Welding helmets

tracyb said:
20260419_145620.jpg
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what are we building?
or just practicing?
 
I've been happy with my Miller elites, keep one at my place and one at my Dad's.

I did buy one for work (company money) and didn't pay attention that it didn't have X mode. I wouldn't buy one without it on purpose. X mode uses electrical magnetism/magic to trigger instead of the light sensors. It makes a world of difference outside or TIGing with something in the way. Even with four sensors I've blocked the puddle briefly when walking the cup and X mode means it doesn't flutter. I also spent two days last week shielding the sun with one hand so the hood wouldn't auto darken until I wanted it to. Really reminded me I should've paid attention when ordering the hood.

And I regularly flash myself by forgetting to turn off cutting or grinding mode. Good news is it's my understanding the UV protection is always there, so it's uncomfortable for that flash but not doing any harm.

I also keep a glass #12 in a hood around my shop, for when batteries go out or teaching someone else. When I had a cheap auto hood in a pipe fab shop, I'd tack with the auto and weld out with glass, otherwise my eyes would get sore by the end of the day.
 
I love my LIncoln 3350 the head gear is sweet. It does eat batteries though.
Once i got it the lincoln my Miller just hangs on the wall. The miller does have two batteries so they last a long time but the head gear absolutely blows. The weird rubber/silicon crap fell off almost immediately.
 
arse_sidewards said:
The $30-50 big lens china helmets are ****ing amazing compared to the old stuff. For the price you can't beat them.
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x2

I grabbed a $50 Arccaptain one off Amazon. Lincoln I've had for forever **** the bed on me and I needed a replacement same day and it was much cheaper than grabbing something at Lowes/Home Depot. I have zero complaints about it, though I'm not welding on a regular basis either.

For the OP's concerns about a bigger viewing window, it's pretty damn big.

 
SomeGuyFromOlympia said:
what are we building?
or just practicing?
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pictured, he's just running beads on scrap. been having him help tack some project together too. we put together a small square of channel and some wheels to replace the base of a stool i use the wheel had bent on.

trying to think of some good projects to start him on . we got big ideas he wants to do, but i think we need some quick wins first. any ideas?


he's 8yo, small for his age, the whips on my daily welders are a bit heavy and hard for him to control hold in position... i'm goign to set him up on a welder with a light duty whip and i think he'll do do better. good gloves would help too, hard to find right combo of small enough and heavy enough. for his first day making sparks, he's doing better than most adults i show how to.
 
SomeGuyFromOlympia said:
Old school Jackson
My hood is probably 25 years old

gold #10 real glass if you can get it

never let me down
you guys and your wiz bang ****, damn kids get lost flipping your hood down and cant find your parts to weld :laughing:
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Totally unrelated but I was a TA in a MET class on welding tech.
Part of the curriculum was learning (albeit fundamentals) how to weld using Ox-A, MIG, TIG and stick.
1 student came into class with red irritated eyes the day after the 1st class on stick...The prof and I asked to see how he welds...come to find out he would strike the arc and start with the hood up cuz he couldn't see with the #11 glass in the hood. The prof took him aside and said Im going to pass you without finishing the course. He didnt want the school hit for a lawsuit was the reasoning.

That kid was why the folks developed the auto darken hoods...
 
DavidVanVorous said:
Totally unrelated but I was a TA in a MET class on welding tech.
Part of the curriculum was learning (albeit fundamentals) how to weld using Ox-A, MIG, TIG and stick.
1 student came into class with red irritated eyes the day after the 1st class on stick...The prof and I asked to see how he welds...come to find out he would strike the arc and start with the hood up cuz he couldn't see with the #11 glass in the hood. The prof took him aside and said Im going to pass you without finishing the course. He didnt want the school hit for a lawsuit was the reasoning.

That kid was why the folks developed the auto darken hoods...
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Seems like an instructor failure to me. He should inspect what students are using and how they’re welding.
 
Brian468 said:
I'm leaning towards the Miller infinity, I had a nice Speedglas helmet years ago and it was magnificent for about a year and they wouldn't warranty it.
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I've got the original miller infinity, they've upgraded the lens system since I've bought mine. Never had any real problems with the hood, does eat batteries a bit if you store it away without using it for a while and it's a bit front heavy...but viewing area is great, head gear is super comfy, always activates properly, lots of tracking features if that's your thing, just all around it's a nice high end hood.

Any of the top tier brands should be good, esab, speedglass, lincoln, miller...should all be fine. Just avoid the cheapies unless they're fixed lens.
 
Sceep said:
I ****ing hate the lens in my 3350. Can't see **** outta it, flashes me all the ****ing time. Worst lens I've ever owned. Love the headgear though... 😡

I grab it first every time because I paid good ****ing money for it and I want it to work. I put it down after the first couple minutes and grab my old HF or Hobart 9 times out of 10.

Maybe I got a **** one. I should email them.
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Looks as though it has a 5 year warranty and I am on year 3. Need to take it to town with me next time I go and run by the authorized service center. That'd be cool if they find it has a problem and swap it out.
 
I'm going on 4 years with a Yes Welder LYG-M800H and it has been great. Way better than my previous Hobart and HF auto darks.
 
DavidVanVorous said:
Totally unrelated but I was a TA in a MET class on welding tech.
Part of the curriculum was learning (albeit fundamentals) how to weld using Ox-A, MIG, TIG and stick.
1 student came into class with red irritated eyes the day after the 1st class on stick...The prof and I asked to see how he welds...come to find out he would strike the arc and start with the hood up cuz he couldn't see with the #11 glass in the hood. The prof took him aside and said Im going to pass you without finishing the course. He didnt want the school hit for a lawsuit was the reasoning.

That kid was why the folks developed the auto darken hoods...
Click to expand...
I was going to say that this was a great learning opprininity, but after reading the end, I'd say that is a instructor fail
Everyone has dopy kids on every class, this is how you learn, you go to where the learning happens

I hope that guy isn't still instructing
 
tracyb said:
pictured, he's just running beads on scrap. been having him help tack some project together too. we put together a small square of channel and some wheels to replace the base of a stool i use the wheel had bent on.

trying to think of some good projects to start him on . we got big ideas he wants to do, but i think we need some quick wins first. any ideas?


he's 8yo, small for his age, the whips on my daily welders are a bit heavy and hard for him to control hold in position... i'm goign to set him up on a welder with a light duty whip and i think he'll do do better. good gloves would help too, hard to find right combo of small enough and heavy enough. for his first day making sparks, he's doing better than most adults i show how to.
Click to expand...
My daughters first 'real' project was at about 6-7 years old.
She learned that people throw away items that can be turned into a place and they give her money for it
She (we) made a pheumatic can crusher out of scrap laying around the shop My daughter is 17 today and it is still used today :grinpimp:
 
One of my miller infinity helmets. This is my home fab shops and the other one is at work. I bought them around 2015 ish
IMG_4075.jpeg
 
SomeGuyFromOlympia said:
I was going to say that this was a great learning opprininity, but after reading the end, I'd say that is a instructor fail
Everyone has dopy kids on every class, this is how you learn, you go to where the learning happens

I hope that guy isn't still instructing
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Worse...he is the primary teacher for the class along with having a welding PE, did the development on the process used for making the "pits" for nuke weapons at Rocky flats before it closed, was the primary instructor teaching/doing certification testing for the welders working the light rail system at DIA while it was being built along with being a spokesman for Miller.

I was drafted into being a TA compliment of being an "alternative" student looking for an easy A. Happens when you have been welding since you were 18 and the prof spots someone "skating"...

Might add that when one gets a W/P (withdrawn passing) you don't get the credit hours towards the degree, so not like the kid got his 3 CrHrs towards an MET degree...and the school didn't get sued for physically harming the kid in the class.
 
Wheelin66bronco said:
Its an ESAB $125 helmet on sale for $27. Do you like throwing money away unnecessarily?
shop.arcsolinc.com

ESAB Firepower Auto-Darkening Welding Helmet with Skull and Fire Design 1441-0088

Find welding machines, helmets, PPE, and parts from top brands like Lincoln, ESAB, and Miller. Arc Solutions is your trusted online welding supplier.
shop.arcsolinc.com shop.arcsolinc.com
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Hey You know better than I do.

I can appreciate that the company I work for would buy any helmet that I submit for me
 
Wheelin66bronco said:
Its an ESAB $125 helmet on sale for $27. Do you like throwing money away unnecessarily?
shop.arcsolinc.com

ESAB Firepower Auto-Darkening Welding Helmet with Skull and Fire Design 1441-0088

Find welding machines, helmets, PPE, and parts from top brands like Lincoln, ESAB, and Miller. Arc Solutions is your trusted online welding supplier.
shop.arcsolinc.com shop.arcsolinc.com
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I look at welding helmets similar to motorcycle helmets. What’s your head worth? A cheapie Walmart helmet or something like a Bell?

There’s paces to be a tightwad, safety gear ain’t one of them imo. Not ment to burst your bubble and that, just explaining why some people see your savings much differently than you do.

I’m no fan of esab stuff either but that’s a story about one of their plasma cutters, only esab thing I’ve used.

I bought a cheap autodark weld helmet 25+ years ago after someone bragged about them. I got flashed several times while trying to use it and ended up throwing it away. I thought maybe it was just the way auto farming hoods were for a while as I’ve never owned one before, just old school flip up ones. Then I got to use someone’s nice auto dark helmet and now that’s all I use but I don’t cheapest on them.

I did spend some good money on a snap on helmet for my first good quality auto dark helmet. But after getting flashed by it several time while welding tube chassis together, I sold it off and got a good miller with top and bottom window light sensors.
 
Landslide said:
I look at welding helmets similar to motorcycle helmets. What’s your head worth? A cheapie Walmart helmet or something like a Bell?

There’s paces to be a tightwad, safety gear ain’t one of them imo. Not ment to burst your bubble and that, just explaining why some people see your savings much differently than you do.

I’m no fan of esab stuff either but that’s a story about one of their plasma cutters, only esab thing I’ve used.

I bought a cheap autodark weld helmet 25+ years ago after someone bragged about them. I got flashed several times while trying to use it and ended up throwing it away. I thought maybe it was just the way auto farming hoods were for a while as I’ve never owned one before, just old school flip up ones. Then I got to use someone’s nice auto dark helmet and now that’s all I use but I don’t cheapest on them.

I did spend some good money on a snap on helmet for my first good quality auto dark helmet. But after getting flashed by it several time while welding tube chassis together, I sold it off and got a good miller with top and bottom window light sensors.
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you are probably blocking the sensors on something to get flashed
I'm going to bet user error :grinpimp:
 
BUCKLAND said:
Hey You know better than I do.

I can appreciate that the company I work for would buy any helmet that I submit for me
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I can appreciate that, and I highly doubt I know better. Thats awesome your employer pays for good equipment. My employer bought my Jackson Nexgen that is 15yp and is beat, and I need a new lid.
With all the chatter of "cheap chinese" hoods being just as good nowadays, figure I'll give it a shot. If gives me issues, it'll be a lesson learned.
 
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SomeGuyFromOlympia said:
you are probably blocking the sensors on something to get flashed
I'm going to bet user error :grinpimp:
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No, it was just a pos cheap helmet. It had hesitation and flashing incidents. That’s when I bought the snap on helmet, not sure who made it for them. After getting flashed by it building tube chassis, I searched for a helmet with lots of sensors. I tried several other brands until landing with the miller hoods. They do me well and have for a very long time now. I know it’s not for everyone so I’m not trying to pimp millers helmets. Buy what makes you happy.
 
The UV filters in even the cheap helmets are enough to protect your eyes from damage. Yes, if the auto dark doesn't work, you might get flashed and will be seeing spots for a while, but it's highly unlikely you'll get any permanent damage. AVE did some tests years ago showing how much UV could get through a lens with the auto dark disabled and there was no measurable difference between a cheap chinese one and a high $$ brand name.

That being said, a friend of mine hooked me up with a surplus Speedglas insert a while back and I finally got around to ordering a hood to go around it. This is a $500+ setup and I've flashed myself every time I've used it so far because you have to physically turn it on before you use it and I'm used to the cheaper ones that are solar and always on. Eventually muscle memory will take over and I'll remember to turn it on. :laughing:
1777144699415.png
 
Landslide said:
No, it was just a pos cheap helmet. It had hesitation and flashing incidents. That’s when I bought the snap on helmet, not sure who made it for them. After getting flashed by it building tube chassis, I searched for a helmet with lots of sensors. I tried several other brands until landing with the miller hoods. They do me well and have for a very long time now. I know it’s not for everyone so I’m not trying to pimp millers helmets. Buy what makes you happy.
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a fixed lens jackson doesn't flash you :flipoff2:
works every time
 
SpeedGlas 9100. I have had three over my career. One had the PAPR setup. If you get one of those, just DO NOT FART with the pump running. I promise, you will regret it.
 
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