Difference in welding helmets

zmansmac · Oct 15, 2015

I've been mig welding for about 8 years now and have built many projects, like a 6 x 12 tandem axle trailer, and have made many modifications and attachments for my tractor. I've "graduated" from a Harbor Freight mig to a Lincoln. But when I started I bought a HF auto darkening helmet on sale and am still using it. As I'm getting up in years I'm finding it more difficult to see what I'm welding using it and sometimes have to anticipate the end of the welds. I know lighting is a big factor. I always mig weld indoors and depending on the orientation of the parts lighting may not be ideal. So I started thinking about some of these more expensive helmets and was wondering if they would help better my situation. I know they have larger viewing areas but do they offer a brighter view of what your welding?

Redneck in training · Oct 16, 2015

I have also HF welding helmet and Jackson as well. I tried different darkness adjustment and I found that it is my eyes or glasses (progressive lenses) not the helmet causing the problem. In example using single power reading glasses helped. Jackson sells Fresnel lenses for the helmet so I am going to buy few. Amazon.com: Metal Man MMAG2.25 Welding Helmet 2.25-Diopter Magnifying Lens, Pack of 2: Home Improvement

George2615 · Oct 16, 2015

I also have the HF auto darkening helmet. I think the internal battery or auto darkening circuit must wear out because after 5 or 6 years I had a hard time seeing through the lens. The field of view was too dark and the darkness adjustment on the side made little difference. I recently bought a new HF helmet on sale and it works great. just like the old one did when new. It auto darkens in a split second and I can see the end of the weld area.
I only do occasional welding maybe once or twice a month so can't justify spending big bucks on a brand name helmet.

BigBoyToys · Oct 16, 2015

I have a Hobart Discovery VS helmet that I really like. I also have a HF helmet I bought when teaching my son to weld. It was good enough for viewing as he was welding. I find that the Hobart is clearer. As Redneck stated...proper "eye correction" makes the biggest difference. I need to wear a pair of 1.5 reading glasses when welding...it makes a world of difference!

drizler · Oct 16, 2015

If not in broad sunny daylight I still find putting a 500 watt work light shining on the piece if precision is critical. It's cheap and it works. I had one high grade helmet and found out that the HF cheapos are so close and last just as long if you take care of them. Don't leave them in the cold in the winter for weeks. I bring mine in the house and park it near a sunny window all winter and it just keeps ticking.

rswyan · Oct 16, 2015

Add another vote for the eyes: I normally wear bifocals and have found that for looking at things close up (within two or three feet) the bifocals are no longer getting it done - I have to remove my glasses to actually be able to focus.

With them off I can actually see quite well at that distance.

I started welding with a HF auto-darkening helmet and then picked up a Hobart unit later after one of the knobs for the head band came loose on the HF unit and I lost a part. Biggest difference - which was huge IMO - I saw between the two was that the Hobart unit had a larger viewing area.

Steveneverlearn · Oct 16, 2015

I have 2 HF helmets with the blue flames. I got one approx. 2 months ago. It works perfect.

I actually borrowed an auto darkening helmet to do a welding test recently. That's the first time I used one. I got flashed. White spot while trying to finish my test, unsuccessfully I might add. I don't know the brand of that helmet. I returned home and needed a new helmet. I read decent reviews on the HF unit. The one with Blue Flames seemed to have good reviews, so I bought one.

I got it home and was very surprised at how well it worked. I didn't have to blink when I started the arc. It just worked.

I bought another one today for my grandson. Got it home and checked it out. Even though it was the blue flame model, it was very thin. The old one was not quite as sturdy as my old Jackson, 20 years old, but it was decent. The new one was noticeably thinner and flimsy. Felt fragile. I held it up to the sun and it didn't darken. Now it's possible that this is an improvement as I have seen many people that stated they were too sensitive. I tried all of the adjustments to no avail.

The new helmet will go back. I am going to go through the boxes on the shelf trying to find the older one. I put photos below of both units.

I hope the differences are evident. The new one is bad in my opinion. I hope this helps someone out.

zmansmac · Oct 18, 2015

Thanks for the responses guys. Steven, I did a little checking at Harbor Freight based on your pictures and looking at the manuals on their website. The one you indicate as bad is P/N 61610 and HF shows it on their website as only available in stores. The one you show as good is P/N 91214 and just shows add to cart, so not sure if it's sold in stores. Both are $49.99 and look identical to me on the outside. Just switches vs knob controls on the inside. I'll have to check and see if my local store has the "good" one. Thanks for that insight (pun intended). I occasionally use reading glasses for very fine print and things like picking slivers out of my hands. I'll have to try using them when welding and see it that makes a difference. I do have a question for drizler. I will use an added, more direct light source; I'm sure that will help. But I don't understand your remark about not leaving the helmet in the cold. I know a fair amount about electronics from my background and know that electronic components that are not powered are not affected by the coldest ambient temperatures we would see here in the U.S. I don't know about other brand helmets but the HF ones use a solar panel for power. So when I tuck mine away back in a closed box after use it should not be powering the circuitry. The only thing I'm not familiar with is the auto darkening glass. Are you saying that the glass is affected by cold temps?

George2615 · Oct 18, 2015

The blue flame HF helmet I have is the one Steven says is the good one. It was available in the store.

drizler · Oct 19, 2015

zmansmac said:
Thanks for the responses guys. Steven, I did a little checking at Harbor Freight based on your pictures and looking at the manuals on their website. The one you indicate as bad is P/N 61610 and HF shows it on their website as only available in stores. The one you show as good is P/N 91214 and just shows add to cart, so not sure if it's sold in stores. Both are $49.99 and look identical to me on the outside. Just switches vs knob controls on the inside. I'll have to check and see if my local store has the "good" one. Thanks for that insight (pun intended). I occasionally use reading glasses for very fine print and things like picking slivers out of my hands. I'll have to try using them when welding and see it that makes a difference. I do have a question for drizler. I will use an added, more direct light source; I'm sure that will help. But I don't understand your remark about not leaving the helmet in the cold. I know a fair amount about electronics from my background and know that electronic components that are not powered are not affected by the coldest ambient temperatures we would see here in the U.S. I don't know about other brand helmets but the HF ones use a solar panel for power. So when I tuck mine away back in a closed box after use it should not be powering the circuitry. The only thing I'm not familiar with is the auto darkening glass. Are you saying that the glass is affected by cold temps?

No they work fine in any temp. What I was referring to was leaving it sit in a dark garage all winter in sub zero temperatures. If you don't weld a lot like most of us, especially when you are freezing your %$#@ off the super cold temps with no charging going on seem to kill these or any battery over time. Of course I can't prove it and it's not even worth trying so consider bringing it inside as a simple precaution. I had a HF and then a much better one die the battery death in short order because of sitting in the garage all winter. The current HF I have is around 5 years old and works every bit as well as the day I got it. Again, I;m talking about a few months and not a week or so outside in the cold. I just park mine in the spare bedroom facing a window so it gets some sunlight every day. When it's in the garage I try to think to hang it so it gets at least a little light as well Maybe I'm all wet here but it seems to work.