Welding Helmet Recommendation

[jacked_72]

I do very little welding, but I do have a HF Dual Mig 151 Welder that I occasionally use. I've been using the little opera mask face shield they provided with the kit and I'd like to move up to a full mask so I can have my left hand free. Can someone make a recommendation on an inexpensive helmet suited to the hobbiest/DIYer? Are these $44 auto darkening HF helmets OK? Is auto darkening a good idea in the first place?

Thanks.

 

[Conor]

Ive been using the HF blue flame auto darkening helmet for a while. No gravel eyes so far.

 

[tkonetzke]

They work, no frills but for a hobbyist they will suffice. I love auto-darkening, at first i was skeptical having learned with a fixed -shade. But now i made myself believe auto-dark is a must. If you plan to do any welding, repairs in tight spaces you may want a 3 or 4 sensor hood. For welding on a bench a 2will be sufficient.

 

[NMIwrench]

i had a hf helment after my jackson got stolen and i had problems with it. besides the delay being to slow and hurting my eyes after 15 mins of using it, mine went through batterys really quick. when the batterys run low, it flickers and it flashed me pretty good a few times. A co-worker of mine had the same helment and had the same problems.

if you want a good cheaper helment go with a jackson or lincoln imho.

personally, i love my auto speedglas helment

 

[Tucko]

Auto darkening is the way to go. But do you really want to trust your eyesight on anything from Harbor Freight? Screw that Chinese ****!

 

[Chadwilliam1]

the best welding helmets I have ever used are speedglas. they blow Miller away. I have the 9100xx I wouldn't trade it for any other hood.

 

[PCO6]

Auto darkening is the way to go. But do you really want to trust your eyesight on anything from Harbor Freight? Screw that Chinese ****!

Snap-on Chinese **** is good though.

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...roup_ID=675744&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

 

[jrlp]

My Optrel Satellite has been going good for years! I beat the hell out of it, I have left it in the pouring rain for hours (accidentally), even partially ran over it. And it's been great to me! I'm probably going to replace it this year with the new Miller Digital's that just came out!

Edit:

Forgot to add, while auto-darkening isn't a MUST, once you get one you'll kick yourself in the *** for all the time you spent without one. I spent years under a fixed-shade hood, and would never go back! Except when I do extremely low-amp tig, I have a fixed-shade GOLD lense that's very different from what you think when you think fixed shade... but it's rare that it comes out!

 

[HAP]

Optrel. Opthomologist endorsed...

 

[thehazmatguy]

I've been very happy with my Miller Pro-Hobby. It's affordable and good. I can't trust my eye's to something like an Harbor Freight helmet. Speedglas and some others are very nice but I couldn't swing $200 for one of the nicer helmets.

If you weld a lot, go for a nice helmet. If you only weld occasionally, then I'd suggest something that balances quality with affordability.

 

[chris142]

Auto darkening is the way to go. But do you really want to trust your eyesight on anything from Harbor Freight? Screw that Chinese ****!

I thought that too untill I found out that the HF ones and the name brand ones use the same chinese parts.

 

[Handy Andy]

I weld as a hobby myself and used the cheap $40 helmets for a little while, but one of my friends bought me a Optrel Helmet and I will never go back...I know they are a bit spendy...he said he bought mine for like $450....but I bet you could find it for cheaper

 

[Duker]

personally, i love my auto speedglas helment

+1 on loving the Speedglas!

 

[neonnblack]

Speedglas ftw!

 

[toomanytoyzz]

I weld as a hobby myself and used the cheap $40 helmets for a little while, but one of my friends bought me a Optrel Helmet and I will never go back...I know they are a bit spendy...he said he bought mine for like $450....but I bet you could find it for cheaper

That's one hell of a friend!! Did you pull him out of a burning car to deserve that??