Does anybody know anything about this helmet? I had a decent HF helmet for the last few years but it is no longer with us, (I backed over it in my truck) I am half tempted to buy another HF however the few things I did not like about it are. Even on the lowest setting it is to dark for plasma cutting, it switches to much during oxy-act use, grinding? Forget it!!! Here is the link http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from...All-Categories Any input? Keith
Looks like a decent helmet. But, IMO it's a welding helmet for a reason. Meaning if you need something for plasma cutting and grinding just get some tinted googles/glasses. Reason I say that is b/c you can get a hf mask and a bunch of tinted glasses for $210. Now I used to have a really nice 3m mask that had a flip up welding shield and behind it was a clear protective shield. That was a great mask, till I got pissed off cause i got burned and threw it.
looks like a decent one but for $210 dollars you can go get you a good miller hood. and its called a welding helmet for a reason. I suggest you get some goggles for plasma and oxy/act.
Anybody have a better suggestion for a hood? I know goggles are better for gas and plasma, But I wear glasses, contacts are not an option for me. Keith
HERE'S ONE I GOT LAST WEEK AND IT WORKS GREAT TRUST ME I'VE BEEN WELDING FOR 35yrs.. http://www.ebay.com/itm/260786165020?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649
I have one like 51Flat mentioned. I works ok but does not like bright artifical light. The light I have over mywelding table sets it off. I have returned it but the second one does the same thing.
I like my Speedglas. In fact, I like it so much I bought a second one for my son. Definitely worth the money. No sense in cheaping out when it comes to your eyes.
Ok I've worn glasses since 1974 and been welding since 1980. Lost track of how many hoods ive had. There are multitudes of goggles and cutting glasses that fit over your prescription glasses, several different levels of tints on face shields. BTW make sure your prescription glasses that you wear in the shop are safety rated with side shields. The HF hoods are great for the hobby welder. What happens is the self darkening element gets lazy and doesn't lighten up as much as when it was new. How long does it take to do that, depends on how much you use it, and how you store it since it doesn't have an off switch. Got a few years out of the last one.
I am about 50/50 on buying another $50 HF hood. My number one complaint was my worklight would turn it on, or if I was welding outside just the sun reflecting would trip it. Seems like flat51 and rcnut223 helmet might have the same issue. I am hopeing for something in the $200 range. Any other hoods out there you guys think i should be considering?
Yup that's the one I had, it had the hard hat and all. I didn't like the hard hat at first but it's a nice feature when your upside down and don't have to worry about getting your scalp burned. That's hurts after a while. We used to use a set of goggles we called knockville's, they weren't overly bulky and they fit right over my glasses. Not for nothing though, I don't use goggles when I'm plasma cutting.
I had a HF helmet for a couple of years but then started to notice I had eye problems after welding. The auto tinting screen did not darken like it did when it was new. Since bought a Miller helmet second hand and it is in a completely different class compared to the cheap HF item, I will buy another Miller helmet if this one ever breaks.
I use an Optrel helmet. They are light powered so the batteries aren't constantly going dead. Several co workers who use Miller helmets and are always borrowing mine when their battery goes dead. They are expensive. Close to $300. They have adjustable shade with 2 ranges. Adjustable time delay and sensitivity. A switch for grinding and cutting. While you can switch back and forth between a helmet, shields and glasses, it wastes time and you end up leaving your welding helmet somewhere that it gets damaged. Don't use glasses or goggles for plasma cutting. Plasma puts out lots of light in both ultra-violet and infra-red. You will get sunburn and you risk skin cancer.
Just bought a Miller on sale at the local welding shop for $130. The cheaper ones seem a bargain but again it's your eyes we're talking about.
I won't use another Auto-Darkening helmet again. My Accu-Strike Helmet is one of my favorite things in the shop. www.accustrike.com
I only have the lens that came with the helmet, which is fine for what I do, so I don't know if the lenses are interchangeable with others. A phone call to the owner/designer/manufacturer (ALL MADE IN USA, BTW) can answer that question for you. I bought a replacement lens, and a few other little doo-dads from their website when I bought my helmet. It's a very well made helmet, and it's worth way more than the retail price. I've had mine for maybe 2 years now and it's been such a great addition to the shop. It took about 10 minutes of getting used to how it operates and getting it adjusted. I can chew gum while it's on without any movement of the lens. I think I've my auto-darkening helmet once since I got my Accu-Strike when I was up under my truck welding the exhaust and didn't want to scratch up my Accu-Strike. The rest of the time the auto-darkening helmet just sits and collects dust until a friend wants to weld something.
I have a couple Millers and a Lincoln. I like them both but the Lincoln has a few features the Miller doesn't and the Millers have a bigger viewing area. They were $280 plus but cheaper than the E-room visit for severe welders flash. Don't ask how I know.
I have a Miller auto darkening that uses the arc to recharge the batteries. It wasn't cheap but it is wonderful to use. It fits pretty close to my fat head and as long as I remember to run it from grind to weld it works fine. It also has a sensitivity adjustment so the shop lights don't activate it.
I don't wear prescription glasses, but I do wear safety glasses all the time while working. I use a grinding shield with dark lense for torch work, and keep my auto darkening Speedglass for just welding. I'd never consider cutting or gas welding with my welding hood, and the grinding shield works so much better to do that work. On another note; I gave my cheapy HF auto darkening hood to my son in law when I won the Speedglass helmet at a car show. I should have tried it out prior to giving the HF hood away. I like the HF much more than the Speedglass. The Speedglass is so dark that I have to keep a bright work light on my work so I can see what I'm doing once I strike the first arc.
Same here.I have used a Speedglas for 25 years now and it is a very good helmet.You only get two eyes in life and you better take care of them.Cheap could spell blindness !!!!!
1) i've never used Jackson products so i can't comment but i hear they are high quality. Conversely, i've heard about harbour freight......... 2) RE: accustrike: i went with the Miller Elite---works great no complaints. However, what i would like to see is a combination of the accustrike system AND auto darkening systems. Let me explain; You would have the normal auto darkening system as is. BUT you would ALSO have a way to manual darken before you strike the arc. Maybe you could continue with the jaw control OR maybe the button could be remote/wireless---maybe a small button in the glove or on the torch. This way you can get that extra smigen of protection that the auto darkener hoods can't/won't give----i know it's "only" 1/25000th second of light. But, if you weld all day for a living that time could add up? No-one knows for sure what the effects of having milliseconds of flash added up over a period of time could do? Now, if for whatever reason, you don't manual darken or forget before striking then the auto darkener would do it for you. You get the best of both worlds here. 3) And yes, you should always wear UV rated safety glasses under the hood to give added protection against the UV rays. 4) P.S. As far as $210 being "too much" or "why not get a cheaper HF hood," If you can't afford to spend $210 to protect your eyesight, then YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO WELD.
X2 I've read enough about people damaging their eyes using HF hoods that there is no way I'd ever use one.
c-10 simplex. Is this the one you are talking about? http://store.cyberweld.com/miwehepeauda2.html I went down to my local welding supply on my lunch break to look at hoods. This one fit real nice, he loaned me one for the night, going to burn a bit with it tonight if I like I'll buy it in the morning. Keith
This sounds pointless. Just get the Accu-Strike and you won't look at another auto helmet again. For the price of most decent AD helmets, you can buy three Accu-Strike helmets and put different shade lenses in each! Several months ago some friends came to my shop to do some work to one of their cars. One of the guys is a professional metal fabricator for a well know local shop. He brought his fancy AD helmet in his fancy helmet bag like he was really proud of it. I told him it was nice, but to give my Accu-Strike a try. After a few minutes of using it he was excited about it and asked me how much it was. I told him it was $90, then he looked at me with one of those sad, sick looking faces when he realized how much he spent on his fancy AD helmet. Oh yeah, he now owns an Accu-Strike and has turned most of the guys on to them at his work.
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