Standard newbie question on helmets.

[ukracer]

Apart from dropping lucky like some of you did with a cheap ones on ebay what is the latest thoughts on helmets. I can buy as many cheap chinese ones as I want and dont mind replacing them when they break BUT I used my mates speedglas last night and for the first time I could see what I was welding THROUGH the mask.

SO I am searching the forums and see lots of advice but its all a few months out of date now.

I see a nice cheap one on weldequips site. I also see what could be the same helmet with a different name on it on wellingtons site.

That price would be great IF I can see what I am welding. It wont be used like you guys do 8 or 10 hours a day but needs be be good enough for me to see the welding I am (trying to do)


I do need a decent helmet but I only have about 100 quid max to spare just now.

SO Unless some of those 80 quid ones appear on ebay I am looking for advise on a good helmet for less than a hundred quid.

I have seen these

http://www.weldequip.com/swp-welding-helmet.htm

and this one http://www.weldequip.com/phantom-xl-helmet.htm

I could stretch to IF its worth the extra.

Has any one used these I have listed ??

 

[ibrooks]

ebay item number 140804311039

I don't know what you've got at the moment that you can't see through but I've yet to come across any problem with mine which is as far as I can tell exactly the same as that one. I just couldn't justify spending 4 times the amount on one when that does the job perfectly well.

The "grinding" function is maybe a bit of a misnomer as a welding helmet is far bulkier than a set of goggles and even when it doesn't switch it's got a tint to it so I don't use it for grinding. What that function IS great for though is when using the plasma cutter.

Iain

 

[pedrobedro]

A friend of mine had a cheap auto helmet which he was always complaining about not being able to see through. I was round at his shed one day and he was going on at it and I asked if he had removed the peel off plastic from the lens. He called me names for thinking he was stupid so I asked if he had removed the plastic from the inside as well. He went quiet and then came back out of the shed and apologised for calling me I have one of the SWP helmets and it works fine.

 

[chunkolini]

Weldingelmets are like sunglasses.
I remember my first auto helmet being fantastic.
Then I tried a speedglas.
Like going from supermarket shades to oakleys.
My current one is an Optrel E680.
Even better. A pimp ass helmet.


Seriously, get the best you can find, ebay bargains do work; sometimes.
Scrabble round the bay it is worth the effort.
This one came in at just under £200 instead of £400 ish.
There are are better buys. look out for ones that are badly advertised.

Well worth hanging about for.

 

[hugehelmet]

The balders range offer a great true colour lens and top optical quality

 

[gavuk]

I bought this helmet a few months ago ,seems to be ok ,haven't used it an awful lot because of christmas ,but worked well on low amp tig ,I don't use the grinding function but mig worked well too....

WELDING MASK