fj40charles
SILVER Star
Miller Digital Elite will work even better. It detects magnetic fields so it will work even if all 4 sensors are blocked.
Auto Darkening Hoods (1 Viewer)
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Miller Digital Elite will work even better. It detects magnetic fields so it will work even if all 4 sensors are blocked.
Reviving this thread!
Looking for a home shop welder grade AD helmet - $ is an issue... Will be mig and arc welding.
Is this a good deal?
WH JACKSON JOURNEYMAN EQC HELMET JAC0744-0764
$198.01 On Sale! $99.00
Welding Helmets - Electronic
Looking for a home shop welder grade AD helmet - $ is an issue... Will be mig and arc welding.
Is this a good deal?
WH JACKSON JOURNEYMAN EQC HELMET JAC0744-0764
$198.01 On Sale! $99.00
Welding Helmets - Electronic
I like a big window and own a Jackson NexGen I have been happy with for a few years. The window on the Journeyman is too small for my liking. If you are happy with the window size I am sure that is a fine helmet for the money.
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I'm all for auto darkening helmets and the one you note doesn't appear to be a bad deal but I'm a little leery of inexpensive AD helmets. I spent a few grand on my eyes several years ago so I won't skimp on eye protection. That said I have a 3M Speedglas 9002V and have been very happy with it. If I was on a budget I would probably give the helmet below a shot. Even though it is a fixed shade for just over $100 with the ease of operation it may be worth a shot.
http://www.accustrike.com/order.htm
http://www.accustrike.com/order.htm
whoah!
well, I'm really a total beginner fool with welding. Practically no experience.
Well, in that context, I must say that the AD helmets are fantastic! I got the second to cheapest one from HF (being very wary of that, I read plenty of surprisingly complimentary reviews, all good basically, even for the cheapest one) to try out the concept.
What a pleasure! Makes the beginning welding a pleasure rather than frustration. I felt like I could not see a thing with the fixed 10s (?) in the shop. Like being blind. And starting the weld with a MIG gun was like crapshoot. No idea where it would end up... Of course, I'm sure that can be learned, but hard for me as a newbie.
Plus, one very nice aspect of the AD I did not anticipate is the adjustable settings. Great to be able to do a 9 for light amps vs 10 or more when needed, and again see things better every time.
I'm still a bit scared of the thing so I close my eyes on start up to be sure not to get flashed but so far so good, the thing darkens fine....
Highly recommended concept!
well, I'm really a total beginner fool with welding. Practically no experience.
Well, in that context, I must say that the AD helmets are fantastic! I got the second to cheapest one from HF (being very wary of that, I read plenty of surprisingly complimentary reviews, all good basically, even for the cheapest one) to try out the concept.
What a pleasure! Makes the beginning welding a pleasure rather than frustration. I felt like I could not see a thing with the fixed 10s (?) in the shop. Like being blind. And starting the weld with a MIG gun was like crapshoot. No idea where it would end up... Of course, I'm sure that can be learned, but hard for me as a newbie.
Plus, one very nice aspect of the AD I did not anticipate is the adjustable settings. Great to be able to do a 9 for light amps vs 10 or more when needed, and again see things better every time.
I'm still a bit scared of the thing so I close my eyes on start up to be sure not to get flashed but so far so good, the thing darkens fine....
Highly recommended concept!
Cruiserdrew
On the way there
I'm a total fan of the auto dark units. CSS with the fixed #10.
Funny, I close my eyes for the brief second before the arc starts-then I can focus faster on the puddle. I don't know if that's good or bad, but it works for me. Also, I take off my glasses to weld and focus at my myopic focal distance. The last few years that damn presbyopia has taken a major toll.
I've had a couple of HF auto darks-they are OK, but I'm buying a good helmet this month, probably a Miller Elite. Any changes in the recommendations from the group? Charles?
fj40charles
SILVER Star
Andrew,
I'll send you a PM. I have a lead on a very nice unit.
I like the Jackson Nexgen AD lenses. I prefer the brown color over the Miller's yellow/green tint in their AD lenses. Really comes down to personal preference. Jacksons have lousy headgear compared to the Millers.
Charles
I love my AD helmet, I learned with the flip ups and I'll never go back to the regular flip ups if i have the choice. I don't know how welders were able to use them under a car when there's no room to have the helmet in the up position, and definitely no room to be able to flip it down.
I finally broke down and upgraded my HF helmet to a speedglas 9100. I like the fact that it has additional lighter shades for plasma cutting and grinding. And it has the side windows which are a nice feature so you can see what's going on around you without having the tunnel vision. A better helmet didn't make me a better welder, but at least it's a lot less frustrating in certain areas. The HF are pretty decent, but if you're planning on welding for a while, it probably makes sense to invest more in the helmet.
I finally broke down and upgraded my HF helmet to a speedglas 9100. I like the fact that it has additional lighter shades for plasma cutting and grinding. And it has the side windows which are a nice feature so you can see what's going on around you without having the tunnel vision. A better helmet didn't make me a better welder, but at least it's a lot less frustrating in certain areas. The HF are pretty decent, but if you're planning on welding for a while, it probably makes sense to invest more in the helmet.
i got an optrel satelite, it's excellent. shades 5-13 gride setting is good to use with cutting torch.
i found that i only really needed the auto darkening when i was learning. now i can use older non darkening lid with no trouble.
i sure made a mess of things before i tried auto darkening lid.
makes you appreciate the work you do when you have some skillz.
i found that i only really needed the auto darkening when i was learning. now i can use older non darkening lid with no trouble.
i sure made a mess of things before i tried auto darkening lid.
makes you appreciate the work you do when you have some skillz.
lol....I bought one from Harbor freight.....that thing has been awesome.....no s*** really
That's what I bought yesterday. I can't wait to get my 240V outlet wired in!!!
I've used a couple of different brands of auto darkening hoods. They all suck! Nothing beats the old flip down
I really like using them, but I do have to be careful how I use it. The first few times I used one, I had a raging headache shortly afterward. I think what I have concluded is that the lens didn't react quite fast enough, so some of the flash was "getting thru" and hurting my eyes. What I do now is get all in position, and just before I pull the trigger I close my eyes for just an instant, when I hear the crackle start I open them and weld away.
Maybe the newer helmets are more sensitive and react faster.
Maybe the newer helmets are more sensitive and react faster.