Welding helmets

[moto367]

I’m in the market to get a new welding helmet. I priced one at the local welding shop it was pretty high price (around $150 or so). Then I see helmets at Harbor Freight for like $40. Has anyone used these and is there much of a difference? Safe? These were both auto-darkening.

 

[PaulR]

(Not a pro)
Actually $150 is fair-average from what I've seen. I bought a decent one for ~$125 years ago, solar powered, and I'm looking to upgrade as I get flashed now and again.

I've been told Speedglass helmets are the way to go, but those are $200 and up range I believe. This from guys who fabricate their own rock buggies from scratch. I don't weld too often but I think its a worthwhile investment to have a good helmet.

 

[padronanniversary]

My eye sight is worth alot, so this is one place where I do not skimp, plus I like comfort.

I have a speedglass 9100xx and love it. I tried the ESAB line, and their new one is brighter than the speedglass. I'm really diggin it, when I say brighter, you can see things more clearly brighter, but not the flash per se.

 

[Jack Olsen]

The Harbor Freight ones are fine, at least in my experience. I have the cheapest AD model, but I've heard good things about the one with blue flames on the side. And I've been told it's pretty simple to peel off the blue flames.

 

[sammm]

I bought this one from Northern Tool. I just got a welder, but have no complaints with this helmet (except for the flames)

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200311850_200311850

 

[petawawarace]

I've never really liked the auto-dark ones....maybe the higher end ones are better, I don't know...I just use a decent traditional one and you can set the pivots so it just takes a little nod of the head and it comes down....

For spot welding I just turn my head....but make sure you rotate which side or you will end up with a burn on half your face...

 

[Interex]

Great thread, I'm in the market for a helmet as well. That Northern Tool one has a ton of great reviews.

 

[scooby074]

used a princess auto cheapie that was my buddies (same as HF ad the others). Got flashed and headaches.Gravel eyes *****. Response is too slow.

Went and got a miller BWE. NO PROBLEMS. never a flash. been great and it has great headgear.

 

[PCO6]

used a princess auto cheapie that was my buddies (same as HF ad the others). Got flashed and headaches.Gravel eyes *****. Response is too slow.

Went and got a miller BWE. NO PROBLEMS. never a flash. been great and it has great headgear.

I haven't had any trouble with mine from PA. I was a bit leary of them until I was in a fabrication shop picking up some aluminum. I saw one of the welders using one so I asked him how he liked it. He said a few of their guys used them and liked them. I've used mine 5 or 6 times and so far so good.

http://www.princessauto.com/worksho...7-solar-powered-auto-darkening-welding-helmet

 

[VegasBruce]

I still use my 20 year old Huntsmen fiberboard helmet. I do have a auto-darken lens in it now.

 

[Dewaynep]

Yeah, get a good one. You only get one set of eyes. I have 3 of the HF jobs and I now know what "Gravel Eyes" is. It's really worth it to get a decent helmet and there is a difference. It's pretty scary getting welding flash or gravel eyes and dealing with that for a day or two because your "cheap" helmet didn't react as fast as it should.

 

[beerbudget]

My HF hood has been fine. I've had it for a couple years now. I don't weld daily, maybe a couple times a month.

 

[FJ45Cruiser]

I went with this one. http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200416894_200416894 Although a year or two ago when I bought it the style came with flames.

It works well. I have done a fair amount of welding and never noticed any "Gravel Eye"

The auto darkening is great is some much better than a regular shield

 

[zmotorsports]

I have the Miller BWE electronic helmet and very seldom ever use it. I do quite a lot of welding and 98% of the time I grab my good old reliabe Huntsman. I guess it has sentimental value or something, it just feels like a part of me after 25 plus years.

I make sure to replace the protective lense covers often and have a good quality reflective #10 shade lense. Mike.

 

[asp]

I have the $60 HF AD model. It has been excellent except for in one situation - welding sheet metal with my MIG. I found myself having to use the tack-tack-tack method or it would blow through. The helmet just couldn't keep up, so I switch back to my Jackson fixed shade. I'm not a pro, just a hobbyist.

 

[mjb]

I am using a Miller Elite and like it a lot. It has four arc sensors and I have noticed that I don't get flashed as often as I did with dual sensors.

The Elite also works at low amp tig better than my old helmet.

I used a flip down helmet for years and to me, the auto helmets are awesome. That is some technology that I shall embrace.

 

[Tigwldr]

I use a speedglass at work also. They buy them for us. At home or personal use I like the ArcOne hoods. I have used the 2x4 fixxed shade 10 for years. I can take it from helmet to helmet and there is no wires or batteries. It is solar powered and I have used the same lense everyday for about 6 years. Best 100.00 I ever spent.

http://arc1weldsafe.com/auto-darkening-filters.html

 

[scooby074]

I haven't had any trouble with mine from PA. I was a bit leary of them until I was in a fabrication shop picking up some aluminum. I saw one of the welders using one so I asked him how he liked it. He said a few of their guys used them and liked them. I've used mine 5 or 6 times and so far so good.

http://www.princessauto.com/worksho...7-solar-powered-auto-darkening-welding-helmet

he didnt have a problem either. maybe some people are more prone to it? dont know.I do know that the next day, after 5-6 hours the previous day, i was miserable

truth is i actually use mine fixed most of the time and just nod to drop it. i usually only use the auto darkening when i cant nod my head, like under a car

 

[5lima30]

I happened by Tractor Supply today and they had the Hobart auto-darkening red helmet with flames on sale for 79.99. I have had the HF auto-darkening for a couple of years and it seems to work fine.

 

[evintho]

I've been taking a welding class for the last 4 months. Once a week, 4 hours a night. I have the blue flamed HF helmet and love it. Solar powered with variable settings 5-13. Goes dark instantly. No flash, no headaches, no gravel eyes. Great bang for the buck!

 

[Spareparts]

I had a fellow racer tell me about helmets, if you have a $10.00 head get a $10.00 helmet. That kinda stuck with me, either a crash helmet or welding helmet get the best you can afford.

 

[PCO6]

Here's a good comparison of a few helmets from weldingtipsandtricks.com ...

http://www.weldingtipsandtricks.com/auto-darkening-welding-helmets.html

 

[pirana]

I bought the cheaper of the Speedglass line of auto darkening hoods this past year for around $130 w/o graphics & really like it. Nice & light weight.

 

[dmw56]

I have a Miller Digital Elite. It has 3 settings Grinding. cutting, and welding with 13 shades. Expensive at $300 but well worth it.

 

[crewchief888]

i keep one of the NT adj AD hoods at work, for the price it's not a bad hood.
it doesnt feel "right" on my head
i bought a new miller prohobby last year, nice headgear, downside is it uses special coverplates, not a big deal, it was supplied with extras. and for $135 delivered.

what looks good to you may not fit like you think,
i looked at 4 or 5 different hoods, went to local welding suppliers and test fitted all of them. gave them all a chance to price match, nobody wanted to deal.
some suppliers will wheel and deal, some wont.



welding for long periods of time, i still like my jackson Big J

 

[asp]

A friend of mine has that same Bald Eagle Miller helmet. He swears by it.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Apparently gaudy graphics are required?

 

[Wanna Ride]

I got an old Jackson auto I picked up at a garage sale for $5. I've used it for years with no problems at all.

Anybody ever use those red skulls from HF?

 

[crewchief888]

Apparently gaudy graphics are required?

yep

 

[crewchief888]

A friend of mine has that same Bald Eagle Miller helmet. He swears by it.

i never would have bought it, except the autodarkening lens in the skull hood stopped autodarkening after 12 years or so. according the the manufacturer of the lens the life expectancy is around 10-12 years..
a new fixed shade lens woulda cost me $100, so i bought a new variable hood for $139.

you can never have enough welding hoods

 

[ForceFed70]

I have one of the $40 cheapie Princess Auto helmets.

I love it EXCEPT, it's too dark. I seem to do mostly light guage welding and even when adjusted to the lightest setting (shade 9) it is still too dark. Only time I don't find it too dark is when I'm welding outside on a sunny day.

 

[asp]

you can never have enough welding hoods

I agree. I have 4 myself.

 

[dmw56]

Apparently gaudy graphics are required?

Hell ya!

 

[MBeaty]

Some of selecting an appropriate helmet depends on how you intend to use it. For something like stick or mig welding on a flat surfaces you will be able to get away with a cheaper helmet. For tig welding or odd position welding, I have found a nice helmet to be much more reliable. With the cheaper helmets it seems like I get flashed quite often if there is a tube or something else that I am welding that is blocking a sensor on the helmet. Also, with low amperage tig welding, the arc is quite small, which some helmets struggle with. The nicer/more expensive helmets tend to have redundant sensors, so they pick up the arc in odd positions much more easily.

As for myself, I have a Jackson NexGen EQC. The hood is not flashy at all, but the quality of the optics and sensors is top notch, and it is made in the USA

I have been completely happy with it and have no regrets from the $200+ price tag. To me there is nothing more annoying than being flashed by the arc, and I can only count on one hand how many times my Jackson has done that to me over the past 5 years.

 

[dmw56]

you can never have enough welding hoods

I believe so.

 

[Test Tech]

I have a Miller BWE at home and a speed glass ot work I like both. As far as the cheaper helmets go, I think I'd rather buy a well respected brand anticipating that it will last longer. This is not a place to be cheap.

 

[PatDoody]

The HF ones are cheap but I dont know if I would trust them. I have been using a miller auto darkening shield for a few years now, and have a regular jackson shield for throwing around at work.

 

[nismomans13]

Apparently gaudy graphics are required?

nope, every miller hood comes in plain black. Graphics are extra.

 

[scooby074]

nope, every miller hood comes in plain black. Graphics are extra.

And my cheap *** wouldnt spring for them

 

[atari]

I run Jackson nexgens at work. Never had an issue with them, we have 2. They are painful expensive but they do it all.