New Hood

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Hi guys, I am looking at getting a new hood to use in the shop. I have been using my pipeliner for the past 25 years and would like something with a large viewing lens.I will still use the pipeliner on service calls but would like a new one for setting at the bench running TIG. Who has the largest viewing lens out there now days that is auto darkening.LarryMiller XMT 304 CC/CVSyncrowave 180 SDLincoln PowerMig 255XTTermalDynamics 52Lincoln 305GComlpete machine shop to back it up
Reply:I'm looking for a new one too.   I went to both Miller and 3M to check on the viewing dimensions of their speedglass.  Unfortunatly I could not find where the dimensions are for the speedglass.   You think it would be easily accessable??Miller has a view of 3.85"x2.38"“I'm going to do the thing that God put Galen Beasley on this Earth to do:Have Salon quality hair and weld.Nothing like a good cup of coffee and the smell of 6010 burning in the morning. 971-204-3444 cell API ASME Structural NDT and Repair
Reply:Lincoln Viking 3350 Series - 3.74 x 3.34 Not the absolute biggest, but very close.http://www.lincolnelectric.com/en-us...incolnElectric)http://weldingsupply.securesites.net...034-1||1|341||
Reply:Larrysmachine  -  My greatest frustration with auto-hoods, regardless of cost, hasn't been the lens size or performance, but the head-gear.  Mostold-school welders, can and still, flip their hood because they already know where their hands are.  The clear view, before arc initiation, is just a bonus. My heart-burn: in order to keep the hood(s) up, you have to crank the pivot tensioners hard.  The tension required to keep the hood up exceeds the grip strength of the head gear to your head; this results in the hood rolling off you head when flipped.  This occurs with perfect posture, andonly gets worse out of position.  This is an instance where,  innovation - auto-lens, over ran the ergonomic comfort [center of mass] that made so many of the old hood so functional.We have all this technology, and head-gear is junk.    Don't buy an auto-hood without putting it on your head and taking itfor a long 'dry-weld' in the store.   Opus
Reply:Originally Posted by galencwiI'm looking for a new one too.   I went to both Miller and 3M to check on the viewing dimensions of their speedglass.  Unfortunatly I could not find where the dimensions are for the speedglass.   You think it would be easily accessable??Miller has a view of 3.85"x2.38"
Reply:I have heard very good reviews of the new headgear with the Speedglas helmets. I have several old style 9002x etc and thats my only complaint. Some of the Amazon reviewers mentioned the new head gear being the best they have used. Maybe this will help>Last edited by Coupebuilder; 06-09-2012 at 11:26 AM.Reason: spelling "Anybody can talk $h!t behind a monitor, I let the quality of my work speak for itself"Lincoln Square Wave 255 and 355 Tig Lincoln 255 Power-Mig w/ spool gun Koike 5 x 10 CNC plasma Hyd-Mech DM-10 bandsaw Ineco QB-76 NC tube bender
Reply:old habits are not that hard to break. i have both the speedglas 9100x an xx and if you adjust the tension to where it holds up just prior to the detent it flips down nicely. most of the time now i just reach up and pull it down prior to striking an arc. the xx is my main hood because with the cheater slid to the top of the lens i have almost as much view below it so it gives 4 depths of view with my bifocal glasses on. the headgear is the most comfortable i have ever had on my noggin and if all adjustments are right and tightened you can't hardly pry it off your head unless maybe if the back of your skull is flat to the back of your neck. if that's an issue just put a patch of Velcro hanging off the back strap to secure it to your hairy back.225NT bobcatAEAD200LEScott 125mm175, mm252 w 30A, PT225mm211, TA 181iHyper Therm 380, cut master 529100X & XX, Digital Elite6 Victor setssmith little torch, meco midget kalamazoo band sawsteel max saw evoulution circular saw
Reply:Speedglas 9100 series is the most comfortable helmet I've ever worn. Can wear it all day every day no worries. A lot lighter than my 9002x that I have as well
Reply:Thanks for the input guys, I don’t wear a hood 10hrs a day like I used to so the largest viewing area is more important to me than the best head gear. At the most I might wear the hood 4hrs in a week. I spend the majority of my time in the machining section of my shop.LarryMiller XMT 304 CC/CVSyncrowave 180 SDLincoln PowerMig 255XTTermalDynamics 52Lincoln 305GComlpete machine shop to back it up
Reply:Larry,As you've seen, a good hood is not inexpensive.Agree fully with the comment that you need to put on a hood to see how it "fits" you.For bench/tig work I use both the Miller Digital Elite and the Speedglas 9100xx.  Each has it's strong points.The 9100xx (to me) has slightly better headgear and excellent clarity.  The hood itself seems to be a little more sturdy than the Miller.  Only problem I've had with the hood is that occasionally, with very low amp SS welding, I'll sometimes block the sensors and get flashed.  Not often, but enough that it's worth mentioning.The Miller Digital Elite is a great hood for low amp tig welding on the bench.  Has an X-Mode which will darken the hood, even if the sensors are blocked.  Also works good for welding outdoors in sunlight.  Very lightweight hood that's nearly as comfortable as the 9100xx.  Goes to a shade 8, which was important to me for the low amp tig (my older Big Window Elite only went to a shade 9).Both hoods mentioned have about as large a "viewing area" as you're going to find.Think you'd be happy with either hood.  Guess if I had to choose between the two, I'd have to go with the Miller Digital Elite.Syncro 250 DX Dynasty 200 DXMM 251 w/30A SG XMT 304 w/714 Feeder & Optima PulserHH187Dialarc 250 AC/DCHypertherm PM 1250Smith, Harris, Victor O/ASmith and Thermco Gas MixersAccess to a full fab shop with CNC Plasma, Water Jet, etc.
Reply:try before you buy. i've read that the large view units are distorted at the periphery . i use a pipeliner with a 2 x 4 gold 9, im not sure why guys like the large windows. its still the same small puddle to watch.....
Reply:Originally Posted by CoupebuilderI have heard very good reviews of the new headgear with the Speedglas helmets. I have several old style 9002x etc and thats my only complaint. Some of the Amazon reviewers mentioned the new head gear being the best they have used. Maybe this will help>