Ok, so after about a week of research I finally decided to go with the Hobart Handler 140 MIG welder. Although I don't have a gas cylinder yet I decided to give it a shot with the flux-core wire that came with it. It turned out pretty crappy. I'm sure it was mostly due to my lack of skill but my biggest problem that I was having was that I simply could not see what I was welding. I couldnt see the pool or even the seam I was trying to weld. A couple times I completely went off the seam. The ambient lighting in the garage is pretty good, I was underneath two 40 watt flourescent tube (shop lights) that are hanging from the ceiling. I went really cheap on the helmet, it's a $20 Clarke unit and I can't see anything. The shade number is 10. I think I'm going to try and return it cuz it's basically worthless. My question is do you guys think I can get a good helmet that I will be able to see with for around $100-$150? Possibly something auto-darkening and adjustable? any suggestions?

 

auto-darkening I use this one and i love it. I can see everything and the auto-darkening is adjustable.

http://www.harborfreight.com/c...91212

 

Wow, thats really cheap. I wonder how it will hold up. I do have a Harbor Freight kinda close to me I suppose I can always try it out and if I don't like it I can return it.

 

If you're using a 10 I'd just switch it to a 9.

 

Well, thats kinda what I thought at first. But is it possible that the shade is actually not dark enough and the reason I can't see anything else is because the arc is so bright that my pupils are closing? Kinda like shining a flashlight in your face in a dark room, probably won't be able to see anything but the flashlight.

 

Try welding with the lights off. Seriously, it is way easier to see the pool without ambient light reflecting off the back of the lense into your eyes.

 

The auto darkening helmets are great, once you get use to them there is no going back. If you are stick welding I cant imagin life without one. I have used the $40 HF one quite alot without any issues.

 

Well I picked up that $50 HF helmet. Seems to work pretty well, I can see what I'm doing. I'll try toning down the ambient light a little bit and see what happens. What I really need is some shielding gas. Welding with the flux core wire is making everything this milky brown color.

 

I use a cheap *** helmet, but I put in a gold lense. love the color of the puddle with it. try it out. like 6 bucks for a gold lense. shade 10

 

hmmm... gold lense. maybe I'll try that out. I can see better with this helmet but I still have a hard time seeing the puddle. It's gotta be something I'm doing wrong. How far away from the things are you that you're welding? 24 inches? Maybe I'm too far away.

 

Be careful with the Harbor freight helmet. I may have gotten a bad one not sure. But mine would go somewhat dark but only have of the lens would go dark so one eye was not protected. I took it back and bought a Jackson, and love it. It was expensive but you only have one set of eyes.

 

Yeah, I'm thinking about picking up one of these instead:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Hobart-Aut...wItem

It's not super expensive but it's from a respected brand.

 

Did your HF one go bad or was it always bad? I have one and my freind has one and they suprisingly work good. I made sure to test it at the store before buying it by putting it on and looking at the lights.

As far as flux vs solid wire with gas. What a difference. With flux you have spatter everywhere and that dirt like powder covering your work. Its a real challenge to make a "pretty" weld. With solid wire its 50 times eaiser.