Thread: Welding helment

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I'm interested in getting a new welding helment. What's the deal with the automatic darkening lens? Are the cheap ones okay or do I need to get the $200 helment? I only do small jobs around the shop. I'm no pro. What do y'all think is best? Tommy

Will never go back to the old style helmets after the self darkening ones. So much more convenient. We started out with a cheaper self darkening, and moved up to the Miller one with flames and all that jazz on it. Major difference seems to be bigger screen to look through. But a lot of guys on here have previously said they use ones like Harbor Freight and like them too.

For the occasional hobbiest, I think you would be fine with either. (unless you want flames on it to look really like you know what you are doing )

Don

The cheap Harbor Frieght ones are fine for light work, they are just not the fastest, but they will take a hit. I personally own one of the baddest auto darkening helmets out there, but before that I used a Harbor Frieght style auto darkening helmet. Other than the larger viewing lens it is hard to tell a difference between them.

Even the Harbor Frieght ones are coming with flames and designs like that, you can get the best of both worlds.

Im still sticking to my original theory,buy a quality hood, your eyes are not worth the savings

I have the" Hobart hood" ,it was about 100 bucks on sale.Auto darkening is the only way to go for guys like us.

Originally Posted by Jimi G

Even the Harbor Frieght ones are coming with flames and designs like that, you can get the best of both worlds.

Yeah, but the ones on the Harbor Freight ones aren't FLAMES. They are FRAMES. (get it, they are made in Japan, and the Japanese can't pronounce "L's".)

Thank you very much, I'll be here all week.


Don

....and here I thought those flames on the harbor freight helmet was to show you what your eyes are going to look and feel like after you use it!!!
hrrrrrrelp my rrrrreyes are on fryyyer

Originally Posted by Itoldyouso

Yeah, but the ones on the Harbor Freight ones aren't FLAMES. They are FRAMES. (get it, they are made in Japan, and the Japanese can't pronounce "L's".)

Thank you very much, I'll be here all week.


Don

Nice one, Don, But the Frames rook good

As for the responce time on these hoods, it is very fast, I cant hardly tell a difference between the cheap ones and my $400.00 hood.

I have a Jakson Nex Gen, and i love it I paid like 350 for it, but I weld for a living.... Speedglas makes a very nice hood too.... One thing you could look in to is buying just a Auto lens for a standard hood.. I know some people use those, Ive tried the mand they seem to work good.... If i were you i would go to a welding supply shop and check out some options, some places will let you try out the hoods before you buy one.... Good luck

Harmon

My dad bought a brand new auto darkening hood from TSC, and unless it's sunny out, it will not darken, artificial light will not charg it, not fun when you strike an arc and it dosn't go dark. I bought a used helmet, a known company, can't remember the company name, but it's probably 3-4 years old. it uses batteries and I have the sensitivity set so a flourescent light will make it go dark, after it goes dark, it will stay dark for a second or so, after you stop the arc.

Originally Posted by CHEVYBOY

I have a Jakson Nex Gen, and i love it I paid like 350 for it, but I weld for a living.... Speedglas makes a very nice hood too.... One thing you could look in to is buying just a Auto lens for a standard hood.. I know some people use those, Ive tried the mand they seem to work good.... If i were you i would go to a welding supply shop and check out some options, some places will let you try out the hoods before you buy one.... Good luck

Harmon

yes i have the jackson and the speed glass i used the jackson all the time. i weld a lot so it worth the money . it is the second one i have had like it .it can be adjusted for shade speed and to arc and for torch grinding .like said your eyes are worth the money

I have a Jackson auto-darkening too; it's an older model and has the smaller lense and isn't adjustable but it other than that, it works fine for me.

Hank