Best auto darkening helmet

Keith1138

Keith1138

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 18, 2015
Location
Harrisburg NC
I have discovered that my cheap ironton helmet i bought in the spring is no longer working. What is the best helmet for under 100 dollars?

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Keith1138 said:
I have discovered that my cheap ironton helmet i bought in the spring is no longer working. What is the best helmet for under 100 dollars?

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Click to expand...
I really liked the Hobart one of @Joe J. I was looking through last night. Said it was about a hundo
 
Keith1138 said:
I have discovered that my cheap ironton helmet i bought in the spring is no longer working. What is the best helmet for under 100 dollars?

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Click to expand...

In that price range, I’d say spend a little more to get the Lincoln/Viking 1840. Best color and clarity for the money.

If dependent on <$100, I’d say get a fixed shade helmet with a number 10 gold coated glass lens.

If set on sub $100 and Auto, then I’d say harbor freight.

The glass passive lens (fixed shade ) will have far greater clarity than the entry level adf. Should be able to get a new one with lens for $50ish.

Lincoln has the clearest ADF for the money, the larger viewing areas just increase the cost. They last really well and have excellent color.

$ per $ vs clarity and longevity, I can’t get the millers to compete.
 
Maybe the HF auto helmet has gotten better, but that was what I started with years ago.....my eyes would get dry and hurt after a very short period of welding. I decided to buy a mid-range Miller Auto helmet and it was night and day! All of a sudden I could weld for hours without any eye discomfort.

You only get one set of eyes, I feel foolish for ever subjecting my eyes to the degree of UV that clearly made it though the lens.....if $100 is all you have to spend, it might be best to stick with a fixed shade helmet for now.

Helmets are like guns......you will continue to accumulate them long after your "need capacity" is exceeded. Buy a nice $100 fixed shade unit and have that one checked off the list.
 
I got the high end HF one. It was on sale for around $99 if I remember correctly. I like that it has a grind mode on it. Flip the switch and you can grind away safely. I haven't welded all day with it (I've not needed to) but it's been kicking ass for everything I need.
 
I don't know the quality of these helmets, but I saw this come up on the Northern Tool emails I get and thought of this post.

I believe this deal is for a couple days only so jump.

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https://www.northerntool.com/shop/t...ium=111120_FlashSale&cid=15082&mid=1531508120
 
The one I use at my house is a Hobart that I bought in a pinch. Sticker price at TSC was ~90, I caught it on sale for 50. It works. Does have grind mode which is convenient. Head gear is tolerable. Overall construction is as to expected from a simple budget hood.

The Optrel E680 hood I use at work is Cadillac in comparison. It's however a $400+ hood even though I only paid half that for it used on CL.
You can actually find some incredible deals on high end hoods used if you look. People bounce in and out of the welding industry constantly. Mine in particular was used by a pipeline apprentice from Boston that moved down to Greenville and posted his hood up for sale since he switched career paths. Also came with Tillman carry bag, spare lenses and welding jacket. $200
Just look around. There's deals to be had.
 
Keith1138 said:
Neither mind I just ordered a miller helmet.

Miller Classic Series Auto-Darkening Helmet - Liberty 287369 FREE Gloves FREE T-Shirt | Miller Auto Darkening Welding Helmet | Miller Classic Series Helmets | Welders Supply Company Beloit-Big Bend-Burlington Wisconsin and Rockford, Illinois

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This is what I ended up getting. It was amazing when I used it for a couple hours straight of welding some stands together. The clarity is so much better than the cheap one I had.

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Resurrecting this topic...
Did some general repairs on my old carryall and realized my crappy HF ADF allowed for only 2 conditions, despite multiple attempts with shade adjustments:
1) Puddle way too bright, but could see edge of workpieces
2) Puddle good, but couldn't see anything else
Granted, I would have benefitted from some additional light on the workpiece (was pitch dark outside and the 3 huge CFL "worklights" were NOT helping), BUT believe it's just the craptastic $30 hood...

Discussed it with @catfishblues last night and believe it's time for an upgrade!
We discussed everything from the "entry level" (sub $150) hoods to the various "Cadillac's" ($500+), so looking for your CURRENT recommendations in the middle (+/- $250)...
 
Mac5005 said:
In that price range, I’d say spend a little more to get the Lincoln/Viking 1840. Best color and clarity for the money.

If dependent on <$100, I’d say get a fixed shade helmet with a number 10 gold coated glass lens.

If set on sub $100 and Auto, then I’d say harbor freight.

The glass passive lens (fixed shade ) will have far greater clarity than the entry level adf. Should be able to get a new one with lens for $50ish.

Lincoln has the clearest ADF for the money, the larger viewing areas just increase the cost. They last really well and have excellent color.

$ per $ vs clarity and longevity, I can’t get the millers to compete.
Click to expand...
Do the budget lincoln preform just as well as the mid level ones? Like this one?


Caver Dave said:
Resurrecting this topic...
Did some general repairs on my old carryall and realized my crappy HF ADF allowed for only 2 conditions, despite multiple attempts with shade adjustments:
1) Puddle way too bright, but could see edge of workpieces
2) Puddle good, but couldn't see anything else
Granted, I would have benefitted from some additional light on the workpiece (was pitch dark outside and the 3 huge CFL "worklights" were NOT helping), BUT believe it's just the craptastic $30 hood...

Discussed it with @catfishblues last night and believe it's time for an upgrade!
We discussed everything from the "entry level" (sub $150) hoods to the various "Cadillac's" ($500+), so looking for your CURRENT recommendations in the middle (+/- $250)...
Click to expand...
I'm glad you did. When I was welding last I could not see much but the bright ass puddle. I believe it's the shitty HF helmet.
 
Spend as much as you can afford. I'd recommend staying away from the lower end ones. Hobart if you have to go low buck. Lincoln seems to have the best quality in visibility. Lincoln 3350 is a great hood if you can afford it. We have two 3350s and the changes of clarity and comfort in just 5 years is huge. (Grant did research and bought the second one, I bought the 1st one he is using it in school 3 times a week and loves it)
 
Also Black Friday deals are starting to show up. Watch out for a good deal!
 
Caver Dave said:
Resurrecting this topic...
Did some general repairs on my old carryall and realized my crappy HF ADF allowed for only 2 conditions, despite multiple attempts with shade adjustments:
1) Puddle way too bright, but could see edge of workpieces
2) Puddle good, but couldn't see anything else
Granted, I would have benefitted from some additional light on the workpiece (was pitch dark outside and the 3 huge CFL "worklights" were NOT helping), BUT believe it's just the craptastic $30 hood...

Discussed it with @catfishblues last night and believe it's time for an upgrade!
We discussed everything from the "entry level" (sub $150) hoods to the various "Cadillac's" ($500+), so looking for your CURRENT recommendations in the middle (+/- $250)...
Click to expand...

I really like my Lincoln 3350 for the money.
 
No fries said:
Also Black Friday deals are starting to show up. Watch out for a good deal!
Click to expand...
Fawk that! Found the "plain" black Viking 3350 at Bakers Gas & Welding for $270 (no tax + free shipping).
At $20 over "mid-range" and in a celebratory mood (Happy 246th Birthday Marine Corps!)... dropped the hammer!

*REALLY* hoping the hood makes a difference vs. just me sucking? :flipoff2:
 
I also found make sure your cheaters are the right magnification. I hade some old ones in the garage, updated them and damnm seeing is half the battle. Now Grant can teach me to weld, that I can see.
 
Caver Dave said:
Fawk that! Found the "plain" black Viking 3350 at Bakers Gas & Welding for $270 (no tax + free shipping).
At $20 over "mid-range" and in a celebratory mood (Happy 246th Birthday Marine Corps!)... dropped the hammer!

*REALLY* hoping the hood makes a difference vs. just me sucking? :flipoff2:
Click to expand...
Add to it, the flashlights that attach to the helmet or the one that attaches to the gun per Eastwood) and buy a BUNCH of batteries!
 
Helmet arrived Friday and stepsons rural route clunker ('05 CR-V w/ 200K) needed the tailpipe reattached to the flange aft of the convertor yesterday... after a close encounter of the ditch kind 🙄

OMG... Could see *everything* PERFECTLY! The clarity was 100x better than the HF... worth every penny and then some.
Finished product still looked like azz (will blame position/lack of room underneath/mangled tube/insufficient prep/etc.), but no longer sounds like bees...
 
I have the higher end Vulcan hood and It has flashed me pretty bad a few times as of late. The battery is good...Ive had 3 auto darkening hoods and this one crapped out the quicket of all. I had a cheaper HF one and one a few from TSC before.
 
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