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Finally made the decision and got a new helmet. Read a lot of the posts and asked around a bit, and all the advice on which was best was more confusing than anything. So I just went to my lws and asked and this was what they recomended. With extra lenses, a couple cheaters, a pair of welding gloves, and taxes I got out for just under $310.00. Now I'll have to find a job to do, but with temps well below zero for a couple days I may wait til next time home.Yeah, I know, but it'll be ok!Lincoln Square wave 255Miller Vintage mig30a spoolgunThermal Dynamics Pacmaster 100xl plasmaSmith mc torchEllis 1600 band saw
Reply:Try it out and post a "review" for us and tell how it worked for you.  Like you, I've read a lot about the various helmets and it's a tough choice on a limited budget.  Been considering getting one of those 3350's for my next helmet.
Reply:Subscribed....Just a couple welders, big hammers, grinders, and torches.Work will free you.Men in dirty jeans built this country, while men in clean suits have destroyed it. Trump/Carson 2016-2024
Reply:its made in china like almost anything else....any hoods made in the USA?Of all the things I lost I miss my mind the most...I know just enough about everything to be dangerous......You cant cure stupid..only kill it...
Reply:Good helmet, I use the same one
Reply:Wish I had that helmet!!
Reply:I think the same rule applies to helmets as most other tools; you can't get by with just one...The miller elites are not bad helmets for the money, I have a regular one and an air fed, but I love my old auto huntsman too and if I am doing a bunch of pipe I usually break out the old slider fixed lens.....www.facebook.com/gstreetworksLincoln Power Mig 210 Miller Maxstar 150Lincoln Idealarc 250/250 G Street Works LLC
Reply:I've looked at some helmets like that but I honestly dont really see how much different a $50 Helmet can be and a +$200.
Reply:Jackson next generation is still made in USA.  Not sure how much longer.  The Kleenex people own the company now and are going for maximum profit.
Reply:Originally Posted by TypeI've looked at some helmets like that but I honestly dont really see how much different a $50 Helmet can be and a +$200.
Reply:I loved my Huntsman auto for over 10years. It died gracefully. I then got the Lincoln/Viking Motorhead 3350. I like it even better. Til the battery died and I got flashed really bad. I wish a dead hood would just go dark and not allow a flash. I am much more careful with the Lincoln than I ever was with the Huntsman. Mostly just because it has graphics. I don't want to jack them up. So I will probably get another lens for my Huntsman.Lincoln Power Mig 210MP MIGLincoln Power Mig 350MP - MIG and Push-PullLincoln TIG 300-300Lincoln Hobby-Weld 110v  Thanks JLAMESCK TIG TORCH, gas diffuser, pyrex cupThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 101My brain
Reply:Being retired I'm now just a hobbyist, but I really like my speedglas 100. It doesn't have a solar charger, but it's well over 4 yrs old and is still on the original battery. IIRC it was about $130.                                          MikeOl' Stonebreaker  "Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes"Hobart G-213 portableMiller 175 migMiller thunderbolt ac/dc stick Victor O/A setupMakita chop saw
Reply:Originally Posted by shortfuseBUT......how many helmets have you actually tried?  Looking at and trying them out is vastly different, as are the helmets.
Reply:Originally Posted by TypeI've tried a Miller Elite before (I Think) and I just don't see a huge difference besides the adjustments for settings. What is usually the main difference between the more expensive and cheaper ones?
Reply:I really like my 3350, The big view area helps me see better, and I need all the help I can get, went back to my hf blue flame for plasma cutting on grind mode, I kept forgetting to switch the Viking back from grind mode and got flashed a couple times, being old and a rookie thing.Thermal Arc 210 - Tweco 211I - Cutmaster 52
Reply:Originally Posted by TypeI've looked at some helmets like that but I honestly dont really see how much different a $50 Helmet can be and a +$200.
Reply:I really like mine. Just the plain old black 3350. I'm not a fan of graphics - only one sticker. Changed the battery once thus far, but that was after about a year of usage. My local LWS has quite a few sets of upgraded headgear for the hood; basically a knock-off of the foam lightweight stuff that comes standard on the Miller Elite's. I guess they've had quite a few of the 3350's come in with broken bands - subsequently Lincoln/Viking came out with the upgraded stuff. Contemplated breaking my headgear so I'd have a reason to justify buying new gear. Figured I'd wait until mine truly broke...https://weldingsupply.com/cgi-bin/ei...DEF:X:KP3908-1Do you really know all of the work that goes into getting that fish onto your plate?
Reply:The cheaper hf helmets are good if you don't weld a lot. I had the blue flame helmet form hf for about 5yrs before it died; it did its job and held up to my abuse. However I wasn't welding a lot like I am now. I recently purchased a Miller digital elite.... The two helmets are worlds apart. It's a much clearer image, wider viewing area and the helmet is bigger and protects more of your head and all of your neck. It's worth the plunge just my 2c. The hf helmets view is like looking at the crappiest LCD tv you can find at walmart and the millers is like a crystal clear led tv. They both get the job done but the higher end helmets cost more for a reason.
Reply:I just bought a Miller Digital Elite from cyberweld for $273.00 and got a $70.00 rebate from miller. So the total cost was $203.00. I could have gotten a plane black shell for less but I like the stars and stripes so I paid a little extra.
Reply:Decided to brave the cold and try out the helmet today. Here's what comes with it, 4 front clear lenses, 2 inside clear lenses, a bag with a side zippered pocket to carry it,  a kerchief, and some decals to dress it up if you like. The bag is real nice, but I'll never use that, and I'll give the stickers to me grandkids so they can p/o their parents.Yeah, I know, but it'll be ok!Lincoln Square wave 255Miller Vintage mig30a spoolgunThermal Dynamics Pacmaster 100xl plasmaSmith mc torchEllis 1600 band saw
Reply:Here is a comparison to my old Jackson. I liked that helmet, but I dropped the lens and cracked it so I needed to do something.The only thing I see right off that I don't like is the complex head gear. This seems to be the thing these days since all the ones that my lws had were similar, but it took a long time to get it set to fit and, so far at least, takes 2 hands to put on my head. Once it's on tho it feels real good and works way better than my old Jackson. It is very comfy and holds very good, and it never feels like it's going come off. Ran a few welds with it and the view area is a bit larger than my Jackson and a lot clearer. I'm no Lanse, but I had the little woman help get some pics and a couple short videos of it in action.This first video give a fair idea of what it looks like, the setting is shade 12 for this.Welding(1): This video is at shade 10 and from a bit further back, trying to give some idea of the change time and what it looks like in the light setting. It's actually much better than these look.Welding(2): Yeah, I know, but it'll be ok!Lincoln Square wave 255Miller Vintage mig30a spoolgunThermal Dynamics Pacmaster 100xl plasmaSmith mc torchEllis 1600 band saw
Reply:My shield of choice is a trusty Jackson 14532 Huntman (retractable lens type) with a $50 ArcOne auto lens cemented into the sliding lens holder with Gorrila glue. $120 tops for the whole mess. Oh yea..another $15 for the 2.00 cheater. Would not trade it for anything out there. No bells and only one whistle..that awesome slide-up lens. Never felt the need for racing stripes and skulls and loads of buttons. POVERTY...is the Mother of InventionMillermatic 211Millermatic 140Miller Thunderbolt XLArcOne 100STS inverter w/TIGThermal Dynamics 38XL Victor Oxy/AcetyleneJancy Slugger Holemaker IIJet 5x6 BandsawNever enough time & sleep.
Reply:That headgear looks like an exact copy of the headgear Speedglas pioneered for the 9100 series. Are all the manufacturers going with that design now? I hate that headgear, but not quite enough to take a loss on an expensive 9100xx hood. I never found it solid enough to be good for out of position welding when I am upside down or in some other weird contortionist position. Let us know how you feel about it after some serious use.IAMAW Local 330Airco 300 AC/DC HeliwelderAirco Dip-Pak 200 with Profax spool gunPowr-Kraft AC225Everlast PowerArc 200stBuffalo Forge No.21 drill pressSpeedglas 9100xxAirco, Oxweld, Purox, Victor torchesLincoln Ranger 8
Reply:Used the older model for a few years.  It was a good hood.Auto/always on is a good feature.  Sometimes you forget to turn the filer on with my Jackson.Contrast is very good for stick welding, a bit poor for wire welding (IMHO)Like most hoods, it will tend to slip on your head when welding at odd angles.When you start getting severe eye strain, or bad headaches........be sure to check the cartridge.  Hold it up to the sun, and away from the sun, and see if it reacts fast.  My cartridge got sluggish after 2yrs.  If it's like my old one, it's a tossable hood.  You can let it fall once in a while, or toss it (carefully) if you're having a bad day.  It's a pretty sturdy hood.Sensitivity on mine was a bit tweaky from the get-go, I hope they've changed that.You should get at least 2yrs good use from yours.  Which isn't bad these days I guess.  Plan on it being a throw-away at that point.  My cartridges to fix mine were only a few dollars cheaper than a new hood."Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Oh yeah..........the scarf............Clarence never was much for scarvesAnd he never seemed to take to hats eitherEverybody should be lucky enough to have one dog like him in a lifetime.  I still miss himEnjoy the new hood"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/Hey!I was at the LWS today, and I looked at the new Lincoln hoods.My old Lincoln was the equivalent of the newer 1840's, so it wasn't near as nice as your new 3350.  Just thought I'd let ya know.BTW, they were getting $230 for the 3350, so it sounds like you did ok on the price."Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Well I got a chance to put the new helmet through its paces today. Gotta say it's much better than anything I've had before. I had the opportunity to use it for grinding, cutting and welding and it worked good for all of them. It's much clearer than my Jackson was in the clear mode and I had no trouble grinding with it. That was a bit of a surprise for me. For torch cutting it was excellent. I could see better than with any cutting lens I've used before. I really liked it for that. For welding it was easier to see through than my Jackson as well, both with and without the cheater lens. Was doing mig welding today. The settings are easier to use and work better than my old Jackson. I won't be able to claim my bad welds are from not being able to see anymore. The head gear also is an improvement over my old Jackson, of course that one is 18+ years old. After I got it set right if felt real good and stayed on my head well, never falling off. I didn't do any out of position stuff yet, but I think it will be fine. So as of now I'm very satisfied with it, it works good and does what it says it will and I can see very well through it. Now if Samm is just wrong on a 2 year life cycle all will be good. I'll try to do some tig with it next time I'm home.Yeah, I know, but it'll be ok!Lincoln Square wave 255Miller Vintage mig30a spoolgunThermal Dynamics Pacmaster 100xl plasmaSmith mc torchEllis 1600 band saw
Reply:welderj, Thanks for the feedback on the Lincoln hood.
Reply:Awesome looking dog farmersamm, you can tell by the look in his eyes he couldn't stand you tho. well maybe a little.Thermal Arc 210 - Tweco 211I - Cutmaster 52
Reply:Now that's a helmet. Welding stuff will never be the same.PlasmaCam CNC cutterLathe and Band SawClamps
Reply:Originally Posted by wnywelderThat headgear looks like an exact copy of the headgear Speedglas pioneered for the 9100 series. Are all the manufacturers going with that design now? I hate that headgear, but not quite enough to take a loss on an expensive 9100xx hood. I never found it solid enough to be good for out of position welding when I am upside down or in some other weird contortionist position. Let us know how you feel about it after some serious use.