Welding helmet thoughts

[Stefan S]

I’m in need of a new welding helmet and was looking at the miller ClearLight digital infinity. Any folks with these able to comment on them?

To be honest when I bought my last one I just bought one based on price and not performance so I’m really not sure what I should be looking for...

Thank you!

 

[FishingMan]

I recently bought a new Miller Digital Elite with clear light I have an old version Digital Elite that was getting beat. Very nice helmet. Highly recommend

 

[tarbellb]

Post your budget ( and usage), you will get much better feedback.

 

[Stefan S]

Post your budget ( and usage), you will get much better feedback.

I’m a serious hobbyist. I’d like to stay sub 300 and currently I’m doing a lot of mig but will be purchasing a tig machine early next year.

 

[isb cornbinder]

I have seen some good electronic welding helmets for under $100. You sound like an amateur first timer. Start inexpensive go up from there as your use and skill improve.

 

[fiftyv8]

I am a much more senior hobbyist and find eye sight issues with my helmet these days it just does not give me enough magnification or light to see well.

It would be nice to read comments from folks who I can relate to age wise at 67yo.

 

[isb cornbinder]

I am 7 years older than you. Welding has been part of my trade. After 50+ years, I consider myself to be an amateur with more to learn than I think I might know.
My two welder's helmets are expensive electronic. A good electronic helmet can be bought for around $100. I would suggest that you buy the biggest viewing window you can afford.
I have had better reliability with battery powered versus automatic self charge.
I see good deals on Craigslist. There is always the risk of buying stolen property. Do your due diligence.

 

[dr_clyde]

I run a welding shop and have MANY welding helmets.

I find the absolute best vision and optical clarity comes from a #10 gold fixed shade lens. Preferably a Omniview, you may be able to snag one on eBay.

I use a Jackson Shadow for the helmet part. They are inexpensive, and the headgear is IMO the most comfortable.

For auto dark, I like Miller's Elite lens, but HATE the headgear.

 

[Stefan S]

I have seen some good electronic welding helmets for under $100. You sound like an amateur first timer. Start inexpensive go up from there as your use and skill improve.

Thank you for the replies.

I’m already to that point - been welding for 10+ years and took a 12 week night school class to get started. I’ve gotten the less expensive previously and want to step up. Tons to learn and it’s not my day job but I’d use it several times a month and a lot more frequently when I have a project it requires.

I can get the elite for 200 and the infinity for 240 right now after rebate and discount.

 

[isb cornbinder]

You are likely to get a better welder's helmet from Miller. I prefer my Miller digital electronic over the other model i own. Check for country of origin. Use Google for research. Ask your Miller dealer for recommendations.

My other helmet is a SPEEDGLAS. I like it.

 

[Stefan S]

For auto dark, I like Miller's Elite lens, but HATE the headgear.

I tried it on and the headgear was way more comfortable than what I’m using now but it was like 30 seconds of wear. What didn’t you like?

 

[thejimmy]

I have both the Digital Elite and Infinity, the infinity is pre clearlight the elite is new. I prefer the elite as the DI tends to be front heavy

 

[90roadster]

+1 for digital elite, 5 years plus of serious hobby use

 

[dr_clyde]

I tried it on and the headgear was way more comfortable than what I’m using now but it was like 30 seconds of wear. What didn’t you like?

Excessively complicated, the helmet won't nod or stay up with the correct tension, and the thing is about impossible to put on one handed.

If it is on correctly, it is comfortable, but the ergonomics and the actual field usability if it leaves a lot to be desired.

 

[platypus20]

I’ve used a Speedglas SL (super lite) for the last 10+ yrs, best helmet I’ve ever used

 

[bluesboy]

lincoln 3350. Light weight ,great headgear. $250 One of my best purchases.

 

[bullnerd]

lincoln 3350. Light weight ,great headgear. $250 One of my best purchases.

This is the one I like .

Huge window, very comfortable. $250 on amazon. Read the reviews.

The lesser $ Vikings are also very good.

 

[Ford12508]

lincoln 3350. Light weight ,great headgear. $250 One of my best purchases.

I second this. Use mine everyday and its comfortable and gets the job done better than my miller pro hobby, that's for sure.

 

[fordkid88]

I use 2 jackson safeties. Dr. Clyde got me hooked on a passive gold shade for tig and for mig i use there auto darkening for a decent of about 150

 

[BigMike782]

https://weldcotemetals.com/klear-view-plus-auto-darkening/
or
https://www.esabna.com/us/en/sentinel/index.cfm

 

[c39er]

Speedglas 9000 V.
18 years later and never an issue.

 

[Ms6peters]

Miller T94 clear light is fine for my hobby needs. The EMI-triggered x-mode works great for off angle triggering. I normal sensor mode for aluminum, the red hot tungsten can flash back as soon as the EMI is gone.

Agree with a previous comment, the head gear is gimpy depending on your fit. I ruined one attempting to shave and rework the detents for flip-up.

 

[hawkerxj]

I have both the Digital Elite and Infinity, the infinity is pre clearlight the elite is new. I prefer the elite as the DI tends to be front heavy

Agreed, go with the elite if you plan to weld for longer stretches as the infinity is quite a bit heavier. Both have great visibility.

 

[schurtjl]

Lincoln 3350 is what I recently purchased, and like it so far for the little I’ve used it. Weldingmart.com has the cheapest price I could find at $215 shipped, and Lincoln is offering $50 rebate through end of the year, so I have $165 into it. You can get either the 3rd gen or 4th gen (has the grinder button on the left side of the helmet) for the same price.

 

[Stefan S]

I decided to try the 3350 - looking forward to getting it!

 

[C91x]

Another vote for Jackson

 

[Brandon_oma#692]

I have 2 miller classic auto darkening ans 1 optrel e684.

I use the optrel and really like the lighter shade before it darkens. It makes it easier for me to see as I learn.

 

[AngryBeaver]

old skool welder here. used a normal jackson flip hood with various tints for years. still do when stick welding.

Once I got into serious tig welding, I bought a cheap jackson auto... ****...

Bought a snap on Auto darkening.... less than a year it died. warranty was painful. replacement lense lasted another 6-8 months. later found out it was made by save face.. still ****.

spend some big bucks and got a 3550 viking with the 4C lense. holy **** what a difference.

spend once, cry once. the head gear alone on the 3550 is worth it, let alone the clarity, the sensitivity etc.

 

[smokeysevin]

Something that may factor in is that the miller stuff is running a $50 rebate on helmets, and a $100 on gear. I filled out the forms yesterday and they appeared to stack when I looked at the confirmation stuff.

I bought a digital infinity, a set of gloves and a spool of hobart wire for like $308 and potentially will be getting $150 back.

I spent an hour or so giving the new gear a workout and its lightyears ahead of anything else I had used in the sub $150 range.

https://store.cyberweld.com/buildwithblue5.html

Sean

 

[zmotorsports]

I run a welding shop and have MANY welding helmets.

I find the absolute best vision and optical clarity comes from a #10 gold fixed shade lens. Preferably a Omniview, you may be able to snag one on eBay.

I use a Jackson Shadow for the helmet part. They are inexpensive, and the headgear is IMO the most comfortable.

For auto dark, I like Miller's Elite lens, but HATE the headgear.

^^Agree 110%.

I'm not a fan of electronic helmets. However, I have a Miller BWE for those few hard to get to locations when I need an auto-darkening.

I have several "go to" helmets. My MIG helmet is a Huntsman and my TIG Helmet is a Jackson, both are the large window helmets and use the Omniview Gold lenses and I keep clean disposable clear protectors on hand and replace as needed. I really like the Jackson headgear and keep a couple spares on hand.

 

[gmwelder86]

union pipe welder wear a hood everyday. Fibermetal pipeliner with gold lens is my day to day hood, huntsmen cut way down with omniview lens for tig welding. Have a Miller digital elite that’s pretty good and a Lincoln 3550 4C that has the clearest image but cannot get comfortable in that hood at all. Also a pancake hood but that’s a little more specialized than what you’d use in a shop or at home. I really do wish I could get comfortable under than Lincoln though.