>>> AUTO-DARKENING WELDING HELMET ??<<<

[MBDiagMan]

I bought my first AD helmet, a super cheapie, about 10 years ago I think. It served me well, but I was only using it for occasional use. I upgraded about 6 years ago with a brand that starts with an I. I didn't use it much before I ended up with a Hobart in a package deal. About that time I went to work doing contract maintenance on a fleet of 80 fork trucks in a very large plant.

It turned out that about half my time in the fork truck shop was spent doing major crash repair to the previous days demolition derby losers. I welded a LOT! I used the Hobart day in and day out. My welding skills improved probably 10 fold. I digress, but I left that job and brought my tool box home a little over two years ago and started using the one that starts with an I for my occasional farm shop welding and it works well.

Over the Thanksgiving break I spent a couple of days burning rod on a shredder I bought and I happen to be at my toolbox where the Hobart is stored when I was thinking helmet. I wondered if the battery was okay after a couple of years in the box, so I got it out. I used it for that two days and it worked great. It's comfortable, very adjustable and has served me well.

I don't know what the Hobart goes for now, but it was about a $140 item when I got it. I can recommend it for comfort, effectiveness and long term reliability.

Hope this helps.

 

[Chilly807]

I should clarify my post a bit, I test it once before I get started, then I call it OK for the rest of the day.

If I had to buy another AD helmet it'd be another Miller, I really do like it. Mind you, I haven't used many others except the flip type hoods, but it's light and comfortable on the head, works well so far.

Sean

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

Here's the link to the manufacturer of Miller's helmet, I believe:
:: (?)??? ::

 

[patrick_g]

Item # 91214 @ HF is their Blue Flame AD helmet.

It meets ANSI Z87.1 standards.

It is shade #4 before it darkens. It has UV and IR protection whether it is darkened or not. It is adjustable anywhere in the range of shade 9 to 13

It darkens in 1/25,000 of a second which is 0.00004 seconds. They have nice comfortable sweat absorbing padded "head grabbers."

It lists at $69.99 but is usually available at $49.99

I have two, they both work fine. They are AD helmets 4 and 5 for me and are the best I have had.

The only "nit" have to pick with them is adding "cheaters" (magnifying helper lenses) to them is not straight forward and dead simple but not impossible for anyone with a little DIY motivation.

They'd make great Christmas gift for yourself or a welding friend.

Pat

 

[Gary Fowler]

+ 1 with Patrick on the addition of cheater on the HF hoods. NOT impossible but you sure need some inventiveness. They were easy to place in my old speedglas lens. As for everything else, they are a good hood for a reasonable price. As a side note, I used to use the AO super blue gold lens prior to the AD hoods. They cost about $15-25 back in the 70's. I saw one advertised on CL a few days ago for $140. I guess that is because they dont make them anymore. Those were the best dark lens you could get and were easy on the eyes and made the puddle much easier to see since they blocked out the yellow flare form the flux. If anyone gets a chance to use one of those, give them a try, they arent AD but the are nice.

 

[dehlifarms]

i bought one from the lincoln people at a farm progress show about 8 years ago, it has worked perfect, i dont even think it has a battery in it,if it does it is still working great.it only cost 100 dollars.

 

[Runner]

"My Miller Performance Series is auto-on and auto-off, I've never had a problem with it to date. I do press the reset button to make sure it's working before each time I use it."

I have the same hood and LOVE it!

 

[paul dyar]

Did you ever hear the one about the cave men sitting in the cave beating their sticks on the ground,saying we don't want no raido?
Paul

 

[patrick_g]

Did you ever hear the one about the cave men sitting in the cave beating their sticks on the ground,saying we don't want no raido?
Paul

Hi Paul. No I never heard that one, tell it. By the way what is a raido?


Pat

 

[mjncad]

I think he meant radio.