Went looking at new hoods today

[whateg0]

I stopped by the Airgas at the other end of town today, cuz I was in that area, and decided to ask about welding hoods. They sell Optrel, Speedglas, Jackson, Miller. He recommended the Jackson with the big lens. He said that Optrel was overrated and that the lack of 2 additional sensors made it not as good as the Jackson. He told me that he'd sell me the Jackson for about $290, while the Optrel Satellite was about $325. Internet pricing seems to be lower than that, and I don't normally go to this particular LWS anyway. I know opinions vary on the best, and I've read many of the reviews/comparisons/opinions here, and I think I may go with the Jackson. He didn't take the Optrel down for me to look at, so I didn't get to feel it, but the Jackson seems pretty rugged, which I expected. It also seems a little heavier. I definitely don't like the chintzy feel of the Hobart hoods. I know that most of the time, the hood just has to stop rays, but it seems like some hoods would be pretty easy to damage. Anyway, I sure do wish this was easy. I hate it when I have choices!

Dave

[Sully2]

I bought a Jackson...but it wasnt the big lens model..but it is an AD helmet. It was ?? $155 from Cyberweld.. I dont feel hampered in any manner from the standard sized lens

[wallythacker]

Dave,

I can't comment on the latest hoods out there but my Jackson Apprentice AD has been the best hood I've owned. I agree with your observation some hoods are flimsy. I've read about some troubles people have with other brands of hood , it seems Jackson have fewer problems.

My next "good" hood will be another Jackson.

Just IMO and worth 2 cents.

[Sundown]

He didn't say who overrated the Optrel did he? I have one and it's been an outstanding helmet. I had Jackson before this one (a master HTLS) and didn't like it al all, mostly because I kept getting flashed by it and the battery campartment was too small for the batteries and they needed to be smashed in. I am looking at a new helmet to use as a spare, I had a Miller BWE but needed to have a #8 shade so I only kept it a few months. I am thinking that I will most likely get a Miller Pro, it does't have the big window but it does have three sensors, 8-13 range, grinder mode, auto-on & auto -off and it's about $65-70 cheaper from IOC.

[precisionworks]

I have three Jackson AD's, purchased from HTP America with their branding.

The oldest one is the Striker Ultra XL, a nice helmet with big window for $199, click here.

The last two are the newer Striker Digital, the same as the Jackson NexGen EQC that sells for about $285. The HTP model is $259 in regular weight, $274 in lightweight. Awesome helmets.

[kwrangln]

$40 fixed lense hood and learn to flip it. It will never run down the batteries, never have an obstructed sensor, and is alot harder to screw up if you knock it off the bench or get pissed and wing it across the shop. Sometimes high tech aint all its cracked up to be, call me old school, still noddin to flip the hood with the best of em.

[Goodhand]

I have three Jackson AD's, purchased from HTP America with their branding.

Nothing more than a bit of curiosity on my part, but why does anyone need three hoods?

[whateg0]

Well, I stopped by the other Airgas store in town today and they didn't have many hoods on the wall. The only things they had were the BWE, the Speedglas Utility, and some "Cobra" hoods. The sales guy didn't seem to know much about the hoods other than the cost, which was on the tag. He did say that the Speedglas and the BWE were both good hoods. And if he was going to spend that much money on a hood, he would probably get a BWE. They didn't have the Optrel, which I still want to look at. He also didn't have any Jacksons on the wall. He said when they get them, they sell pretty quick. I think I'll stop by another store this week. It's not Airgas, so maybe they have a different selection.

The more time I spend talking to the sales guys, the more I value the opinions of people using the equipment. Thanks everybody here who has chimed in. I'll probably end up getting something off the internet. I can't see spending the extra at the LWS if there is no added value there!

Dave

[RcRacer]

I've had my Optrel for a while now and it has been very reliable. I love the range of adjustment, the optical clarity and the shade uniformity. The smaller viewing area doesn't bother me ecause the hood adjustsments allow for good placement for your eyes which maximizes the field of view. I have never been flashed and have TIGed at very low amperages. The only negative ( and it's not that negative ) is that it's not the lightest hood and I have to adjust the tension nobs occasionally as they loosen up when lifting and lowering the hood often. Overall, it's a great hood IMO.

[whateg0]

...The only negative ( and it's not that negative ) is that it's not the lightest hood and I have to adjust the tension nobs occasionally as they loosen up when lifting and lowering the hood often. Overall, it's a great hood IMO.

Thanks for that! I have looked at some of the hoods that claim to be the lightest and lighter than... I think I prefer the hoods that are a little heavier. They seem to be a bit more rugged.

Oh, and I noticed something about the Speedglas that I did not like. It doesn't cover my ears. I think the added protection there would be a good thing.


Dave

[Sully2]

Weldings not worth a $250 hood to me!!
I looked at the BIG glass screen jobbies...I looked at hoods that sell for $300...I still bought a helmet that cost me "about" $150.

[whateg0]

Weldings not worth a $250 hood to me!!
I looked at the BIG glass screen jobbies...I looked at hoods that sell for $300...I still bought a helmet that cost me "about" $150.

I guess I should have mentioned that my wife said one of her relatives is giving me up to $300 to spend on something. I can't really think of much that I need or want that's less than $300 right now, other than clothes. So, I guess I now need a new welding hood. And if I am given up to $300, I might as well get one that I like and will last me awhile.

Oh, and I looked at the BWE today a little closer. It seems that with the hood fitting so it was comfortable, the additional window area was above my line of sight. I can't see the added value in that. If it was below the line of sight where I could see more work area easily, it would make sense. I don't wear bifocals (yet) so I don't have to be able to tilt my head a special way, and I don't need to worry about cheater lenses (yet). So, it looks like a normal (1 7/8" high) window will probably be fine. I won't turn down a hood if it's a little bigger.

BTW, I haven't seen in the descriptions of the Satellite the size of the viewing area. It looks like its the standard 1 7/8" x .... Is that right?
Dave

[Hotfoot]

Well, I guess they all have to be real welding hoods, eh?

[whateg0]

Well, my wife went and bought me the Optrel Satellite. I was planning on spending a little less on the hood since I spent a little more on the welder, but who am I to argue? Anyway, I used it a little on Friday, and then more this weekend, and I really like it. The window size is fine, and the optical quality is very good. I may use my old Morsafe sometime just for the comparison, but the Optrel is a very nice hood. I do see what RcRacer meant about the knobs loosening on the sides, but I wonder if snugging up the nuts on the post would keep them from twisting - use them as a jamnut? Pretty minor, though, and I only had to fiddle with them a little to get them to stay where I put them. I haven't even messed with any of the settings yet!

Just my 2.5 cents.

Dave

[Sundown]

Well, my wife went and bought me the Optrel Satellite. I was planning on spending a little less on the hood since I spent a little more on the welder, but who am I to argue? Anyway, I used it a little on Friday, and then more this weekend, and I really like it. The window size is fine, and the optical quality is very good. I may use my old Morsafe sometime just for the comparison, but the Optrel is a very nice hood. I do see what RcRacer meant about the knobs loosening on the sides, but I wonder if snugging up the nuts on the post would keep them from twisting - use them as a jamnut? Pretty minor, though, and I only had to fiddle with them a little to get them to stay where I put them. I haven't even messed with any of the settings yet!

Just my 2.5 cents.

Dave

Nice wife ya got there, good choice I think...My Optrel is going on 4 years now and I still like it just fine. As an aside I just spend all day tiggin' with the new Miller pro and it works great also.