I got a MIG welder for Christmas and all it came with was a crappy hand-held shield.

I did a search already but I was wondering if anyone has actually used the $50 auto-darkening from Harforfreight. I'm just starting out and only welding minor stuff so I can't justify spending a TON of money, but at the same time, I'd like to keep my eye sight.

Any other recommendations would help too

 

i have one i have used for about 3 days worth of welding. I was scared too as i like my eyes. so i turned it to full dark to be on the safe side. i have not had any problems that i could notice. well the first hood i got didnt work.

 

you cant replace your eyes for $50 buy a real helmet so you can see when your older. Speedglas are about $375 when they are on sale or Jackson has some nice ones

 

i have the HF one. been using it for 8 months. and i think it once didnt turn on for about half a second, but other than that its been fine. as i get more welding jobs ill get another one. but i have a backup non auto dark incase.

 

you can get ones for a 100 bucks from sears, there are made by miller and are autodark that may be better, being that buying a 50 dollar helmet now and three months down the road you get rid of that and buy a 100 dollar one, that was basically a 150 dollar helmet.

 

I am using it, I might use it for a while longer but eventually I plan to get a Hornell speedglass.

It does the jobs and you can adjust the sensitivity and delay. It really isn't bad for 50 bucks.

I never had problems with my sight from using it and my eyesight is very sensitive and I suffer from migraines.

 

I have had the same HF auto-darkening helmet for like four years. I use it atleast once a week, when I was in school last year I was using it every day. It has never failed me. There have been times that it has actually been a little too sensitive to light, like looking up at lights.

I have read numberous threads on other boards that alot of people have had really good luck with them and actually seem to last most everyone a long time.

I would like to buy a nicer one but I am a poor college student, haha and well this is working well so far.

I am actually going to go buy another one tomorrow, I left my current one at school and cant get to it until after the break.

So yeah I like it enough for the price to buy a second...

I have also read that some people go through 3-400 dollar helmets a couple times a year, to me it seems due to neglect. I take care of my hood and it has taken care of me.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ronnyg801 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I have had the same HF auto-darkening helmet for like four years. I use it atleast once a week, when I was in school last year I was using it every day. It has never failed me. There have been times that it has actually been a little too sensitive to light, like looking up at lights.

I have read numberous threads on other boards that alot of people have had really good luck with them and actually seem to last most everyone a long time.

I would like to buy a nicer one but I am a poor college student, haha and well this is working well so far.

I am actually going to go buy another one tomorrow, I left my current one at school and cant get to it until after the break.

So yeah I like it enough for the price to buy a second...

I have also read that some people go through 3-400 dollar helmets a couple times a year, to me it seems due to neglect. I take care of my hood and it has taken care of me.

</TD></TR></TABLE>

Had mine for 2 yrs now...works great.

 

I used a HF auto darkening helmet for about a year.

I can't see **** with it. Set to 9, I can see less than my normal helmet's shade 10 lens.

I'm just going to use my non-autodark helmet until I can scoop up a miller or something...

 

I use a Miller Elite I got from CyberWeld. Before that I used an eBay autodark I got for $70. I used it for one day then ordered my Miller. The helmet is not flexible enough so it becomes painful to wear, the Miller has 4 sensors so flashing is less likely, the miller is lighter, and has a larger viewing window. I think I paid right around $200 for it.

 

i have it, works great, hasn't failed on me yet

 

I have been running the cheapo harbo freight helmets since I started
I am on my 2nd one now each lasts about 2 years I have about 3/4 year life left in this one hehe

I do think next time I will go buy me a fancy miller elite and pull out my airbrush and paint it all up though

-James

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ronnyg801 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I have had the same HF auto-darkening helmet for like four years. I use it atleast once a week, when I was in school last year I was using it every day. It has never failed me. There have been times that it has actually been a little too sensitive to light, like looking up at lights.

I have read numberous threads on other boards that alot of people have had really good luck with them and actually seem to last most everyone a long time.

I would like to buy a nicer one but I am a poor college student, haha and well this is working well so far.

I am actually going to go buy another one tomorrow, I left my current one at school and cant get to it until after the break.

So yeah I like it enough for the price to buy a second...

I have also read that some people go through 3-400 dollar helmets a couple times a year, to me it seems due to neglect. I take care of my hood and it has taken care of me.

</TD></TR></TABLE>

I totally agree with you. Ive had my helmet for about 2 years now. no problems at all. i had my eyes checked out cause i wear contacts and they havent changed at all.

 

I have 3 and make sure that it is the one that blocks UV and lots of stuff like that...the UV will destroy your eyes if you don't...also I am a welder if you must know

 

also they are proportionate so if its brighter (longer arc or higher amperage) it will be darker than if it is low amperage or super close arc.

 

From posts on various boards and from personal experience, these helmets are hit or miss. I have one that I have owned for approximately 3 years, and unfortunately for me it was a miss. Since I started tigging, the HF hood would intermittently go to clear mode (Not good for TIG at all, not to mention the spots I saw for hours after it happened). I now have a Speedglas that I havent tried yet, but it has a rock solid record.

Hope that helps

 

I stick weld and that is all I would do with it because of weak sensors...I have a new "lense" that fits inside a conventional hood that work bought for everyone...it cost like a hundred and it is the best Mig/tig/smaw/plasma/carbon arc it does it all

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by pythoner &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I stick weld and that is all I would do with it because of weak sensors...I have a new "lense" that fits inside a conventional hood that work bought for everyone...it cost like a hundred and it is the best Mig/tig/smaw/plasma/carbon arc it does it all</TD></TR></TABLE>


whats it called where did you get it? do you have a link?

 

when i was in the welding business i used to have one for MIG and TIG. We had 4 or 5 in the shop, and no one ever had an issue with them and a TIG.

The later models (newer) did seem to not kick in as soon as some of the older helmets we had in the shop from HF. what i used to do if i was throwing on someones newer helmet while giving them a hand, i would use it at brite to get everything lined up and ready... close my eyes for a second or two just before and after i arced and then open them up... and yes i used to run it on full dark as well... there is no reason not to.

My background is in welding stainless steel counter tops, oven hoods, duct work, etc. Most of the welding was galvanized steel duct work. I did very little aluminum work. I did this work after college. I worked my way up from just a "helper" to the shop forman and the only custom fabricator in the shop... in 2.5 years. I have since moved on to office work to use my degree. I'll never forget what i've learned and i really hope i can keep doing the fabrication and welding on the side for fun. I've been lurking on this section for a while... once i get the home set up going i hope i can learn more and contribute some as well.

 

The part about the HF ones I don't like are the flashing. If I can see the arc, I wanted the lense to know it. It seems like they just flash when you get in tight spaces. I am getting something that has multiple sensors like someone said above.

So now that everyone is split on the HF helmet....for those of us who are looking to upgrade the question is:

Who makes and/or sells a quality, adjustable, multi sensored helmet for the most affordable price??????????????????????????????

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RC000E &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Who makes and/or sells a quality, adjustable, multi sensored helmet for the most affordable price??????????????????????????????</TD></TR></TABLE>

I LOVE LOVE LOVE my Miller Elite helmet. I got it from CyberWeld. If you want to be a stunna, open your wallet and hop on the Speedglas bandwagon, but the Miller is great - it DOES have 4 sensors, 9-13 shade control, sensitivity, and delay, the helmet is made of a more flexible plastic than my other helmets, it came with a bag and a helmet pad so your forehead isn't killing you after an hour or so. I've welded with really low amps with this thing...welding razor blades together and it still didn't flash on me. Oh yeah, pretty large viewing window.

I think I paid $215 for it...now it looks like it's $225.

 

Checked the Speedglas on ebay....only two sensors. Miller Elite is rockin 4. Seems all other is fairly similar except speedglas controls seem easier to use with gloves on. Miller Elite seems like the buy if you ask me.

If I was into bein a "stunna" I'd have bought a miller instead of my Lincoln, since Miller is all the hype on here. My Lincoln was cheaper by 120.00 though, and had more features/amperage. I don't care about names or hype, I care about best buy for the money.

 

my HF helmet works for me i also dont weld that much.