 Welding helmet recomendations, Need a new helmet |
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| Porcharu |
 Aug 21 2009, 05:36 PM
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#1
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Senior Member  Group: Members Posts: 1,314 Joined: 27-January 05 From: Campbell, CA Member No.: 3,518 Region Association: Northern California  |
My auto darkening helmet just died and I need a new one. I have been looking for a few years at the nicer ones that have variable darkening. Anyone have a helmet they really like and would recommend to others? After looking around I think I want one that uses a battery plus solar - my eyes hurt right now. The old helmet was about 12 years old so I know they make much better ones these days.
Thanks Steve |
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Replies(1 - 19)
| tat2dphreak |
Aug 21 2009, 05:42 PM
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#2
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stoya, stoya, stoya Group: Benefactors Posts: 8,797 Joined: 6-June 03 From: Wylie, TX Member No.: 792 Region Association: Southwest Region  |
I have an adjustable Auto Darkening that I got at Harbor freight... I really like it, actually... I know HF makes some crap, but this has been a great Helmet!
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| tomeric914 |
Aug 21 2009, 07:39 PM
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#3
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One Lap of America in a 914! Group: Members Posts: 1,259 Joined: 25-May 08 From: Syracuse, NY Member No.: 9,101 Region Association: North East States 
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I LOVE my Jackson EQC from Cyberweld.com. 100% reliable. I've had mine for about 8 years now with no problems. I tried more expensive helmets first and they couldn't touch the EQC.
http://store.cyberweld.com/jaeqcproauda.html Includes free shipping. |
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| jaxdream |
Aug 21 2009, 07:44 PM
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#4
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 974 Joined: 8-July 08 From: North Central Tennessee Member No.: 9,270 Region Association: South East States |
I got a Hobart from Northern Tool a few months ago , on sale for $79.99 , reg $99.99, thought it was a great deal . All solar powered and such, saw the same helmet at Tractor Supply last week- $59.99 !!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/WTF.gif) Pissed me off ,, oh well I really do like my helment , been welding all of 3 months now , gettin better all the time , yeah right !! No sense in giving up , got keep goin if ya want anything.
Jaxdream |
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| aircooledtechguy |
Aug 21 2009, 08:04 PM
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#5
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The Aircooledtech Guy Group: Members Posts: 1,966 Joined: 8-November 08 From: Anacortes, WA Member No.: 9,730 Region Association: Pacific Northwest |
I recently upgraded my cheap helmet to a Speedglas auto darkening (forget the model off-hand). Got it off Craigslist for cheap. Nothing like a tool that works exactly as it should.
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| JazonJJordan |
Aug 21 2009, 08:18 PM
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#6
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Member Group: Members Posts: 340 Joined: 6-June 09 From: Atlanta-Augusta, Georgia area Member No.: 10,446 Region Association: South East States |
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) I second the Harbor Freight, I have found them effective and consistent. I have bought three; nephew, nephew, me.
I haven't had a moment (to compare side by side) with a better brand and would welcome anyone with a comparative reflection. These were on sale every few months at $49. (currently on sale today-) They are adjustable and solar only- no battery. Thanks- jzn |
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| McMark |
Aug 21 2009, 08:39 PM
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#7
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914 Freak! Group: Retired Admin Posts: 20,179 Joined: 13-March 03 From: Grand Rapids, MI Member No.: 419 Region Association: None |
I have the Optrel Satellite. I used to use the HF helmet. The HF is pretty good and you can't beat it for the price. But going back to the HF temporarily is where I really noticed the difference. The HF is MUCH harder to dial in to a perfect shade. When I was teaching to someone to weld, they had the HF and I couldn't understand why they kept complaining about seeing the melt pool. Then I traded helmets with them, and they got better, and I couldn't see crap.
The downside? It's almost $400. |
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| TravisNeff |
Aug 22 2009, 12:00 AM
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#8
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914 Guru Group: Members Posts: 5,082 Joined: 20-March 03 From: Mesa, AZ Member No.: 447 Region Association: Southwest Region
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I have a couple of HF helmets and they work pretty well (for me), at least compared to an old school non-darkening helmet.
My dad complained about the flash and had a hard time seeing with it, so it probably goes with McMark's statement of a really good helmet. |
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| Porcharu |
Aug 22 2009, 01:13 PM
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#9
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1,314 Joined: 27-January 05 From: Campbell, CA Member No.: 3,518 Region Association: Northern California |
QUOTE(McMark @ Aug 21 2009, 07:39 PM)  I have the Optrel Satellite. I used to use the HF helmet. The HF is pretty good and you can't beat it for the price. But going back to the HF temporarily is where I really noticed the difference. The HF is MUCH harder to dial in to a perfect shade. When I was teaching to someone to weld, they had the HF and I couldn't understand why they kept complaining about seeing the melt pool. Then I traded helmets with them, and they got better, and I couldn't see crap. The downside? It's almost $400. Hmm very nice - I forgot to mention that I wanted to upgrade and not just replace. My old helmet was a pretty good Huntsman unit, but I often find it hard to see the weld and it's too dark when 'off'. That Optrel has some nice features - the ability to read the red leds that the new welders have is pretty nice. I just need a new welder that has leds (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) I have also been looking at the Miller elite series. Similar to the Optrel but more widely available at a discount. Steve |
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| scotty b |
Aug 22 2009, 05:35 PM
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#10
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rust free you say ? Group: Members Posts: 16,375 Joined: 7-January 05 From: richmond, Va. Member No.: 3,419 Region Association: None |
I got a Speedglass and have never wanted anything else (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
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| JazonJJordan |
 Aug 22 2009, 05:57 PM
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#11
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Member Group: Members Posts: 340 Joined: 6-June 09 From: Atlanta-Augusta, Georgia area Member No.: 10,446 Region Association: South East States |
Point well taken; so goes my neverending list, now a little longer...with another helmet on the Christmas list (sigh)...~you know~ all this expertise and advise is making me poor(!) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) but better! Thanks for the helping nudge~ (sigh) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/shades.gif)
QUOTE(McMark @ Aug 21 2009, 10:39 PM) I have the Optrel Satellite. I used to use the HF helmet. The HF is pretty good and you can't beat it for the price. But going back to the HF temporarily is where I really noticed the difference. The HF is MUCH harder to dial in to a perfect shade. When I was teaching to someone to weld, they had the HF and I couldn't understand why they kept complaining about seeing the melt pool. Then I traded helmets with them, and they got better, and I couldn't see crap. The downside? It's almost $400. |
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| Porcharu |
Aug 23 2009, 12:32 PM
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#12
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1,314 Joined: 27-January 05 From: Campbell, CA Member No.: 3,518 Region Association: Northern California |
QUOTE(scotty b @ Aug 22 2009, 04:35 PM) I 'wasted' a lot of time on line yesterday and this seems to be a common opinion of Speedglass helmets - they are the good stuff. I think I am going to spring for the 9100XX, this is the one with the extra big lens and they are all on sale until the end of the year. I hope this helps with the low power tig welding that I have always struggled with because I can barely see the puddle, it also switches to dark 8 times faster than my old one and that can only be a good thing for my eyes. Steve |
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| aircooledtechguy |
Aug 23 2009, 02:24 PM
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#13
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The Aircooledtech Guy Group: Members Posts: 1,966 Joined: 8-November 08 From: Anacortes, WA Member No.: 9,730 Region Association: Pacific Northwest |
You will not be disappointed with the quality of a Speedglas no matter what model. I use mine for everything from MIG to TIG. It's like most tool purchases; you don't know just how much better a high quality tool is until your cheap one breaks and you upgrade. Then you wonder how you got by without it for so long. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)
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| Porcharu |
Aug 24 2009, 02:19 AM
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#14
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1,314 Joined: 27-January 05 From: Campbell, CA Member No.: 3,518 Region Association: Northern California |
QUOTE(aircooledtechguy @ Aug 23 2009, 01:24 PM) You will not be disappointed with the quality of a Speedglas no matter what model. I use mine for everything from MIG to TIG. It's like most tool purchases; you don't know just how much better a high quality tool is until your cheap one breaks and you upgrade. Then you wonder how you got by without it for so long. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) I don't doubt this at all. I am way past buying cheap tools - I would rather do without than have some POS that will break when I need it most. I still use a good file to fit tubing because I can't see spending the bucks for a good tube notcher - yet. Steve - trying to come up with $$$ for a new welding helmet. I am using an old school non auto darkening helmet while my AD helmet is down and it sucks! Makes welding much harder than it should be. |
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| Joe Bob |
Aug 24 2009, 02:39 AM
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#15
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Retired admin, banned a few times Group: Members Posts: 17,427 Joined: 24-December 02 From: Boulder CO Member No.: 5 Region Association: None |
I just got flash blinded by a POS helmet that came with my Hobart. Gave it the float test and bought a Jackson Master Variable EQC.
Worth the $$, I value my eyesite. No deals on eBay....I checked first. $250 locally. |
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| jasons |
Aug 31 2009, 01:23 PM
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#16
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Jackstand Extraordinaire Group: Members Posts: 2,002 Joined: 19-August 04 From: Scottsdale, AZ Member No.: 2,573 Region Association: None |
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/icon_bump.gif)
I bought a new helmet this weekend and I thought I might share my experience. I bought a Miller Pro Hobby auto darkening helmet to replace a cheap HF auto darkening. I bought the HF unit a few years ago. Well it appears the battery in the HF helmet went bad. Even though its "solar" I think it still has an internal Li-ion battery. The helmet wouldn't switch on my welding arc any more. The Miller helmet takes a AAA, and is replaceable. I thought about buying a Speedglas, but after looking at the 9100x its really more helmet than I need. It had lots of features, I just don't need. And, the lower 100 series Speedglas had the internal battery too. http://www.millerwelds.com/products/weldin...ts/prohobby.php |
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| charliew |
Aug 31 2009, 02:07 PM
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#17
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 2,363 Joined: 31-July 07 From: Crawford, TX. Member No.: 7,958 |
If you weld two or three times a week and do stick, mig and tig inside and outside you can't spend too much on a welding helmet. I bought one of the first millers about 17 years ago and it's still good but the new ones are much better. I originally bought the jackson to weld the framework of my shop together and it was great for the stick welding outside but after about 7 or eight hours inside with a wirefeed mig on pretty high amps it makes my eyes a little scratchy. On sheetmetal it's ok and on little tig welds it's good but on thicker aluminum with the tig it's also a little too light. It's not adjustable. I think I remember it is a 8 on darkness. I like a big window and it has one. I also have a regular hood that has a magnified lens that I sometimes use on the small tig welds. I guess I need to see whats new.
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| Gint |
Sep 7 2009, 09:07 AM
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#18
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Mike Ginter Group: Admin Posts: 16,083 Joined: 26-December 02 From: Denver CO. Member No.: 20 Region Association: Rocky Mountains |
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/icon_bump.gif) ...another for reference...
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| Joe Bob |
Sep 7 2009, 09:10 AM
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#19
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Retired admin, banned a few times Group: Members Posts: 17,427 Joined: 24-December 02 From: Boulder CO Member No.: 5 Region Association: None |
How much are your eyes worth?
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| pilothyer |
Sep 7 2009, 12:01 PM
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#20
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Member Group: Members Posts: 838 Joined: 21-May 08 From: N. Alabama Member No.: 9,080 Region Association: South East States |
Gotta Put in a plug for the Miller Digital Elite....Jerry
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