Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Welding helmet advise

Fk that old flip down- it broke the headband anyway, and i'm tired of sparking my eyes.

(It was a real PITA using that thing with a broken headband welding up my 1" square, thinwall sled hitch last Sunday. with inappropriate rod but what I had on hand... (3/32 6010 when I should have had 6013- according to the pkging- I had a welding class 30 years ago, but that was on DC..... and I pretty much sucked at that! . )

I'm getting an auto darkening one, but I know jack-all about welding helmets - other than my busted one is antique! I have an excuse!

I want an auto-darkening one, but boy do they run the price range! I only weld occaisionaly with an old Lincoln stick welder, or acetylene, and grind. No mig or tig.

Looked in Lowes Monday- they have 2 Kobald - one for $80, 2 fixed lens, 3 and 10

I assume the 3 is for grinding and 10 for welding?

The $120 model has "4 adjustable lenses". and a wide-view faceplate.

What does "adjustable lens" mean? Educate me.

Tonight I've been on Amazon and e-Bay, but I don't know what I'm doing here guys. Don't want chit, but don't want expensive that I don't really need.

My next project in a few weeks is building and welding a couple fenders onto my boat trailer (steel frame I can haul logs with that sucker!)

Helmet advise, please, on what I really need, what is optional, and what is too much for my needs. Price range/brands/what to avoid appreciated.

I have maybe 30 thousand hours under a Tigerhood pipeliner with the auto dark. Never a problem.

And a REALLY strong neck...

i have a clear shield for grinding,for welding i bought a auto solar helmet from harbor freight.had it for 2 years now,works great. i think they are around 50-55.00

I hate to say it but Harbor Freight, $50.00. Adjustable between 9-13 and has a grind mode as well. I had to replace the last one after 5 years.

Tigerhood

Weight was never an issue if that's what you're referring to, John.

I'd buy another.

I use the latest Jackson hood because my employer supplies it. I also work from a 3 wheel bike with tool boxes and I don't care to carry a 3 separate shields for grinding, welding and torch work.

When I was active with the Boilermakers I used Speedglass, Miller, and an old school Tiger Ultra with flip lense. For most use i prefer the Tiger ultra due to it's lite weight.

Pick up some 7018 and you'll be better off for most work...

Our son wanted an auto darkener, so that was his gift Christmas a few years back. He does not like it, and I do not either. Maybe it takes some getting used to?

For those required to weld in a hard hat, the speed glass hood/hat combo is as good as it gets.

Also remember that when you choose a flash hood you choose to use the cover lenses that each one requires. Miller, Jackson, Optrel, Speedglass. All use different cover lenses...

I change my cover lenses daily and old school is better in that regard.

Definitely.

Very good point. Those lens for each from will add alot $$$ overtime.

Me, I use either a pipeliner or tigerhood. Get a 'save phace' 2x4 insert. They are real good for the money ($60), have 1/1/1/1 lens. Everybody and their brother will have the cover lens for the 2x4 hoods.

Does the lens have an adjustable delay ?

I spend 10 hours a day under a Lincoln Viking 1840, before that it was one of the HF 50$ jobs. The headgear on the HF sucks and as soon as it started to flash me regardless of setting or being set in the sun to charge it got canned. Been 3 months with the Viking and I have no complaints.

I don't know Denny, where would I look for it?

Without seeing the lens I wouldn't know. Mine had a dial next to the shade setting. Sorry my friend. Best I can do ATM.

Mine is an auto darkener.

Goes dark fairly quick at first spark. So far, I'm not seeing stars in the dark so it functions fine.

The delay knob is for the return to clear so you can see your work.

I used a HF auto darkening for awhile. Recently bought a Miller Pro Hobby. The only difference I can tell is the Miller has a ton of headband adjustability and it just better quality. The Miller also works better outside. The HF doesn't have as many sensors and sunlight makes it tougher to use. If you don't use it everyday, get a HF. Can't beat it for the money

I have an old speedglass, a new Lincoln viking 3350 and a set of miller auto darkening goggles for welding in positions where I can't squirm my may in with a big hood on my head.

The lincoln gets used the most.

An aside here, I have heard of a red hot ball of molten steel going in a man's ear, and out his mouth, that was cutting with a torch under a car. It gives me the shivers seeing my self type that.