I will be in the market for a new welding helmet this weekend. Going with self darkening. Dont really want to spend over $150. Anyone got any good opinions or ideas? I like the miller helmets but if anyone has got a good self darkening helmet for a decent price let me know where you got it!

Thanks in advance.

 

i personally don't trust any auto darkening helmet for sub $400.00 range.
i've been flashed a few times with them.
if you only want to spend 150 get yourself a 60 dollar flip lid.

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISA...&rd=1

thats what i have.. I wouldnt buy a harbor freight one for anything!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by cua0 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i personally don't trust any auto darkening helmet for sub $400.00 range.
i've been flashed a few times with them.
if you only want to spend 150 get yourself a 60 dollar flip lid. </TD></TR></TABLE>

I agree with the above quote... Even if the manufacturer guarantees that the helmet, when is goes dead, will go dead dark.

fs

 

I have a harbor freight mask, no problems with it. Never been flashed before, its so sensitive that if I get a glance of my light in my garage, it will shut.

https://honda-tech.com/zero...age=1

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by cua0 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i personally don't trust any auto darkening helmet for sub $400.00 range.
i've been flashed a few times with them.
if you only want to spend 150 get yourself a 60 dollar flip lid. </TD></TR></TABLE>

So hobart and millers mask suck then ? They sell for around $150, no where near $400.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 90blackcrx &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
So hobart and millers mask suck then ? They sell for around $150, no where near $400.</TD></TR></TABLE>

That's Canadian money chief... so like $2 US.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by backpurge &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

That's Canadian money chief... so like $2 US.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Aww I missed that part.

 

I've got the cheapo harbor freight auto-dark one. It works well, and never flashed me in the couple years of MIG welding at home, but when I took a TIG class, it gave me problems for the first time. It failed to darken a few times. My instructor said it likely had to do with the number and position of the light sensors. I never had a problem with the mask when I was actually welding, but it was when I was watching him weld from some distance that the mask would act funny. Just my experience....

 

I have a harbor freight welding helmet as well. I've done welding for four straight hours with no problems. My experience, take it or leave it

 

Have three myself. One off ebay(Harbor Freight) that I started out with 4 years ago....a Jackson 3N1 Auto Darkening Hood($350 or so I think), and also the Miller XLiX Stars and Stripes Hood($250 or so I think). The Harbor Freight one is only used for people who want to see what i am doing...period. I havnt put it on a few years. I mainly use the Miller XLiX, because I have my nice sheep skin head liner in it! BUt have no complaints about the Jackson or the Miller. Both are great, and have never failed me. Good Luck!
Kyle
Heres my MILLER HELMET:
http://www.bigbluez71.com/d/KY...6.jpg


Modified by blueoval557 at 6:05 PM 5/6/2005