Welding helmets , what's yours ??

[freak]

I've got 4 different helmets, all of which are auto darking.

My fist auto darking helmet i got in 98' , it's a Jackson. It's pretty much dead now. Just old and only works for about an hour.

Then about 3 year ago i picked up a lincoln, which is the same as my jackson. If i'm not mistaken Jackson and lincoln helmet are the same. This helmet is also starting to die but, some days it will go all day with no problem. My 5 year old daughter uses it now from time to time to watch me weld. Of course i double check to make sure it's working right first.

Well last year i was in a pinch and stoped at lowes and grabbed a workforce helmet that's solor and a bigger viewing area. It's dark, very dark and the darkness control does not always work. This helmet at just at a year is now dead. But,,,, This one could be my fault. You see i install wrought iron, so all my work is outside. And it's hot , very freakin hot. I've been sweating so much that i can't keep the sweat from dipping all in my helmet. So i think i've shorten this one out but still never liked it.

A few week ago i picked up a hobart at northerntool for $129. It's just black with solar, auto darking w/darking shade control and sensitivity control. The react time is just slow or fast but, fast works just fine. I'm pretty sure these are the same as the miller seeing as how miller owns hobart and it looks just like my buddies miller. Anyway i must say so far i really like this hood and fell i truely got my bang for the buck here.

Now what do you use and how do you like it ? This might help someone out that's looking for a new helmet or their first helmet.

[Mike Bean]

Freak,

I have been using a Lincoln Auto Darkening with the Adjustable Shade control.

I have never had a problem with it, but I do not weld full-time and I am usually not in direct sunlight.

Lowe's or Home Depot sell the same one I have. It is the one with the small lense if that makes any difference.

Hoped that help!!

[freak]

I'm not really looking for help. Just wondering what others were using and how they liked it.

Had one of the guys at the shop ask me the other day,what i was using cause he was looking for a new hood. This just made me start to wonder what others where using. Plus you people here don't BS enough and i'm tring to getcah talking. :smash: this is a great forum

[elvergon]

I have the standard helmet. Fixed shade 12. It seems it is made out of fiberglass and it´s kinda heavy.

Anyway it works ok and I like it too =)

[Papa]

I also use a hobart auto-darkening hood. Had it for about 6 months now with no problems what so ever. I have a ragular hood that came with my Lincoln welder that my son Alleymoto uses.

[fatboy]

i bought one from harborfreight. it only cost me 50.00. first auto helmet i ever had. now i dont know how i ever welded without it.

[mrpenguin]

I've got a Jackson that is auto darkening. Works great except a fatheaded idiot that used to work for me broke one of the teeth out of the band adjuster so when I sweat it kinda droops over my eyes. That guy was the champion tool wrecker. Never saw a tool he couldnt over tighten or force hard enough to break. A real manly man. Hey, does anybody know if the lens part of the helmet is a standard size? Can I get a replacement helmet and use my auto-dark unit?

[freak]

You can get a new head gear for the helment . I had to do the same thing on the Jackson i had. Mine just got old but i think it was like $15 for a new headband. Most welding supply places carry them. Best to take your helmet with you. IF i remeber right the my Jackson had square mounting holes in the helmet. I do believe that's the only difference is it will have round or square mounting holes.

[voodoo_stepchild]

I have the miller custom with the joker and the dead man hand on top. It has variable shade feature from 9 to 13, it had a speed dial for the auto darkenening feature delay, and it also has the sensitivity control for the auto dark.

Its a very nice hood and the headgear is built pretty good and the weight and balance is pretty good as well. The sensitivity control is very nice for aluminum on the high frequency side of a tig as most of you have probably noticed that the high freq will darken your lense before the arc is started LOL. Good hood and user friendly functions.
Now the bad side
$$$$$$$$$$$$$ there horribly expensive and most weekend welders wont want to spend the cash for the hood. It does come with a very nice fleece lined miller protector to store the hood in but none the less its very spendy. AT 350.00 when I purchased mine it was a good deal for all 3 functions. I see them online now for about 50 or 75 dollars less so the price is coming down just a bit. Still most guys wont wanna fork out 300 for a welding hood when that will buy a set of wheels and tires for the stools LOL.

[Woodchuckscustoms.com]

I buy the harbor freight cheapo auto darking helmet when it goes on sale at the local store for 40.00. They work great but I buy a few at a time for the drunk buddys that stop by the shop :lush: Don't want them going blind! It would be awlful if they couldn't find the frig...:cheers:

[moto1fast]

Hello, I just got a solar Auto darkening with adjustable shade control. The only thing I do not like about it is the head band will not stay adjusted! Loosens up and falls to my chest. I went back to using my plain jane miller # 10 shade helment. I love the Auto darkening feature of the solar but can not stand the thing dropping down at any time while I am welding.:cussing: I chuncked it the other day across the shop so I might have broken it ! LOL. I am going to see about getting a better head band for it. If it aint History!!lol::wave:

[Mike Bean]

I use a Lincoln Auto Darkening with Adjustable Shading. Never had any problems with it. You can get them at Lowes.

Mike Bean