welding helmet crapped out tonight

[toplessHO]

and we will be on lockdown starting tomorrow night.
This wasnt that old,only used a few times but was cheap($50) so oh well.
Last autodark I had was a Daytona Mig with a swedish lens and it lasted 20 yrs
until the solar assist would no longer keep the battery up(internal ,non replaceable).
So looking at the lincoln I can pick up at Lowes tomorrow.Or if I can get a mail order one within the next week,I ll put off finishing the project.
I want auto dark variable,prefer light weight,dont need the panoramic view yada yada. Replaceable batteries and solar assist.Would like to stay under $200 shipped. Red or Blue is OK,would really like something made in USA if thats even possible.I dont need top of line but see the Miller clearview for $150 and Lincolns have 2 and 3 yr warranty

 

[gmwelder86]

Lincoln’s 3550 with their 4c lens is worth every penny. I have the Lincoln 3550 Miller digital elite, couple pipe liners, pancake and a cut down huntsman for tube welding. The clarity of the 4c lens is excellent, on par with a good good lens. Just recently got the 2x4 4c lens to put in one of my pipe liners and it’s the best combination thus far. Only negative I could say with the Lincoln is I don’t find it as comfortable as my pipeliner but I live in that thing daily so it just feels like home. But Lincoln did just change their headgear so it may have gotten better.

 

[brownbagg]

just buy a gold shield for the one you got and keep on welding

 

[toplessHO]

Im done with fixed
got gold in several shades going back over 40 yr
that 3550 is nice but 20 oz is getting on the heavy side
tho not near as heavy as my old fibreFab that resembled a tank helmet

 

[dnschmidt]

The Antra helmets are made in China. They are dirt cheap on Amazon and they are truly AMAZING. i have a Lincoln Viking and the cheap Antra is just as good. This is the one with the shade adjustment on the side. Only problem is that the shade adjustment can change as you snap your head down. This knob should require more effort than it does to move. I simply put a piece of masking tape over the knob and that fixes the problem just fine.

 

[toplessHO]

The Antra helmets are made in China. They are dirt cheap on Amazon and they are truly AMAZING. i have a Lincoln Viking and the cheap Antra is just as good. This is the one with the shade adjustment on the side. Only problem is that the shade adjustment can change as you snap your head down. This knob should require more effort than it does to move. I simply put a piece of masking tape over the knob and that fixes the problem just fine.

sounds like the same one I had that just crapped out only used about a dozen times.
where are the Lincoln vikings and Miller clearviews made?

 

[BlackLS2]

Highly recommend the Jackson Safety 46138 from Cyberweld. When last looked, was just over 100 bones. Any of the Jackson Insight line is excellent- it all came from Kimberly Clark. Love the helmet, headgear, and AD module.

 

[toplessHO]

another option is to buy a replacement drop in lens that will fit my Daytona Mig hood.
I like it because its so light.The old one went from 4-13 but downside was didnt have replaceable battery(It did last at least 20 yrs tho so no complaints there.

 

[kald]

Highly recommend the Jackson Safety 46138 from Cyberweld. When last looked, was just over 100 bones. Any of the Jackson Insight line is excellent- it all came from Kimberly Clark. Love the helmet, headgear, and AD module.

This! I had one for 3 years now and it's really good! Bought it after I crushed my Balder bh3 by falling pallet rack.
The balder MAY have been slightly clearer but I much prefer the Insights feature set.
Its $112 on Amazon now and an amazing value.

I probably would not trade straight up for a BH3 based on the performance and features of the insight.

I use my old BH3 as an example because it's the best/cleanest viewing auto glass ever made period. IMHO of course.

 

[toplessHO]

I love the lightweight of my old Hawk hood
so looking at drop ins for it with 2x4
I see the Lincoln 4C variable KP 3775-1 for $100 shipped
whats opinions on this lens

 

[thefoobag]

Highly recommend Antra if you want a damn good auto darkening hood, good viewing lens and grinding mode that doesn't break the bank. I use mine for welding, air arcing, and thermal lancing. and it has performed beautifully.

Here is the one i have. I always keep a spare hood in the service truck that is basic standard hood in case something happens. Radnor has a great 30$ back up option if im doing nothing but air arcing in in a simple area or if its really ****** conditions.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01NBOPV48/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Farmall450]

I've recently upgraded to a Jackson Nemesis but my cheap Hobart has been kicking for at least 15 years

 

[toplessHO]

I tried to weigh the Hawk hood caveman style,my digital scale is somewhere else ATM.
looks like somewhere around 12 oz.
Ive been eying the new Lincoln Viking K3034-4 for $229 but even tho its a very nice hood and has much larger lens,it weighs 20 oz.
so at $100 for a replacement lens or $229 for a hood with larger lens and 1 year longer warranty....choices,choices Ive heard nothing but good for the 4C Lincolns

 

[dnschmidt]

thefoobad. I have that Antra along with the other one I mentioned and both are great in my opinion. Here' s link to the cheap one: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BWAEYV8/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[toplessHO]

Im afraid that if I bought another cheap one I would be in the same boat I am now,only 6 months from now.

I like all the reports I see on the Lincoln 4C technology so question is do I get the drop in for my superlight Hawk and live with a small viewing area or get the large view of the Viking for $130 more. Only minus I see of that is the extra 8 oz added to the weight.To be honest other than leaving the hood turned on by mistake,I really liked the external adjustment of the Cheapy hood I had.

 

[toplessHO]

heres links

2x4 drop in lens
https://bakersgas.com/products/viking-kp3775-1
full view hood
https://www.harrisweldingsupplies.c...g 3350 Black Welding Helmet K3034-3 | $240.57

 

[dnschmidt]

One of the things I really like about the Antra is the range of shade adjustment. I believe it goes from 5 to 13 which is extremely wide. I have very light NON-sensitive eyes. I live in Phoenix, AZ and I've never needed to wear sunglasses which is quite a statement as is. At shade ten I see damn near nothing. Maybe the puddle but that's about it. Nothing surrounding it. At shade 7-8 things are fine. The Jackson recommended above only goes from 9-13 which for me would be from darkness to pitch black.

 

[toplessHO]

the lincoln altho quite a bit more also goes from 5-13
the drop in lens goes from 8-13,but starts at 3 so I could live with that
I like the grind button on outside of the Lincoln hood.

 

[lethal-6]

Esab sentinel. Great helmet, Napa had a great price on it.

 

[kald]

One of the things I really like about the Antra is the range of shade adjustment. I believe it goes from 5 to 13 which is extremely wide. I have very light NON-sensitive eyes. I live in Phoenix, AZ and I've never needed to wear sunglasses which is quite a statement as is. At shade ten I see damn near nothing. Maybe the puddle but that's about it. Nothing surrounding it. At shade 7-8 things are fine. The Jackson recommended above only goes from 9-13 which for me would be from darkness to pitch black.

I've got/had red hair. Plus green eyes. I can't comprehend need less than a #10 lol.
My helmet by default is set at 11. Anything over 125 amps I go to12. I've only used a the # 9 setting a few times in my life.

 

[plinker]

Speedglas 100V is a great unit for a reasonable price, Mine is at least ten years old.
https://www.amazon.com/3M-Speedglas-Welding-Auto-Darkening-07-0012-31BL/dp/B003TM0SDU/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=speedglas+100v&qid=1585277675&s=industrial&sr=1-1


I did buy my Dad one of these Jackson 46131 's a year or two ago now, no complaints/issues that I know of.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01HTMLSLQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[5ubtle]

Last autodark I had was a Daytona Mig with a swedish lens and it lasted 20 yrs until the solar assist would no longer keep the battery up(internal ,non replaceable).

I expect that you don't have the Daytona Mig any more, but don't be afraid to change your own battery. My 15 yo Hobart Hood had a "non replaceable" battery, but it had a common Panasonic VL2330/VCN battery in it which can be had for $10.

 

[gmwelder86]

I love the lightweight of my old Hawk hood
so looking at drop ins for it with 2x4
I see the Lincoln 4C variable KP 3775-1 for $100 shipped
whats opinions on this lens

I just got the 2x4 4c lens for my pipeliner as I find it far
More comfortable than the Lincoln 3550 specially when not bench welding. It works great. Haven’t had a lot of hours behind it yet with work being shut down but tig welding in the garage it’s worked good so far.

 

[toplessHO]

I just got the 2x4 4c lens for my pipeliner as I find it far
More comfortable than the Lincoln 3550 specially when not bench welding. It works great. Haven’t had a lot of hours behind it yet with work being shut down but tig welding in the garage it’s worked good so far.

thank you for that tidbit
a real world hands on report
since there are different models of 2x4 4c replacements did you get the 8-13 ?
It claims its a shade #3 when at rest,which is great for fit up.
Also thanks for confirming the 3550 isnt a comfortable as our old junk ****

 

[toplessHO]

I expect that you don't have the Daytona Mig any more, but don't be afraid to change your own battery. My 15 yo Hobart Hood had a "non replaceable" battery, but it had a common Panasonic VL2330/VCN battery in it which can be had for $10.

I dont know if I even have it.
I got the hood out of storage and it has a #12 gold lens in it now.
Mine was the standard 2x4 size and was all sealed between 2 layers of glass.

 

[toplessHO]

come to think of it the old lens wasnt even adjustable,went to a fixed # of 8 + I think
So it started at a 4 and added 8 to that.
To get darker than #12(adding the 4+8) was accomplished by adding filters in front of lens.
Remember this was at least 20 yrs ago and at that time was top of line.
So its not worth reviving,just like our broken 386 IBMs

 

[toplessHO]

just ordered the lens for $108 including 10 clear lenses.
I will probably kick myself later for not spending the additional
$130 and getting a lot more,but who knows what is around the corner.

 

[toplessHO]

I got the lens yesterday and finally got a chance to try it out.
Wow what a difference. The arc gives off a pinkish glow and the
transition is instantaneous.
I was stick welding some aluminum and had it set at 11.
My lightweight hood is happy once again.
I like that it lightens up so much,for fitup.

 

[Jazz1]

thefoobad. I have that Antra along with the other one I mentioned and both are great in my opinion. Here' s link to the cheap one: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BWAEYV8/?tag=atomicindus08-20

The ANTRA are "industrial" quality I thinks...thats why you can't find them on eBay for $9. I just got one($40 CDN on Amazon.ca) to replace my SpeedGlas auto lens I cracked. The ANTRA is excellent,, nice touch having the grind mode

 

[PugetDude]

just ordered the lens for $108 including 10 clear lenses.
I will probably kick myself later for not spending the additional
$130 and getting a lot more,but who knows what is around the corner.

link?

 

[Stephenw]

Speedglas.

I’ve used a lot of different hoods, Harbor Freight, Hobart, Miller Elite.

I like my Speedglas the best.

 

[toplessHO]

link?

I think it was Baker

 

[bob15]

Speedglas.

I’ve used a lot of different hoods, Harbor Freight, Hobart, Miller Elite.

I like my Speedglas the best.

I agree.

I just replaced my 25 year old Sellstrom helmet with the Sweden-made Speedglas 9100xx and all I can say is WOW, what a helmet!! If anyone needs a new helmet, look at the Speedglas offering.