Now a ? about AD hoods

[Wolff]

first of all a big Thank you for you fellers helping a guy like me. Should I go with a speedglass 100v, hobart xvs, miller pro hobby helmet, or will the inexpensive ad hoods be ok.

[poisonedbrew]

i've had 3 pos from harbor freight. bought the pro hobby and now i have seen the light. i love it! just wish i would've done it alot sooner.

[MAC702]

Amortize the cost. I accidentally left my 6-year old Miller BWE at a friend's place in Texas on a recent trip and until I go back there I am back to welding with my 10-year old Jackson EQC Executive hood. Even IF a Harbor Freight hood is up-to-snuff to get the job done, I'm looking at $20 per year to own the Jackson and $32 per year to own the Miller, not counting the batteries (which last a surprisingly long time) and the times I spend $2 to put a new clear plastic on the front. And the cost has gone down every year.

Combine that with the COMFORT of wearing a top-quality hood like the Miller, and there's no comparison.

[SAWDADDY]

It's kinda funny, I see people making jokes about stuff they would never buy @ HF, like birth control or safety equipment . . . but many people on here LOVE the HF AD hoods. My recommendation is if you can afford speedglass you won't regret it later, unless it gets lost/stolen. But it is a big chunk of change.

I say go to your LWS and try on their affordable AD hoods to find the cheapest one that is A) comfortable B) from a company you have heard of and can trust it to meet all certs. They SHOULD have a decent one for <$50 or so. If it is ANSI compliant it will provide 100% UVA/B safety EVEN IF IT FAILS TO DARKEN, like if you shield the sensor with your arm. It has happened to me, and it was uncomfortable but no sand eyes or lasting discomfort at all, it was just like a camera flash.

[mikecwik]

i had no beef with my hf ad. the head gear was pretty darn good too i thought. so good in fact that i took it out when the helmet died from natural causes.

i have a speedglas 9100xx which is nice and for reasons that i do not know i use my miller titanium 1600 fixed shade more.

[garage built]

Craftsman has descent prices on the plain ol black AD hood, had mine for about ten years no complaints

[tigdummy]

2 miller elites here and no complaints.

[RickCHowe]

I have an HF auto darkening hood and it works great except that it fogs up in cold weather. I also bought an inexpensive one from amazon.com. I like it better than the HF one. And it was still inexpensive.

D I C K

[4sfed]

There's a noticeable difference in optical clarity from one to another. I've had 3 generations of Jacksons in the last 10 years. Each one has been better than the last. Try several different ones before you make your final purchase.

[homeless1972]

Be sure to get a helmet that requires standard size replacement lenses.

Before I got my first Miller, I had a 60 dollar Huntsman.
Welding on a Sunday and didn't realize I was on my last outer lens.
Was doing some out of position welding and pitted the outer lens pretty badly.
Went to Home Cheapo AND Blowes and couldn't get lenses to fit.
Also, had problems with suspension system.

If you're gonna weld a couple of times a year, get a cheapie.
Other than that, Find an affordable unit that will suit your needs.
You can get a Lincoln AD at HD or Lowes for about 90 bucks but it's fixed at a shade 10.
If you'll be doing high amperage welding, you'll want one with a variable adjustment.
Tack on another 40-50 bucks to get to THAT level at your LWS.

[FWI]

If you can float it I would buy a nice AD hood but I weld everyday, a lot. I personally like the Speedglas hoods. I've owned two Miller Elites that both fell to 1/16" Dual Shield Wire and Miller replaced the first one and told me to eat it on the second; not saying the hoods are junk very comfortable and fit me well just didn't like high amperage welding. I have three Speedglas hoods: one 11 years old, one 6 years old, latest is only about 6 months all are still going strong, just my experience. Hope it helps.

[flytosser]

I used cheap AD lenses in my pipeliner hood and thought they were as good as a high priced hood until i bought a Miller elite. I wear it everyday at work and love it. Money well spent.

[RBryant]

No regrets with my Optrel Satellite. I've never been flashed and even though I store it in a Tillman hood bag with no light, it stays charged. The adjustable shading has been nice to have as well.