Best Helmet?

[Buggy Chief]

I have the PP205 and bought Everlast's least expensive helmet with it (batteries are non replaceable). With that, I am 4 months post and it is now not working properly on TIG. It is letting the light in and not auto darkening. The instructions say to put the helmet in a dark place for a few minutes. This to me is absurd and doesn't seem to work!!

Bottom Line: Can't put a price on vision. WHAT IS THE BEST HANDS DOWN HELMET (set it and forget it)? I am ready to buy a new helmet and am disappointed with the junky helmet I settled for. Is the NexGen worth the money?

All feedback is welcome.

[zoama]

3M Speedglas. Light, comfortable, headgear adjustable in every way and works perfectly in every situation. I could not be happier with mine.

[gadgetlam]

I've had experience with my bosses 3m speedglas, and Every other helmet I've tried has paled in comparison. I've used radnors 54vi select and while it is serviceable the customer support from them is non existant, and it crapped out on me in less than a year of intermittent welding. I recently picked up a miller elite for a great price of $280 because the LWS store got me a new radnor 54vi select but it was DOA so they gave me a discount on the miller for the trouble. I'm looking forward to picking up my ppro256 to christen the miller. A good helmet is totally worth it but no helmet is failsafe. realistically you should expect to replace your helmets because their components fail as well, but 4 months is definitely unacceptable. A lot of how a helmet works for a person rely's on their personal characteristics regarding weight, and size.

[Buggy Chief]

I've had experience with my bosses 3m speedglas, and Every other helmet I've tried has paled in comparison. I've used radnors 54vi select and while it is serviceable the customer support from them is non existant, and it crapped out on me in less than a year of intermittent welding. I recently picked up a miller elite for a great price of $280 because the LWS store got me a new radnor 54vi select but it was DOA so they gave me a discount on the miller for the trouble. I'm looking forward to picking up my ppro256 to christen the miller. A good helmet is totally worth it but no helmet is failsafe. realistically you should expect to replace your helmets because their components fail as well, but 4 months is definitely unacceptable. A lot of how a helmet works for a person rely's on their personal characteristics regarding weight, and size.

3m...hmm...interesting...will now research...Thanks for the feedback

[Ram48]

Buggy
I picked up a used speed glas 9002x and love it, I only use it for tig But am looking for another used one for mig. (the lens shield takes more of a beating with mig it seems)

[earla]

I have a 3M 9100V from Cyberwelds.com @ $242. I was using it yesterday and was commenting to a friend how nice it was. It even has side windows and air pathways to keep your breath from fogging up the lenses. I use it for TIG and Stick and Plasma cutting with a 2.5x magnifier as I am getting older. I have NEVER been flashed with this helmet. It comes with a nice carrying bag and extra protective lenses.

[gadgetlam]

Oh yeah, the side lenses really make a difference in not feeling like yuou are stuck in a cave. even just seeing slight movement through the side lenses let's you keep some situational awareness while in the act. important if you are in a production setup where other people are working.

[performance]

Its very hard to beat Jackson. No, not a "cool" looking as speedglas, but goes toe to toe with them in quality and visibility. I love the nice "true" color in mine and the 2.5 shade light lens. Viewing area isn't bad either.

[Cippee]

The miller digital elite is awesome. It's 3 on light and down to eight on dark. It has x mode that detects the electromagnetic current it is very sensitive. On normal welding mode the light sensor is adjustable. On the most sensitive setting a light bulb will darken the helmet. Obviously not the setting you want but just shows it will work on the very lowest tig amp. It has separate grind and cutting modes. You can select down to 5 on cutting and it is fixed at 3 on grind. They have some cool designs too. I got the digital camo design.

[Zmechanic]

I have an optrel satellite. Back when I bought it (2007ish) it's response times where second only to a speedglas. I've yet to have a single issue with mine yet, and it has more features than I could use. My favorite feature, really, is that the control knobs are on the outside. Mid-weld or between passes I can just reach up and tweak the shade setting if I don't like it.

[KSmith]

My helmet has weld and grind mode. I used the shade 4 grind mode for plasma cutting. When I first got the helmet I thought to myself briefly, wonder how soon I'll forget to change from grind back to weld, and flash myself?

It happened, and I went down to the LWS and got me a pair of #4 'sunglasses' that fit over my reading glasses to use for plasma, and brazing. I leave the helmet in the weld position so I won't forget again. For grinding I use a face mask. Note, I am not plasma cutting large projects, yet, so I don't worry too much about UV damage to my skin when using the sunglasses only.

ken

[Tinker]

I'd never buy a helmet again without replaceable batteries, you end up with a disposable helmet. I picked up one of the cheap Harbor Freight units years ago that had the solar panel on it. It also had some non-replaceable batteries in it. Not sure if the solar panel was really supposed to charge the batteries or just supply the darkening current when you were welding but after a year or two it wouldn't darken properly with TIG but OK for MIG. The instructions about putting the helment into darkness really doesn't make sense. I used to lay my HF one out in the sun hoping it would charge the battery but that never happened. Then it wouldn't work at all unless you put it up to a strong light source. If you feel like fooling around with most of them you can open them up and either replace the batteries or put some external battery holders on it. Although I did play around adding the batteries it's not a worthwile exercise. I thought about getting a very nice helmet but couldn't decide where to drop my 250-350 dollars so I picked up another inexpensive one (Rhino Giant View) from an Ebay seller. The nice thing about it other than it's only $80 is that it does have easily replaceable batteries and it's got a nice big window, 3.93” x 2.64”. I like it because I can keep my no-line bifocals on and still get a clear view.

Just a hobbyist so it's worked well for me. If I used one everyday I'd probably pop for one of the more mainstream helmets that folks have been recommending.

[Buggy Chief]

I'd never buy a helmet again without replaceable batteries, you end up with a disposable helmet. I picked up one of the cheap Harbor Freight units years ago that had the solar panel on it. It also had some non-replaceable batteries in it. Not sure if the solar panel was really supposed to charge the batteries or just supply the darkening current when you were welding but after a year or two it wouldn't darken properly with TIG but OK for MIG. The instructions about putting the helment into darkness really doesn't make sense. I used to lay my HF one out in the sun hoping it would charge the battery but that never happened. Then it wouldn't work at all unless you put it up to a strong light source. If you feel like fooling around with most of them you can open them up and either replace the batteries or put some external battery holders on it. Although I did play around adding the batteries it's not a worthwile exercise. I thought about getting a very nice helmet but couldn't decide where to drop my 250-350 dollars so I picked up another inexpensive one (Rhino Giant View) from an Ebay seller. The nice thing about it other than it's only $80 is that it does have easily replaceable batteries and it's got a nice big window, 3.93” x 2.64”. I like it because I can keep my no-line bifocals on and still get a clear view.

Just a hobbyist so it's worked well for me. If I used one everyday I'd probably pop for one of the more mainstream helmets that folks have been recommending.

My thoughts too....Thanks for sharing. I ended up springing for the 3m Speedglas 9100xx. Just not going to take the risk with my eyes. I am a hobbyist and have been flashed too many times and it's just not worth it in my opinion.

[hooda]

I have a huntsman Nitro($120.00) a speedglas 100 variable shade (currently for sale on e-bay) and a speedglas 9100x. The 9100x wins, hands down. All 3 helmets darken, but the speedglas has the above mentioned features, and is the most comfortable, plus I bought the speedglas back-hood, because glare from the back is a pet peeve of mine, $24.00 for a piece of cloth with a few clips on it? Worth every penny. I figured that I would keep the Nitro around as my spare, but it's also extremely comfortable and light weight, just a smaller viewing window than either speedglas. If my pockets were deep, I'd be looking real hard at the top shelf ESAB helmets, they have exterior adjustment, and are really light weight, plus in light state, they go to something like 2.5, and claim to have better color recognition. But be prepared to pay the same as a nexgen, elite, or speedglas 9100xx to wear it.

[kenwhite]

I use a Lincoln Vista 2000 that I got a great deal on. So far I am happy with it, but I did need to add a cheater lens for close up...

[KSmith]

Same here. Since reading glasses are about right at 18", and I find I weld closer than that, I was always going out of focus. I put a 1.75 magnification cheater lens in my helmet to get the focus point closer and now I can see what's going on with the puddle.

I keep my reading glasses on too. Just one more kind of tool that is necessary.

[Buggy Chief]

Opted for the Speedglass 9100xx with 1.50 magnifier. IT'S A WHOLE NEW WORLD OUT THERE!!!! Newbie to welding and getting flashed too many times with my cheap helmet lead me to make the purchase. Being new, I am welding on 1/16 diamond plate aluminum and learning to tack. with my old helmet, I never could get consistent tacks (not to mention getting flashed).

I just used my new helmet for the first time and ran 50 or so tacks and only 1 or 2 were not good. Amazing what can happen when you can see appropriately!!!

Thanks to everyone for their advice!!!

[zoama]

Opted for the Speedglass 9100xx with 1.50 magnifier. IT'S A WHOLE NEW WORLD OUT THERE!!!! Newbie to welding and getting flashed too many times with my cheap helmet lead me to make the purchase. Being new, I am welding on 1/16 diamond plate aluminum and learning to tack. with my old helmet, I never could get consistent tacks (not to mention getting flashed).

I just used my new helmet for the first time and ran 50 or so tacks and only 1 or 2 were not good. Amazing what can happen when you can see appropriately!!!

Thanks to everyone for their advice!!!

It's a nice helmet isn't it ? I really like the side lenses.

[Buggy Chief]

It's a nice helmet isn't it ? I really like the side lenses.

Yes Zoama it's awesome in every way. Love the side lenses as well as you can breathe without fogging up. Huge viewing area as well!!!

[Ron66]

I have a miller performance series. It's a great Helmut for the money. I got mine for about $160.