tveltman

hey all,
I was wondering if anyone has any opinions on auto darkening welding helmets. Which manufacturer do you prefer? I plan to be doing mostly MIG and maybe some TIG. If it makes a difference, I think I can get 50% off on snapon masks through a friend, but I don't know whether their masks are worth the 300-500 they are charging (pre-discount)
. Thanks in advance.

Frank Castle

Go to a welders supply store and try on a few would be the best advice I can offer. Cheap(er) units may be acceptable for DIY projects around the house, but if this is for serious use in which you will be wearing your helmet for an extended period you will appreciate the better made products. Cheap units tend to be pretty uncomfortable, have bad ergonomics, and poorly constructed controls. There is nothing worse than an uncomfortable helmet that keeps dropping over your face when you are trying to do your set up.

123quattro

I bought a Hobart mask a couple weeks ago for $130. I'm sure they don't actually make it though. It does 9-12 I believe. Be careful on some of the cheaper ones. They auto-darken, but only to 10.

sharknoob

The auto one I bought from Harbor Freight works fine for me. If you are going to use it a lot the thin plastic probably will not hold up.

Speedtoys

I love my auto-darking helmet..got the cheapest one I could from the supply store, and I have zero complaints.

RFJ

I have a HarborFreight cheapo it works great 9-13 and comfi also have one in Maine that came up from Connecticut had it for years others may be better but may also be overpriced my .02 Ray

Ra928

I prefer the speedglas lens but the head gear sucks . money well spent if you use it enough

polecat702

Jackson makes the best welding helmets, Peroid!! They invented the auto-darkening system. Also they have 6 different flash reference points where grinding sparks won't make the lense darken, and their hoods are the lightest on the market,( great for the professional welder) Mine has a power unit that supplies filtered air to the hood, keeps you from getting metal fume disease, but my hood cost over $24.000.00., and it goes fron a #5 blue lense to a # 14 for plasma cutting. Jackso makes a hood for every price range.

Trip..

I use a Jackson at work and it's great. I would highly recommend it, but it's pricey! I think I paid 400ish 5 years ago?

I have a cheapie auto darken from harbor freight I use at home and it works just fine. http://www.harborfreight.com/blue-fl...met-91214.html

Or something a little less um, well stupid...
http://www.harborfreight.com/auto-da...ign-67854.html

Or for an off the chain look...
http://www.harborfreight.com/grey-an...met-66177.html

Look for the 20% off coupons in magazines like Boating and Petersen's 4wd, it'll save you a few bux. Don't buy one of their welders though... Trash!

If your are going to be using your helmet daily spend the money on a quality mask, but if it's something you're only going to use once in awhile, buy a cheapie.

2 cents.

tveltman

Thanks everyone for your input. Ive given it some thought, and I think I'll go el cheapo harbor freight

I don't intend to do tons of fabbing with it. If it ever gets to that point, then I would get a really nice mask. The only reason I considered the snap on units is that I could get them cheaper than normal, but I read the fine print more carefully, and the only autodarkeners I can get are fixed 10 autoadjusting upward. Since I already have a fixed 10 mask, that doesn't really help my situation at all. I prefer something with a lighter shade that will adjust upward so I can see the work more clearly before I strike the arc.

Ducman82

i got my auto hood from Airgas. spent lots of $$$. worth every penny. but im a welder by trade (well when im done with school). any welding shop has decent cheap auto hoods. stay away from HF auto hoods. i have a bunch of class mates that have them, and they cut out (dont darken) in the middle of welding, when you dont want them too.

Trip..

It sounds like they need to take them back.

I've had my hf cheapie for 5 years and never had a single problem.

Get the skull and be the King! LOL

Ducman82

ya, you would think. but the green horns dont take care of their equipment either.

Trip..

Their eyes! If they wanna go blind, who am I to judge.

tveltman

Hmm, so has noone else experienced problems with the HF units? arc-eye == fail.