Newbie looking for 1st welder

[mikefromnh]

I also had no response to emails that I sent to the sales account last fall...

Just called them and ordered the powerarc 200 st . I'll never be a able to find a mig welder for the difference in cost if I had gone with the imig 200 ($225) but I like the idea of a portable small inverter stick welder that I can bring wherever I want easily. And the sales guy felt the powerarc was the better choice for stick welding.

Next question -- harbor freight auto helmet or spring for something better?

 

[k0ua]

I also had no response to emails that I sent to the sales account last fall...

Just called them and ordered the powerarc 200 st . I'll never be a able to find a mig welder for the difference in cost if I had gone with the imig 200 ($225) but I like the idea of a portable small inverter stick welder that I can bring wherever I want easily. And the sales guy felt the powerarc was the better choice for stick welding.

Next question -- harbor freight auto helmet or spring for something better?

I don't have one of the harbor freight ones, but I do have one similiar from Northern tool. It works well, and from what I have heard of the Harbor freight ones, the owners report that they work well, and they can be less than $40 with a coupon. Are they going to be as good as a $300 dollar one, I don't think so, but I think they are OK.

 

[DXN1EL]

First congratulations :thumbsup:

I own a Harbor Freight Variable Auto Darkening Welding Helmet with Metal Head Design
this is my first auto dark helmet, I first got a fixed shade Shop Kobalt Matte Black Welding Helmet at Lowes.com
The fixed shade has better quality that the Harbor freight but with the Harbor Freight is a lot more easy.

I want to get this one Hobart Welding Helmet - PRO Black 770753

 

[mikefromnh]

I wear prescription glasses which are a PIA with brazing goggles -- I'm thinking something like the miller elite with more shade choices(cut/grind mode) would be worth the money

 

[Brad_Blazer]

I have this one from Northern and I like it a lot. It takes regular AAA batteries which is a big plus for me. I've had the cheaper ones with the batteries spot welded in place and I've cut them out and replaced them but what a pain.
Northern Industrial Welders Auto-Darkening Welding Helmet with Grind Mode | Welding Helmets| Northern Tool + Equipment
Print this if you have a store local:
http://www.northerntool.com/images/downloads/stores/030313_coupon.pdf

 

[IslandTractor]

I don't have one of the harbor freight ones, but I do have one similiar from Northern tool. It works well, and from what I have heard of the Harbor freight ones, the owners report that they work well, and they can be less than $40 with a coupon. Are they going to be as good as a $300 dollar one, I don't think so, but I think they are OK.

I agree. I have both a good one and a HF model. There are differences but I think a hobbyist like myself could be happy with the HF if I didn't have the $300 version to compare it to.

 

[k0ua]

I have this one from Northern and I like it a lot. It takes regular AAA batteries which is a big plus for me. I've had the cheaper ones with the batteries spot welded in place and I've cut them out and replaced them but what a pain.
Northern Industrial Welders Auto-Darkening Welding Helmet with Grind Mode | Welding Helmets| Northern Tool + Equipment
Print this if you have a store local:
http://www.northerntool.com/images/downloads/stores/030313_coupon.pdf

for $52 if you print the coupon, I don't see how you could beat that. Mine does not have the grind mode, but I wish it did.

 

[mikefromnh]

for $52 if you print the coupon, I don't see how you could beat that. Mine does not have the grind mode, but I wish it did.

The title states it has a grind mode but then in the write up it only has shades 9-13 -- maybe it's a new feature?

I don't have a NT local here in maine so I'd be looking at ~$70 shipped. Still a good deal if it has the shades 5-6-7. As every other helmet with a grind and cut mode seems to be 200 and up.

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

The grind mode would be the clear or natural state and it would just lock it in.

 

[IslandTractor]

for $52 if you print the coupon, I don't see how you could beat that. Mine does not have the grind mode, but I wish it did.

I don't think I would use a helmet in grind mode. Too cumbersome, view is too restricted, helmet might fall off if you bend over to check something and less comfortable than a simple face shield.