Welding Helmets

[telekafunkle]

So, my other thread about welding, I took the "advice"...Currently learning Arc...I find the hardest part is getting it started, but other than that, its going pretty good...


The school only has 2 helmets, 1 is broken (straps I think), and my friend loves the other one...I am looking for a good welding helmet, is this good?

http://store.weldingdepot.com/cgi/we...t/3016157.html

The fact that it says "smith and wesson" scares me...A LOT, and the fact that its only "2 year guaranteed"...While it looks "stylish", I am worried about the real part...Safety, but I don't wanna break my bank of only $150-$170 for a helmet, as guitar is main priority.


Any suggestions?

Thanks.

[jspeter51]

It looks good to me. I dont do a ton of welding, and I bought a auto darkening helmet for under 100 bucks from my local Carquest store (They bought it from a 3rd party vendor...ATD is the name). It has been a good helmet for me for 4 years or so. If you are using it quite regularly, you might look into a Lincoln or Miller helmet, but those will set you back a bit more. But if the smith and wesson is your taste and budget, go for it!

[jspeter51]

Also, some less expensive ones at harborfreight.com

[dcbaker73]

I've had that same helmet for two years and have had no issues.

[Eric Karonen]

A good cap and goggles gets you through the sparks .. although you may be dancing a bit now and again!

[telekafunkle]

Originally Posted by jspeter51

It looks good to me. I dont do a ton of welding, and I bought a auto darkening helmet for under 100 bucks from my local Carquest store (They bought it from a 3rd party vendor...ATD is the name). It has been a good helmet for me for 4 years or so. If you are using it quite regularly, you might look into a Lincoln or Miller helmet, but those will set you back a bit more. But if the smith and wesson is your taste and budget, go for it!

Yeah, I was looking at the Lincolns...Quite a bit of $ more...But thanks man, helped a lot!

[Groovey Records]

Wouldn't work for underwater welding then

[david_lewis93]

See if you can find a HOBART hood I used the PIPILINER for many years untill it got stolen,if you cant find one of those check out either MILLER or LINCOLN the have been in the cutting/welding buisness for many years .

bend em tight and let er scream.

[RodeoTex]

I think you'd be paying mostly for the Smith & Wesson name with that hood. I recently got an auto-darkening one at Tractor Supply for $69 and it is wonderful.

I'm sure that isn't even the best deal around, Harborfreight as mentioned earlier has them for about $39.

[JCSouthpawtele]

Huntsman is also a good brand. Watch out for the cheaper one's as they will sometime start to act up and might not auto darken as fast at it used to. Keep spare batteries in your welding tool box inside a spare pair of gloves. You don't want to have a spark cause the batteries to explode because a spark hit it. Most will have a flashing of the red LED when the batteries get bad. I had one pop on me when welding sparks were flying around the box and landed in a left open drawer.

[bayside]

Get a Huntsman and forget about the auto darkening feature. . . you'll learn to strike an arc and click your helmet down with the nod of the head.. pretty easy and save the 100 bucks. . .

[cotecj]

I've got one of these and I love it. I paid $129, so the $99 sale price is pretty darn good. Don't know how long it will last, or have much to compare it to. In school, we used the masks with a wooden handle on the bottom that you hold in front of your face with one hand, while you weld with the other. This one is much better!

[casterway]

I got a cheap Tecmen auto darkening on sale for $69 about 5 years ago. I've used and abused it a lot, and knocked it around and dropped and it keeps on ticking. It doesn't have the option for replacing batteries. I was basically told that you use it until it dies, then throw it away.

[Justinvs]

Yeah, I see your point about S&W... I shoot Rugers. <G>

But seriously folks. If you get a chance check out the automatic helmets that have photovoltaic surface that darkens once an arc is struck, but becomes light enough once the arc is done for you to see what you're working on. A couple of caveats though, close your eyes for just a second before striking, as you can get a little flash, and make sure the battery is fresh.

Justin

[Teleblaster_1]

Originally Posted by jspeter51

Also, some less expensive ones at harborfreight.com

I bought one of those for around $50 and it's been working fine so far. Home welding projects, not industrial use.

[Big Mike Simpson]

Buy a good name brand welding helmet. Protect your eyes.

The cheaper auto darkening helmets usually have a reletively slow darkening speed an thus allow a little more flash to reach your eyes at each arc that a better quality one. The cheaper ones are often not sensitive enough to darken for low amperage welding.. so if you start tig welding later you will need another new helmet.


I have this one 1/20,000 speed with a 5amp tig flash rating
http://store.cyberweld.com/miwehepeauda2.html


This one looks like a good value too (1/12,000)
http://store.cyberweld.com/hobhoodblac.html

[Weazel]

Off topic warning: When I read the title of this thread I immediately thought of the dysfunctional family of OCC (orange county choppers) and thought to myself: Wouldn't it be nice to see a semi reality show set in a custom guitar shop? (being norwegian, I don't know if this excists already over there - if it does, gimme a link (PM) to a good stream!)

Back to thread.

[Joe-Bob]

Originally Posted by bayside

Get a Huntsman and forget about the auto darkening feature. . . you'll learn to strike an arc and click your helmet down with the nod of the head.. pretty easy and save the 100 bucks. . .

This is how I learned. Takes a steady hand...which you're gonna need anyway.

[onenotetom]

That is a Hunstman Hood. Probably a pretty good deal if an entry level auto dark helmet is what you are after.

I am a third generation welder. While I do not currently make my living welding my brother does. I still have my grandfathers old Huntsman. Since it is about as heavy as a Les Paul or Peavey T-60 it does not get used much. My go to hood is a standard "old style" large face Huntsman. My brother prefers Jackson.

I have an auto dark Speedglas that only gets used on occasions. I do not care for the headgear or the delay to dark. If I were to get another auto dark I would want one with a grinder/plasma mode.

This puts me in agreement with the other posters that said to save your money and buy a quality traditional style hood. I would suggest trying them at the local welding supply store.

[Dmann]

Originally Posted by telekafunkle

So, my other thread about welding, I took the "advice"...Currently learning Arc...I find the hardest part is getting it started, but other than that, its going pretty good...


The school only has 2 helmets, 1 is broken (straps I think), and my friend loves the other one...I am looking for a good welding helmet, is this good?

[edit]
Thanks.

I just finished a welding class and the school had a few helmets that weren't good. The auto darkening helmet made striking an arc much easier.

I got this one from welding depot. They were more then harbor frieght but the service was great and I felt a little better buying from a welding only supplier. http://store.weldingdepot.com/cgi/we...t/PWH9843.html

Get a one of the flap grinder discs for the angle grinder, those things are aswsome for cleaning up your welds with the angle grinder.

[Parma_TeleMon]

Must need new bifocals - every time I see this thread I think it says "Wedding Helmets"