I need a recommendation for a welding mask.

"Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo" (rustyvandura)
10/26/2018 at 15:34 • Filed to: None

I don’t need something fancy and I don’t wanna spend a billion dollars, just something

Quality

Comfortable

Not super-fancy or super-sensible

DISCUSSION (33)

Spamfeller Loves Nazi Clicks > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
10/26/2018 at 15:59

The problem here is that everyone’s gone to auto-darkening and they’re only making super-cheapo throwaway garbage with non-replaceable glass. And the cheap flip-up lens auto-darkening helmets are just complete trash.

I do like the 3M 9100 Series. They’re one of the few helmets that fit over my glasses. But it is gonna set you back around $250. However, the consumables are cheap, and it can be upgraded to full respiration. Past that you’re probably talking Miller or Optrel where you’ll have to spend more than that just on consumables.

HammerheadFistpunch > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
10/26/2018 at 16:00

Hazard Fraught https://www.harborfreight.com/welding/welding-helmets/blue-design-auto-darkening-welding-helmet-63122.html

Its what I use. Its not perfect but its certified and it works.

Ash78, voting early and often > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
10/26/2018 at 16:02

Solar eclipse glasses. I have like 10 of them left over from last year. Just $20 each!

ThePlasticOne - no diggities expressed nor implied. > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
10/26/2018 at 16:09

Hazard Fraught, but spend an extra $30 and hack on a headband from SpeedGlas:

https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/company-us/all-3m-products/~/3M-Speedglas-9100-Welding-Headband-06-0400-51-37179-AAD-Assembled-Parts-1-EA-Case/?N=5002385+3294755344&rt=rud

The HFs are rated for three hours’ continuous UV exposure and convert as fast as any hood within their class; I recommend them for hobby welders (source: am a welding instructor).

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
10/26/2018 at 16:15

One potential problem with ones that have a big lens is that they will fog up from breath, potentially.

I recommend going for one that’s as close to the size of your head as you can get, because many are bulkier than they need to be and thereby make welding up in a hole harder. Leading to tipping the helmet, sweating overmuch, and breathing to fog the glass.

HHFP’s link looks acceptable, but if you really get into it you may want to upgrade.

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
10/26/2018 at 16:20

https://store.cyberweld.com/miwehebldiel.html?utm_medium=shoppingengine&utm_source=googlebase&cvsfa=2530&cvsfe=2&cvsfhu=6d6977656865626c6469656c&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIlc7r-_ak3gIV1ksNCh2Q6QiuEAkYAiABEgKnF_D_BwE

This is what I still use today. I’ve had it since I started welding in 2002ish. Great hood for the money.

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > Spamfeller Loves Nazi Clicks
10/26/2018 at 16:22

Miller autoviews are excellent and all the protective screens are replaceable, so one should never have to replace the glass.

Source:

Owned mine for 16+yrs now, did production welding for 13 of those.

HammerheadFistpunch > ThePlasticOne - no diggities expressed nor implied.
10/26/2018 at 16:23

great minds and all that...

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > HammerheadFistpunch
10/26/2018 at 16:29

The price is certainly right. I’d only be using it occasionally.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Ash78, voting early and often
10/26/2018 at 16:29

Wait: are you just kidding?

HammerheadFistpunch > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
10/26/2018 at 16:30

I’ve really had no complaints, just make sure to get the replaceable shields for the glass. The hood is a little light for flipping down easily with a nod but a light helmet certainly isn’t a bad thing in other ways.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > ThePlasticOne - no diggities expressed nor implied.
10/26/2018 at 16:31

So you are recommending the Harbor Freight mask and installing this 3m headband? Also, will this setup allow me to wear my eyeglasses underneath?

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
10/26/2018 at 16:32

For the occasional project, if I take good care of it, seems like a good place to start.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness
10/26/2018 at 16:35

Thanks for the tip. Since I am just doing a couple of small things, and only beginning, I am going to roll the dice on the Harbor Freight hood for $50. One Oppo is recommending a 3M-made head strap upgrade. I’d buy a $200+ hood if I thought I’d be taking up a hobby.

Ash78, voting early and often > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
10/26/2018 at 16:36

Partly...welding masks actually work great as eclipse viewers, but not so much in reverse. I n a pinch eclipse glasses can be fine for people viewing welding from a distance. Just check the rating.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > HammerheadFistpunch
10/26/2018 at 16:36

I think that’ll be a good place to start. Thanks for the tip.

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
10/26/2018 at 16:41

Never again will I buy another cheap hood. Bought 3 of them before saying to heck with it and buying a good one. The harbor freight hoods only work right about 1/3 of the time, the rest you are left blinded because they didn’t, not to mention the flash they let seep in through all the “cracks” .

Personal experience, don’t roll the dice when it come to protecting your eyes from flash.

Spamfeller Loves Nazi Clicks > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness
10/26/2018 at 16:41

Which doesn’t change that they’re more than twice the cost for consumables as the 3M’s, which makes them terrible for a hobbyist. Also IIRC the Millers are a huge bitch to replace the battery on and if you break the battery holder, you have to do the whole assembly. (3M sells the battery holder separate for like $8.)

My actual fabrication shop, everyone is using Optrel weldcaps and e600 's. Miller is basically suicidal for overhead welding, but Optrel is expensive as fuck .

KSTN > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
10/26/2018 at 16:51

I use Esab Globe-A rc in work and at home. I used to have an auto-darkening helmet but it required too much attention and caring to my liking. I like manual stuff because it’s easy, durable, light/nimble and the spare parts are cheap.

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > Spamfeller Loves Nazi Clicks
10/26/2018 at 16:54

Since I quit production welding and just do it on the side (hobby), I’ve yet to need to replace my lenses (in 3+yrs) . A 5 pack of lenses only cost $17 for inners and outers. That 5 pack will likely last him longer than he’ll ever need/want to weld.

To replace the battery you simply pull the autoview out, slide the battery tray out, put the new battery in, and put it back together. Takes about 10 secs, never had one break in 16+yrs.

You can buy the Classic series Miller for just over $100 and it has almost all the features of the Digital Elite I own.

StudyStudyStudy > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
10/26/2018 at 17:15

I went years with just using the harborfrieght autodarkening one. For the price, hard to beat. They even have a nicer one with their omni pro line now I think.

I u pgraded to https://www.usaweld.com/Striker-Supreme-Welding-Helmet-p/supreme.htm

I’ve been pretty happy with it. Price wise it is really affordable and function wise it has more adjustment and it has an articulating band so the helmet moves kind of independent of the band. My old HF one is still in rotation if someone wants to watch or something.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness
10/26/2018 at 17:16

You know, that’s very good advice. I just came from the eye doctor who said I’d developed “drusen,” the precursor to macular degeneration, and told me to protect my eyes from the sun to keep them from developing any further. I’ll buy the hood you recommend unless you want to adjust your recommendation any.

Sovande > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
10/26/2018 at 19:02

Mine was $40 from Northern Tool. It auto darkens and has worked well for the five years I have had it.

Pixel > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
10/26/2018 at 22:29

If you will be using it occasionally , I recommend the Northern Tool basic mask over the HF. The battery is replaceable. I bought one after tossing two HF helmets because the battery died due to lack of use. Works fine, no issues

https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200658696_200658696

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
10/27/2018 at 06:54

Seeings you’re not looking to spend a lot: https://www.millerwelds.com/safety/helmets/classic-series-welding-helmets-m00383#!/?product-options-title=classic-series-black-251292

It’s essentially the same hood as mine, just lacks some features, which you likely won’t need for hobby welding anyway.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness
10/27/2018 at 07:11

What are some features that your helmet has that this one would not? Are those photovoltaic cells above the view window?

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
10/27/2018 at 07:34

I almost wonder if those are “solar panels” of some sort . It would explain why mine can run so long on a battery..........

Mine is digital, has additional settings for grinding and cutting, and has push buttons for all the functions . This one lacks the grinding and cutting settings . Other than that I honestly don’t think there’s much difference.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness
10/27/2018 at 08:04

What would grinding and cutting settings do?

So you don this mask and it darkens automatically when you draw an arc?

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
10/27/2018 at 08:19

Different shades. Grinding sets it to a shade five and keeps it from darkening. Cutting is for using plasma cutters and darkens accordingly.

When you strike an arc it automatically darkens to your preset darkness. No need to bother with turning a hood on and off, it turns on automatically and shuts off after a certain timeframe.

I’ve had mine for a long time (16+yrs) and I’ve never regretted it.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness
10/27/2018 at 09:12

I do a lot of woodworking and I’ve been putting real effort into neatness and precision. I prefer to think of it as wood fabricating because the stuff I create always has a functional purpose. I think I’d be a very good metal fabricator if I had the tools, time and money. Alas...

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
10/27/2018 at 09:20

Welding isn’t hard to learn IMO and it’s a super useful skill to have!

I fully support your decision to get into it, I hope it goes well for you!

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness
10/27/2018 at 11:20

Thanks. I’ll post pictures.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
10/31/2018 at 23:33

i don’t know if this helps