Expensive welding helmets?

[super noob]

The 9100xxi head gear definitely isn't as flimsy looking as the Miller one you posted!
But yes there is a huge difference in mask quality depending on what you buy....

I came from a £100 weldability mask which is generally a decent mask but the 9100xxi blows it out the water! The improved field of vision is brilliant as is the fact I've yet to trick the mask into flashing me unlike the old one


Plus the plastic quality is much better, nothing wrong with the old one, it survived and did the job but I wouldn't hesitate buying a higher end mask over one of those again

 

[Bill Edwards]

Thing is Bill unless you let your optician know exactly what you want the glasses for, you will end up in a situation where in most cases there will still be a need to use an optically poor cheater lens, which kind of makes any expensive helmet, work a lot less well.

Well perhaps there are opticians and opticians... I have no problem whatsoever, he does the eye test and gives me what I need. If the time comes where it isn't all quite as simple I know he'll tell me and I'll end up with varifocals or whatever.
If you have doubts about your optician, find another one - I don't see welding as being any different to other close-up work such as reading, and it can't be a big issue to get glasses to suit.

 

[daleyd]

I have an Origo Tech, and with a cheater lens fitted to both, the actual view of the weld pool is no different to my £240 Miller.

Welding helmets and BS seem to be directly linked, with most buying on appearance and features, many of which appear to me to be pretty pointless.

I've only ever owned these two and used old handheld masks about 20 years ago, but when I bought the new tech one I was expecting a massive difference, and while it's better it's not a world away.
That's not to say I'm disappointed, it's a great lid - I'd get another if it came along at the right price - I think perhaps it says something that the origo is a fairly decent lid for a "budget" one - or maybe that I don't know what I'm talking about when it comes to lids ( which is quite likely!).

 

[Richard.]

I've only ever owned these two and used old handheld masks about 20 years ago, but when I bought the new tech one I was expecting a massive difference, and while it's better it's not a world away.
That's not to say I'm disappointed, it's a great lid - I'd get another if it came along at the right price - I think perhaps it says something that the origo is a fairly decent lid for a "budget" one - or maybe that I don't know what I'm talking about when it comes to lids ( which is quite likely!).

What's the right price. Mines up on the page for sale.

 

[Richard.]

The 9100xxi head gear definitely isn't as flimsy looking as the Miller one you posted!
But yes there is a huge difference in mask quality depending on what you buy....

I came from a £100 weldability mask which is generally a decent mask but the 9100xxi blows it out the water! The improved field of vision is brilliant as is the fact I've yet to trick the mask into flashing me unlike the old one


Plus the plastic quality is much better, nothing wrong with the old one, it survived and did the job but I wouldn't hesitate buying a higher end mask over one of those again

Don't get me wrong the 9100 is a brilliant design of lid and I've heard the xxi is awesome. but the head gear is a shambles IMO.

 

[daleyd]

What's the right price. Mines up on the page for sale.

Lol I've already got one rich - if I didn't I'd be looking at yours very carefully!

The amount of use mine gets it will be in perfect nick when I hand it down to the grandkids ha ha

 

[Richard.]

Lol...............see you prefer old technology over comfort and function! I have been using Miller for more than a year now, with no problems at all, headgear is very comfortable, and the only one I have ever used which its easily possible to adjust for nod down when required.

370 head gear is an old simple design made brilliant. It's been on there lids unchanged for years and is still the same on the current range. has a reputation in the states for be best head gear bar none.

 

[super noob]

Don't get me wrong the 9100 is a brilliant design of lid and I've heard the xxi is awesome. but the head gear is a shambles IMO.

yeah its not as good as it could be but it is functional and comfy, if they upped their game on the head gear then they'd have market domination IMO

I think they' e tried to make it super adjustable and that just leads to it being a bit fiddly

 

[Richard.]

yeah its not as good as it could be but it is functional and comfy, if they upped their game on the head gear then they'd have market domination IMO

I think they' e tried to make it super adjustable and that just leads to it being a bit fiddly

They pretty much do have market domination. I travel a fair bit and get to see a lot of sites and fab shops etc. 9/10 the welders are wearing speedglas every where I go. They are the market leaders and not by a bit either. I might not like the headgear too much but most welders love it

 

[Chris Stevens]

I know someone who works for Rapid, and will ask him to bring a 9100XXi for me to have a look next time I speak to him. Get the feeling that its probably the best on the market currently, and will be interesting to see how it compares to the Miller, which in itself is very good indeed.

 

[Richard.]

I know someone who works for Rapid, and will ask him to bring a 9100XXi for me to have a look next time I speak to him. Get the feeling that its probably the best on the market currently, and will be interesting to see how it compares to the Miller, which in itself is very good indeed.

Would be good if you can get one to try.

 

[gordon stephenson]

I bought headgear from an Esab (New on ebay for around £8-00) and fitted it into my Speedglas, Only took a few minutes and is a great improvement.

 

[Chris Stevens]

Well perhaps there are opticians and opticians... I have no problem whatsoever, he does the eye test and gives me what I need. If the time comes where it isn't all quite as simple I know he'll tell me and I'll end up with varifocals or whatever.
If you have doubts about your optician, find another one - I don't see welding as being any different to other close-up work such as reading, and it can't be a big issue to get glasses to suit.

Problem is unless you let your optician know you want glasses specific for welding, depending on prescription your glasses will be for either distance or reading. With either glasses there is a good chance a cheater lens will be needed. Bang goes the optical quality of an expensive new welding helmet.....................

They do tend to push varifocals as profit much better on these, but cant see they would be that great for welding?

 

[Richard.]

You'll be tested at close/far distance and given the specs where your eyesight is weak. If you need a cheater lens your sight is poor for close up vision (reading, writing, welding) an eye test will pic this up easily. If you need glasses for reading then you probably need them for welding too.

 

[Chris Stevens]

You'll be tested at close/far distance and given the specs where your eyesight is weak. If you need a cheater lens your sight is poor for close up vision (reading, writing, welding) an eye test will pic this up easily. If you need glasses for reading then you probably need them for welding too.

Do you wear glasses I wonder?

 

[Bill Edwards]

Problem is unless you let your optician know you want glasses specific for welding, depending on prescription your glasses will be for either distance or reading. With either glasses there is a good chance a cheater lens will be needed. Bang goes the optical quality of an expensive new welding helmet.....................

They do tend to push varifocals as profit much better on these, but cant see they would be that great for welding?

Richard has it above in post 34, they will pick up on your eyesight limitations and tell you what you need - that's the main point of an eye test, alongside checking their health. If your optician doesn't tell you what you need and why, find a better one. Personally I avoid anywhere such as Specsavers and find an old boy on a side street who's been doing it a lifetime and actually knows his stuff, rather than passing a test then being let loose.

I don't see what difference there is between welding and other close up work. And I know people do use varifocals to weld.

 

[langy]

I see comments that the miller headgear is flimsy, I assume the comments are based on simply looking at it as I've had miller lids for years and never had any problems, they are the most comfortable I've used.

 

[Richard.]

Do you wear glasses I wonder?

No. Never had but my dad has been practically blind on his short sight since before I was thought about and he needs his glasses for any short sighting whether it be reading, working on a car even welding.

 

[Richard.]

I see comments that the miller headgear is flimsy, I assume the comments are based on simply looking at it as I've had miller lids for years and never had any problems, they are the most comfortable I've used.

They look it but you'll know better than I do as I don't own one. They look similar to the speedglas head gear which I don't particularly like. Horses for courses. I'm sure it's great they just look similar to the generic way most are going now a days. Lots of moving parts, very thin and a bit on the delicate side.

 

[Kent]

I have a Miller Digital Elite (£240), and a cheapy ESAB (£60ish), and while the Miller has far more features, and possibly the very best head gear of any helmet, the actual view I get through the 2 helmets is pretty much the same, and not as good as a non reactive hand held with glass lens.

Like many older people I use a cheater lens which while it magnifys is optically pretty poor. I am getting the feeling that rather than falling for BS advertising of helmet manufacturers, a lot of us would probably be better off visiting an optician and paying maybe £20 for a purpose made pair of glasses?

Yep pretty much correct