Auto darkining helmet.

[Ol 54']

Not quite sure if I have seen the prices on the auto darkening helmets. I don't need a real fancy one, like the digital ones, just a good make for around $150.00. What do you farmers suggest?

 

[Farmall m farmer]

I found one at the local Runnings farm store for 60 but it was on sale for 40 it works great for the price point

 

[old]

Not quite sure if I have seen the prices on the auto darkening helmets. I don't need a real fancy one, like the digital ones, just a good make for around $150.00. What do you farmers suggest?

My self I will NEVER own one but when they first came out I worked at a place where we where shoulder to shoulder welding and I got my eyes burned a number of times.
That said Amazon has them for a pretty good price my stepson got one from them

 

[Butch(OH)]

I have a Hobart inventor series and it has been a great helmet for my usage which is occasional projects and repairs. It has many custom anustments that I use but maybe the cheapies have them also? I've never looked at the cheapest ones.

 

[Russ from MN]

I have had a Speedglas for over 20 years and it just keeps working, don't they need a new battery eventually?

 

[Texgasser1]

We use the one from Harbour Freight, Works great just keep it clean.

https://www.harborfreight.com/welding/protective-gear/helmets-goggles/red-design-auto-darkening-welding-helmet-63121.html

 

[bob p mn]

I've had a Speedglass for a long time as well, they are a very good helmet. I have replaced the battery in mine once.

 

[docmirror]

I have the second tier up from the cheapest at Harbor Freight. It should have two adjustments. One adjustment for darkness. I use 11 for tig and 12 for stick. Another adjustment, usually on the inside for delay. I set the delay for about 1/4 fastest. If I set it too fast sometimes the sunlight will cause it to darken. Each adjustment is for different user preference. Don't set the darkness too low or it will cause eye damage. I think I paid $69 a few years ago, it may be higher now.

Mine also has the solar charger above the lens and it seems to keep the helmet working just fine. I've never replaced a batt in it.

 

[moresmoke]

I have had a Speedglas for over 20 years and it just keeps working, don't they need a new battery eventually?

I have one of the original Jackson hoods that is 30ish years old. I think I’ve put batteries in it twice. 2 AAA.

I also have a relatively new Miller $$$ hood. It eats batteries like crazy. Maybe 2 months out of a coin cell. But the view clarity is amazing.

 

[wh]

you have 1 set of eyes. Get a speedglass!

 

[caterpillar guy]

I don't want any auto darken I just use the old fixed lends hood. With a 10 lens in it.

 

[Oregon Tractor Jack]

I have a Hobart and a Miller. The Miller is hands down better, but it is twice the price. I used the Hobart for years before number 1 son bought me the Miller. I never had any complaints about the Hobart and I don't remember ever changing the batteries. The Miller does have and appetite for batteries.

OTJ

 

[timcasbolt]

I had a Harbor Freight auto darkening helmet that cost around $20. It worked ok, but I wanted a larger viewing area, so I bought a new one a couple years ago from someone that sells on Amazon. I think it was about $40 and works very well. Nice add on is that this new one has a much better headgear than my old one.

 

[BarnyardEngineering]

Not quite sure if I have seen the prices on the auto darkening helmets. I don't need a real fancy one, like the digital ones, just a good make for around $150.00. What do you farmers suggest?

The $150 ones are pretty fancy. I've been eyeing that Vulcan helmet at Harbor Freight with 9 square inches of lens for a long time now.

I've used the inexpensive Harbor Freight ones for years. Nice thing if they get scratched up you just buy a new one. Doesn't seem to matter how careful you are, the inner lenses get scratched and cloudy and you can't see through 'em anymore even if you replace the replaceable parts. Wiping them with your welding gloves, jacket sleeve, dirty t-shirt, or greasy rag doesn't help.

Never been flashed, except that time I was apparently trying to weld stainless and it lit up like a magnesium flare. The lens worked perfectly, it just wasn't dark enough for the supernova flare.

 

[bc]

I've had good luck with my HF one. When not in use it goes back in the box in the dusty barn. Has maintained its charge over the years but when I use it I leave it out for the solar charger to work.

I just wish I could buy a decent helmet at a decent price that doesn't have all the stupid racing stripes on it. I'm not that good of a welder to need racing stripes. Plain ol black is all I need.

 

[Blackhole49]

My self I will NEVER own one but when they first came out I worked at a place where we where shoulder to shoulder welding and I got my eyes burned a number of times.
That said Amazon has them for a pretty good price my stepson got one from them

Just one question: Between the Navy, tire shop, welding jobs, tractor repair and farming, where did you have the time to drive 19 million miles?

 

[Red Dave]

I have the second tier up from the cheapest at Harbor Freight. It should have two adjustments. One adjustment for darkness. I use 11 for tig and 12 for stick. Another adjustment, usually on the inside for delay. I set the delay for about 1/4 fastest. If I set it too fast sometimes the sunlight will cause it to darken. Each adjustment is for different user preference. Don't set the darkness too low or it will cause eye damage. I think I paid $69 a few years ago, it may be higher now.

Mine also has the solar charger above the lens and it seems to keep the helmet working just fine. I've never replaced a batt in it.

I have an Auto Darkening helmet from Harbor Freight. Yes, it was cheap. I've been using it for at least 10 years now and have zero problems or complaints. I don't do a great deal of welding, but it has worked fine every time I need it. I especially like the large lens because it lets me wear my reading glasses under it.

 

[mjsnodgrass]

Not quite sure if I have seen the prices on the auto darkening helmets. I don't need a real fancy one, like the digital ones, just a good make for around $150.00. What do you farmers suggest?

i've had a speedglass for about 30 years, but would buy a miller classic if i needed a new helmet. good luck

 

[mjsnodgrass]

My self I will NEVER own one but when they first came out I worked at a place where we where shoulder to shoulder welding and I got my eyes burned a number of times.
That said Amazon has them for a pretty good price my stepson got one from them

if you would have used, and kept the auto darkening helmet down when you weren't welding, you may not of got flashed. just a thought

 

[UAFitter]

My self I will NEVER own one but when they first came out I worked at a place where we where shoulder to shoulder welding and I got my eyes burned a number of times.
That said Amazon has them for a pretty good price my stepson got one from them

As always, I’m obliged to point out that this is nonsense. Getting flashed, if you did, working at an aluminum dock factory in the Ozarks probably has more to do with the fact that you weren’t wearing safety glasses than the hood you imagine you were wearing.

I’ve had three or four of them, the Speedglas make is the cadillac, but I like the Optrel ones as well.