Hey, you welding gurus, is this a good helmet?

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RSie

RSie

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I'm thinking about getting my own Hobart 140 and the rest of the stuff I'd need, instead of bugging friends/family to help me out. Is this a good helmet?

WedingHelmet.jpg
 
One of the things I learned when I used to weld for a living is make sure to choose a quality helmet. I’m not familiar with that brand of helmet so I may not be much help. I used a miller infinity helmet when I used to weld. Main things to look at when picking a helmet is the switching rate of the auto lens and how dark the shade will go. For occasional use in the garage a cheaper helmet may be fine. But your eyes are nothing to mess around with.
 
Evan Dutch said:
One of the things I learned when I used to weld for a living is make sure to choose a quality helmet. I’m not familiar with that brand of helmet so I may not be much help. I used a miller infinity helmet when I used to weld. Main things to look at when picking a helmet is the switching rate of the auto lens and how dark the shade will go. For occasional use in the garage a cheaper helmet may be fine. But your eyes are nothing to mess around with.
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That's why I'm asking... my eyes are messed up already, permanent scars and some tear ducts that don't work anymore. So, I don't want to mess around with a crap helmet. That said, I don't want to spend $400 either! Thanks for the input!
 
Cyberweld.com has some good deals. Few years back when I bought my helmet I think I got it for under $250. I wore this helmet at least 6 hours a day 5 days a week for some time. Still have it.

46434D88-EE2D-42A9-AF0A-8ED799C79849.png
 
72bluNblu said:
If you don't want to spend a ton of money, but still need a good helmet, skip the auto-darkening feature.

MP-10 Series Welding Helmets | MillerWelds

Sure, the auto darkening is super handy. But you can weld just fine without one. Most of the auto-darkening helmets I would consider cost at least a couple hundred bucks.
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That was kind of my thought.. I don't need an auto-darknening helmet.. I think I can hold where I am, and flip a shield, just like I did in high school (the last time I ever welded, and that's loooong ago). I'm not doing this 8 hours a day, lol. Don't mind taking my time, just don't want to mess up my eyes anymore than they are already.
Your link gives me an error.
 
Ok stop.

A good helmet will make you a better welder right now.

When do you need a good welding hood. The instant you start welding. Yeah we all grew up using cave man hoods, would I use one now? No.

Harbor freight has a decent flash hood for around 100 bucks.

I've used it, my buddy has one. It's not bad for a cheep hood.

Eastwood Large View Auto Darkening Welding Helmet - L6700
 
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RSie said:
That was kind of my thought.. I don't need an auto-darknening helmet.. I think I can hold where I am, and flip a shield, just like I did in high school (the last time I ever welded, and that's loooong ago). I'm not doing this 8 hours a day, lol. Don't mind taking my time, just don't want to mess up my eyes anymore than they are already.
Your link gives me an error.
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Huh, works for me. Just go to millerwelds.com and look up the MP-10. Or google miller MP-10.

Cope said:
Ok stop.

A good helmet will make you a better welder right now.

When do you need a good welding hood. The instant you start welding. Yeah we all grew up using cave man hoods, would I use one now? No.

Harbor freight has a decent flash hood for around 100 bucks.

I've used it, my buddy has one. It's not bad for a cheep hood.
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"Not bad for a cheep hood" is not the same as good. And the slower the refresh rate is on that auto-darkening helmet the more abuse your eyes take. Not only that, $100 isn't exactly cheap. Cheap hoods usually have slower refresh rates and fewer sensitivity settings, which means more flash burns.

The instant you start welding, a "cave man hood" is already down and already dark. No, they aren't as convenient, but they do a great job of protecting your eyes for a better pricepoint than a cheap auto-darkening hood.
 
I have the Miller Infinity helmet with the LED lighting kit which works great when welding in confined areas. I purchased it on sale at SEMA last year. Best helmet I have had of my auto darkening ones
 
I fully agree. A cheep hood is a cheep hood.

My hood was not cheep and I've been through a few not cheep hoods.

When you weld it, if you cant see good, you cant weld good.

For someone who doesn't weld much I think the Eastwood hood is fine. Hell even the harbor freight one is ok.

Just my .02 as someone who burns a fair amount of wire.
 
I lucked out one day at tractor supply, they had Holbert hood priced at $20, auto dark. I should have bought all of them for that price. They had them priced the same as the cheap china junk they sell.
Some kid most likely put the wrong tags on them.
Still using it, but the solar charge kinda is a pain in the winter.
 
Cope said:
I fully agree. A cheep hood is a cheep hood.

My hood was not cheep and I've been through a few not cheep hoods.

When you weld it, if you cant see good, you cant weld good.

For someone who doesn't weld much I think the Eastwood hood is fine. Hell even the harbor freight one is ok.

Just my .02 as someone who burns a fair amount of wire.
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You have to pay attention to the switching rates. For the most part, the cheaper the helmet, the slower the switching rate.

I will say, that Eastwood helmet advertises a switching rate of 1/25000 of a second, which is better than the Miller Classic series which costs the same. Obviously there are other considerations, but that's a good start. The number of light sensors is another big factor, the more they have the more accurate the switching will be.
 
Huh?

Not a bad recommendation for a guy who dont know how to weld....

:rofl:

Yeah I saw the switching rate. That's a fine hood for some one who wont be spending all day looking through it.

If your eyes arnt worth 100 bucks and what your welding on dont matter, sure use a old soda box with slits cut it in.

It worked for the artic explorers.
 
Two of the ones that I have, one Lincoln and one Harbor Freight, both have non replaceable batteries in them. They only work for a few years then go dead. There are internet articles on how to cut them open and replace batteries, but it is kind of difficult. Replaceable batteries might be something to consider if you don’t use it a lot. Hate to pay for something that goes bad before I get much use out of it.
 
If you buy a cheap POS helmet and it's really no good, you will KNOW it after the first time you use it.
 
One thing I didn’t say in my previous post was that the harbor freight and the Lincoln had the same electronics.
 
First off. Dont buy the esab hood.

Hard to find shields for unless you local shop sells them.

At 300 bucks buy a nice Miller and get parts at any welding suply.


If you want fancy, they exist from all brands.

Are you welded in tight places where you need a curved hood?

If your gonna spend 300+ on a hood buy a normal one unless you weld in tight spaces where a square hood will cause issues.

And yes, ivw used the esab curved hood. It's clear and nice but the shields are not available at any local welding store.
 
I put welding helmets in the same category as racing helmets. What's your eyes/head worth. I may weld way more than the average Joe, but it only takes one arc sensor failure to get burned. I stick with brands that I trust...Miller, Jackson, and Speedglas. Are they cheap? ...Well they are cheaper than a seeing eye dog, or eye surgery.

And if you do buy a good helmet learn to use it properly. Many/most people have no idea how to set their delay, sensitivity, and shade controls. Your process (arc, mig, tig, CA gouging, plasma), and amperage will require different settings. And whatever you do, don't plasma cut with glasses like the jackasses on TV. You need a helmet and all skin covered just like any other process.
 
Even in tight spots, where my hood wont fit. I weld blind or I weld with a hand shield.

While I like the curved hoods it's still a gimmick in my opinion as lenses are not avable.

If I want to order lenses I can, but when I'm working and need them now... well that's not good.

Edit- speed glass is nice but I wish the lenses were more available.
 
BUY A GOOD HELMET. I have a good Lincoln helmet. Don't remember the exact model, but I got it online on sale for about $275. Good helmets are not all that much more expensive.
 
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