Auto Darkening Helmets $100 or Less

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As the title implies. I'm looking for helmets around the 100$ mark. Obviously if it's less that's great. The use is in the garage rebuilding a car mostly sheet metal work. So really a lot of tack welding. I see the Save Phace Gen X Helmets EFP  are close to that mark. Are they any good?I also saw the Auto Arc for $59 too low grade?What others should I consider?  I also need a place that accepts PayPal for payment. Other things I'd like to get is sleeves and gloves and a blanket to protect stuff from sparks. Thanks for the help in advance.
Reply:I have a Northern Tool that works fine for me. I think they run around $60Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Reply:Originally Posted by randomBulletsAs the title implies. I'm looking for helmets around the 100$ mark. Obviously if it's less that's great. The use is in the garage rebuilding a car mostly sheet metal work. So really a lot of tack welding. I see the Save Phace Gen X Helmets EFP  are close to that mark. Are they any good?I also saw the Auto Arc for $59 too low grade?What others should I consider?  I also need a place that accepts PayPal for payment. Other things I'd like to get is sleeves and gloves and a blanket to protect stuff from sparks. Thanks for the help in advance.
Reply:Harbor Freight 40.00 work fine.
Reply:Yeah I cannot justify spending   that much on a helmet.  That's basically half what I'm paying for my welder itself. Don't get me wrong I want to. Just not feasible at the moment.
Reply:I was referring to the digital elite Miller.
Reply:Originally Posted by PavinsteelmanHarbor Freight 40.00 work fine.
Reply:Weldmark makes a pretty good hood for the money. Hobart has a hood out now too. I don't know how much it is thoughTeach Ag Mech - Mike At Home:Lincoln Electric AC225Miller Challenger 172Gas AxeWork:eclectic bunch of 90's vintage blue boxes
Reply:I have a Jackson smart-TIGer WH40, that can be had for around $90 on line at times. Best hood of the 5 I own.Miller Multimatic 255
Reply:After using this lens, you'd never be satisfied with the view through one of the cheap low end lenses.http://www.ebay.com/itm/Striker-Stea...item2ed2b1b208If you want to see a clear defined weld puddle and have a clear view of the weld joint ahead of the weld puddle, spend the additional $60 on this hood/lens combo.ESAB Migmaster 250 Hobart Ironman 230Multimatic 215TWECO Fabricator 181i & 211iHH125EZ - nice little fluxcore only unitMaxstar 150 STH - very nice
Reply:double post please delete this one.Last edited by Dan; 09-18-2014 at 11:48 AM.ESAB Migmaster 250 Hobart Ironman 230Multimatic 215TWECO Fabricator 181i & 211iHH125EZ - nice little fluxcore only unitMaxstar 150 STH - very nice
Reply:It's really surprising how much of a difference, in what you see, a good helmet can make...It's not a place to cheap out, it's something you're gonna own and use for Many years and a perfect situation for the ole' "Penny Wise / Pound Foolish" saying. Find someone who's got a good helmet and try it, compare that "green/yellow" tint of a HF or Northern helmet to what you see from a more expensive one. I agree w/Dan above, add $60 to your $100 budget and you'll be happy with a CSV. It's at the Low Scale of a professional helmet but you can't get a bigger bang-for-the-buck
Reply:Originally Posted by DanAfter using this lens, you'd never be satisfied with the view through one of the cheap low end lenses.http://www.ebay.com/itm/Striker-Stea...item2ed2b1b208If you want to see a clear defined weld puddle and have a clear view of the weld joint ahead of the weld puddle, spend the additional $60 on this hood/lens combo.
Reply:What's the difference in the CSV and this one?http://www.ebay.com/itm/HTP-Striker-...item20e5858661
Reply:I ran this one for a few years till my kid dropped it and cracked the lens. The large view window is very nice. Never got flashed that I can remember. http://www.amazon.com/Rhino-LARGE-Da...welding+helmetMiller Dynasty 200DXMiller 252 Miller 250xMiller Syncrowave 250Miller AEAD200 LegendMiller 375 Xtreme plasmaLincoln WeldPak 100Victor O/A
Reply:Originally Posted by randomBulletsWhat's the difference in the CSV and this one?http://www.ebay.com/itm/HTP-Striker-...item20e5858661
Reply:Originally Posted by BaTuThe OPTICS...
Reply:Your eye will get worse as you age, why make them go bad faster with a cheap helmet.www.georgesplasmacuttershop.comPlasma Cutter and Welder Sales and Repairs--Ebay storeTec.Mo. Dealer Consumables for the PT and IPT torch's
Reply:Originally Posted by randomBulletsSo. If I chose the cheaper one I'm back in the same ballpark as the other cheepies?
Reply:O.k.  that will be the one then. I'm also considering the 55cf bottle they have on ebay as well. It's free shipping. Ands cheaper than 40cf locally.
Reply:Just picked up a Lincoln Viking 1740 for $100. Has weld and grind, mode 9-13, low-high sensitivity, delay setting, solar recharge and triple a's came with 10 spare outer lenses and full 2-year warranty. Sent while speeding, pushing little cars off the road and having a fruit smoothie.
Reply:Originally Posted by Brad.SandMan94Just picked up a Lincoln Viking 1740 for $100. Has weld and grind, mode 9-13, low-high sensitivity, delay setting, solar recharge and triple a's came with 10 spare outer lenses and full 2-year warranty. Sent while speeding, pushing little cars off the road and having a fruit smoothie.
Reply:Originally Posted by randomBulletsWhere?
Reply:I got mine from harbor freight. No complaints yet...TotlandDesign
Reply:Originally Posted by randomBulletsO.k.  that will be the one then. I'm also considering the 55cf bottle they have on ebay as well. It's free shipping. Ands cheaper than 40cf locally.Originally Posted by GambleMake sure your local place will fill them, not everyone likes the 1800psi limit.
Reply:Originally Posted by randomBulletsDidn't know that maybe that's why its a lot cheaper. The whole helmet thing.  I see the 1840 priced at very close to the Striker. I'm guessing most would choose the Lincoln? Or do most you guys think the Striker is better?
Reply:I had a $250 auto darkening helmet that the lens died 1 month after the 1 year warranty was up. I bought a cheap HF auto helmet to use until I could afford to get another "good" one. It has been about 9 years and it is still working great!
Reply:Originally Posted by DanI've been wanting to try one of Lincoln's new higher optics 1/1/1/1 rated AD hoods to see how it compares to the striker Stealth CSV , which is also has  a 1/1/1/1 rated optics lens. I just received a new Striker Stealth CSV in the mail today as a thank you for testing I recently completed on the lens, so it's going to be difficult convincing the Wife that I need to purchase another welding hood.  Anyway, since I haven't used the Lincoln (assuming your looking at the new higher optics 1840) , but been using the CSV for a good year and half and have ran thousands of TIG and MIG welds with it, I can only recommend going with the CSV at this point in time. The Lincoln could be as good or better then CSV, I obviously don't know. I can guarantee you though that clearness and detail of  the view through the CSV lens is significantly better then what you get with one of the cheap low end lenses.
Reply:The Jackson balder dropped in price, it was $234 on amazon. My next hood is probably going to be a 3350-2 Lincoln hood.Torchmate 2x2 CNC with Flashcut CNC controlsHypertherm Powermax45 Esab ET220i Razorweld 195 MigRazorweld 200ac/dc TigTormach 770, Tormach xstechRazorweld, Vipercut/Vipermig, SSC Foot Pedal Dealer
Reply:Originally Posted by randomBulletsYeah I cannot justify spending   that much on a helmet.  That's basically half what I'm paying for my welder itself. Don't get me wrong I want to. Just not feasible at the moment.
Reply:Originally Posted by GambleThe Jackson balder dropped in price, it was $234 on amazon. My next hood is probably going to be a 3350-2 Lincoln hood.
Reply:Balder wh70 bh3Torchmate 2x2 CNC with Flashcut CNC controlsHypertherm Powermax45 Esab ET220i Razorweld 195 MigRazorweld 200ac/dc TigTormach 770, Tormach xstechRazorweld, Vipercut/Vipermig, SSC Foot Pedal Dealer
Reply:I like the Hobart Impact, the price is about $120.00
Reply:Trigger pulled. Bought the Striker CSV. It'll be here by Thursday.
Reply:Oh my goodness. This Striker CSV is amazing. Tomorrow I have my brother-in-law coming over he's a former welder. I cannot wait to see what he thinks about it.  It's like looking through a clear glass while welding. It's comfortable to wear. Thanks for the advice on getting this thing my eyes thank you.
Reply:Ah, Miller has a $70 rebate on the ELITE. http://www.weldersupply.com/C/32/Helmets
Reply:Originally Posted by PavinsteelmanHarbor Freight 40.00 work fine.
Reply:The harbor freight suggestions really surprised me. I have always used Miller helmets and been pleased with them. I have seen those hoods and never thought twice about buying one thinking they would be, as one of the other posters put it; Penny wise and pound foolish. meaning they would work as well as most HF stuff and do the job Ok about 65% of the time. Not what you want protecting your eyes. I guess you learn something every day.I don't weld for a living but I sure feel like I'm living when I'm welding.
Reply:Originally Posted by SuicidekingThe harbor freight suggestions really surprised me. I have always used Miller helmets and been pleased with them. I have seen those hoods and never thought twice about buying one thinking they would be, as one of the other posters put it; Penny wise and pound foolish. meaning they would work as well as most HF stuff and do the job Ok about 65% of the time. Not what you want protecting your eyes. I guess you learn something every day.
Reply:i had a cheapo hood from harbor freight and it was worthless, the lens was dark in the center and almost clear around the edgesbuy a good brand like a speedglass instead of playing cheap and having to send it back a few times
Reply:NOBODY could look through a HF lens and a Quality lens and compare that Dark~Splotchy~Green/Yellow view with what you'd see (from my Optrel at least) and say there wasn't a HUGE difference!Whether you think that difference is worth the extra expense (let alone the possible Safety factor to your vision) is up to you I guess it could also depend on what it is you're doing, Mig/Flux ~vs~ LoAmp/Tig too....
Reply:Originally Posted by BaTuNOBODY could look through a HF lens and a Quality lens and compare that Dark~Splotchy~Green/Yellow view with what you'd see (from my Optrel at least) and say there wasn't a HUGE difference!Whether you think that difference is worth the extra expense (let alone the possible Safety factor to your vision) is up to you I guess it could also depend on what it is you're doing, Mig/Flux ~vs~ LoAmp/Tig too....
Reply:Originally Posted by DanAfter using this lens, you'd never be satisfied with the view through one of the cheap low end lenses.http://www.ebay.com/itm/Striker-Stea...item2ed2b1b208If you want to see a clear defined weld puddle and have a clear view of the weld joint ahead of the weld puddle, spend the additional $60 on this hood/lens combo.
Reply:TSC is having a sale on an auto darkening helmet for $29.99 black Friday.Craftsman 90 amp Arc welder
Reply:Originally Posted by lighttekkuTSC is having a sale on an auto darkening helmet for $29.99 black Friday.
Reply:Guess I can't edit after a while. It is this one. $49.99 normal pricehttp://www.tractorsupply.com/en/stor...elmet-shade-10
Reply:All the cheap ADF helmets I have tried were considerably less clear and slow to respond compared to my Speedglas and my Kemppi helmets.If you want to save money just get a passive helmet.
Reply:I have a $100 Kobalt from  Lowe's that works great.HF 98233 Stick/TigHF  95136 PlasmaEastwood TIG200Eastwood MIG250Damn, I cut it twice already and it's still too short!
Reply:Welcome Tigmaniac.30+ yrs Army Infantry & Field Artillery, 25 yrs agoMiller 350LX Tig Runner TA 210, spool gunLincoln 250/250 IdealArcESAB PCM 500i PlasmaKazoo 30"  vert BSKazoo 9x16 horiz BSClausing 12x24 lathe20T Air Press