Welding helmet quality

[Josh_Br]

I do a small amount of welding, just once and a while on my cars. I have a 220v wire feed welder. For a welding helmet, I have a Harbor Freight auto-darkening helmet (http://www.harborfreight.com/adjustable-shade-auto-darkening-welding-helmet-46092.html). I have been wondering about the quality/safety of it. I know HF is not known for quality. Does anyone know if this helmet is safe to use? I checked the specs on a more expense Hobart helmet, and one of the features is that it meets some ANSI standards. The specs of the HF helmet don't say that.

Thanks,
Josh

 

[srmofo]

Its better than nothing. I had one for a while and it worked ok for my cheap 110v fluxcore welder. I started getting flashed from it after a few years of owning it (despite not being used that often). Once I bought a tig I decided it was time to upgrade my equipment.

To me it was like buying a nice new expensive motorcycle and buying the cheapest helmet they have on the shelf.

Uhh, just noticed on your link that the helmet is not for use on tig, good thing I upgraded before sunburning my retinas.

 

[PCO6]

I've tried 4 or 5 different types of auto darkening helmets. They've all worked fine and I felt safe with all of them.

The "Welding Tips and Tricks" website has a good section on auto darkening helmets. ( http://www.weldingtipsandtricks.com/auto-darkening-welding-helmets.html ) Here is one video from it ...
http://www.weldingtipsandtricks.com/auto-darkening-welding-helmets.html

 

[Josh_Br]

Ok, thanks guys. The last time I used it I noticed I could feel the flash on my cheeks even though the shade was darkened, so that made me wonder why was making its way to my eyes.

 

[Stooge]

i have a harbor freight helmet kicking around as an extra i guess. i used it a few times after i bought it a couple yrs ago to have an extra and although i never got flashed, i did notice alot more eye fatigue after welding for any length of time than with my miller helmet. quality helmet is definitely an area that i dont mind spending a few bucks, eyes are too important to cheap out on.

 

[IndyGarage]

For MIG I can't tell any difference between my HF and my speedglas. Actually I've had some trouble with the Speedglas, and I often end up using the HF and I don't think I'm losing anything.

The HF isn't fast enough for TIG welding.

 

[jjjrmx5]

SpeedGlas or even the Miller offerings are fine.

Suffer retinal burn more than once and you learn. NOT pretty.

You only have 2 eyes and braille **** is not all it's cracked up to be.

Please don't go cheap.

 

[Josh_Br]

Thanks guys. Feeling some of the flash on my cheeks while wearing the HF mask does make me nervous. I have an industrial quality non-auto-darkening mask. Maybe I'll go back to using that for the time being.

 

[Kracin]

Thanks guys. Feeling some of the flash on my cheeks while wearing the HF mask does make me nervous. I have an industrial quality non-auto-darkening mask. Maybe I'll go back to using that for the time being.

i have both a standard hf helmet and their "blue flame" one (the blue one was a gift from my dad... who wanted me to do some welding for him so he got me a helmet to use at his place lol).

i've used the standard hf helmet for 4 years now, heavy duty, harsh work, i've melted the headband a few times replacing it with jackson ones, the inside of the helmet glass has some pitting on it from molten slag being tossed around on the deck at my old work (foundry, steel pipe casting). and it still works perfectly, if i had to guess i'd say i had well over 150-200 hours of welding time with that particular hood and it hasn't failed. the only time i have ever been flashed was forgetting to change the un-darken speed and setting a welder or getting a rod stuck and having it arc on and off multiple times. but its nothing that more expensive helmets i've used would fix. user error.

 

[Kracin]

Thanks guys. Feeling some of the flash on my cheeks while wearing the HF mask does make me nervous. I have an industrial quality non-auto-darkening mask. Maybe I'll go back to using that for the time being.

if you are feeling "flash" on your cheeks with a helmet with that small of a viewing area, then it isn't the helmet, you would feel it in your eyes, eyelids and brow first if anything was getting through

 

[PCO6]

I do a small amount of welding, just once and a while on my cars. I have a 220v wire feed welder. For a welding helmet, I have a Harbor Freight auto-darkening helmet (http://www.harborfreight.com/adjustable-shade-auto-darkening-welding-helmet-46092.html). I have been wondering about the quality/safety of it. I know HF is not known for quality. Does anyone know if this helmet is safe to use? I checked the specs on a more expense Hobart helmet, and one of the features is that it meets some ANSI standards. The specs of the HF helmet don't say that.

Thanks,
Josh

I have the Princess Auto version of the Harbor Freight helmet and the ANSI spec is printed on the inside above the lens (ANSI Z87.1). That is what is also on the inside of my Lincoln helmet.

 

[Josh_Br]

I have the Princess Auto version of the Harbor Freight helmet and the ANSI spec is printed on the inside above the lens (ANSI Z87.1). That is what is also on the inside of my Lincoln helmet.

Thanks! I went and checked mine and it says the same. That's got to be a good thing - the ANSI spec.

My eyes have never hurt after using the HF helmet. I just could feel the light or IR or whatever on the tops of my cheeks, so that made me wonder.

 

[K13]

Part of the ANSI spec is that even if the shade doesn't darken the lense still protects against all of the harmful UV rays.

 

[Josh_Br]

Part of the ANSI spec is that even if the shade doesn't darken the lense still protects against all of the harmful UV rays.

That's awesome - thank you

 

[porschedude996TT]

What are your eyes worth? I bought a Miller helmet. Now if I can remember to turn it on between welding sessions (many weeks) my eyes will be good.

 

[zkling]

A welding helmet is not some place that I would skimp on, especially an auto dark. As mentioned above as long as it meets ANSI specs, technically it won't damage your eyes. Where people feel issues is when the change rate is rather low (~<1/20000sec) it is like looking into a camera flash. It causes the pupils to retract. This fast action repeatedly can become tiresome to the muscles in your eyes and even give you a headache.

For mig, I do like the auto dark helmets. Especially for a buch of tacking fit up. I have an older miller auto dark that I won in a drawing. Otherwise I wouldn't spend the $ on a auto dark helmet.

For tig I prefer the $40 big window fixed shade Jackson helmets. In a well lit shop with a #10 lens you can see enough to start the pedal. If you haven't used a nice glass lens I would highly recommend it. The large viewing area is awesome and the image is just warmer I would say. Not to mention it is extremely rugged lite and just feels right on the head.

 

[aka Larry]

I have a cheap auto dark one (not HF, but similar) and a nice Miller one. The Miller one was like $250, but damn it's nice, comfortable, has a larger viewing area, and the auto dark isn't easily fooled like my cheap one.

If you can afford a really nice one, it is worth it.

 

[porschedude996TT]

I have a cheap auto dark one (not HF, but similar) and a nice Miller one. The Miller one was like $250, but damn it's nice, comfortable, has a larger viewing area, and the auto dark isn't easily fooled like my cheap one.

If you can afford a really nice one, it is worth it.

I think I got mine on sale a few years back and it was $175.

 

[crewchief888]

i had a cheap AD hood from northern tool, no matter what settings i tried it flashed me every time i used it.

i finally ran it over with a loader to make sure nobody else used it.


i have 2 AD hoods, both miller prohobby models, one with miller "eagle" graphics, the 2nd with custom "killer kreations" graphics

yet i still hold onto my trusty jackson big J, and a skull shaped small view flip front the the old lady bought me our 1st together.

 

[PAPERMAKER]

Only hood I have ever used besides a Jackson is a Pipeliner I tried the auto darkening several years ago and didn't like it so I went back to my Cool Blue #10 Passive

 

[kkroger]

It's your EYES, get the absolute best you can get.
I paid 275 for my Miller Digital Performance Helmet I could not afford the Top of the line but I could do this one.

Hobart has a similar model, and

at Lowes there is a Kobalt that is a decent looking helmet. $99.95... They have a couple patterns...

If you TIG less than 20 Amps DO NOT use that Harbor Freight hat... it *****.

 

[pepi]

I have the Speedglas, nice helmet been using it for 5 years replaced the battery for the first time a month back. It is a 300 + $$$ helmet but last a long time, head gear still in good shape. Something that breaks real easy with the cheepos, so I must ask now that you have all these opinions what are you going to do?