First Helmet, Any recommendations?

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My question for all out there is just that....can anyone recommend good auto helmet for someone starting out?  I am taking my first welding classes and I absolutely love it
Reply:Harbor freight about $69 for auto darkening.  I have one and use it.David Real world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:Jackson EQC.  I swear by these.  Bulletproof.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:Well I agree with David on this. The low cost harbor freight auto darkening helmet is a good choice for a beginner. Easy to operate. Its not built for rough use but I used one for years on my farm. And with its low cost if it breaks and you can't fix it!! It certainly cheap enough to throw away or keep for parts and go buy another one. Once you get better or more proficient at welding then invest in a higher quality helmet while keeping the Harbor freight helmet as a spare backup.  Buy with a coupon and they can be bought as low as $39.95.Last edited by specter; 01-15-2009 at 09:46 AM.Co-Own CNC shop:Miller :1251 plasma cutter, MaxStar 700 TIG/Stick, & XMT 456 Multiprocess Welder.&  2 Hypertherm HPR260's Plasma CutterSorry I had a bad stroke but now I am back.
Reply:I am not big on buy something for cheap now and then upgrade later, it just seems to me to be a waste of money doing it that way!So I would suggest buying something that would get you by for now and be usable later as well like maybe a midrange Miller auto dark helmet that you can pick up for between $100.00 and $150.00 depending on model.I have the Miller Elite series helmet and love it, but it is in the $325.00 range to buy one, but I have used the lesser midrange models, and they impressed me to buy a Miller, besides the fact that I can get replacement lenses and so forth here locally!Ken.#1. If you don't like what I wrote, or if it offends you, then don't read it!#2. I am living life the way I see fit, if you don't like the way I'M living, tough sh**!
Reply:Originally Posted by Ken DennisI am not big on buy something for cheap now and then upgrade later, it just seems to me to be a waste of money doing it that way!So I would suggest buying something that would get you by for now and be usable later as well like maybe a midrange Miller auto dark helmet that you can pick up for between $100.00 and $150.00 depending on model.I have the Miller Elite series helmet and love it, but it is in the $325.00 range to buy one, but I have used the lesser midrange models, and they impressed me to buy a Miller, besides the fact that I can get replacement lenses and so forth here locally!Ken.
Reply:I like the Jackson EQC helmet I bought, although it's much heavier than a standard hood or the Miller Elite I have at work.  Either are good for shop work.Think twice before spending a big pile o' cash on an autodarkening hood.  There are some areas of welding where the autodarkening hood can be a problem.  Using a standard, fixed shade hood is something you might want to become comfortable with too. There's field welding(as opposed to shop welding), where it's very likely you'll drop a helmet.  A $20 basic hood will likely survival a fall, or it will be cheap to replace.  Or you might be forced to wear a helmet that's clipped onto a hardhat.  The clip ons tend to pop off if the welding helmet is too heavy.  I've also been around strobing safety lights, which can make your autodarkening hood strobe on and off...this is very annoying. Originally Posted by Beagle FabMy question for all out there is just that....can anyone recommend good auto helmet for someone starting out?  I am taking my first welding classes and I absolutely love it
Reply:I have been using a standard old Jackson during the class and its tough to see the pieces while getting started.  Tried some Miller and Speedglas auto and things were so much easier, maybe thats just the inexperience talking but it was great.  Thanks for the recommendations and if anyone has any suggestions where to snag up one of these helmets online or at a specific stores, that would also be greatly appreciated! Beagle out!!
Reply:My harbor freight perfoms as well as the new Jackson I just bought and has a lower operating temperature.  It has been dropped, kicked, melted, thrown, bounced and abused about every way concievable.  It still works.  It is light weight and it is well balanced and fits better than my Jackson.  People that go "first" class are usually the first to loose their butt(feel free to insert your rhyming expletive here, I won't).  If you invest serious money,  you may or may not find that you will stick with welding in the long run.  Or it may be a coulple of years before you get serious about it.  Either way, a top of the line helmet may sit unused and the batteries die or decay, or the photo cells stop working, or some other thing may happen. Better that happen to a 49 dollar hood than a 350 dollar one.  But some of the more expensive hoods are made in China too.  Additionally, the Auto Dark industry is rapidly lowering their prices and making technological advances. Today's top of the line helmet is tomorrows dinosaur.  Additionally, the Harbor Freight hoods adjust the darkness shade on the outside so that mid weld changes can be made with a twirl of the finger.  Others you have to stop welding, take off and then fumble with little tiny buttons not designed for a gloved hand.Get the HF one, straight solar, preferably one that says western saftey.  It has a sensitivity and delay setting. Some of the twins that HF sell only have the shade selector knob now.  Try to find a store that carries them. A good employee can open the box to find out if it has the other selector switchers.Last edited by lugweld; 01-16-2009 at 12:17 AM.Esab Migmaster 250Lincoln SA 200Lincoln Ranger 8Smith Oxy Fuel setupEverlast PowerPlasma 80Everlast Power iMIG 160Everlast Power iMIG 205 Everlast Power iMIG 140EEverlast PowerARC 300Everlast PowerARC 140STEverlast PowerTIG 255EXT
Reply:I still use my HF for quick jobs at home or even out in the field. Unless you like to screw with buttoms, knobs, etc or of course impress your customers with the fancy helmet. The HF is  quick easy and lets you get right down to work and the price with coupon sure helps.And no I do not work for HF.Co-Own CNC shop:Miller :1251 plasma cutter, MaxStar 700 TIG/Stick, & XMT 456 Multiprocess Welder.&  2 Hypertherm HPR260's Plasma CutterSorry I had a bad stroke but now I am back.
Reply:I'll throw in another vote for the Harbor Freight auto darkening helmet.  I'm just an amateur welder and have had mine for two years now with nary a problem.  If I were a professional then I'd spend more money on one,but for home use they work well for the money spent.Bob from Idaho
Reply:Buy a fibre metal pipeliner and a lincoln super visibility filter lens and be done with it.
Reply:I've been using a $49 (on sale) Harbor Freight hood for over a year now. I have often used it for 8-10 hours at work and then taken too school and used it for several more hours. They are selling replacement lenses for them at Harbor Freight now too. The way I look at it is I'm not going to spend $200 on a hood that I will probably wind up tearing up anyways. Only real problem I've had with it is that sometimes the overhead lights at work will catch it and make it darken and there is no sensitivity adjustment. Just a minor annoyance for me but if you plan to weld outside a lot you might want to consider that.
Reply:BTW, why is this post in the buy, sell, trade forum?
Reply:Because I am looking to buy and was looking for recommendations.  I am new to the site and thought this would be a good place to ask the question.  Perhaps I should have asked it in the "general" forum.  My apologies for any inconvenience.  Thanks for the recommendations from all of you!  I am looking a the Harbor Freight, as well as a Hobart and Miller one as we speak.
Reply:Originally Posted by Beagle FabBecause I am looking to buy and was looking for recommendations.  I am new to the site and thought this would be a good place to ask the question.  Perhaps I should have asked it in the "general" forum.  My apologies for any inconvenience.
Reply:the only issue i see with the Harborfreight autodark helmet is the actual view lens is small for my taste.   and in order to get a wider view lens  you need to spend more money on the helmet.   i have a colbalt autodark  from lowes,  my wife bought for me xmas 2007  and it is ok  and has taken quite a few dumps.   but  the view is small  and outer lens is   proprietary and sell at 5$ a pop i get around this by buying a jackson lens  and cutting it to fit. also  they can pop out easy.  leaving the innards open to spatter.  also  the darkness settings have a tendency to move on their own.my next autodark   will be either an insert from a broken jackson to fit my standard jackson  or a miller/ jackson  wide view autodark.
Reply:Honestly I've never felt a need for a wide view lens.  The standard 2x4 viewing area has always been enough for me.   If I was regularly welding laying under cars, I might think differently.   Only thing I have sometimes wished for is more than just the two light sensors above the viewing window.  Sometimes, the sensors' view is blocked and I get flashed.  I have learned to be more aware of the location of obstructions that might block the sensors before striking up, but sometimes still get caught.It is very good advice to at least practice and get used to using a non-auto hood, for those times when your battery goes dead and you don't have a spare battery around.   I always keep a standard fixed hood on the truck and in the shop.   I'm rusty at using them now, but it comes back after a few uses.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:Originally Posted by Ken DennisI am not big on buy something for cheap now and then upgrade later, it just seems to me to be a waste of money doing it that way!So I would suggest buying something that would get you by for now and be usable later as well like maybe a midrange Miller auto dark helmet that you can pick up for between $100.00 and $150.00 depending on model.I have the Miller Elite series helmet and love it, but it is in the $325.00 range to buy one, but I have used the lesser midrange models, and they impressed me to buy a Miller, besides the fact that I can get replacement lenses and so forth here locally!Ken.
Reply:I have an Optrel Satellite and I LOVE it!I WELD