which do you guys use? I am looking at the 3m speedglas 9002V, miller performance, and a jackson eqc (non-nexgen). Don't really want the miller, made in china, but it's a good mask from what I hear. I am leaning towards the speedglas. Any help is appreciated.
Probably depends on what your going to weld with it. I had a Miller with the flag design, came with a Mig I bought. Great fitting hood, really good construction but it flashed me on low amp DC welding on tig. Would probably work good for Mig welding, or Aluminum Tig. Speedglas are nice I own a XL that is like 15yrs old and still running good, and a Speedglas 9000x (I think it's the x) anyway at the time it was the best the made with the side windows. Good construction,it has bad sensors for low amp DC also, newer ones don't have that problem. Speedglas also just came out with a new light weight hood. My favorite is my Optrel Satellite, I only Tig with it (to keep it nice), but it has the best sensors I've ever ran across and you can adjust how much light the sensors get to see (it has like a adjustable blinder thing on the front), on top of having an adjustment knob for the shade. The lense size is alittle smaller then some hoods, but I don't mind. Better pricing then the Speedglas too, anymore wouldn't buy another Speedglas, there's better or as good as stuff out that isn't as expensive. One of my co-workers ran an electric Jackson for something like 13 years til it croaked, he seemed to like it. I even have two friends that Tig with Harbor Freight hoods and they seem decent for the price, (I have welded with one)don't know what the longevity of them would be.
Remember there will be a very small milla second of flash on your eyes that could eventually take it's toll and your eyesight. I'd stick with a manual mask.
I bought a Speedglas back when it seemed there wasn't anything else available. Boy it was expensive then. Love it. I am only an occasional welder.
If I understand the construction correctly your eyes are protected even if the shading doesn't work. If these things really flashed your eyes for a millisecond a lot of people would be blind by now. I wondered about that the first time I saw them cause speed of light vs sensor reaction time light wins every time. That's how it was explained to me anyway. Correct me if I'm wrong I like seeing stuff.
We use both the Speedglass and Jackson at my work. The Speedglass is lighter, but doesn't cover the same exposed skin as the Jackson. I prefer the Jackson, but its just what I am use to wearing. If you are welding just every once an awhile go with the Speedglass.
I've got an older EQC - I love it except it only has 2 sensors - I'd much prefer 4. Other than that it's been flawless for about 7 years now. I've yet to change batteries.
whichever one you end up with combine it with a good respiator and make sure your work area is well ventilated.
im building a frame after the new year, mig'ing everything, so I don't have to worry about low amperage tig welding. I just can't make up my mind.
Get a good manual hood and a respirator.In my experience the auto hoods all have some situations where they wont work properly,too cold or odd angles.Standard hoods are always "on".No flashing ever!Been welding for five years to pay the bills and my Jackson shadow has never let me down.
i've always said i would buy a manual helmet, i just don't have much time under one. i like the ease of the auto helmets, but the security of the fixed manual ones. that being said, whats a good manual helmet?
speedglas is top notch in my opinion. the only one i liek that i have tried. i have been welding for about 12yrs and still dont own one, but if i ever do buy one itll be a speedglas. i hate jackson hoods, the headgear was alwaays breaking on the one i had. so far my favorite is the huntsman vulcanized fiber with the big lense. i dont need al lthe flashy stuff.
The one thing I left off about the Optrel Satellite is that it has a button you can push to temporarily shut off the sensors so you can grind with it without activating the darkening, which is handy. Using an electric hood will make learning alot easier. The days of being flashed by an electric are over, even cheap hoods won't flash you (Harbor Freight) and just because you have a manual doesn't guarantee you can't get flashed.
A friend of mine won a Miller at the Street Rod Nats that I use often and LOVE. It is on the top of my list for Santa to bring me this year. Once you use one you will never want to go without! As for what model, who knows. It is blue with flames!
Got a Miller Elite, and a $30 manual helmet. I TIG with the Miller, and Mig with the cheap one, cuz I don't want the sparks from the MIG to fuck up my expensive Miller
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