Don't want to end up doing this to another helmet.. Can you guys recommend one that isn't a piece of garbage? ie, doesn't blind me and one that I can actually See with? I hated everything about this helmet since the day I bought it. How lousy the visibility was, how heavy it was, how if all 4 sensors weren't exposed to the rays it would go light, horribly blinding me, how you couldn't exhale without instantly fogging the lense, how the push button shade settings didn't work, etc, etc. $300+ down the toilet. Is it even worth it to get another auto darkening helmet at all? I have a $10 piece of gold colored glass in a flat plastic shield that absolutely pissed on this helmet in terms of visibility of the weld. People would pick it up and see what I was doing better than I could.

 

I have a 10 dollar pos to that I like to use. I always wanted to get a auto helmet but never wanted to spend 300 on something that I bang around and smash up when I'm in cars.

 

I got the miller digital inferno from gtsweld.com 298 shipped. its the ****...it has x mode for outside welding so it doesnt get affected by sun rays and cars driving by and stuff like that. i Love it.

 

hell sometimes i rock a Harbor freight auto dark when im tacking, and i used a 30$ jackson for any thing else i weld. I cant get the visibility of the Fixed lense out of any auto darkening in the price range im willing to spend on one. IE not more then 65$ lol.

I do have a 200$ + auto darkening,but i only use it for tack welds and mig welding, and i only paid 60$ for it.

 

Hornell Speedglas 9002x great helmet light weight works great great visibility with a large 9-13 shade BUT as with all I have seen I keep a regular helmet for the tight out of position stuff inside a car or be prepared to see spots ebay seems to be the best place

 

what helmet was that??

i heard the miller elite is a very nice helmet.....cyberweld has good prices on them too

 

i have a speedglass 9002x also, it works great if you set the delay and sensitivity right. i used to have an older speedglass that had a setting where you could make it stay dark all the time like a standard helmet. that was nice for out of position stuff or if you were working in tight areas

 

I have a Hobart auto darkening helmet that I love. I think I spent around $150 for it, and it's been wonderful to me. Meanwhile my roommate uses a Harbor Frieght auto darkening helmet, and after a few tacks with it, I can tell the reaction time is slower with his. I have really light sensitive eyes to begin with (I always wear a hat or sun glasses during the summer, and still get head aches). I'd get headaches using his helmet.
The Hobart has never let me down.

 

Speedglas and won't go back. Bought mine off of ebay for a great price, PM me if you wan't to know the sellers name. He only sold welding stuff and speedglas helmets brand new.

 

Thanks for the replies, guys. The helmet I smashed was an arc one x540v. I bought it from airgas several years ago. I need to stop smashing tools, lol. But I knew if I didn't break it, I was going to keep using it and hurting my eyes. Even if it didn't go light, it always gave me kind of a headache behind the eyes. I know you shouldn't get that. I hated the angle dependency, and the complete lack of visibility. I suspect the angle dependency thing was letting in light at angles more than it should have, (that you wouldn't be looking directly at but was still there?) and that was also contributing to eye damage. I need to be careful with my eyes. I Hate driving at night, I can't see ****, and I'm only 26. I suspect that this helmet is at least partially responsible. The angle dependency thing basically meant that you had to hold your head still at the right angle, because the difference in light transmitted was so large based on the angle that you would either be blinded or you just couldn't see. That's ridiculous. And if you were looking at the weld with the right angle and the right shade setting (usually an 11 for me), you Still couldn't really see. You could only see the center of the arc, not anything around it or even the puddle formation itself very well. Do you guys experience those type of problems with your helmets too?
I think for now I'm about to just get an old school helmet with the gold colored glass lense, because I don't get those problems with it, and I'm kinda broke too. I couldn't believe how much better I could see the first time I used the one I have in my handheld shield. I don't really care about the darkness until I strike the arc, because I can see with the hf without actually melting anything, then just push the pedal down once I have the tip where I want it.

What I'd really like is to be able to try out some different helmets at a shop, but I don't know about the area around where I live. I've been wondering about the speedglas helmets for a while though.

 

I have a Miller Big Window Elite and a Hunstman flip hood with a 4X6 window. I think I'm using a gold #10 shade right now.
I use the Huntsman 99% of the time since I'm running wire right now. I prefer the auto hood for tig welding.

I've never had a problem being flashed with my miller hood. At my last job they provided some speedglass hoods(can't remember the model number) and they sucked. I got flashed all the time and they blinked every time a forklift was backing up within like half a mile of where I was welding no matter what the sensitivity was set at.

 

I absolutly hate getting flashed! Every now and than I forget to flip down my helmet and flash myself From the sound of all the random auto problems I don't think I will be getting an auto lens any time soon.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ManBearPig4silly &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I have a Miller Big Window Elite and a Hunstman flip hood with a 4X6 window. I think I'm using a gold #10 shade right now.
I use the Huntsman 99% of the time since I'm running wire right now. I prefer the auto hood for tig welding.

I've never had a problem being flashed with my miller hood. At my last job they provided some speedglass hoods(can't remember the model number) and they sucked. I got flashed all the time and they blinked every time a forklift was backing up within like half a mile of where I was welding no matter what the sensitivity was set at.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Ive never been flashed with my miller elite either. After useing this helmet Im never going back to speedglass.

 

I too have a speedglas, it was the 1st helmet I got and I love it. I'd prefer if it stayed dark for 1/2 second after the arc is gone - its only when dealing with hard to reach stuff (sensors don't pick it up) that pose an issue. Otherwise the sensors work great. I've welded outside in the summer, and it gave no issues. Mine is the most basic version, on or off, no extra features.

I think people have issues with them because they are blocking the sensors some times. The speedglas sensors will activate even with the light sparks of a grinding wheel.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by rorik &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Thanks for the replies, guys. The helmet I smashed was an arc one x540v. I bought it from airgas several years ago. I need to stop smashing tools, lol. But I knew if I didn't break it, I was going to keep using it and hurting my eyes. Even if it didn't go light, it always gave me kind of a headache behind the eyes. I know you shouldn't get that. I hated the angle dependency, and the complete lack of visibility. I suspect the angle dependency thing was letting in light at angles more than it should have, (that you wouldn't be looking directly at but was still there?) and that was also contributing to eye damage. I need to be careful with my eyes. I Hate driving at night, I can't see ****, and I'm only 26. I suspect that this helmet is at least partially responsible. The angle dependency thing basically meant that you had to hold your head still at the right angle, because the difference in light transmitted was so large based on the angle that you would either be blinded or you just couldn't see. That's ridiculous. And if you were looking at the weld with the right angle and the right shade setting (usually an 11 for me), you Still couldn't really see. You could only see the center of the arc, not anything around it or even the puddle formation itself very well. Do you guys experience those type of problems with your helmets too?
I think for now I'm about to just get an old school helmet with the gold colored glass lense, because I don't get those problems with it, and I'm kinda broke too. I couldn't believe how much better I could see the first time I used the one I have in my handheld shield. I don't really care about the darkness until I strike the arc, because I can see with the hf without actually melting anything, then just push the pedal down once I have the tip where I want it.

What I'd really like is to be able to try out some different helmets at a shop, but I don't know about the area around where I live. I've been wondering about the speedglas helmets for a while though.</TD></TR></TABLE>i have the same helmet and i agree..it sucks lol

 

i got the miller xlix for b-day, have had it for about a year. i dont tig much but it beats the speedglass that i was using before. just more comfortable and more "breathing" room. if i look up at the shop lights, the xlix darkens.

 

I've had a jackson nexgen autodark for a few years and it's treated me really well.
I like the sound of that newer miller with the outside welding adjustment though.
Do you use one of those clear shields in front of the autodark cartridge to keep it from getting dust/debris/damage to the sensors? I actually put one in front and behind the cartridge on mine to make sure it doesn't get screwed up and dirty from all the crap flying around. I keep a shield with a standard lens around too for tight spots, shade 10 I believe.
-Niles

 

I use a miller elite big window, its the best auto darkening helmet out there. I've had speedglass, optrel etc, miller elite wins hands down. That said, I still use my old no name big window flip helmet when I am in really really tight spots.

 

Holy **** dude! Are you my long lost twin??

I'm the exact same as you, I break everything when I get mad, and I broke my welding helmet also, for the same reason. I kept getting pissed because the expletiveing thing won't stay up, and when I tightened it enough so that it stayed up, it wouldn't come down, or the strap came off when I try to lift it, and if I didn't hold my breath, it fogged up, and I just lost it and smashed it to the ground like an imbecile, and everyone in the shop was looking at me ...

So then I bought one from EtoolStar on ebay, and after fighting with them for 3 weeks because the sensitivity button was broken right off when I received it, I decided to expletive it and just use it anyway, and the thing takes 2 seconds to kick in after I start welding, plus the screen is darker in the middle so it's like welding with one eye. It made me so mad I had to hold myself back, and tried to stay calm as I put it back in the box so that I didn't smash it to bits after 15 minutes of use.

I used a 3rd one, which you have to hit the expletiveing ON button every time you want to use it, and it pissed me off too because I kept forgetting to hit ON on an AUTOMATIC helmet.

I'm real discouraged with these things. I was considering paying good money for one hoping that it would be good, but I'm scared that the second I start welding, it'll fog up on me like every other expletiveing helmet.

I'm back to my 5 y/o $20 fixed shade helmet that is held together with duct tape no kidding. But the up/down mechanism is pissing me off too now, so my blood pressure is back up.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Agtronic &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Holy **** dude! Are you my long lost twin??

I'm the exact same as you, I break everything when I get mad</TD></TR></TABLE>

lol..yeah, the last thing I threw into the floor was an IR 2135ti, which used to be my favorite tool ever, until the damn trigger got stuck. I ended up stripping out some threads on my truck's tranny, then the bolt broke off inside the threads when I tried to take it back out.. I threw the impact into the ground, and it bounced back and just about hit me in the face, (!) which Really pissed me off, so I had to throw it again. I guess in my defense, I was working in about 0 degree weather, lying on an unbelievably cold floor soaked in tranny fluid, replacing a tranny which was just about the last thing I wanted to be doing in the world at that time, I could hardly even move my hands, and I was suffering from co poisoning from a kerosene heater that was running on diesel, etc, etc. p.s, anyone know where to get parts for the 2135ti..?

As far as the welding helmets though, for now I just got a normal non auto darkening one and put my old shade 11 gold lense in it. I'll look into the miller helmets though, there were a lot of good things said about them, hopefully a good one isn't too expensive. However, if I can't use it for something like welding the inside of a collector due to sensors being blocked, that is definitely a deterrent for me..although it would probably be nice for everything else.

 

This is the helmet i use, simple but does the job:

http://www.tooled-up.com/Product.asp?PID=124666

Its the only automatic helmet i've used so i cant compare it to anything although i have no complaints. Its taken quite a bit of abuse over the last 2 years and still going strong. Its flexable to enough to be used when wearing a respirator with fume and dust filters aswell which is handy.

 

I have a speedglass, a miller elite and a jaskson standard shade...like the miller elite the best. I paid 220 for mine back in 06 I think?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by rorik &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">lol..yeah, the last thing I threw into the floor was an IR 2135ti, which used to be my favorite tool ever, until the damn trigger got stuck. I ended up stripping out some threads on my truck's tranny, then the bolt broke off inside the threads when I tried to take it back out.. I threw the impact into the ground, and it bounced back and just about hit me in the face, (!) which Really pissed me off, so I had to throw it again. I guess in my defense, I was working in about 0 degree weather, lying on an unbelievably cold floor soaked in tranny fluid, replacing a tranny which was just about the last thing I wanted to be doing in the world at that time, I could hardly even move my hands, and I was suffering from co poisoning from a kerosene heater that was running on diesel, etc, etc. p.s, anyone know where to get parts for the 2135ti..?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Omg. I can't imagine doing that (the job). Hahaha! I also threw down an expensive impact gun, luckily it didn't break.

 

Jackson NexGen here.

Works nice for few years now. Still holding up. Never been flashed.

 

I have a harbor freight auto darkening one that I got for $50 on sale and it has worked perfectly. It is very sensitive, switches on super quick, and has never left my eyes sore. It was about the best $50 I ever spent.