Yet another Newbee Helmet Question

admin

I'd like you opinions about auto darkening welding helmets. I noticed that some have a dimmer adjustment dial on the outside of the helmet and some have the dimmer controls inside.  I'm not sure which is best?I'd like to buy a helmet and would like to keep my budget under $150 if possible. Any suggestions?Thoughts?    PS:  I've looked at the ones at Harbor Freight and I'm not sure I want to entrust my vision to a $40 helmet....am I too cynical?
Reply:Well,The ones on the outside you can adjust with your left hand while your welding...That's the only advantage to having it on the outside.As to a good AD helmet, I like mine.http://www.ebay.com/itm/Century-Blac...item565a1ad9f3The clear lens are 110x90mmVery good.http://www.ebay.com/itm/5-Clear-Weld...item1c20ad29a5Last edited by AKweldshop; 04-28-2014 at 02:59 PM.Just a couple welders, big hammers, grinders, and torches.Work will free you.Men in dirty jeans built this country, while men in clean suits have destroyed it. Trump/Carson 2016-2024
Reply:Originally Posted by BeerBrewerI noticed that some have a dimmer adjustment dial on the outside of the helmet and some have the dimmer controls inside.  I'm not sure which is best?
Reply:I have a $40 harbor freight helmet and a $450 speedglass.  I actually prefer the cheapo one...  just works better for me.Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
Reply:guy I work with has a cheap helmet from tractor supply, cant remember the name of it but it has the adjustment knob on the outside of it. Think they run for about $60 bucks and in my opinion are a step above the harbor freight ones. I've used his and really don't see much of a difference in it compared to my Viking 3350 except the lens size. Me personally wouldn't buy a helmet with the adjustment knob on the outside of the helmet cause I can see it getting broke off. Hope this helps ya out.93 Bobcat 225GMillerMatic 135HF Tig 91811
Reply:Buy a used helmet on EBay.  There are always dozens of high quality name brand auto-darks for sale that are in like new condition that often sell at a fraction of their new cost.  I paid $100 for my Speedglas and $165 for my Lincoln Viking 3350 (I believe that is the model number, it's their current top of the line model).  Simply put there is lots of money to be saved there if you take a couple of days to look around.
Reply:I like the adjustment knob on the outside as I can change it quickly without lifting my hood and pressing buttons while trying to guess what number the fuzzy green light is at that's 2" from my eyeball.I'm not that gentle with my cheapo helmet, it gets knocked around and always falls off of whatever I place it on and the knob isn't going to fall off.   Now that I said that it'll probably fall off next time I touch it. I must admit, if it died I would go get another one in a heart beat.  Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
Reply:I've had a few of my own aswell as others supplied by my employers. All of the supplied ones have been speedglas (seems to be a bit of a standard here in Australia). I've always liked them, especially the 9000 series ones. At home I've had various cheapies with different functions and controls. They were ok but I found that I always ended up with sore eyes after long periods if time. Now I have a Miller Titanium 9400i. No more sore eyes! But the cost was 4-5 times more than the cheaper eBay ones. Personally I believe your safety and health should never come second so buy the best you can afford.