Auto darkening helmets - Cheap V Expensive

[Steve-O]

oh, and is there a recommended ebay one or are they all basically the same but different designs?

found these -

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Auto-Dark...OI_ProtectiveGear_RL&var=&hash=item6675defc2d

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AUTODARKE...=UK_BOI_ProtectiveGear_RL&hash=item415e8235dc

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Auto-Dark...=UK_BOI_ProtectiveGear_RL&hash=item20c192da4a

 

[h3rman]

I have the 2nd one you linked to (except in red). Came recommended off guys on here, seems to work well if you look up at bright lights with it on, dims quickly with good adjustment, but not used it with a welder yet as my mig only arrived yesterday and welding gloves only came today. So hopefully get a chance to use it tonight.

 

[Steve-O]

thanks, let me know how it goes

Might go for a one with the grinding function, not sure yet

 

[mirafioriman]

I've never had an expensive one. I've had two. The first was a Jackson one from the welders warehouse. It worked well for a few years. I have to admit I wasn't as careful with it as I should have been.....

My current one was from ebay. Came with a carry bag, spare lense covers and is solar with replaceable batteries for low light conditions. It has worked well so far.

 

[mowersman]

I've got a SWP one from Weldequip and I'm quite happy with it.
Andrew

 

[Steve-O]

Got an Ebay one and for £28 delivered with a bag, spare lenses and head strap its a great buy. Been using it and it is great!

 

[chunkolini]

I offer workshops in metal sculpture, people are paying me a fair amount of cash to do them.
I felt bad borrowing helmets of my mates for them so I bought a couple of these off fleabay http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/160779121770?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649 I paid £25.0, now they are £22.00 you can adjust the brightness and delay.
Brilliant for the money. Feel a bit flimsy, the glass is a bit far from your face, the adjuster is easy to bump by accident. But hell a bargain. they look good, these folk have never welded before, cant go wrong. They also seem to love wearing them.
But I have just ordered myself a high end Optrel, I wear my helmet on and off for a few hours a day, it will get dropped and lead a fairly hard life. Decent gear feels and looks good, cheap stuff does a job and will not last as long.
I went to look at a Jackson helmet yesterday, £170.00. it was split where it had been dropped in the shop. What? this is meant to be an industrial product, cobblers to that. My cheapies have a stronger shell than that.
If I was setting out to try a new game I would buy a cheap one and see how it goes, then maybe upgrade later. The other £175.00 or whatever would buy a whole load of tools to help get started.
Chunko'.

 

[Robotstar5]

I went to look at a Jackson helmet yesterday, £170.00. it was split where it had been dropped in the shop. What? this is meant to be an industrial product, cobblers to that. My cheapies have a stronger shell than that.

I've got a Jackson and the shell does seem flimsy but mine lives in a crash hat bag locked in a cupboard when not in use so well protected been using it a couple of years now with no problems.

 

[jonnyBMX]

i have a speedglas and a ebay cheapy and tbh.. i cannot fault my speedglas best helmet ive ever used! the ebay cheapy allowed spatter (hot rocks) to melt through onto my face! never using that one agen that was about £30 i also find the function of it substandard!

would deffinitely reccommened a decent mask you only get one set of eyes!

 

[tttonyyy]

I bought a couple of these off fleabay http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/160779121770?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649 I paid £25.0, now they are £22.00 you can adjust the brightness and delay.
Brilliant for the money. Feel a bit flimsy, the glass is a bit far from your face, the adjuster is easy to bump by accident. But hell a bargain. they look good, these folk have never welded before, cant go wrong. They also seem to love wearing them.

I'd third that cheapy helmet, been using mine for a while now and no problems though like you say, it's easy to bump the darkness adjuster. For the money I'd buy another if mine broke. That said I don't do any welding over my head so can't comment on its ability to resist molten steel (suspect it'd melt easily enough). But for bench work can't go wrong.

 

[shirazman]

I just bought an Esab and cant fault it. Very comfortable, lightweight and doesn't nick your ear every time you nod it down like the cheapies. Ive stopped buying cheap things. I prefer to go for esab, murex etc cos you get what you pay for and as someone said on here you only get one set of eyes

 

[chunkolini]

Just bought a top of the range Optrel.
Very fine piece of kit
I reckon a cheapo one is fine if you are only using it occasionally.
£25.00 for an autodark helmet is amazing value for money.
Just dont go trying the fancy gear if you cant afford it.
I did that mountainbiking cost me a fortune.
Chunko'.

 

[Mike_H]

Aldi have them in at the minute for £22. Might be worth it even as a backup at that price. Anyone tried one?

 

[bourbon]

was just about to say the same about the Aldi one. I haven't got one,

 

[Memmeddu]

You have to try

 

[Craig-SM]

I bought a Clarke auto helmet, probably the same as Lidl or any other cheap helmet and thought it was great much better than the handheld shield.
I had also bought a welder that came with a cloth cap welding visor. I thought it was just a cheap gimmick and left it in its box. Only after joining this forum did I realise Optrel are a premium brand and it certainly wasn’t a cheap gimmick. I now use the Optrel Weld Cap all the time and the field of vision is larger and clearer with much faster reaction.
There is a noticeable difference but not sure if it’s worth 4x, 5x more

 

[Memmeddu]

I bought a Clarke auto helmet, probably the same as Lidl or any other cheap helmet and thought it was great much better than the handheld shield.
I had also bought a welder that came with a cloth cap welding visor. I thought it was just a cheap gimmick and left it in its box. Only after joining this forum did I realise Optrel are a premium brand and it certainly wasn’t a cheap gimmick. I now use the Optrel Weld Cap all the time and the field of vision is larger and clearer with much faster reaction.
There is a noticeable difference but not sure if it’s worth 4x, 5x more

I realize that the difference is only related to how clean/large and the shade is tint .
For an hobbyist a cheap helmet is enough because they all provide total IR and UV protection , that for autodarkening .
But I think that is worth buying something expensive just to be sure that the certificates are true and not just printed on it
I use a cheap helmet and I don't feel any problems with but I think that I will get something better always on the low price ones
An Esab warrior for example
I bought yesterday two pairs of protective glasses from Esab they provide IR and UV protection
If I will notice any difference between using them or not under the helmet I will have the confirm or not that cheap helmets are good or not
In any cases next year I will change the helmet because I have my helmet I think 2 years ,I have to check to be sure
First time I used it I felt eye fatigue but not sure if was because is way different than a fixed shade helmet
Much more cleaner view than fixed shade

 

[Craig-SM]

Welding is a hobby for me too and no way could I justify the expense of a Optrel for my usage and would have been perfectly happy with the Clarke helmet. Having an Optrel is like having a Rolex watch over a Casio, both tell the time but one is more pleasing on the eyes.

 

[Chillitt]

I got a mask from R-Tech and fair enough it was their cheapest one But its horribly let down by cheap bits. The glass is ok, apart from falling out regularly, but the rest is cheap tat. The pivot is made from the sort of plastic normally reserved for christmas cracker toys, and it wont stay up and falls apart regularly. I could have got 2 off ebay for the money..

 

[Memmeddu]

Welding is a hobby for me too and no way could I justify the expense of a Optrel for my usage and would have been perfectly happy with the Clarke helmet. Having an Optrel is like having a Rolex watch over a Casio, both tell the time but one is more pleasing on the eyes.

Something like me that I would like to get a fronius transpocket someday but I definitely don't need it