Welding helmet suggestions

[refueler1]

Ah. Ok. So for small metal pieces you dont want deep penetration you just need enough to glue the metal together so to speak.

 

[erty67]

Thanks Kenstone
18.39 free shipping
Always need a spare

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Proceed with caution. I bought one of these as a backup and cool wall hanger. Finally had a need for it and it wouldn't darken properly. Had to put my project in hold until I had my Lincoln back.

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[Kenstone1]

Proceed with caution. I bought one of these as a backup and cool wall hanger. Finally had a need for it and it wouldn't darken properly. Had to put my project in hold until I had my Lincoln back.

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Thanks for posting that review

Mine arrived today
The headband system is a little fiddly and not assembled correctly as shipped.
In fact the instructions caution you to take it apart and reassemble it.

I had to fumble around with the 3 adjustments, after reading about them, to get it functioning reliably.

I only tack welded some 1/4" CRS rod into a frame with my HF Titanium Easy Flux 125 AMP welder, and the helmet worked great.
I'll update this review if it preforms differently in the future.

Edit: Did you try a battery swap before you gave up on it?

 

[harley jim]

Ah. Ok. So for small metal pieces you dont want deep penetration you just need enough to glue the metal together so to speak.

Yep
Penetration is strength. Like I said I could weld a 3" nut to 1" plate it wouldn't be to spec. so to speak but you could not knock it off with a hammer.[emoji106]

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[bdbecker]

At USAWeld they have a $30 off their Striker hood, available in gloss black or carbon fiber.
It is an auto hood with 1/1/1/1 optic rating and 4 sensors, a great hood at the $$ for TIG welding

I've been thinking about picking up one of those for awhile now and nearly ordered it when you posted that sale. I was looking for some additional reviews to reassure myself that I should buy it when I came across a post on another forum where someone pointed out that the same hood is selling on Amazon selling under the "Tacklife" brand name. Its on sale for $65 right now. At price, I couldn't resist... it'll be here Friday.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073PY7F68/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[ALinCarolina]

I have 3 auto-darkening helmets and I have only used my 3M Speedglass since it got it. I need more and more light as I get older and it is "clearly" the best.

 

[snakeeyes]

I use Miller digital elite for stick and mig. Crystal 2.0 for tig. Had old digital elite without clearlight lens, swapped it out for a new lens with clearlight technology and it is close to the crystal 2.0.

Every brand nowadays seems to have their version of clearlight (aka better color reproduction when looking through lens than traditional old hoods) and I would aim for one that has that as a feature.

 

[tdkkart]

What do you think about a Hobart 140? Can get one from Facebook market place for $350? I was just about to get a 210 MVP for $799 but do i really need that big a welder for zapping nuts and bolts together and other similar parts? Probably the thickest metal i would use is whatever i need to make a small welding table and cart.

Can't say anything on the 140, but I bought the MVP 210 last week. I haven't done much with it because my MIG bottle was empty, but using the settings on the chart on the cover the first 2" weld right out of the box was the best looking weld I've done in years.(I'm a home fix-it/hobby welder, somewhere between not very often and damn seldom).

 

[Tennessee Cattleman]

The Speedglas auto-darkening helmets are very nice. The 9002NC is lightweight and can be found for less than $200.

 

[KenC]

I use a big *** box fan when welding gal. flux core, not mig/tig though...

Most all high end/popular brand AD helmets are made in China and like everything else, the Chinese sell them as some other obscure brand for way less $, mostly on ebay.

I use a cheap HF AD helmet with hard to change soldiered in batteries that are dying

I just bought a Chinese clone off ebay, following a link from this thread and watching some youtube vids.
All the controls and contours in the pics are identical to major a brand helmet that sells for $159, me I paid $13 shipped
So only out $13 if it's ****.(price posted is up/down most days).
https://www.ebay.com/itm/272414063844

Same here! Couldn't believe it would be OK, but just had to try one. Bought solid red so it cost few cents more. Adjustable shade and darkening time, decent head gear. I've burned maybe 10 lbs of rod and it's definitely a keeper.

 

[thejimmy]

I've been thinking about picking up one of those for awhile now and nearly ordered it when you posted that sale. I was looking for some additional reviews to reassure myself that I should buy it when I came across a post on another forum where someone pointed out that the same hood is selling on Amazon selling under the "Tacklife" brand name. Its on sale for $65 right now. At price, I couldn't resist... it'll be here Friday.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073PY7F68/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Great! Post a review I'm interested myself, thanks.

 

[bdbecker]

Great! Post a review I'm interested myself, thanks.

Will do. It was on my doorstep when I went home for lunch - initial unboxing, it looks pretty decent. Had no trouble getting the headgear adjusted and the lens is huge - feels like I'm looking through my old fixed shade. I'll burn some metal tonight to get a good feel for it and report back.

 

[Keyblazer]

Good Info as I'm frustrated with my current auto darkening helmet.

It keeps "Flashing me"... especially doing DC TiG....
Anyone have that issue?

Also, I get issues with my breath steaming up the inside lens... and I'm in CA!
cures for that?

 

[thejimmy]

It keeps "Flashing me"... especially doing DC TiG....
Anyone have that issue?

That's why I like the Miller X mode

 

[AndeiH]

i started off on a harbor freight AD, and i think that is a good helmet to start with just to get the hang of things. once i got comfortable with my setup i bought a cheap passive hood with a gold lens and that was a huge leap from the harbor freight.

 

[bdbecker]

Here's a full review of the Tacklife weld hood I purchased last week:

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=8349020#post8349020

 

[erty67]

Thanks for posting that review

Mine arrived today
The headband system is a little fiddly and not assembled correctly as shipped.
In fact the instructions caution you to take it apart and reassemble it.

I had to fumble around with the 3 adjustments, after reading about them, to get it functioning reliably.

I only tack welded some 1/4" CRS rod into a frame with my HF Titanium Easy Flux 125 AMP welder, and the helmet worked great.
I'll update this review if it preforms differently in the future.
[emoji106]
Edit: Did you try a battery swap before you gave up on it?

I have not, but will before I land on it just being a wall hanger.

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[Vahispd]

...
A friend of mine asked me to make this for him today, he is a university of Tennessee fan.


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Go Vols!

 

[Kaizen]

I started with a HF auto darken and just recently switched to a panoramic version: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B079Q6M482/?tag=atomicindus08-20



The difference has been amazing. Especially working up and around things like exhaust tack welds.

Just tried this one. Max dark and min time and have flash burn. Not bad but for 20 tack welds shouldn’t have any. Returned. Was really liking the wide view


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[Kaizen]

The Speedglas auto-darkening helmets are very nice. The 9002NC is lightweight and can be found for less than $200.

Where? Lowest I see is 260’s


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[trek]

My Antra’s true color darkening welding helmet is very convenient and lightweight. It comes with 6 + 1 extra lens covers that can handle any kind of welding, grinding, and cutting. It has cons the helmet is not sturdy enough to withstand hard impacts. Antra, a certified manufacturer, made this helmet. Antras this helmet is a Passive UV/IR filter to keep you always protected, Lightweight and comfortable, Frustration-free sensors which are highly responsive, No false triggering and lastly its parts are very available. I think Antra is a decent a nice one, It will meet your needs.

 

[Retroman]

Look at the Optrel Crystal 2.0 a little pricey but you can assemble parts with a perfect view with the hood down.

 

[tester19]

I upgraded to a YESWELDER helmet from a 15+ year old Jackson. That true color lens is just SO MUCH better! As was posted above I just can see much better. Even has plenty of room for my reading glasses too. External control again so much better than the old things inside the helmet. Now you can adjust on the fly without taking the helmet off.

YESWELDER Helmet

Even has a decent price of around $70-$80
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[Monza Harry]

Just started TIG welding and I need a good auto-darkening helmet for fine work. It has to fit my large head and a respirator mask and darken at very low TIG amperage.

Weight may not be a big issue as I don't plan on any long days of welding.

I keep coming back to the Lincoln Viking 3350 4C with its $50 rebate. it has good low amperage sensitivity, but the Miller X-mode sounds interesting too.

I haven't tried them on yet, but the Millers sound like maybe a smaller fit and might have enough comfortable space for them. The Lincoln seems like one of the larger ones.

I am open to looking at others.

I have the Lincoln 3350 (Viking) and it fits my fat head [MC helmet is a 3X] with a little room to spare, a respirator would be a stretch though for me, however Lincoln offers it with a "PAPR" option, you better bring an armoured vehicle with the needed cash though. I am sure there are other forced air options I have never looked but I have thought about it but at nearly $3000 CDN ($2000 USD) I'm not worth that much dead or alive [Oh and I'm cheap]... so dirty air it is! I have no regrets with mine other than now it has some external controls those would have been worthwhile upgrade to me. Harry

Lincoln Viking 3350 PAPR Welding Helmet System - K3930-1

Lincoln Viking 3350 PAPR K3930-1 Welding Helmet Non-stock item - Please allow min two week lead time Top Features Lightweight and comfortable Patent-pending baffling allows the user to adjust flow away from the eyes to prevent dryness Battery run time is a minimum of 8 hours Audible and...

canadaweldingsupply.ca

VIKING™ 3350 PAPR with Standard Battery

Viking 3350 powered air purifying respirator provides air purification for welding safety.

www.lincolnelectric.com

And then there is the large battery version! Eye Roll!

 

[brownbagg]

i got about ten helmets, from cheapy to $300. my favorite is a $40 fiber metal pipeliner with gold lense

 

[brownbagg]

my lincoln viking goes through battery, every two weeks

 

[mike528]

Thanks for the reply harley. The items you posted are what my wife wants me to learn to make for her. She also wants animals like doga, and pigs. I guess i will figure it out as I go. The hard part has been finding scrap pieces of metal to use. The scrap yards here in Indianapolis do not resale scrap they only buy from you.

if your up for the drive 1st street recycling in dayton has a lot of good stuff, take a truck, its all organized and they have an awesome selection. my last trip 2 weeks ago it was 51 cents a pound.

 

[mike528]

ive used the tractor supply cheapy ad helmet iwth no issue, and we have the cheap westward auto darkening at work and it works fine, and the one i have at home currently is a save phace, have no complaints with any of them as long as you keep up on the battery replacement cycles.

 

[tester19]

Once you use a true color lens you will throw away the gold and all other lenses!
I know I have gold,blue and others that did help but just not enough.
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