Auto darkning mask

[Red2000SS]

I'm not interested in taking any chances...I spent the money and got an awesome Miller helmut...and it works awesome. F*#king up your vision will make a quality helmet seem dirt cheap.

I haven't posted on this topic yet, but I totally agree. I buy a lot of stuff from a store in the U.S called Harbor Freight - they stock exclusively cheap Chinese imports, and give all products American sounding brands such as Chicago Electric, Central Pneumatic, etc.

That is great for a tool I might use occasionally - the tools are cheap and I figure if they break - well I didn't spend too much money on it. No way I would buy an auto darkening welding helment from them.

But when it comes to my eyes, I didn't want to take any chances and also bought a great helment from Miller:

Works great and even has flaming skulls! LOL...

I know a lot of people buy stuff of Ebay for a lot less money than I spent, and their helments work well, but I have no interest in saving money on a welding helment.

Do you want to save some money and buy a parachute or mountain climbing rope off Ebay?

 

[shenion]

Actually, the mask from Harbor Freight is good. It is the same as my Antec. Has adjustable sensitivity, adjustable darkness and adjustable delay. Response time is 1/25,000 a sec.

Can be found on sale for $50. Even has blue flames on it

All the rest of their stuff is crap. I will not get anything from them again, been burned.

Now, Home Depot sells a Hobart mask. It is crap with a 1/400 sec response time, few adjustments and cost $100.

You just need to know what you are getting.

 

[ianp5uk]

I'm not interested in taking any chances...I spent the money and got an awesome Miller helmut...and it works awesome. F*#king up your vision will make a quality helmet seem dirt cheap.

True but how do you tell quality? What spec is considered good? It isn't always how much you pay. To give an example a magazine tested various motorcycle gloves and found that the control gloves they used were strongest and least likely to split apart in an accident they were welding gloves!!! The welding gloves cost £20 and some of the motorcycle gloves close to £200.

 

[Welderpaul]

There is an Esab eyetech on ebay at the moment - well worth what it will finally go for (It isnt mine!!)

 

[irondarren]

Always better to still with a brand name. Parweld cheap cheerful but safe. Esab, speedglass optrel, nice but with similar specs (in terms of adjustment) to a £50 parweld is going to set you back close to £200. Have to remembers its your eyes cheap helmet means going blind and no more welding

 

[ianp5uk]

I guess I have a slightly jaded view of these things because I only weld occasionally and my job is in the computer industry where many top brands are full of components from Taiwan assembled in China! But ... the top brand does ensure the quality. I bought a cheap helmet and it works. I wouldn't mind betting that the active components (photocell & darkening glass) will be made in Taiwan whatever you pay so there will be cheap and safe helmets, just make sure you test them out before use and maybe if you weld all day get a local, name brand so you can sue them if you get eye damage.

 

[jammy]

I bought a Speed Sheild, from Welderswarehouse.co.uk. At just under £75 its pretty darn awsome. It was a recommendation from Practical Classics magazine.

JAmes.

 

[peterp1per]

I should have one of these on the way with a mig i just bought

http://www.lawson-his.co.uk/scripts/details.php?cat=Welding Helmets&product=1201

on sale from £152 to £52.....bargain

lets hope it's ok..lol, not received it as yet though