Welding Helmets?

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I dont know what is the best but affordable helmet to buy for my boyfriend. He is going off to welding school and I want to surprise him, but I am lost. Their are so many different ones the only thing I do know is I want to get him an automatic darkening helmet. Please help me!
Reply:I have been very pleased with my Jackson EQC Pro Variable lenses and HSL100 hoods.  The first one cost me $250 about 7 or 8 years ago and the second one was about $200 about 3 years ago.  They have gone down in price since then a little.  I think you can get them online now days for about $150.  The lenses are truly top quality, tough and reliable and not that expensive, as far as quality name-brand auto lenses go.  I have since upgraded to the new Halo-X hood shells using the same old lenses I already own.  The Halo-X are lighter and more comfortable than the old HSL100's.  The new 370 headgear the Halo-X hoods come with now is also a big improvement over the old 270 head gear.Jackson makes other, more expensive lenses that are quite popular.  The NexGen is their top of the line lens and the Boss is another good one.  The hoods are the same and the different lens models can be interchanged within the same hoods.www.jacksonsafety.comMM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:Whatever you were going to spend on a hood, give him a gift cert to your local welding supply or just cash towards a hood he wants because chances are he already knows or has a good idea of what he wants.UA Local 598
Reply:Are you sure that HE wants an auto dark?  I know plenty of people, including myself, who would much rather have a fixed shade hood.But if you want the best auto-dark, you cant go wrong with jackson.Have we all gone mad?
Reply:I know for sure that he wants an auto dark helmet. I just wanted to surprise him with one and have it airbrushed. Is airbrushing a good idea or no?
Reply:If you can do the air brushing yourself or get it done very inexpensively, then it will sure look nice when you give it to him.  If he is actually using the hood on the job and doing alot of stick and fluxcore and overhead or otherwise out of position work, the air brushing will take a beating rather quickly and not be worth it.  If he's tig welding on a bench job, the air brushing can last for years and still look nice.  I never bother with graphics on my hoods, they get used and abused so basic black works just fine for me.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:HALO X Heavy Metal Shade 10 welding helmet..good or no good?
Reply:Ashley thats a fixed shade helmet.  You said you want a variable shade.I'm spending my Kids inheritance, I dont like him that much anyway!!!!!!Enuff tools to do the job, enough sense to use em.Anybody got a spare set of kidneys?  Trade?
Reply:I know but I am just looking at everything now.
Reply:I am leaning towards the speedglas I think.
Reply:I have bought two Halo-X heavy metal shade 10 hoods in the past year and a half and swapped my old auto lenses into the new hoods.   Very happy with both.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:Speed glass is a good helmet.  Any of the faster speeds like 1/20,000 or 1/30,00 of a second and capable of shade 13 will be good if he is going to TIG.  Comfort is a big deal, is the headgear supported or unsupportd.  Makes a comfort difference.  How heavy is it?  a few extra onunces on your neck all day every day, may or may not be an issue.  So a shade 13, supported, light weight auto dark helmet is the theoretical goal.  The best helmet will address all of those issues as broadly as possible.  Then the air brush job should have several coats of clear coat to reduce scratching, it will get scratched, sooner or later all helmets do, so dont get pissed when he comes home with a big gash in the paint job cause he didnt do it on purpose, stuff happens.    That should just about cover your selection nightmare, we have as hard of a time as you, but when we are paying the bill it gets even tougher depending on our level of cheap.  Hope this helps!!!Last edited by Rbeckett; 06-23-2010 at 05:53 PM.Reason: spellingI'm spending my Kids inheritance, I dont like him that much anyway!!!!!!Enuff tools to do the job, enough sense to use em.Anybody got a spare set of kidneys?  Trade?
Reply:The one i found goes up to 12 is that still ok? It says its lightweight but doesn't say how much it weighs.
Reply:12 is good, TIG is a little brighter cause of no smoke around the arc, but not really an issue.  Weight is available on most manufacturers websites, worth lookin into.  Sounds like your figurin it out pretty good.  Good luck.I'm spending my Kids inheritance, I dont like him that much anyway!!!!!!Enuff tools to do the job, enough sense to use em.Anybody got a spare set of kidneys?  Trade?
Reply:Just my opinion, but sometimes the best helmet for anyone just starting out - is usually the cheapest.If you want a auto darkening helmet one of the best ones is the solar powered ones sold by Harbor Freight.  They usually sell for around $48 and if it breaks, they will take it back - no questions asked.When my brother went to Tri Angle Tech - 20 years ago, they gave him a blue Fibermetal helmet.   He used that helmet for almost 10 years before it finally wore out - because of all the heat it was exposed to.  I actually fiber glassed it once and put it back together for him.I even went out and bought two helmets - identical to the one he had - one for work and one for home and I tore them apart and I machined the inner workings so the shade would close with just a nod of his head.http://www.fibre-metal.com/f-wh-specs.htm   Model 906Forget about those fancy paint jobs and all the glitz and glitter, what is really necessary is to get the best helmet possible and a good respirator that fits inside of the helmet.My opinion is that the Blue Fibermetal helmet is one of the best for the money.
Reply:airbrushing a helmet can be expensive if you take it to a pro shop. try to find somebody that does it as a hobby or for fun. i airbrush for fun and usually charge $100 for a helmet. if you get it airbrushed make sure they put automotive clear coat on it and it has a hardener in it. they are pretty durable as long as you arent doing alot of over head welding. i usually do a helmet in 2-4 hours depending on what type of art people want. here is a couple of helmets. just find out what he likes. you dont want to pay more than 100 bucks when it is eventually going to get burnt. one it get pretty bad you can just buy a new plastic shell for the helmet. they are usually 40 bucks or under. it is the lense that is expensive. some of the guys helmets i airbrushed bought a plain one and just pop the lens in when they are doing a crappy job or overhead. Attached Images
Reply:wow those are really good!
Reply:Check out the Lincoln Viking series helmets. They have a complete 2yr warranty, come with a bunch of acessories, and are about $150.CWI, CWE, CST for Miller, Lincoln, Thermadyne, Hypertherm & ESABMillermatic 350PLincoln Invertec 205 AC/DCVictor combo torchESAB PCM 1125