Welding helmet question

[225]

Right now I am using a cheap-o, old skool helmet.

I might buy a auto helmet for TIG, but I am about to buy a MIG machine, and for that and stick, I'll stay with the drop down kind.

Lowes has a nice helmet for $99. Never used it, but it looks ok..

Whats a good everlast helmet?

[225]

What about this one:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Rhino-BIG-VI...item4d011c01dd

[posixPilot]

Lowes has a nice helmet for $99. Never used it, but it looks ok..

I seem to remember that Lowes has 2 auto darks, and the cheaper one is identical to the HF model, but it costs $20 more. Not sure if that is the $99 model or not.

Grind mode might be useful. I was reading another forum and someone might have gotten something in his eye while grinding - got past his safety glasses.

Grind mode = electrical tape to cover the sensors. Seriously ... And it has the same problem as grind mode in that you are going to get flashed if you try to weld in grind mode. I've tried to grind with my helmet, and I could never get used to the limited field of view. I think you would be better off with a good face shield, and I've had my eye one one of these Uvex models for a while:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001VY3ACE/...hvptwo=&hvqmt=

Cheers
Mike

[Brian Ski]

They had a deal for $90 once and I almost bought one, but I tent to collect and give away helmets, and passed on it.

Heck if you ever want to give away another put me on your list.... I will even be your friend!!!!

BTW wonder if it would just be easier to toss a face shield on the welder for doing the grinding??? I know switching back on forth... But better than the electric tape. One of these.

Not sure about the cheap one... http://www.harborfreight.com/catalog...?q=face+shield

Or http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...5307_200305307

[geezer]

A safety shield is good if you have safety glasses on as the first line of defense,,,try cutting cast iron on a lathe and you will soon figure that out,,hot pieces flying everywhere,,just using a safety shield without glasses is still risky..

As far as helmets go,,,most auto dark helmets are suitable for TIG,,,problem with TIG is the spark is weak at lower amps so having more senors helps,,,in out of position situations,,,

My next helmet will most likely be: http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...6894_200416894

The large view area and 4 sensors along with the price make it attractive,,only thing I need to know is will it accept a cheater lens.

[everlastsupport]

Heck if you ever want to give away another put me on your list.... I will even be your friend!!!!

Will have to pass. I need no more friends When we teach some guys that do well, we pass off a starter helmet if we have one.

The faceshield with a #4 or #5 would be good for plasma and grinding.

On the the fabricator (2 sensor, I get them mixed up) we have is a good helmet. The middle priced Everlast helmet.

All I have read on the Northern Tools helmet, for $120 or less. If I buy another low end helmet that will be it, based on the reviews. search out forum here, they are links to it. Did I mention it is ugly as heck, but sure that is a sticker and not paint.

Lastly. Maybe Ray can share. He is/was selling a helmet, he love it. It is pricey, but he said people that will come to see the welders (he is a reseller), seemed many always leave with that helmet.

[everlastsupport]

My next helmet will most likely be: http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...6894_200416894

Geezer,

Looks like we cross posted based on the times.

Thanks for the link, that's the exact (sorry about the word ugly) "Red Nothern Tools" helmet I was talking about next time I pull out some cash for another one. From the reviews, it's really nice (noobs and not). Also, seems NT has online coupons too, someone I talked to picked one up for $90.

[Rodsmachineshop]

I bought the helmet that was posted on welding tips and tricks from northern tool works great and fit really nice on your head

[everlastsupport]

Like I said:

You get what you pay for no doubt, but I found they all worked fine, the welding got done. No major flashing as I recall on any of them

They all have quirks. But the video says about the same from what I watched of it. The helmet in the video is not the $129 one that got all the good reviews, it was $50 (even better). But they both got the job done. The one in the video looked like the one that hit my ears, just from another store. OK, I must have big ears.

[undercut]

Heck if you ever want to give away another put me on your list.... I will even be your friend!!!!

BTW wonder if it would just be easier to toss a face shield on the welder for doing the grinding??? I know switching back on forth... But better than the electric tape. One of these.

Not sure about the cheap one... http://www.harborfreight.com/catalog...?q=face+shield

Or http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...5307_200305307

Yah, perhaps it was just a situational thing. The first welder I had was defective (thankfully as I was beginning to feel completely incompetent at the time). While I was practicing, the beads just looked *wrong* so I would alternate between trying to lay a bead and then grinding it down to see if I had any good penetration, any slag inclusion or porosity. Got kind of tiresome removing the welding helmet but *assuming* I get better, I shouldn't have to alternate nearly as much.

Will have to pass. I need no more friends When we teach some guys that do well, we pass off a starter helmet if we have one.

So sorry to hear that, Mike R. We were about to become good friends!

[everlastsupport]

So sorry to hear that, Mike R. We were about to become good friends!

I have at least 5 just here (sometimes someone wants to watch). Come on down to Florida. We can work something out. My Dad is from Indiana. Were abouts are you?

[ncsugrad2006]

Any thoughts on this one? I really want something with the largest field of view I can afford. Reviews look good on it and it says it will handle tig down to 5 amps.

http://www.amazon.com/Rhino-LARGE-Da.../dp/B005HL6RZE

[undercut]

I have at least 5 just here (sometimes someone wants to watch). Come on down to Florida. We can work something out. My Dad is from Indiana. Were abouts are you?

About as far as I could possibly be and still be in the continental US. Northwest Washington state! Keep the helmets warm. If I'm in Florida, I'm calling you on this.

[Brian Ski]

I have at least 5 just here (sometimes someone wants to watch). Come on down to Florida. We can work something out. My Dad is from Indiana. Were abouts are you?

Unless you are mixing me up... I am near South Bend... Nothing special...

[undercut]

Unless you are mixing me up... I am near South Bend... Nothing special...

Sigh. Yes, I think Mike R. got our messages mixed up. Just noticed you are from Indiana. Gonna need to cancel my flight to Florida now ....

[everlastsupport]

Any thoughts on this one? I really want something with the largest field of view I can afford. Reviews look good on it and it says it will handle tig down to 5 amps.

http://www.amazon.com/Rhino-LARGE-Da.../dp/B005HL6RZE

Never tried that one. It has 3 reviews and not a perfect three reviews.

But a lot have been outlined here. What is you budget. Jody from weldingtipsandtricks.com likes the northern for $50 (50 bones). Reviews on their $129 are almost 100% good ($90 with a coupon). Everlast helmets, I use them almost everyday, but they cost more, more digital stuff on them.

[everlastsupport]

Oops. Yea, got mixed up. But travel to my place, I will have a helmet. Washington State. Wow. Go see Oleg for one in Ca.

We did have them in the contest as third place (out helmets). The old contest back in the day. The Everlast helmets are nice, just there are lower cost ones that work nice too.

[Winky]

There has been a lot of great info on this subject posted on this thread ... this is what this forum is all about ... I've learned some things and the next time I go to look for a new helmet I have a starting point ... thanks guys U R awesome!

[ncsugrad2006]

Never tried that one. It has 3 reviews and not a perfect three reviews.

But a lot have been outlined here. What is you budget. Jody from weldingtipsandtricks.com likes the northern for $50 (50 bones). Reviews on their $129 are almost 100% good ($90 with a coupon). Everlast helmets, I use them almost everyday, but they cost more, more digital stuff on them.

I'd like to keep it around $100. If I can't find a wider viewing angle one for around that then I'd go for the $50 Northern one that jody recommended.

[everlastsupport]

I'd like to keep it around $100. If I can't find a wider viewing angle one for around that then I'd go for the $50 Northern one that jody recommended.

I re-looked at the link, I saw "GIANT" view again. Not sure where it's a giant view? What are you looking at that makes it have a bigger view than the $50 and $129 Northern helmets? Their (giant) external lens cover is 3.5x4 range? Same as all the helmets we've all talked about here.

Most viewers are 4" wide (even the old 2x4 non-auto flip shields from 30 years ago). And all we talked about here are vertically 3" plus tall? Mind you the solar cell kills some of the vertical height. I looked a second time and saw nothing giant with their lens.

I missed something I guess. Also, 5 reviews on three helmets now I have seen, not a lot. I would stick with helmets people actually have myself.