Auto-Darkening Welding Helmet

[bigdad]

After using your new welding helmet you will wonder how you "Melted" without it. Mine is a Lincoln.....not the cheapest but then again, not the most expensive. Had it for five years and have yet to change the AAA Batts. Don't melt every day, but use it monthly.

Your arc strikes will be near perfect.

 

[MadReferee]

I have a HF el cheapo auto darkening helmet. Used it for a couple of years. Then I broke down and bought a Miller Big Window Elite (BWE). The difference is like night and day. The BWE gives a much clearer and larger view when dark and it switches faster too. My HF just collects dust on the shelf now.

The HF is ok for the casual welder but if you do any serious welding a good helmet like the BWE is well worth the $200+.

 

[skipsb21]

I have to second the choice for the Miller. I started with a HF auto-darkening when I got my first MIG welder, but I noticed that I could see the weld pool much better with a traditional Lincoln 'flip down' type helmet. At work, my employer provides a SpeedGlas (3M), which is a really nice (read: expensive) auto darkening helmet, but my Miller even trumps the SpeedGlas. Truly is a night and day difference, especially for detailed work.

 

[BloomingtonMike]

I am a new welder and bought the $49 HF version for use at my CC Itro to Wlding class. It works very well.

 

[picker77]

Wow, finally tried the new SpeedGlas helmet out, and it's a whole new world! I especially like the way it defaults in the "Off" mode to a 5-6 shade, and goes to a 3 when turned on. Even my beads look better, but that might be because they aren't surrounded by a bunch of pock marks and chicken pecks from me trying to draw a clean arc first time while blind. I did notice with this helmet that there is just the faintest instant of flash before the lens turns dark - it wasn't really bothersome but I definitely could see it. Do the $275 helmets not do this? At any rate, you guys were right. This is THE way to go for stick welding, at least.

 

[bobodu]

"3" shade??
Could that be a manufacturer's setting?I never would use less than a 9 for welding.

 

[picker77]

Well, you never actually do any welding at shade 3. When the power is off, the lens defaults to a 5-6 shade. I suppose, in that condition, the helmet could be used for brazing, but I'd rather use glasses or lightweight goggles for that. When the power button is pressed, it goes immediately to a lighter shade of 3, for good vision (and there really is good vision at shade 3, much like fairly dark sunglasses). When the lens senses an arc, it goes from 3 to 11, and stays at 11 a few milliseconds after the arc goes away, at which time it goes back to 3. So it alternates between 3 and 11 when powered up, and defaults to 5-6 when off. Of course, to save the batteries there's an auto-off timer set for 30 minutes if it doesn't sense an arc during that time. Seems to work fine, but probably not any better than most. I went with this one pretty much because I have some confidence in 3M's reputation, and the lens is built by them. Details are at http://www.hornell.com/hsi/u.html if you are interested.

 

[slowrev]

I did notice with this helmet that there is just the faintest instant of flash before the lens turns dark - it wasn't really bothersome but I definitely could see it. Do the $275 helmets not do this? At any rate, you guys were right. This is THE way to go for stick welding, at least.
//

I am not so sure it is the helmet as much as the operator. I have a friend that does a bit fo flash on arc start when using my HF helmet, but no one else can see it. The faster the dark response time is the less likely this is to happen for anyone.

Ben

 

[RichT]

No disrespect to the HF helmet owners...

As I was learning to weld, my dad (a certified industrial pipe welder) said...grasshopper, God gave you only one pair of eyes, protect them accordingly. I bought a Miller Big Window Elite and love it.

 

[MF1455v]

I ordered a Miller Big Window Elite this past Sunday from Cyberweld.com. It should arrive Friday. I had known this was the the one I wanted for a while, but was just waiting on the CEO to release the funds. After reading this thread I'm feeling even better about my choice. Thanks!

James