Welding gurus-Will i be okay with HF auto dark helmet or do i need to drop big coin?
 

Started a welding class last night and i can tell this is going to be fun stuff! We actually got to practice a bead on flat metal last night and while mine was u g l y it did have adequate penetration.

So while in Hershey this wknd i thought i'd swing by the harbor freight in lancaster and pick up one of their $59 autodark helmets. I definitely want autodark but after looking around i see all kinds of fancy miller and speedglass helmets out there for $250-$300. This seems a bit much for somebody like myself who does not even own a welder (will be using a buddies Mig). So far the only projects i plan on doing are welding in seat mounts, patching a hole in the floor pan where something kicked up from the ground and pierced it, and MAYBE the front pan or some portion of it.

Do I need to drop the big bucks or am i okay with the less expensive model?


Thanks for your input-

Erik

I did a class last year, and several people had the HF helmets, most seemed happy with them. I went to a welding supply store and bought a cheapish helmet and replaced the lens with a better quality unit. Cost about $120, have been happy with my choice.
There are huge price differences and I am sure that the old adage applies, 'you get what you pay for'.
Good safety equipment is cheap insurance, you can't really put a price on your eyesight.

I've been using an HF autodarkening helmet for years and have been quite happy with it.

I teach welding and never suggest buying one of the HF units. why would you chance your vision for 200 bucks? We suggest the traditional helmets=jackson shadow or equal to. or go big to the jackson nexgen! They typically can not handle the abuse that they are subjected to

Have had HF auto darkening helmet for 2 years now w/o any problems.
Pat

I have the HF equivalent....an inexpensive unit, no problems. Speaking as a guy who worked as a welder for a while, got a bad dose of retina burn once, grew up in his dad's welding shop, I would always say it is never a bad thing to get better vision protection. However, considering the limited welding I now do....why not save the money, with a few proviso's....namely, crank the sensitivity and speed up as high as possible, keep it as dark as you can and still see the work properly and if your eyes start getting tired or strained....STOP WELDING immediately.

Dennis

I got into the same debate on a tool forum about a month ago. Damage to your eyes from welding burns is a very slow process. You could be hurting your eyes and never know it. How do you guys know your not burning a hole in your retnias?

You get one set of eyes, you better take care of them. Not many blind guys driving P-cars around.

Oh BTW I have some use brake pads for sale for you guys.

I stay with proven darkened glass. Cheap and effective. If you *have* to get an auto darkening unit, spend some decent bucks. Not worth the risk to go with the lowest bidder, if your health is at stake.

George

Just get a plain old helmet with a large view window.

Doug

Your best bet. $20 bucks and safe..

Erik, if I welded for a living, I would probably use an old school non-auto mask for mundane welding and a high buck auto for the tough jobs that auto's make a bit easier.

All that said, I have used a cheap HF auto for a few years now for my occasional tig welding at home. I grew up using a flip down standard helmet, so I don't really NEED to use auto darkening, but it sure is handy for some jobs. (I wish I had bought one sooner for when I built an airplane fuselage out of thin walled 4130)

I've noticed that many people who are new to welding have trouble mastering the technique of nodding the helmet down just prior to starting the arc. For these people, an auto-darkening helmet may help to keep them from getting frustrated and giving up.

I have tried 2 HF helmets. Though the lenses seemed to work fine on each, the helmet body was not the quality of a good name brand. One broke with very little use.

Thanks all. I appreciate the help.

I have all three - a nice, high-end, auto-darkening helmet that I use all the time; a HF unit for 'helpers' and a helmet with a #11 lense for looking at solar eclipses and stuff.

The HF unit can't touch the nice one in terms of quality.

Auto-darkening helmets are fine for occasional use, espescially if you blink when the arc starts. ;)

There was a fairly long thread on this a few months ago where several people said (me included) that auto-helmets are not allowed in their production facility becasue there is a brief flash exposure at the start of each weld. On thousands of welds per day this can be an issue. For 'home use' it isn't a big deal.

The reason people can't get the head nod/mask down techique mastered is that they think the torch has to be in free space to start the weld. A proper nozzle is insulated and can be rested on the material you are welding while you get the arc started. Once you get that trick down it is dead simple.

Thom & Cash, what exactly is the quality difference? Better fitting headgear? Lack of cheesy stickers? Quicker darkening? Better optics?

I notice that Miller has a line of hobby-pro helmets that run $160 or so on ebay. Perhaps that would be a good compromise?

Here's a related question......How much would it cost to pay a shop to patch a 2" x 4" hole in my floorpan? (married Pelicans will instantly recongnize the 'i saved $xxxx in shop labor rate by spending $xxx on this equipment' tactic)

That shouldn't cost more than $50 cash.

I use the traditional helmet with a flip down visor. I don't have to do the head nod, which is sometimes a problem with mig welding (posioning that little thin wire is a pain on small parts).

I spent my $$ on the actual lens, a gold coated one that you can see better with than the traditional dark. I've always been intrigued by the auto dark helmets, but I have better things to spend bucks on.

Amen.

Damn. That doesn't quite get me into a high dollar helmet.


What other kinds of things have you guys used your welders for? Anything that the wife found particularly helpful/nice (looking for points here)?