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Welding Helmet advice

Just ask yourself how much are your or your kids eyes worth? Then spend that much.

I've had cheap harbor freight auto-darkening hoods and they last about a year. I have a much more expensive hood now that's outlived any cheapo. I also have a fixed lens that has never failed to work. So if you want to go cheaper, get a fixed lens. If you want auto-darkening, spend the money for something quality.

I only weld about 4 times a year these days, so I don't really know what I'm talking about.
 
I've had cheapo auto darks and welded for a loong time with a fixed shade FibreMetal (learned in it too). I ponied up for an ESAB Sentinel and I fuckin' love it. The biggest thing with the more expensive helmets is how much you can see when it's not darkened. I can move from weld to weld on a project without having to touch it at all.
 
I started out stick welding the '90s with one of the old school small flip up lens helmets, I forget what brand. Forney or something maybe? Switched to a gold lens and it really helped to see the puddle better. Then went to several Jackson big lens helmets with a gold lens and they were great but once the headgear wore out and it wouldn't stay up, I just bought another since by then there were enough melted spots that it looked like hell anyway. When I started MIG welding more, mainly sheetmetal on old cars, the idea of a auto dark helmet started to sound really good, especially ones with the grinding mode. Around this time I also decided to start protecting my hearing so I changed it all up and went with a Miller Digital Elite. A lot of people dislike that helmet, mainly complaints with the head gear, but I have never had a problem with it. It works great for me and I haven't used my old Jackson in so long I don't even remember where it is now.

With all that said, this thread shouldn't be telling you what helmet to get him, it should be telling you that every welder has their own preference. There are a lot of factors that make one helmet more desirable to a specific person over another and you are much better off asking and buying the one he can use rather than spending a bunch of cash on something that will gather dust hanging on a wall in some shop somewhere. If he's old enough to get into a welding career, he's old enough to not be concerned about being surprised by a gift. It's the thought that counts, so put more thought into it.
 
fixed shade
gold film lens or three
case of clear slides

towel over the back of the helmet makes a massive difference in a well lit environment
try it some time put your normal #10 fixed shade on, drape a towel over the back to block the light from the back, couple seconds and you'll see everything just fine
 
[486] said:
fixed shade
gold film lens or three
case of clear slides

towel over the back of the helmet makes a massive difference in a well lit environment
try it some time put your normal #10 fixed shade on, drape a towel over the back to block the light from the back, couple seconds and you'll see everything just fine
Click to expand...

Finally someone else with some damn sense.
 
You need this hood as its from the hood!!

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92 Green YJ said:
I gave up on cheap auto darkening hoods a few years ago after some nasty flash burn from an Amazon hood. Bought an Esab Sentinel and never looked back. Absolutely love it. Great helmet with some really nice features.
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I got a bad burn around my eyes from a harbor freight helmet. What a stupid place to save money.

I bought a Lincoln and am fairly happy with it except for the non-replaceable batteries that are a PITA to change and go dead if you store it in the dark.
 
Love the shit out of my 3M Speedglas 9100XX. I like the lenses on the 3m, seal out all the dust from getting behind and on the fancy parts. I'm sure the top of the line Miller, Lincoln and Esab are badass.
 
Blacksheep10 said:
I like the lenses on the 3m, seal out all the dust from getting behind and on the fancy parts.
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that's my main complaint about high end autodarks
the lens gets smoke on it, then gets fucked up when you wipe it clean enough times
in reality they're a consumable, but nobody seems willing to treat them as such, where an $8 gold film lens can be tossed without too much thought

that and tig welding in strange places like inside 1.5" exhaust pipes will get you flashed from time to time
 
[486] said:
that's my main complaint about high end autodarks
the lens gets smoke on it, then gets fucked up when you wipe it clean enough times
in reality they're a consumable, but nobody seems willing to treat them as such, where an $8 gold film lens can be tossed without too much thought

that and tig welding in strange places like inside 1.5" exhaust pipes will get you flashed from time to time
Click to expand...
I've no experience with any but the mid level Miller (don't like the lens). 3M knows their shit when making plastic things. I swear the cover lasts twice as long as all my others have.
 
Blacksheep10 said:
Love the shit out of my 3M Speedglas 9100XX. I like the lenses on the 3m, seal out all the dust from getting behind and on the fancy parts. I'm sure the top of the line Miller, Lincoln and Esab are badass.
Click to expand...
Yup, 3m speedglas, Buy it and enjoy. Iv beat the shit out of them and never a problem.
 
I spend my days under a miller t94. Before that it was a miller titanium 9400. Newer version is noticeably lighter. I have a love hate relationship with it. Takes some messing with to get it positioned where I want it on my head so I'm not looking through the bottom of the lense. Plenty of adjustments for whatever you're using it for and comfortable for me. No more sore neck after an 8 hour shift.

Talk to your kid about how serious he is with this, take him to try a few on. Or order a shitload and return what he doesn't like.
 
larboc said:
I got a bad burn around my eyes from a harbor freight helmet. What a stupid place to save money.

I bought a Lincoln and am fairly happy with it except for the non-replaceable batteries that are a PITA to change and go dead if you store it in the dark.
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Yep. Had a HF auto darkening for years. It finally died so I bought one on Amazon during the Jeep build. Fucking thing flashed me bad. My fucking eyes hurt for like two weeks. I actually was wearing my plasma cutting green shade glasses as sunglasses because my regular ones weren’t helping when I was outside after that. That was it for me on the cheap goods. Never again. Did my research and really liked the look and features of the Esab Sentinel. I also love the big viewing area, grinding mode, and how it sits on my head. It doesn’t stick out super far like a lot of hoods which makes it great for working under a vehicle. Came with a bunch of extra lenses both yellow and clear, a do rag, and a helmet bag. Batteries seem to last me a good while too, I always keep a few extra on hand though. Like gas bottles, it never fails that batteries (in any hood really) will die when you need to use the thing.
 
animator said:
Just ask yourself how much are your or your kids eyes worth? Then spend that much.
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this is the dumb shit everyone says on sites like weldingweb , and why i wouldn't even respond to such a question from op on a site like that.


you are a fucking retard if you think the more you spend the better your eyes are protected.


:shaking:

how much you spend on safety glasses? are you the supertard that buys Oakleys for super protection?
 
usaweld.com

HTP® Striker™ Pro-View XL Welding Helmet

Our Striker™ Pro-View XL Auto-Darkening Welding Helmet features our clearest viewing area to date—with 13.35 square inches of viewing area the Pro-View XL offers a more natural color through the lens! With the harsh yellow, green, or blue tint minimized, it allows for better clarity and visual...
usaweld.com

and a dzn pair of safety glasses. I like $5 elvex xts off amzn

On safety glasses: had an old timer for a welding instructor who always yelled "eyes" and "1 minute everything is going great, the next minute everything is fucked!"
 
tracyb said:
this is the dumb shit everyone says on sites like weldingweb , and why i wouldn't even respond to such a question from op on a site like that.


you are a fucking retard if you think the more you spend the better your eyes are protected.


:shaking:

how much you spend on safety glasses? are you the supertard that buys Oakleys for super protection?
Click to expand...


I have no problem buying expensive eye protection. Fuck me I guess I’m retarded.
 
arse_sidewards said:
Ignore the stupid old men and get an auto-dark. It's the 21st fucking century. No reason to weld like it's the 19th.

Just give him $100 to buy whatever one he wants and buy him a HF as a backup for when that one gets destroyed.
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Meh. Depends. Had so many guys out with burned eyes over the years that non auto darkening is mandatory at my plant. Flip hood big lens Jackson or huntsman only. If you can’t rock that, move it over rover.
 
The lincoln Viking 3350 and Jackson trusight 2 have the best lenses. Can't go wrong with the better Millers either.

I've owned them all and love the lens the Jackson trusight 2 has. Not the best headgear and ergonomics but welds you make with the improved visibility are 100% worth it..

Old school Jackson with a #10 gold lens is hard to beat too.

Jackson has the easiest helmets to flip up and down hands free.
 
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[486] said:
that's my main complaint about high end autodarks
the lens gets smoke on it, then gets fucked up when you wipe it clean enough times
in reality they're a consumable, but nobody seems willing to treat them as such, where an $8 gold film lens can be tossed without too much thought

that and tig welding in strange places like inside 1.5" exhaust pipes will get you flashed from time to time
Click to expand...
yup, that is why you go with an old school Jackson
they just work :grinpimp:

and If I can find the actual glass covers I will use them over plastic, you can wipe them off without scratching them
 
I have a Jackson auto. It was like 200 and some change on Amazon, and it works great. I am a hobby welder though, not a pro.
 
I vote Accustrike!

Never used one, but I giggle at the thought of welders standing around and opening their mouth when they want a better look at something. :lmao:

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