Best Mig/Tig helmet recommendation..please.

[Sherpa]

I have been burning steel with fire and electricity since I was 13. I'm alot older than that now..... most time spent is doing mig........ Awhile back I
bought what I thought was the best and most comfortable welding helmet
ever....... The top of the line Optrel..................worked killer, was super
comfortable, beyond excellent headgear............................

and then the auto dark unit failed.......... and Optrel was asking 295 for
a replacement.......... which is almost the cost of the whole helmet at the
time..........

That was about 4 years ago it died........... I haven't replaced it yet....

On the other hand I still have my Jackson auto shade I seem to just
cannot kill....... throw it, bang it, toss it, whatever it won't die..... but the
headgear royally sucked.......sucked huge...... so when the headgear
finally broke, I robbed my optrel helmet............. I am now looking for a
new helmet system.......... price isn't an issue........... even though I'm
poorer now than before........

so, What is the BESTEST system/helmet out there..??

Thanks!

--Sherpa

 

[Ragnarok]

hey a fellow young starter haha

i really like my speedglas 9100xx, not had it long about a year, but i reckon it's one of the best out there for sure, i also have a 9002d that one is 4 years old now, still going strong, before that i had a sealey mask which i think had a basic optrel filter, that went wrong after about 2-3 years, might not have been an opterl made filter, was swiss made though, and look like theirs.

back to the 9100xx, some people do complain about the head gear on speedglas, not the comfort so much as the tendency for the mask to flop down over your face, the 9100 series is not as bad as the 9002 series, still does it a little bit though, but that is the only little thing wrong with them, other than that they are in my opinion the perfect helmet, and the filters are great too, the 9100xx filter is brilliant, huge screen/window and a good range of settings, plus i don't like masks with solar power, it's pointless, they still have batteries that wear out eventually they're just not replaceable, i'm pretty sure thats what went wrong with my old mask. the batteries in my 9002d last literally years for me, i've changed them once.

good masks anyway, have a look at them, most people seem to like the optrel, esab or speedglas, or all of them of course!

 

[madkayaker]

speedglass have the best reputation but are costly. I have a ESAB and can't fault it. It was working great yesterday with TIG at 10amps.

http://www.weldequip.com/esab-origotech.htm

 

[Engineer1964]

I use an esab EyeTech at work with no issues at all, they are reliable, tough and can be cheap on consumables.

shades go fro 9 to 13 so suitable for most welding

I also have a Plain Jackson helmest with the glass filter shade, but they say once you've tried auto theres no going back

 

[hotrodder]

I don't think there is a 'the best full stop', they've all got good and not so good points. I like Speedglas... the optics are right up there but probably not the best, the head gear is a bit crap and you need Speedglas specific lens covers but the breathing exhaust port and side windows make up for any other short comings imo- makes them sooo light and airy as buckets go. Those same side windows could be a pita if working with other welders though...

One of my pet hates is manufacturers hiding batteries expecting you to replace the entire lens or take the thing apart to replace 'em. I've never given Optrel a second glance for this reason. Having the controls on the outside is a bonus for some people but personally i see it as adding bulk where it's not needed- when you need to get your head into tight spots etc. The Jackson Boss/shadow shell excels here as it's so narrow and flexible

 

[Ragnarok]

Those same side windows could be a pita if working with other welders though...

the mask comes with covers for the side windows if you want to blank them out both of mine had them in the box anyway.