$250 to spend on a hood

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If you had $250 to spend on an auto darkening hood to be primarily used for TIG welding what would you buy?BrianMiller Thunderbolt 225 AC/DCEverlast 255 EXT with water coolerH.F. 170 Mig/Flux welderKent 3h.p. 9x42 milling machineHome Built 2"x72" variable speed 2 h.p. belt grinderHome built 9" variable speed 2 h.p. disc grinder
Reply:Harbor Freight.
Reply:Wow! That will leave me with $210 in my pocket.BrianBrianMiller Thunderbolt 225 AC/DCEverlast 255 EXT with water coolerH.F. 170 Mig/Flux welderKent 3h.p. 9x42 milling machineHome Built 2"x72" variable speed 2 h.p. belt grinderHome built 9" variable speed 2 h.p. disc grinder
Reply:If I had that to spend, I would buy another jackson nexgen. They are definitely my favorite helmet for all types, especially tig. No arc flash for sure
Reply:I've used lots. Personally I'd buy a Miller, Lincoln or Optrel, lots of price points. I know lots of guys like the Speedglass, but I really don't know why, I hate them and always have flashing issues with the sensors not seeing the arc. I'd probably go with a Lincoln, their pricing is a bit better than the other two.RyanMiller Multimatic 200 tig/spool gun/wireless remoteMillermatic 350P, Bernard/XR Python gunsMiller Dynasty 350, Coolmate 3.5 & wireless remoteCK WF1 TIG wire feederMiller Spectrum 375 XtremeOptrel e684Miller Digital EliteMiller Weld-Mask
Reply:I bought one of the new Miller Digital Inifinity's.Hate it. The thing is so damn heavy, the headgear wont adjust tight enough for it not to slip off my apparently small cranium.The Harbor Freight actually had external controls and a grind mode that could be easily manipulated with a flick of the wrist. Miller, on the other hand, integrated small momentary push sensors on a digital lcd screen inside the face which you have to fumble for with gloves on and your hood tilted up. its not tactile and there is no feeback. Next the lens is curved - It obviously distorts the viewing area. Also the cover that holds the outer lens in place leaves huge gaps around it so welding smoke and spatter easily get in on the other side of the mask. Miller tried to tell me it voids their warranty if spatter makes it's way onto the lens surface but that is almost guaranteed with the crappy design of this hood.x-mode is worthless in a shop environment or anywhere another person is welding. I was still having trouble with it alone in my shop so I asked miller to warrant to lens, same problem with new one. X-mode simply doesn't work.Only redeeming quality is a large viewing area which is obviously not worth all the negatives.Should have picked up a Lincoln 3350 instead. ::SIGH::Do not buy Miller Digital Infinity helmets! It is a failed experiment of a design rushed through production so Miller could say they have the largest viewing area.Miller XMT 350 CC/CVMiller S74-DHobart Airforce 500i
Reply:Wow, I love the Miller headgear, (the Gen II or III), but I do have a big noggin...X-mode is really for welding outside or around really bright ambient light that sets the darkening off. Personally I love the buttons inside, on my Optrel it has the controls on the outside and I HATE it, always. I will agree that the front cover on the Miller isn't the greatest, but then again the Lincoln isn't much better because you can't weld overhead with either, spatter gets caught on the cover lens. That's why I also have an Optrel, nothing sticks to the curved cover lens and its super simple and quick to replace.RyanMiller Multimatic 200 tig/spool gun/wireless remoteMillermatic 350P, Bernard/XR Python gunsMiller Dynasty 350, Coolmate 3.5 & wireless remoteCK WF1 TIG wire feederMiller Spectrum 375 XtremeOptrel e684Miller Digital EliteMiller Weld-Mask
Reply:Being forced to take apart your hood cover assembly completely for inside cleaning to be able to see after less than an hour of welding with 6010 or Fluxcore is unacceptable to me. I should have returned it when I discovered that phenomenon, instead I tried to make the crappy design work and applied electrical tape in all the seams of the lens cover to act like a gasket. It still lets smoke and debris in though. What a poor design... did they actually test these things before shipping em out from Korea?Miller XMT 350 CC/CVMiller S74-DHobart Airforce 500i
Reply:Originally Posted by melsdadIf you had $250 to spend on an auto darkening hood to be primarily used for TIG welding what would you buy?
Reply:Another +1 for Harbor Freight.Only caveat is that if you ever want to do a lot of overhead stick work, put some duck tape over the little hole at the bottom of the clear plastic lens. Spatter can get in there- it happened to me exactly once.Currently working as a Paralegal, but still interested in hobby welding.Miller Bobcat 225ntOne- Character Fractions: ¼ ½ ¾ ⅛ ⅜ ⅝ ⅞
Reply:I like both the Jacksons I have, the Truesight and the nexgen eqc.
Reply:Cheap 2x4 hood on Craigslist (pipeliner, huntsman, etc) Arcone drop in lens (T240, SS240) and some Jackson 370 headgear. If you find a hood for cheap you're only out about a hundred bucks for the whole setup, you can get yourself a grinder as well.
Reply:Well,I'm pretty happy recently with a $99 Antra AH7-860-0000. But, if I really wanted to splurge, I would have gotten an ArcOne IDF81 (one of the four sensor models, rather than the two sensor ones). But, I haven't actually tried one, so it would be a proverbial shot in the dark.
Reply:I'd go with the two i have: Jackson smartTIGer. Very nice hood, love the blue tint.  http://store.cyberweld.com/jabasaaudawe.html  Can be had on Amazon at times for $99HTP CSV Stiker:  http://www.usaweld.com/Striker-Steal.../90130-csv.htm  I am not as much of a fan of the yellow/gold tint for TIG, but it is the clearest helmet I have ever used.Stay away from the Harbor freight helmets. I had two, and compared to these it was like the lens on the HF units had wax paper over them. No comparison.Miller Multimatic 255
Reply:It will be a cold day in he!! when I spend $250.00 on a welding hood! Had way too many of them go in the bay. Or had guys move my bucket with hood in the bucket right in the path of a crawler crane, and get smashed! These have served me very well over the years. Attached ImagesDon’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:I'm with CEP, I drop a gold lens in my pipeliner for tig work.
Reply:CEP, how long have you had that pipeliner? Looks like some heavy use for a hobby guy.
Reply:I like my old Jackson. I need to find new headgear for it though.And I may try one of those Arcone filters...
Reply:Originally Posted by FlashedCEP, how long have you had that pipeliner? Looks like some heavy use for a hobby guy.
Reply:You guys got me thinking about the pipeliner hoods and adding an AD lens. Is there a certain brand of hood that is better than others? What about the type of headgear?BrianMiller Thunderbolt 225 AC/DCEverlast 255 EXT with water coolerH.F. 170 Mig/Flux welderKent 3h.p. 9x42 milling machineHome Built 2"x72" variable speed 2 h.p. belt grinderHome built 9" variable speed 2 h.p. disc grinder
Reply:I got one those 99$ Miller classics... hate the thing. The only reason I may try the Arcone drop in is because I can still flip the lens open for grinding. I am old school and like to nod/flick my hood down.
Reply:Originally Posted by melsdadYou guys got me thinking about the pipeliner hoods and adding an AD lens. Is there a certain brand of hood that is better than others? What about the type of headgear?
Reply:I really like my Miller Digital Infinity, but I do have a big head. It's better in every way than my Northern Tool (or harbor freight). It is heavy, but I don't use it for hours at a time and I'm used to motorcycle helmets. Also, it's clear enough and the screen is big enough I don't need to lift it nearly as often. The controls on the inside have pros and cons. For instance, the darkness setting often gets bumped on my cheap hood, which isn't a problem when it is inside. You get used to it either way.That said, I'd go for the Digital Elite next time. Cheaper, lighter, same quality. And who really needs the extra screen size? The difference in price got me over the minimum for the Build with Blue accessory rebate, otherwise I'd have chosen the tried and true Digital Elite. Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk
Reply:I'm also in the fixed shade group, mine has never let me down or flashed me.12v battery, jumper cables, and a 6013.I only have a facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/pages/VPT/244788508917829
Reply:My HF flashed me every now and then. For a starter there great but if you wanna spend some cash on a nice mask get something nice. I bought a next gen on CL for 150$ Used in really good shape. And the puddle difference was night and day. You could go try on some masks at welding shops.I've been really happy with a now obsolete Miller Classic auto dimming hood, and it's been great other than having to replace one set of batteries that went dead while it was stored while I moved and had all the welding equipment packed away.
Reply:Love my $80 large window one from Eastwood. Would leave ya $170 for fun stuff.
Reply:Jackson Shadow Welding Helmet W10 HSL-2 Flip Front, Black 370s Headgear $32 shipped on ebay. Small lens, flip front, 370 headgear, takes a cheater with out adapter. Add a Arc One or other A.D. insert for less than $200 total.
Reply:O.k. guys I ended up going with the fiber metal pipeliner and the SS24O ad filter. I also bought this apron/bib. My question is how do these clips work or are they just garbage. This thing won't stay on at all and I don't want to permanently attach it to the hood. Any suggestions? BrianBrianMiller Thunderbolt 225 AC/DCEverlast 255 EXT with water coolerH.F. 170 Mig/Flux welderKent 3h.p. 9x42 milling machineHome Built 2"x72" variable speed 2 h.p. belt grinderHome built 9" variable speed 2 h.p. disc grinder
Reply:I never did like those leather throat protectors. In the rain when they get wet, you can’t keep the hood up. Just button the top button on your shirt / coveralls.Don’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:Originally Posted by melsdadO.k. guys I ended up going with the fiber metal pipeliner and the SS24O ad filter. I also bought this apron/bib. My question is how do these clips work or are they just garbage. This thing won't stay on at all and I don't want to permanently attach it to the hood. Any suggestions? Brian
Reply:Thanks guys. I have not welded with it yet but so far I like how it fits with the Jackson headgear. I had to drill a few holes to make it all work but seems o.k. as far as the bib...it was only a few dollars and I thought it might be handy. I'll just toss it in the drawer for now.BrianBrianMiller Thunderbolt 225 AC/DCEverlast 255 EXT with water coolerH.F. 170 Mig/Flux welderKent 3h.p. 9x42 milling machineHome Built 2"x72" variable speed 2 h.p. belt grinderHome built 9" variable speed 2 h.p. disc grinder
Reply:Originally Posted by Louie1961I'd go with the two i have: Jackson smartTIGer. Very nice hood, love the blue tint.  http://store.cyberweld.com/jabasaaudawe.html  Can be had on Amazon at times for $99HTP CSV Stiker:  http://www.usaweld.com/Striker-Steal.../90130-csv.htm  I am not as much of a fan of the yellow/gold tint for TIG, but it is the clearest helmet I have ever used.Stay away from the Harbor freight helmets. I had two, and compared to these it was like the lens on the HF units had wax paper over them. No comparison.
Reply:Got a good bit of time behind the new hood this weekend. So far It is much much better that the H.F. hood I have been using. The Jackson headgear is great! The hood stays up when you want it to, and comes down for business with a slight nod. The SS240 lense is very clear also. I do think I got flashed a few times though in some weird positions I was in. Is there any way to avoid this?BrianMiller Thunderbolt 225 AC/DCEverlast 255 EXT with water coolerH.F. 170 Mig/Flux welderKent 3h.p. 9x42 milling machineHome Built 2"x72" variable speed 2 h.p. belt grinderHome built 9" variable speed 2 h.p. disc grinder