What welding helmet are you using?

[everlastsupport]

We weld almost daily. My son uses the old HF skull helmet (got it when he was young and just likes it). I use an Everlast Fabricator. We have a large face Jackson for people to watch and 2 other HF helmets and 2 other Everlast helmets.

For me, cheaters and clean lens is key on most helmets.

Would I like to have a Truesight, Viking or Digital Elite, sure. But the prices put me off. Truesight in the $160 range almost got me on ebay.

[225]

What is a cheater?

[DaveO]

It's a magnifier lens that fits into the helmet, the equivalent of reading glasses. Some, not all helmets have a frame setup to accommodate magnifier lenses so the welder has good vision for close up stuff.

That's a category that I fall into so I think I need to ask this question: if you use reader glasses, why not wear them under the hood? (That's what I'm doing these days.)

[Spike]

Not to hijack 225's thread, I think this is in line with his original question: when you switch from a low-end hood to a high-end hood, what's the biggest difference you see? What is it that makes the jump worth a fistful of dollars?

I use a Jackson NexGen helmet. I love the nexgen. This is my second one. My first helmet got stolen and I bought another to replace it. They've lasted a long time and i've never had a problem, and i'm rough on helmets. I've also got some cheap helmets I keep in the shop for "guest use."
When you step up to a high end helmet, one of the first things I always notice (aside from the fancy digital displays and indicators) is how much lighter the whole thing is, and how the better helmets will situate on your head to reduce neck strain. My Jackson had a bug wide soft plastic ergonomic headband that cups the back of my head and distributes the weight evenly.
Next thing I notice is how amazing the viewing area is. It's big and crisp.when it's light it lightens up brighter than regular sunglasses, and the color of the screen is better. cheap helmets turn everything green, but the nexgen keeps colors when it goes dark, so you can see the color of your metals and weld puddle. This is a big help on stainless, copper, and thin materials, and it also helps reduce eye strain.
at the end of a long day of welding, the last thing you'll notice with a high end helmet is the lack of a head ache. Cheap helmets simply don't darken as fast, as consistently, or as well as the best helmets. After all, there is a reason that a good helmet costs over $400, and it's not just a brand name. For a hobbyist, or someone learning it might not be significant enough to worry about, but for the professional that will spend 8 hours a day just staring into a weld puddle it means a whole heck of a lot!

[zoama]

I really like my 3m Speedglas 9100xx for the light weight, comfortable head gear, large viewing area and side windows. With the side windows you don't have to flip the helmet up all the time.
The sensors have also been infallible so far having a Tig rating of >1 amp. This helmet is a little pricey but well worth it. Go to your local dealer and try one out, you'll see the difference. http://store.cyberweld.com/nespwehe91au.html

[cbmkr]

I tried the Tweco Weldskill helmet and it worked just fine . Headgear was easy to adjust and comfortable and the tension knobs worked easy. The shade seemed darker than a 13 but with the 9-13 range made it easily adjustable. The 4 sensors had a fast reaction time and it also has an adjustable delay short medium or long to keep the lens dark after finishing welding.

Interesting after only about an use the reaction time on the hood has slowed and now you are getting a flash when you strike an arc. Will have too see what is going on and Maybe give Tweco a call.

[cbmkr]

After checking with everyone that purchased a helmet from my daughter, only one of the ones we purchased is working properly. I just talked to a Victor rep and got some things to try. There suggestion was charge in direct bright light for 3-4 hours with the protective lens cover off and try again. Seems odd as the adjustable shade works, delay time works but sensitivity knob does not change anything.

As of now she is not offering any of these hoods for sale.

[EchoSixMike]

Anyone ever use an Optrel E680? Setting up my home workshop and gonna leave the Lincoln at work. The cheapie autos staying there too. LWS has a decent deal on these Optrels. S/F....Ken M

[performance]

The Optrels are good helmets, but pricey and a bit fragile from all the people I have talked to with one that had them long term.

[Jason]

I own/use a Miller Digital Elite.

[alcoolaid]

I'm using the cheapo blue one from Eastwood. Been using it for a while, works fine for what I do.

[Titan winch]

I have a few select Customers trying out a new model right now. The adjustment range is from a grinding range of shade 3 and Tig welding from shade 4 through to 9 in low range and then you can switch over to 9 to 13 with both sensitivity and delay settings. The 2 models are both large view and regular filter sizes and the feedback is very positive on them so far. The actuall production of these helmets are slated for February sometime with certifications being done at the same time or perhaps a little longer but things are looking very positive for getting these as a decent priced good quality helmet.
The nice thing for working with this is the North American Office is located in Toronto and this makes it simple for me to deal with them.

[everlastsupport]

I was trying to buy a Tweco from a member here on the forum, always looking to check out the latest things. Seems he was one short and I did not get that one. Like I need another helmet.

Duncan, let us know a US price/shipping and when we can look at them. Post up more details/pictures when you can.

[Jason]

I was trying to buy a Tweco from a member here on the forum, always looking to check out the latest things. Seems he was one short and I did not get that one. Like I need another helmet.

Duncan, let us know a US price/shipping and when we can look at them. Post up more details/pictures when you can.

I am interested in this also. I have been thinking about picking up a second helmet but not sure that I want to throw the cash at another elite digital. Do you happen to have any pictures you can release now?

[Rambozo]

Is it autodarkening in the 4-9 range, or is that fixed?

[Johnson]

I have a Rhino, an older speedglas, fiber pipefitters syle and a newer Jackson. The optics in the 3m are just as good as the Jackson....and to honest the Rhino is ok too. The biggest problem is the lack of sensors. I kept getting flashed with the two sensor Rhino and 3M. The Jackson fits great and the color/ optics are nice....plus the four sensors have never flashed me. The only bad thing about the Jackson is the tensioners keep loosening on the side and it falls down a lot. Drives me crazy..buy it works well other wise. If money was no object I think I would get a newer speedglas. They are so frickin lite!

[everlastsupport]

I agree with Johnson, money not an issue, the speedglas is nice. When the 6 helmets I have now get down to say 2-3 (never happen) I will get one (or I win the lotto).

[Kendall]

I'm using the cheapo Smarter Tools helmet that you can get from Home Depot online. Got it for $50 during Christmas sales and it's a good helmet for that price. The specs are good but the adjustments are cheap but work. It's very light weight at around a pound and works for hobby welding. I'm just resisting the urge to try on a nice helmet at the LWS because right now I'm happy not knowing what I'm missing.

[MuttonHawg]

I got a $100 Rhino off Amazon because it seemed a good middle ground to me. I didn't want to go uber-cheap and risk having a crappy helmet to deal with, but didn't want to drop a few hundred bones on a helmet when I'm just learning how to weld. So far, it seems to work OK, but it definitely has a bit of a cheap, lightweight, plastic feel to it, and the tension knobs on the side of the helmet tend to back out a bit during use. But so far, no flashing, which I'm thankful for. However I'm only using it for stick welding for the moment - we'll see how it works when I try TIGging.

Eventually, when my volume of work increases and warrants it, I hope to get a much nicer helmet and relegate this one to the backup or 'spectator' helmet. Maybe I can teach my dad to weld

[cbmkr]

I have an older Jackson large Fixed Lens, and A Harbor Freight Red Flame ( works great for tig ) best helmet for the money $39.95. Also have some Tweco Weldskill Helmets, they did not work correct when we got them. They were slow on reaction time .The factory called us and had us put them in total darkness for 4-6 hours ( they now come with a bag to do this ) and then set in direct sunlight for 2-4 hours. This is to reset the auto darkening feature. We tried it and it works fine now.