Auto-Dimming Welding Helmet
 

How are the ebay ones? Or is it worth forking over $250 for a brand name? Suggestions?

Re: Auto-Dimming Welding Helmet
 

I was gonna try one of the $55 shipped solar powered units. If you can wait a week or two, I'll let you know.

Re: Auto-Dimming Welding Helmet
 

i have one, works fine. they meet all the safety standards. i've never had a problem, it actually works better than the one i use at work that was bought for more than $250.

Re: Auto-Dimming Welding Helmet
 

This one works good for me:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=91212

Add some $1 item, then you can use one of the "$5 off + free gift" coupons on your order, since it will be over $50.

Re: Auto-Dimming Welding Helmet
 

HMM, i'm gonna go visit HF and check it out if they have it in stock.

Re: Auto-Dimming Welding Helmet
 

The HF one rocks my socks. Can't beat it for ~$50

Re: Auto-Dimming Welding Helmet
 

I just bought a $68 CDN one and it works great.It is solar powered and has a batery back up.I was skeptical but It is great and really helps when your shitty welder like me that gets thrown off my mark when I flip the helmet down.

Re: Auto-Dimming Welding Helmet
 

^^^
Was that the Princess Auto Special?

I have a PA one. None adjustable, solar powered. About 100.00 on sale, regualar 260. I like it. I was looking at the Adjustable PA ones on sale for 68CAN, but mine works great so why buy another!

Re: Auto-Dimming Welding Helmet
 

I started with the HF auto darkering that Hotrex uses now. I read some bad press about the actual darkening time is not what the stated time was and people were having periferal(sp) vision hazing and issue as such. Just to be safe I bought a Miller XLi. I can't say I see any difference from this to the harbor freight with the exception the fit is better and the window is bigger.

Re: Auto-Dimming Welding Helmet
 

while on topic, what's a good place in the internet to get welding supplies/consumables? Currently i'm looking for some 2# rolls of 308L and 309L wire

Re: Auto-Dimming Welding Helmet
 

and for the record, my periferal vision is still good after hundreds of hrs of welding,

hf for life :8

Re: Auto-Dimming Welding Helmet
 

I love mine, works perfect for fluxcored for sure, cheap and easy

Re: Auto-Dimming Welding Helmet
 

the main diffrence from my 400$ lincon and the 60$ PA helmet is quality. Darkening times are very close aswell as the adjustability. But at -50c the pa helemt is useless where the lincon works100%

Re: Auto-Dimming Welding Helmet
 

I wouldn't trust a $50 AD hood. I use a $26 Jackson Shadow with a regular tinted lens. I don't have to worry about my eyesight years from now either.

Out of my 20 closest relatives, I'm the only one that doesn't wear glasses or contacts...and I'm the only one that is a professional welder....and I have been for about 19 years.

How will your vision be after 19 years of welding with a $50 hood? Do you feel lucky?

Re: Auto-Dimming Welding Helmet
 

ill take that bet.

who needs eyes anyhow.

Re: Auto-Dimming Welding Helmet
 

If it's -50C out, I'm staying in bed where it's warm.

Re: Auto-Dimming Welding Helmet
 

well that does not work up here I have jobs that need completing im gonna do it

Re: Auto-Dimming Welding Helmet
 

If youre doing a job for someone in -50 C weather, you better be fuckign charging enough to be able to afford that expensive mask

Most of us are light duty, exhausts and little ----.

Re: Auto-Dimming Welding Helmet
 

If you ever decide to come south on vacation, I will remember not to offer to buy you ice cream. You probably like hot coffee in the middle of summer if you freeze your balls off in -50C.

Re: Auto-Dimming Welding Helmet
 

I bought a cheep one at one of those "tool sales" that roam from town to town. It was $19.00. Speedway series if I remember correctly. I use the crap out of it and have had zero issues with it. Just keep a fresh battery in it to get quick response time so it lightens up when your done welding each time. It's adjustable as well.

Re: Auto-Dimming Welding Helmet
 

i have a harbor frieght one and it works fine. i got one that looks cheaper than the one on the link. my only complaint is that mine doesn't cover as much as that one. but i got it for 29 so i cant really compain

Re: Auto-Dimming Welding Helmet
 

Yes it is the one currently on sale at Princess Auto.I was using it all day today and yesterday at school burning rod for 8 hours at a time.I'm really happy as it has helped me quite a bit as a rookie welder.I know alot of people that use them as they come on sale couple times a year here and sell out in a day.They are proabably not what you would want for full time work but as they do not last as long as a miller etc.For the home guy or part time welder they are fantastic.It is solar powered with a battery back up as well.

Re: Auto-Dimming Welding Helmet
 

I love my HF auto tinting. Hell the helmet and fluxcore are the only things I've ever gotten from HF that I"ve haven't had to return yet. *knocks on wood* I didn't pay for it so I can't complain either and I can still read retarded noobs thread on HMT and bash them all day long. 8)

Re: Auto-Dimming Welding Helmet
 

I just bought one today, but turns out my dad already bought me one for Christmas, so I'll be waiting a month to see how it works. Also getting the gas conversion kit for my Lincoln, can't wait.

Re: Auto-Dimming Welding Helmet
 

hell we have =35 summers but when i head up north for the winter it is cold.
I wear insulated carhardts, hh long underware, a full head gear, welding beanie, and mask. I don't drink coffie, cause with all that on if you get the shits the is 0 chance of geting it all off in time.

Re: Auto-Dimming Welding Helmet
 

But, the poop is warm. I'm sure hotrex would be the first to tell you that you should drink coffee, and do what comes natural.

Re: Auto-Dimming Welding Helmet
 

I bought one off of ebay and it worked okay but I was getting pissed cause I couldn't see very well. One day I just decided to start taking it apart and I found an extra CLEAR lens on the inside closest to my eyes that was all dirty and pretty much useless. i removed it and gave it a try. It was like wearing glasses for the first time and never knowing you had bad eye sight, thats the only way to explain it. I could see so clearly afterwards. Now that thing is the pimp.
i did check the directions and it never said anything about removing that extra lens. My guess is its extra protection between the factory and you door. Now the head strap leaves a lot to be desired though.

Re: Auto-Dimming Welding Helmet
 

I asked for one for christmas so that i dont have to use the old worn out ones when i start my next welding class in a few months. ;D

Re: Auto-Dimming Welding Helmet
 

that would probably be an IR/UV filter or something, wouldn't it?

Re: Auto-Dimming Welding Helmet
 

We'll see in a few years if he can see or not.

I wouldn't want to be ------- around with welding lenses unless I knew exactly what I was ------- with. I like my eyesight just fine.

Re: Auto-Dimming Welding Helmet
 

I love my $50 el-cheapo egay helmet. I can't weld without the fucker. :-[
__________________
Best Car Insurance | Auto Protection Today | FREE Trade-In Quote

Re: Auto-Dimming Welding Helmet
 

agreed drink coffee and let nature take its course,

there is no shame in a grown man taking a huge deuce in his pants

Re: Auto-Dimming Welding Helmet
 

If it was CLEAR, then how did it make such a difference?

You ever played with polarised glass? Depending on how the two pieces are aligned with each other, they are either clear or opaque.

I'd worry about that not being in there, personally, even if it does sound like it was mis-installed.

Re: Auto-Dimming Welding Helmet
 

Good point JD. I took a close look at the lens tonight and discovered a very fine protective film over it. That and just being dirty = poor visability. But the clear plastic is acrylic, very thin and flimsy. So after cleaning this up I'm gonna put it back in. It won't help or hurt but just extra protection to the inside of the auto lens.

Also note, when I originally removed the plastic piece, welding w/this was just as clear as my standard shade 8 mask.

Heres some pics of the helmet

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...c/IMG_5076.jpg

Plastic removed
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...c/IMG_5079.jpg

Heres the head strap, leaves a lot to be desired.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...c/IMG_5078.jpg

The main outter protective plastic, takes a beating.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...c/IMG_5077.jpg

Re: Auto-Dimming Welding Helmet
 

---- harbor frieght. tomorrow i pick up my miller elite.

ugh ugh

Re: Auto-Dimming Welding Helmet
 

:S