$50 hat vs $250 hat...difference expected?

[eddie]

I've been away for a while..this is probably a repeat at some time..too lazy to search.

But maybe once and for all, what difference(s) can be expected with a cheap AD hat vs. an expensive AD hat?

I have a $50 NT hat and wouldn't mind paying more if the difference is that great. I do seem to not see clearly a lot of the time..is clarity a difference? The lenses don't seem to be that different in size. Comfort?

thx

[Broccoli1]

Some folks say the clarity is very different but from my HF hood to Optrel the clarity was not That much of a difference.

I wanted more features and a Hood that adjusted lower in shade # than the HF allowed.

Head gear comfort between the two was a Big difference

[whateg0]

I noticed a bit of improvement in clarity going from my HF to my Optrel. The light shade and color were the big things though.

Dave

[JohnT]

You'll typically see better sensor setups too, so other welders won't darken yours.

[MPK]

Most better ones have adjustable shade & a grinding mode.

[nograveconcern]

Having 4 sensors instead of 2 is a pluss when welding on an odd shaped object. The part can block the arc light from the top sensors but it's still hitting the lense and cause you to get flashed. The higher $$ hoods tend to have a quicker resonse time too.

[Hotfoot]

My HF hood was fine. my Miller XLIX is great..brighter, more comfortable, works in direct sun (HF would black out on first arc, and not re-set)...but if its $200.00 greater is the question...I got mine brand new for $110.00 (American Flag) when Miller changed over to the present replaceable battery system.:)

[TozziWelding]

I flip down my $50 helmet all day everyday, a $250 helmet is for the greenhorn that want's " the best" to look the part. Oh BTW my $50 helmet is NOT an auto hood.

[Roger]

I flip down my $50 helmet all day everyday, a $250 helmet is for the greenhorn that want's " the best" to look the part. Oh BTW my $50 helmet is NOT an auto hood.

True you and many others weld using basic welding helmet every day while other equally professional welders now use auto dark welding lens because they like them or can't take pain in neck nodding down their old reliable helmet. You can make fun of their choice and they can call you cheap unwilling to try new tech. What counts is their welds pass inspection and can weld just as good using basic tinted welding filter when their auto dark fails.

[enlpck]

I still use a fixed shade, but that's me. We have a few guys at this point that use AD's and what I tell them is to keep a fixed shade handy for when the AD fails on a job (usually because it gets dropped or something gets dropped on it). Funny how often that fixed shade comes in handy, especially on a job 500 miles from the nearest welding shop. The AD guys often take some ribbing, but at the end of the day, the job is done, and they probably don't have as stiff a neck.

[whateg0]

I suppose it makes a big difference, too, what kind of work is being done, too. I don't think a guy who fabs stuff in a shop all day is any less a weldor just because he isn't a pipeliner, and vice versa. If you are constantly doing small welds and then reposition and weld, etc., it is probably more of a convenience than for somebody who burns 20 rods back to back.

Just my 2.1¢.

Dave

[Roger]

I was in LWS when a welder was complaining they didn't sell Speedglass welding helmets to replace one he dropped off new bridge construction. I told him no one in Panama City had that brand in stock. If local dealers wouldn't order a Speedglass get it over Internet or call his shop in Texas. If you must have specific brand tie your helmet to your safety harness and have a spare.

[Phewzer]

$50 eyes $50 hood, dont skimp on optics.
You get what you pay for, or not.;)

[sunpeople]

I have the Speedglass 9001 (400 dollar helmet) with the extra large lens. Good points it has a great HIGH DOLLAR lens!!! The lens is very easy on your eyes after using it for 8 hours. Bad points i would not give you 5 cents for this helmets head gear!!!

Only after using it for an hour my head hurts, all the adjustment parts are cheap crap!!!! I have already replaced the head gear left and right side angle adjustment parts 3 times, they brake when you flip the helmet closed so plan on buying extras by the bag full.The front outer lens cover is made out of VERY SOFT plastic and will scratch just touching it so plan on buying lots of spare covers.

I guess what i am saying , if you can try a helmet BEFORE YOU BUY IT that would be a good thing. In my case i read all the information and reviews i could find on the Speedglass 9001 before i bought it but none of that information is going to tell you what that helmet is going to feel like sitting on top of your head for 8 hours a day or how well it holds up to day to day use.

[metarinka]

I personally own a miller elite in black got it for 180 which I thought was a fair price and at work we use optrel's and lincolns.

No choice in my field AD or nothing. not all welding is structural or field work. We work in the aerospace industry and do precision tig down to 0.036" base metal. flip down your hood and you can be welding completely off the joint. No rework and 100% xray... we don't want to fool around with a cheapy hood. So I make all my welders wear an AD hood.

weight is the biggest difference I've found as well as sensitivity of the sensors and range. If it has the features that you desire a $50 hood is more than fine. We can justify the features and the lower convenience and lower chance of defect outweighs the small drop in the puddle our company pays for the PPE

[mb_welder]

I use a shade 10 arc one lense for stick welding in the field, but I'd like to pick up a shade 11 arc one lense for in the shop. :D

This would be the downside of auto lenses that fit in standard helmets, though you do save on cover plates!

[Roger]

If I didn't like my welding helmets head gear, would replace it with head gear I did like. Don't like over priced soft cover lens? Welders have made there own cover lens from sheet of lexan.