cool-Welding-Helmets

Snarky/matter of factly "oh btw"s are a huge pet peeve of mine

 

[NUTTSGT]

I had a Hobart (still have) auto darking unit that came with the welder. This past Christmas, the wife bought me a new Miller and I can tell the difference with the little bit that I have used it.

You're protecting your eyes and making life easier when you weld. Why not buy once and be done ?

 

[NUTTSGT]

I had a Hobart (still have) auto darking unit that came with the welder. This past Christmas, the wife bought me a new Miller and I can tell the difference with the little bit that I have used it.

You're protecting your eyes and making life easier when you weld. Why not buy once and be done ?

 

[Superbec]

Here is the fact , all auto darkening helmets have passive protection.

actually THE FACT IS MISINFORMATION AND IGNORANCE may hurt more then a flash burn in the long run, Please stop spreading it.

It's only uv protection that every ad helmet has

 

[WWShop]

actually THE FACT IS MISINFORMATION AND IGNORANCE may hurt more then a flash burn in the long run, Please stop spreading it.

It's only uv protection that every ad helmet has

Agreed. If a helmet has settings for less than 8/9 those settings are for grinding and if the auto darkening stops working it simply blocks UV.

 

[DekeT]

There was a communal HF welding helmet that was around the garage I was in during college. It was known as the "flasher".

If you care about your eyes, you should not get the HF helmet.

I suspect if there was a Jackson, Miller, or 3M helmet laying around as "communal" it would perform similarly. That the helmet was still laying around the shop to be used says more about the shop than the helmet.

 

[HAP]

Optrel.

 

[Blazinzuk]

actually THE FACT IS MISINFORMATION AND IGNORANCE may hurt more then a flash burn in the long run, Please stop spreading it.

It's only uv protection that every ad helmet has

Passive protection is UV protection.

I guess I'm the only one that reads the owners manual. Cause most manufacturers state their helmets have passive protection which is UV filters.

UV light causes corneal flash burns. The extremely painful flash burn.

So I guess it all needs spelled out in smaller words

 

[zendriver]

There was a communal HF welding helmet that was around the garage I was in during college. It was known as the "flasher".



If you care about your eyes, you should not get the HF helmet.

It sounds like they should have taught the important shop safety, before anything else.

Not sure why anyone would want to have someone else use malfunctioning safety equipment,especially Eye protection.

 

[sberry]

Make sure everything is installed correct, old or new, that its not leaking around the lens.

 

[PSYKO_Inc]

Why not try a fixed shade? Less to go wrong, and you can get replacement lenses at any hardware store for cheap.

 

[bumblebee]

I picked up a helmet today. It is a Lincoln electric. I haven't had a chance to try it out. Here are the specs.

 

[MrGiggles]

Although most don't like the HF helmets, I used one for years welding on pipe fence and it was fantastic. The genset that was bought shortly after the helmet has 1500 hours, the helmet was being used for probably a third or more of that. Never a hiccup, and never changed the battery, although if facing the sun it would sometimes confuse it for a welding arc.

Last year I dropped it from a ladder, and the shade adjustment knob broke off. It still works but only at the lightest shade. The inside of the lens was in pretty bad shape so I gave in and bought another. It was a trooper and had survived 5 years of use and abuse.

Had an eye exam a few months ago, and the doc said everything looked great.

However, the head gear wasn't the best, and I can certainly understand wanting a fancier helmet, but there's no reason that a HF hood won't do the job for a weekend welder.

 

[Rory Bellows]

I own a Hobart helmet that came with Hobart 180. I want a Jackson Truesight helmet. I may buy one when I finally sell my jeep.

 

[DekeT]

Agreed. If a helmet has settings for less than 8/9 those settings are for grinding and if the auto darkening stops working it simply blocks UV.

I a helmet has settings for less the 8/9 you can use it for torch work. If it is less than #5 shade it is used for grinding.

 

[pepi]

Why not try a fixed shade? Less to go wrong, and you can get replacement lenses at any hardware store for cheap.

Good for outside welding, **** big time for the indoor.... cheap is not a measurement of function good or bad, it is just cheap.

 

[TOOLFREEQ]

MILLER Digital Elite!!!!

 

[George Madison]

This is a nice welding helmet.
I heard only nice feedback on this unit.
So, I assume it does not cause a headache.
https://ikraz.biz/ghosts-love-solar...arc-tig-mig-grinding-welders-mask-965901.html

 

[Ign]

I have a speedglass 9100x
Very nice but the headgear *****.

Oh BTW,
Its a Hood

Not a helmet.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I doubt the headgear ***** anymore than Miller. I'm amazed at how many recommend the Digital Elite, the headgear is terrible.

 

[Farmall 1066]

I must be the odd man out here. Got a Jackson auto shade that is ok, but usually use my old fixed pipeliner helmet, or my Cherokee chin operated one, if I'm doing a lot of tackup stuff, or spot welding.
The Cherokee gets a lot of strange looks at first, but I've had it for years and love it. Top notch quality too.

 

[fickster03]

Had a miller helmet hated it in fact it was messed up n i did not know it n went blind for 3 days due to a bad screen. I have a lincoln now it's alright but I loved my Jackson next Gen till a hired help dropped a 4x4x3/8 Sq tube off the loader. Long story there but I'm havin a hard time finding a Jackson airgas Saud they got bought out?? I'm not welding like I used to throu

from central Missouri. cattle man live like there's no tomorrow.

 

[speed bump]

Whatever helmet you are looking at see if you can try it on and weld a little with it. What one person who may not have used a wide range of helmets thinks is a good helmet might not be good for you.

As far as UV light, one of the interesting tidbits I picked up in welding class is to wear safety glasses under your hood. This is for two reasons: 1.) as soon as you hood comes up you are going to do some kind of material removal. 2.) It helps protect against the UV light reflected off the wall around you, especially if you are welding in a booth or confined space.

Some light reading on the subject:https://ohsonline.com/Articles/2007/02/Preventing-Eye-Injuries-When-Welding.aspx?Page=1

Finally: typically seeing spots in your eyes is typically not a symptom of arc burn. Are you sure you: 1.) had your headgear adjusted correctly and were not dehydrated or in a position that was uncomfortable for an extended period of time. 2.) were not concentrating to the point where you weren't blinking or holding your breath. 3.) breathing the fumes?

 

[gearhead1]

Although most don't like the HF helmets, I used one for years welding on pipe fence and it was fantastic. The genset that was bought shortly after the helmet has 1500 hours, the helmet was being used for probably a third or more of that. Never a hiccup, and never changed the battery, although if facing the sun it would sometimes confuse it for a welding arc.

Last year I dropped it from a ladder, and the shade adjustment knob broke off. It still works but only at the lightest shade. The inside of the lens was in pretty bad shape so I gave in and bought another. It was a trooper and had survived 5 years of use and abuse.

Had an eye exam a few months ago, and the doc said everything looked great.

However, the head gear wasn't the best, and I can certainly understand wanting a fancier helmet, but there's no reason that a HF hood won't do the job for a weekend welder.

I had a HF one for years then it quit working. I got another and had it about 7 years or so now. I don't weld for a living or every day, but more than a hobbyist. I've had no issues with the HF ones, other than the first one quit working.