First Time Welding Question (Helmet)

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Well, I decided to join in on the welding class my wife was taking.  Last night, I ran beads for about 2 hours on peices of 1/4" plate.  Our welders are Lincolns.  They look pretty much new.  I think the school has a contract with Lincoln.  I think they're "Invertecs"???  Anyway, we ground down the plates with these big-*** DeWalt grinders, then began using 6010.  We were set on DCEP.  I quickly discovered that I can't weld a straight line.  Later, we switched to 7018.  7018 rules!  I bought my wife a Hobart helmet from Tractor supply and I had an old helmet which I think was first used at the turn of the century-it was a freebee.  Well, those helmets pretty much sucked.  Really couldn't do too much with them.  The instructor offered to let us use the "Auto-Darkening" helmets, and man, I gotta tel ya, that's the only way to weld.  So, here's my question.  The helmets were from Harbour Freight.  He also said that that would be a good place to get them since they're only $49.00.  Problem is: they're made in China.  I'm a little leary that the chinese don't use the same standards the U.S. uses.  I'm affraid that they (being cheap) might not darken as quick as they should or when the dial is set to "10", "11", etc... are they really darkening to the correct number?  Problem is, we don't have $300.00 apiece right now for nice, American made helmets.  What's the opinion on those "Chicago Electric" helmets from HF?The chinese could care less about safety.Last edited by Esprit; 10-12-2012 at 11:55 AM."Never mistake education for intelligence."AIRCO Oxy/AccMiller Thunderbolt
Reply:You are right that AD helmets are the way to go. I started with a Miller Pro Hobby and it worked great for about 4 years before it quit. I think it was a little over $100. Check on-line and with your LWS and compare prices. You don't have to pay $300.Several members have reported using the HF with good results. I'm not sure if there is any UL approve seal or anything for helmets.Tractor Supply often has the Hobart helmet for about $99 or less. You might like it.Burt _____________________Miller Syncrowave 250Millermatic 211Miller 375 Plasma Cutter Hobart Handler 12010FtDrillBit.com
Reply:Originally Posted by wb4rtYou are right that AD helmets are the way to go. I started with a Miller Pro Hobby and it worked great for about 4 years before it quit. I think it was a little over $100. Check on-line and with your LWS and compare prices. You don't have to pay $300.Several members have reported using the HF with good results. I'm not sure if there is any UL approve seal or anything for helmets.Tractor Supply often has the Hobart helmet for about $99 or less. You might like it.
Reply:Yes, that is my ham callsign. Not sure where Taylors, SC is, but look at the Announcement section about a welding clinic in NW GA. You and your wife might be interested. Good luck with the class. That is the best way to learn good techniques. I wish I could take another class, but our local college got out of the welding business.Burt _____________________Miller Syncrowave 250Millermatic 211Miller 375 Plasma Cutter Hobart Handler 12010FtDrillBit.com
Reply:Originally Posted by wb4rtYes, that is my ham callsign. Not sure where Taylors, SC is, but look at the Announcement section about a welding clinic in NW GA. You and your wife might be interested. Good luck with the class. That is the best way to learn good techniques. I wish I could take another class, but our local college got out of the welding business.
Reply:I've been using the Hobart XVS helmet, it's A/D, got it at TSC...really like it.
Reply:i've compared some chinese and american A/D helmets,for $50 level, totally the same.for those expensive ones, the material besides the filter would be much more stronger and firmer, that's it.Lotos CT520D (refunded)Lotos LTPDC2000 (in use, still good) yup, cheap but powerful!hmm...just in case
Reply:I have a Harbor Freight mask. As with any AD helmet it can have issues with lower current TIG etc, especially if you manage to block the arc with your filler. For stick welding I have no complaints.Lincoln 175HD
Reply:For your class and hobby use the HF one is fine.  If u r welding all day on a reg basis u will want a better AD helmet...Tiger Sales:  AHP Distributor    www.tigersalesco.comAHP200x; AHP 160ST; MM350P,  Spoolmatic 30A; Everlast PowerTig 185; Thermal Dynamics 60i plasma.  For Sale:  Cobra Mig 250 w/ Push-pull gun.  Lincoln Wirematic 250
Reply:You get what you pay for.. You only get one set of eyes, so I would buy the best you can afford.
Reply:I have a Miller Performance AD...I only use it for stick...For MIG I ALWAYS use a fixed shade Jackson unless I'm tacking. Can see so much better with colors other than green.Miller Performance AD Helmet - Camo Edition Soon to have: Jackson HSL 100 - Forest Digi CamoMiller Thunderbolt AC/DC((Currently at welding school))
Reply:If the HF helmet was good enough for the school to use and you said worked great for you, why wouldn't it be good enough. There are many other helmets out there made in China and assembled here and sold for much more.
Reply:Hi,It seems like a light meter like the ones the photographers use would show if the two lenses were blocking the same amount of light???Jeff
Reply:I used any number of HF hoods students have bought. Usually because they are trying out my Miller AD. I'd rate them "fair" at best. I've noticed several things about them. Number one would be that the optical clarity is no where near as good as even my fixed shade Jackson, let alone any top end AD. No big surprise, you get what you pay for with an AD... I also have noticed that many people here who had cheap HF hoods and later go with top end hoods, have almost always mentioned they didn't realize how poor the optical quality was until they used a decent hood.I find that the HF units have a few quirks. One is that they will darken unexpectedly under certain conditions. The over head lights reflecting off the big table in the middle of the shop for one, but than they often won't darken when welding because you blocked the sensors. I have none of these issues with any of the better AD hoods I've used. Fit of the head gear ia marginal at best for me. Wearing one of them for the 3 hours of class would drive me nuts. I've also noticed like many things from HF, quality control seems a bit lax. Some definitely are better than others, but none so far have been what I would call "great".As others mentioned, I have one set of eyes. $300 is "cheap" as far as I'm concerned if it's better safety wise. My eyes aren't worth the risk. As mentioned there are a fair number of decent units out there that don't cost $300 as well..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Originally Posted by ShortbusWelderYou get what you pay for.. You only get one set of eyes, so I would buy the best you can afford.
Reply:I started college just over a year ago and use an AD helmet from Lowes (Kobalt brand) that cost $100 and it worked great....I still use it today. However, I started the 2nd year of the program back in late August and our instructor won't allow us to use an AD helmet so I bought a standard Miller brand with a Gold lens for $37 and will only ever use the AD for TIG now. The gold lens allows me to see the arc way better than the green that's in the ADs, plus the viewing area is way bigger than the ADs. Only reason I'll use the AD for TIG is to help me with placement when starting.If you're just learning how to weld, I would actually recommend a fixed shade as it will actually help with your learning starts and stops better....it has me anyway..
Reply:Originally Posted by rschreckThis would be an interesting thing to say in my thread here. Considering there seems to be a lot of people who swear by a $50 hood with a $6-10 plastic or glass lens.Just from reading that thread, I don't think I'll ever use an AD thread. Seems like a Pipeliner with a gold lens in it will be all I'll ever need.
Reply:I've been happy with my Miller AD hood.  $85, shipped: http://store.cyberweld.com/hobhoodblac.html
Reply:Originally Posted by rschreckThis would be an interesting thing to say in my thread here. Considering there seems to be a lot of people who swear by a $50 hood with a $6-10 plastic or glass lens.Just from reading that thread, I don't think I'll ever use an AD thread. Seems like a Pipeliner with a gold lens in it will be all I'll ever need.