Welding helmets

[sharpshooter]

I am looking into buying a hoodlum welding helmets. Does anybody have anything good to say about these???


something along the lines of these http://www.hoodlum-welding.com/hoods.htm

I would also be adding the auto darkening lenses

 

[the intimidator]

Those welding helmets are awsome I wonder who makes the auto dark lens for them? I would try and find a few good reviews unless you are familer with the company? there are some pics for everywon

 

[AntiBling]

I gotta ask, why? I'm all for being different but a hood is for work. Why would you want to spend over $500 for a autodarkening helmet that has a small window, and IMO questionable reliability.

Speaking as a guy who welds for a living, your hood is gonna get cracked, scratched, faded, and worn. If you got the money to spend and want to, more power to ya, but for me $300 for a speedglas 9002X is the most I would spend for a hood. I've got 2 of them, one for my day job, and one for my home welding shop.

 

[sharpshooter]

where do you see a price tag for 500 ???

 

[ephotrod]

I believe a MIiller BWE, Jackson NexGen, or the speedglass are the best thing for your eyes. There should be no cost on protection for your eyes (you can't replace them). All these helmests are in the same price range of about 300 dollars. They are also easy to get clear front lenses for them.
Josh
( I have the NExGen)

 

[AntiBling]

where do you see a price tag for 500 ???

Oh I just scrolled down and seen the first helmet price, $395, then scrolled down through them to the autodarkening add on.

IMO still a waste of money.

 

[REFLEXX]

HF $50, autodarkening, done. Gets damaged, then HF $50, done.

 

[wilbilt]

I would definitely freak the neighbor kids wearing one of those

Way out of my price range, though.

 

[PAToyota]

Those look cool, but I'd agree on it being a fairly small window for the price. I paid about $275 for my Miller Big Window Elite and love it. Maybe one of these days I'll paint some flames or something on the hood for the heck of it.

 

[MarkH]

Having welded since age 12 which is *** years ago. I have found though there are many great looking helmets on the market. It seems that fairly frequently they are short in some of the useability and safety features to support some marketers idea that gives it the wow factor. Not a good idea in the long run.

After a lifetime of work without any damage to eyes or head to date, my choice is large windows, best safety rating and ultra quick autodarkening on the glass, a good compromise on weight vs face protection so nothing gets through on nasty overhead welds when not if but when you do something stupid, and a good fitting suspension system that will not drop the helmet off my head during a weld that requires gettng into a difficult position. Graphics are last on my list, my wife and daughters can add them to any helmet I get in a manner that looks as wow as any commercial one. The above specifications eliminates most helmets currently sold and puts me in the $300 plus category which I believe my eyes and face are worth. Priced a trip to the doctor or ED recently, that plus the days off etc make the cost a no brainer.

The one listed here IMHO has a small windows because it fits with the graphics which are cool. Think of it with a large window it would not look as nice. So marketers do something I see too often use the wow appeal to sell vs features that are really needed.

Then again I worry more about the fit and feel of a wrench to my hand, how it survives with a 6 foot cheater bar, how smooth is it vs how perfectl the chrome is. So most marketers really do not like me, I take the emotion out of the purchasing equation. See this way they get to sell you two, one for the WOW factor and then one that really works.

 

[EdNJ]

MarkH,what helmet do own/recommend anyway? I'm looking into upgrading to a large-window helmet.

I bought a used Jackson auto-darkening off a Mac dealer some years ago. The lens is in great working shape,the hood has scratches and burns,and other than a good cleaning (was a tad funky) it was a great deal.

 

[MarkH]

The models change since technology hit helmets sometimes rapidly.. Since I usually buy something to last a while it has been a while since I purchased. Right now if I was and will be in spring looking I would be looking between the Speedglas 9002X, the Miller Big Window Elite, the Jackson Executive or new models they may have by then. Since each of these are a little different than the current Miller. I usually do an extended test fit when I do and plan to spend a couple hours going between the helmets trying them on. Last time the dealer told me he was waiting for me to stand on my head before I made a choice. Fixing Ag stuff requires strange positions most of the time. I would be comfortable with all of the above, helmet fit like tools is a little different for each user. None of us has the same sized hands or head. Get what works best, never had any issues with the Jackson's I used.

When I learned to weld we had the old style helmets which we used till there was so much splatter on them, usually from my grandfather who used the french fry welding technique, you could not see. Now we change helmets often enough they do not go bad from weather and other abuse, since the screen must darken vs a flip down to prevent injury. My grandfather had a simple welding technique turn up the juice and burn the stuff together.

 

[TNToy]

I recommend the Jackson NexGen helmet, or a Speedglass if you wanna spend a little more dough for a slicker looking unit that performs about the same.

Used a NexGen once, and it'll be the next hemlet I buy. I'll let that speak for it's self.

The Miller/Hobart hoods are okay, but not quite in the same league as far as durability, cheap replacments (uses standard big-window clear cover), and fit.

 

[toolfreak]

I bought a Speedglass about 3 years ago and haven't had any problems with it. Expensive but well worth the money imo.

 

[delaware george]

i bought a tiger hood with a large hornel speed glass in it....not real fancy looking at all but i love it and the price wasn't too crazy...about 200 bucks i believe.