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Welding Helmet advice...

Chevy350Ben

Chevy350Ben

Part time mall crawler
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Location
Conroe, Texas
My wife has given me a greenlight to buy a new welding machine :saweet:. Super pumped. but I havent done any welding in probably, ...15 years. I need a new helmet. Need some advice on options. I really like this one:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01HTMM16W/ref=emc_b_5_t

But $350 is kinda steep:yikes:. That's half the cost of the welder I plan to buy. I want something with a large viewing area/auto darkening. Grind mode would be great, but not a "need". I don't want to buy chinese junk and have to replace it again and a week. Any recommendations in the $150ish range?

thanks guys.
 
I bought a Lincoln auto darkening several years back for about $100. Been decent
 
Quality welding helmets are a costly item.
Honestly if you a want good one it will set you back 300+ any day of the week. The cost is in the lens, good lens are worth it. The puddle will be clearer to see and it will wash the arc away.
If your not going to use it alot you can get by with a cheaper one and it probably won't matter.
My dad has a Lincoln and I've used it and didn't hate it.
 
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I use a Miller Elite but will be going to an Optrel soon.
 
i run an oldschool Miller non-digital Elite...
 
just got a used 4-5 times brand new lincoln auto viking 3350 model from a guy selling out of private garage stuff and moving . i got it for 100 bucks .like this one https://www.weldingsuppliesfromioc....rracuda-auto-darkening-welding-helmet-k3039-2 . . . and i like chips work so it was a bonus .here is std black for 220.00 https://store.cyberweld.com/lincoln-viking-3350-welding-helmet-k-3034-4.html @Chevy350Ben could save 30 bucks here with free ship also .

look around on cl / fb-mp / letgo / ..... there out there . put the extra money in to a super welder combo or bigger tank for the unit to weld longer .

my first auto shade i have had 20 years i think . its a miller auto shade american flag edition . it has served me 110% and just this last year got a new head gear for around 25 bucks . its now hanging on the small 110 volt welder for basic shop use .
 
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I use a Miller Viking,
sweetk30 said:
just got a used 4-5 times brand new lincoln auto viking 3350 model from a guy selling out of private garage stuff and moving . i got it for 100 bucks .like this one https://www.weldingsuppliesfromioc....rracuda-auto-darkening-welding-helmet-k3039-2 . . . and i like chips work so it was a bonus .here is std black for 220.00 https://store.cyberweld.com/lincoln-viking-3350-welding-helmet-k-3034-4.html @Chevy350Ben could save 30 bucks here with free ship also .

look around on cl / fb-mp / letgo / ..... there out there . put the extra money in to a super welder combo or bigger tank for the unit to weld longer .

my first auto shade i have had 20 years i think . its a miller auto shade american flag edition . it has served me 110% and just this last year got a new head gear for around 25 bucks . its now hanging on the small 110 volt welder for basic shop use .
Click to expand...



x2 on the Miller Viking.
 
Wes Harden said:
Which Optrel were you looking at ?
Click to expand...

The cheapest one lol. Really I'm thinking of the Crystal 2.0 or the panoramaxx. I need the best one I can get with my eyesight not being the greatest anymore.
 
I was looking at the panormaxx, but I wear glasses to see up close. Not sure if that hood gives room or not. Have you had your hands on one ?
 
ESAB sentinel is my choice. I love it. Crisp lens and large field of view. Great headgear and comfortable.
 
I have not worn one yet, but I wear glasses also, so I need to try one on.
 
Chevy350Ben said:
My wife has given me a greenlight to buy a new welding machine :saweet:. Super pumped. but I havent done any welding in probably, ...15 years. I need a new helmet. Need some advice on options. I really like this one:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01HTMM16W/ref=emc_b_5_t

But $350 is kinda steep:yikes:. That's half the cost of the welder I plan to buy. I want something with a large viewing area/auto darkening. Grind mode would be great, but not a "need". I don't want to buy chinese junk and have to replace it again and a week. Any recommendations in the $150ish range?

thanks guys.
Click to expand...
I have that helmet. It's definitely real nice. Takes AAA batteries so it's not hard to keep some on hand or find em when needed.

My first auto helmet was $80 at the local farm store. It worked perfectly and lasted me about 10 years. No complaints about it at all. So ...... :dunno:.
They are the only 2 autos I've had, and really I couldn't tell you which I like more.

I use a Miller at work, and it's nice too. But once again, I couldn't say which is better. They all did exactly what they're supposed to.

The farm store one, after 10 years, started not switching when it should. It had a LOT of weld time on it first though.
 
they make cheater lens to pop on the inside. Don't worry about glasses. Get those cheater lens and add them to the helmet.
 
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