View Full Version : Which helmet?
msaraf
10-31-2002, 12:11 AM
I've been looking at a number of different auto darkening welding helmets and have narrowed it down to either the Hobart XL or the XLi. Is the extra cost for the XLi worth it? Which one provides more face and neck protection? Are there any other auto darkening helmets I should consider that are in this price range?
I'll be using this helmet for stick, tig and mig.
One last thing, does anyone know if that 3V lithium battery comes with the helmet?
Thanks!
- Mike
Hobart Expert Rock
10-31-2002, 07:36 AM
HI MIKE.........THE HELMETS ARE, AS FAR AS I KNOW ARE NOT LITHIUM BATTERY TYPES.......THEY ARE SOLAR JUST CHARGE THEM UP IN THE SUN...... THE ONLY DIFFERANCE AS FAR AS I KNOW IS ONE HAS OUTSIDE CONTROL AND THE OTHER HAS INSIDE CONTROL...........WHAT EVER YOUR PREFFERANCE IS...... THE CONTROL I'M TALKING ABOUT IS FOR DARKENING THE LENSE......... YOUR CALL NOW IT IS YOUR $$$$$$$$$$$$$$..........ROCK
SSCOTT@MILLERWELDS.COM
Hunter991
10-31-2002, 07:59 AM
You may want to consider the speedglas line of welding helmets. I just recently went through the same decision process and was shopping around for helmets. I had decided on the hobart and was going to buy it from tractor supply company, as they had the best price around. I went to several local welding supply stores and asked them about the hobart and all of the suppliers acted funny about it. They all said that there had been alot of problems with the helmet. They all suggested a speedglas helmet. I wound up buying the 9000x for around $270 with side windows. Speedglas also has a lower end helmet for around the price of the hobart. I couldn't be happier with mine even though it cost more than I planned on spending on a helmet.
msaraf
11-01-2002, 08:59 PM
Thanks for the info guys!
Roger
11-01-2002, 09:26 PM
With your new TIG welder can turn it down weld real thin metal. For auto darkening to handle wide TIG range sensitivity adjustment becomes must have. Some helmets don't work well with pulse TIG again sensitivity training. :)
Roger
11-03-2002, 03:43 AM
Looking at Miller parts catalog they now have helmets with sensitivity adjustment and delayed lightennig. They didn't list number of sensors. A good autodarkening filter will have 2 to 4 sensors. More is better.
FIXXXXAH
11-03-2002, 12:34 PM
GET A SPEEDGLAS. THEY MAY BE MORE EXPENSIVE, BUT THEY ARE FAR ABOVE ANY OTHER AUTO DIMMING HELMET OUT THERE. FASTER, CLEARER, AND MORE RELIABLE. I USED ONE OF THE HOBARTS A FEW WEEKS AGO, BRAND NEW, AND IT FLASHED ME NUMEROUS TIMES. SPEEDGLAS'S ARE FASTER, CLEARER, DONT DIM WHEN THEY SHOULDNT, AND STAY DIMMED WHEN THEY SHOULD. NOT TO MENTION THE PORTS TO KEEP YOUR BREATH FROM FOGGING THE LENS.
GO TO WWW.SPEEDGLAS.COM AND YOU CAN CHECK OUT ALL THEIR STUFF, AND IF YOU DECIDE TO GET ONE, EMAIL "DIXIEBOYSUPPLY@HOTMAIL.COM" AND TELL THEM THAT MATT KREBS SENT YOU, THEY WILL HOOK YOU UP.
SPEEDGLAS TILL I DIE BABY ;)
MATT
Hunter991
11-03-2002, 11:41 PM
Speedglas has some helmets in the price range of Hobart but they are fixed shade. They also have some higher end helmets that are specifically for low amp tig, and they have one with a hard hat attached. If you need or want the best speedglas is the way to go.
Hobart Expert Dave
11-05-2002, 06:44 PM
Mike all our Hobart Hoods do come complete with the 3v lithium battery. It is a life time rechargeable battery and it is non replacable. Think of it like the ones in your calculator that is soler powered have you ever had to replace it.
Thanks
Dave Evans
DaveD
11-05-2002, 06:50 PM
About a year ago I bought a speedglas fixed shade 10 based on the supply house recommendations (newbie welder, but old enough to be a old grandfather). At the time it was the right decision. My opinion is speedglas is one of the top line brands in helmets.The only thing I might do over is spend $130 more and get the variable shade. Right now I can't convince myself to shell out for the variable shade one and don't trust all the $100 off brand ones I see on ebay.
FIXXXXAH
11-05-2002, 07:13 PM
HERE'S A FEW PICTURES OF WHAT I DID TO MY HOOD THIS WEEKEND... IT'S PRETTY COOL IN PERSON
FIXXXXAH
11-05-2002, 07:30 PM
NEXT... LOOK AT ALL THREE...
AND RUSSEL, THAT IS THE EXACT SAME HELMET I TRIED, HOPE I DONT GET BANNED FROM THIS BOARD FOR SAYING THIS, BUT I DIDN'T LIKE IT at all. I HAS A TENDANCY TO UNDIM FOR A FRACTION OF A SECOND WHILE YOUR WELDING, HAS TROUBLE WITH TIG, AND THE EXTERNAL SHADE ADJUSTMENT KNOB IS JUST WAITING TO GET BROKEN, AND FEELS RATHER PEEFY AS IS....
FIXXXXAH
11-05-2002, 07:32 PM
I KNOW THESE WERENT REALLY ON THE TOPIC, BUT I THOUGHT I WOULD POST, JUST TO EMPHASIZE "SPEEDGLAS BABY"
BugEyedValiant
11-05-2002, 08:19 PM
I have a helmet that is the same as the Hobart ones(it came from Harbor Freight) and had mine do the flashing thing once. All you have to do is hit the reset button and the problem goes away. It is a good helmet for the money.
FIXXXXAH
11-05-2002, 09:30 PM
VALIANT-
PERSONALLY, I WOULD RATHER HAVE A HELMET THAT DOESNT FLASH YOU IN THE FIRST PLACE, AND IS FASTER TO BOOT. TO EACH HIS OWN THOUGH
IF THAT HELMET IS A HUGE FACTOR, SEE IF MILLER IS DOING THE SAME DEAL, AS YOU WILL GET THE SAME MACHINE, AND A BETTER VERSION OF THE HELMET [THE MILLER'S HAVE INTERNALY ADJUSTABLE SHADE [SERIOUS, I'D GIVE THE EXTERNAL KNOB A FEW MONTHES, MAX] ALONG WITH SENSETIVITY AND DELAY ADJUSTMENTS, HELPS ELIMINATE THE TIG PROBLEMS, BUT IT STILL FLASHED ME [THIS WAS THE SILVER ONE, WITH A PEELING BACK DIAMOND PLATE SCHEME, THINK IT MIGHT BE A HARLY EDITION OR SOMETHING.]
MATT
Rocky D
11-05-2002, 11:43 PM
I, too use a Speedglas hood. 9000v...I constantly switch from TIG, to MIG, to flame cutting, to stick, in what I do. It handles them all.
A lens will go light while welding for two reasons...1 is the sensors get blocked from the light, all at the same time, or in TIG when the variable switch is not set properly or on 'stick' setting.
I figured since I do this for a living, I should get the best there is. Ya only got one pair of peepers.
dysfunction
11-06-2002, 12:01 AM
I love my speedglas, I use it 90% of the time. I would highly recommend keeping a good quality fiberglass hood around for work in confined areas and overhead. Especially working under a vehicle I've had instances where sensors are blocked for some reason and you catch a flash. It's not very often and it's pretty much just irritating, but it happens.
Hobart Expert Rock
11-18-2002, 03:10 PM
OK IF THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE HELMET LET ME KNOW, I'LL SEE AB OUT HELPING YOU OUT...........ROCK
SSCOTT@MILLERWELDS.COM
Hunter991
11-18-2002, 07:53 PM
If you do get a speedglas, which I believe is the best be careful with it. The front protective lens plate is not quite as durable and heat resistant as the old style helmets. I love the helmet but I melted the protective lens my first welding session.
Lenses are cheap though.
ZACHV
11-29-2002, 09:47 AM
So where is the cheapest place you have found to buy Speedglas helmets? Cyberweld? My local place seems to be 50% more than Cyberweld.
John Stuckey
12-02-2002, 11:00 AM
I have a Jackson 3N1 and it works well on TIG - goes down to a 9. I have not used the grind and cut options yet. More info at www.jacksonproducts.com
John
Mike, I to was in the market for an autodark helmet. After reading the posts to your message I decided to get a Speedglas helmet. After much searching on the web the best prices that I found were at: http://www.millerweldsupply.com/NewWebstore/AutoDarkHelmets.htm
ZACHV
12-02-2002, 04:37 PM
Originally posted by TMo
Mike, I to was in the market for an autodark helmet. After reading the posts to your message I decided to get a Speedglas helmet. After much searching on the web the best prices that I found were at: http://www.millerweldsupply.com/NewWebstore/AutoDarkHelmets.htm
Nice link and good prices. How was the service??
So far so good. I placed my order online on Saturday (11/30) and paid using PayPal. I received an E-mail from Miller Weld Supply on Monday (12/2) stating that the helmet had been sent out via UPS. Monday's E-mail also gave me the tracking number to follow the shipment via the UPS web page. According to UPS, the helmet will arrive at my house tomorrow (12/5). Not bad considering its coming from Mississippi. I'll let you know how it goes.
I was looking at the hoods in harbor freight. These are cheap helmets, one I was looking at is around $120, has variable shade adj. It is made by Western Saftey. Just wondering if any one has used these before. I only weld for 2-3 hours a day and have a limited budget. Tim
msaraf
12-09-2002, 01:19 AM
When I started this thread I was in a hurry to get a helmet and was happy just to get a couple of replys, but it seemed that everytime I logged in someone else had added a response. I was really supprised to see the large amount of good feedback about this topic, everyones input has been great and I really appreciate it.
I ended up going with the Hobart XL hood. I was tempted to go with the speedglas but since I was only going to use it for a college welding class I didn't want to spend too much for it.
If I end up buying some welding gear for the workshop, I will probably end up buying a speedglas. As far as the hobart hood goes, its been pretty good so far. I did get flashed twice by it, but after hitting the reset button it hasn't done it since.
Thanks again!
I was at Harbor Freight yesterday. They had the variable shade model for $59.99 (special sale?). Checking it out on the sales floor isn't the best way, but it darkened as fast as my Jackson Journeyman, and thje variable shade worked well. Can't say anything about the durability thouigh. They also had their large angle magnets on sale for $1.99 each, regular price $8.99.
Well, my new hood just arrived from harbor freight. It is a Western Safety hood. Adjustable shade from 9-13, high/low sensitivity, and is solar powered. It looks to be a decent hood and am anxious to try it out tommorow. Will report how it works. Price on sale for $79.99 i think. So, cheap enought to give it a try. Tim
John Stuckey
01-13-2003, 07:32 AM
Tim:
I am interested in hearing about your HF hood performance. In your feedback please include the HF sku #. I am looking for a spare autohood for folks who want to watch/try welding.
John
Well, I like the new hood. It works really well. I haven't got flashed yet, so... Actually they are on sale for $69.99 right now. John, what is the sku? Tim.
Scott V
01-14-2003, 08:06 PM
I was in there awhile back,and a guy came in looking for a lens for his harbor freight helmet.The replie was something like this(We only sale the helmets,we don't sell the lens).How come I knew he was going to say that.Sometimes you get what you pay for.I bought a speedglas 9000X almost five years ago.When I got it home it did not work right,so I called them.I sent the guts back.I had a new guts shipped to my door in less than twenty four hours.It's been fine ever since.I say ether use a top welding helmet or use a standard nod type.There is no middle ground,atleast thats the way I look at things,and I hope to look at things along time!
Well, my hood came with a spare lens. If worse comes to worse and I can't find a lense to fit, they look to be typical size, I'll cut some to fit. And, I know speedglas is a good hood, I tig welded the whole last summer with one. But, I don't have $300 or so to spend on the top of the line hood. Tim
The Houston store had them on sale for $59.95 in December. I looked at the demo model and was impressed. The shade adjustment is on the out side so you can vary it easily. Seemed responsive and quick darkening.
KeithW
04-07-2003, 07:31 PM
I purchased a autodarkening helmet from Harbor Freight. Where is the reset switch you mentioned?
Keith
BugEyedValiant
04-07-2003, 09:26 PM
Which Helmet did you get?
KeithW
04-07-2003, 10:04 PM
I have the 47277. It worked fine for 2 weeks and now has stopped working!
ChadRat
04-09-2003, 09:21 AM
I got one of those cheap HF helmets when I started out. It worked ok. The head band broke so I decided it was time to upgrade. I got a Hobart hood. There is a big difference between the two. The Hobart hood has a bigger view area and you can see a lot clearer through the lense. Buying a good hood is definitely worth the extra money.
I have a HF hood #47277. I am very pleased with it. Everything works, shade adj, sensitivity, and delay time. The veiwing are is small, but ok for my part-time job. It is lightweight and comfortable. The only complaint I have is the head band loosens around my head every once in a while. It has not flashed me in the 4 months of using it. Tim