Newbe buying mig setup- couple of questions

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I am buying an entire mig setup for general home/hobby use. It was time to get into a new hobby. After MUCH research I have decided on the MillerMatic 140. I am going to get this from my LWS, along with a cart, gas bottle, 11lb spool of wire, gloves etc. All at my wife's insistance! She's pretty good to me. My biggest question is about helmets. I know I am going to get an Auto darkening one. My LWS has ArcOne helmets.  The one I'm looking at is the Vision Patriot Xtreme. Is this a top notch helmet? LWS price is $275. I found the same helmet online at WelderSource.com for $225 to my door. Is WelderSource.com a good place to shop? Since I am getting a good deal on everything else should I just eat the extra? I am getting the MM140 for $619, 11lb spool for $21, 60 cu ft gas tank [filled] for $135, w/$23 refills, cart $70, gloves free. He is setting everything up for me, ready to weld. I would rather support my LWS, but $64 [with tax] difference on the helmet is a lot. Has anyone bought stuff from WeldingSource? Are they a good company? The guy at the LWS is a good guy, and said he would even come to my house if I had any problems. [He only live about 5 miles from me] Maybe I should just pay the extra and get it all locally.
Reply:Ask your self this question, "Where would I buy all this if I didn't have an LWS"? He keeps his doors open from the profit from his sales. Look at the $64 dollars as an investment in service and good will. After all he will set it up for you and has offered to come to your house to help you with any problems you have. He will be there for any warranty work and repairs you have. Will the internet company do this for you. My guess is you will receive the $64 dollars back in the long term.
Reply:I've been kind of thinking the same thing. Does anyone know about the ArcOne helmets?
Reply:Arc one auto darkening helmets dont seem to be as popular as other brands like jackson or speedglass but I'm not sure why. My buddy uses the extreme and loves it, he welds 8 hours a day and I know he beats the crap out of everything he owns and its still working great.I like to party!
Reply:I agree, buy it from the local guy.  He's obviously trying to be very helpful getting you going.   Any time a local shop owner offers to come to your house to help you, that's saying alot about how he does business.   Be happy you have a good local shop to deal with and keep going to them for all your welding needs.   That's what his business is built on, repeat customers.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:Not sure here but your LWS should be able to sell you an Miller Elite for less money.Miller DVI2Lincoln Precision Tig 225Thermodynamics Cutmaster 38Everything else needed.
Reply:Originally Posted by jamlitNot sure here but your LWS should be able to sell you an Miller Elite for less money.
Reply:I would buy my hood online since the price is so much more inexpensive. Sure you get good service from your local guy but, you would be kidding yourself if you thought he was not making any money on you. Believe me, he is making plenty. I guess it depends on whether or not you have 64 dollars to burn. I buy from a friend at my local shop but if he can't do what I need, then I get it from somewhere else. Especially if the difference is so large.Bill
Reply:I bought the Vision Xtreme Rebel today. I set it up the way I like, and it fits good. I'll do some welding with it tomorrow and see what it's like. I just bought a new MM140, so I'll be testing them both out.
Reply:I personally don't like the auto darkening helmets. The only time I have ever burned my eyes in thirty five years of welding, was the two times I used an auto darkening helmet. Now some of you may think I'm an old fart and don't like change. Well you're right, I don't like a hood that changes shades. I just don't trust the electronic operation gizmo, or feel comfortable with anything that has to operate flawlessly, which activate faster than the speed of light, or risk burning the **** out of my eyes if and when it doesn't.I don't care for the large, fish tank view size welding hood either. It's just more unnecessary weight that I have to hold up with my neck.Plus, I figure that if I'm looking at anything but the wire or puddle I'm feeding rod into, then I'm probably missing one of the two pieces of material I'm in the process of welding together, intermittently at best.Additionally, when I consider the endless variety of machinery, vehicles,  construction equipment and tooling that I might be working with, each and every day, it's inevitable that at some point, I find myself having to squeeze my big head into some void or air pocket in order to see what I'm welding as I set my head on fire!Here's an actual statement which was made by a nosy customer, right after I noticed him pick up a metal part, only to fling it into a wall at incredible speed: No, no,,,, it wasn't hot,,,, it just didn't take me long to look at it! You wouldn't happen to have any ice I can put on this blister would you?
Reply:Well I did some welding today, and I have to say that so far the ArcOne helmet performs perfectly. Set on shade 9, and fast response time works great. The Miller 140 is flawless.