Which welding helmet?

[Arclikeharrypotter]

Compared to the gys and phantom the op was looking at both masks are well over double the price!

 

[Hood]

........It’s very ugly (imo) and very expensive. Would still like to have a go though.

Ha ha I think the same but opposite, Sentinal to me is Ugly, Panoramaxx is beautiful

 

[Hood]

Compared to the gys and phantom the op was looking at both masks are well over double the price!

I have a Phantom XL, nice clear view and a clear blueish tint rather than the normal green although definitely not as crisp/clear as the Optrel E684. The shell however is just your standard style which is basically the same feel as the real cheap ones and, for my head at least, not that comfortable. Still at £70 or so it is a good lid.

 

[Richard.]

Ha ha I think the same but opposite, Sentinal to me is Ugly, Panoramaxx is beautiful

Ha ha beauty is in the eye of the beholder ha ha.

That surprises me because the e684 is a nice looking lid and probably closer in looks to an a50 than a pano.
The designer pulled an all nighter when they drew up that pano and probably settled on it about 4am when the red bull was wearing off

 

[Hood]

....

That surprises me because the e684 is a nice looking lid and probably closer in looks to an a50 than a pano.....

Not so sure about that, the Optrels look very similar basic shape to me where the Esab is angular.

 

[Richard.]

We are seeing different things here mate.
To me the last two look more similar than the first two.

 

[Richard.]

Functionality is key any way. At the end of the day I’d have no problem owning the ugliest eye sore of a mask on the planet if it ticks all the boxes which is why I’m keeping an open mind about that pano till I try it.
There are guys out there that want an attractive looking lid and would chose looks over function but for me it’s a tool and a piece of ppe. I’ve just treated myself to one of those new digital infinite things. Did a try before buy and I couldn’t bring my self to send it back. Head gear is crap but I have got a nice head set that will fit in the holes nice so that’s sorted.
It’s not as light in the off state shade as the optrel or esab but it’s verrrrrrry clear when the arc is struck and that viewing area is huge I can see everything. Controls are the dogs dangles. Push button, inside and can use with gloves. That’s how they should be imo.
Now for my honest opinion. It’s perfect for me who does an hour or two of low amp tig work where I’m not welding for Huge amounts of time but when I am welding I want perfect pool clarity. It’s got that. However I would of returned it if I was welding 6,8,10 hours a day. That viewing area is the biggest on the market and it’s amazing but it comes at a weight cost. It’s a heavy lid and it’s front heavy. There is a clip on the lid that seats when you lift it up because without it it would likely keep falling down. When I swap out the head gear it will be lovely and comfortable. So it’s perfect for me because I’d chose clarity and view size over weight but if I was wearing full time I’d chose a sentinel or something similar lighter and more balanced.

 

[Burdekin]

I have a Lincoln Viking 3350, optics are brilliant and a Parweld, Pareweld get's used for welding under car and in tight spots and get's chucked about. I take much better care of the Viking and use it for jobs like tig or welding at the bench. If it's going to suffer a bit of abuse get a nice helmet in the £50 to £70 range, if you will take care of it then spend a bit more for the slightly better optics.

 

[Richard.]

I had a Viking. It was great. Had fantastic head gear. But I kept going back to my trusty old new tech and hardly used the Viking so I sold it. Have you got the 4c lens. Mine predated this lens so I didn’t get chance to try it but I’ve heard it’s on another level again.

 

[Jim Davey]

Nothing divides opiniolike a my helmet is better than yours thread...

 

[Richard.]

There is only one perfect mask.
The one you design yourself. If I could I’d make a mask id do it out of the following.
Jackson truesight darkened optics
Vegaview/e684 etc 2.5 light state optics
Sentinel balance and weight distribution
Miller infinity viewing area
Speedglas front cover removal
Jackson w70 headgear
Viking 3350 and sentinel for cartridge Removal (same design)
Miller or speedglas for the internal control buttons.
X mode from miller or esab aristo hd excellent feature.

The perfect lid that will never exist.
I Best Buy them all then.

 

[Bill Edwards]

Functionality is key any way. At the end of the day I’d have no problem owning the ugliest eye sore of a mask on the planet if it ticks all the boxes which is why I’m keeping an open mind about that pano till I try it.
There are guys out there that want an attractive looking lid and would chose looks over function but for me it’s a tool and a piece of ppe. I’ve just treated myself to one of those new digital infinite things. Did a try before buy and I couldn’t bring my self to send it back. Head gear is crap but I have got a nice head set that will fit in the holes nice so that’s sorted.
It’s not as light in the off state shade as the optrel or esab but it’s verrrrrrry clear when the arc is struck and that viewing area is huge I can see everything. Controls are the dogs dangles. Push button, inside and can use with gloves. That’s how they should be imo.
Now for my honest opinion. It’s perfect for me who does an hour or two of low amp tig work where I’m not welding for Huge amounts of time but when I am welding I want perfect pool clarity. It’s got that. However I would of returned it if I was welding 6,8,10 hours a day. That viewing area is the biggest on the market and it’s amazing but it comes at a weight cost. It’s a heavy lid and it’s front heavy. There is a clip on the lid that seats when you lift it up because without it it would likely keep falling down. When I swap out the head gear it will be lovely and comfortable. So it’s perfect for me because I’d chose clarity and view size over weight but if I was wearing full time I’d chose a sentinel or something similar lighter and more balanced.

I've sometimes referred to the Panoramaxx as an ugly welding helmet - you could say that I didn't instantly think it the most beautiful helmet in existence!
But I liked the specs so tried and then bought one as like you, what it does is all that matters.

 

[Richard.]

I've sometimes referred to the Panoramaxx as an ugly welding helmet - you could say that I didn't instantly think it the most beautiful helmet in existence!
But I liked the specs so tried and then bought one as like you, what it does is all that matters.

That’s all that matters in reality is that it suits your needs. There is a reason that all these big player welding masks sell plenty of them and that is not because they are all the same. It’s because they are all different and one mans choice is another mans nightmare. Take external controls for example. It’s enough to divide the forum in half. I hate them with a passion but some love em. So the market requirements are both in order to fill the market with options. It’s a well known fact that speedglas dominates this market in the uk and have done for many many years. I’ve walked round thousands of fab shops and sites and it’s very rare I don’t see a speedglas. They were the best, some say they still are but what they have done is carry that reputation right through. Personally I wouldn’t have one now as it’s my feelings that they lost there way when they changed from the 9002 to the 9100. But many think it’s an improvement over the 9002 series so it’s all opinionated. I’m picky with them and I don’t think a perfect mask ever will exist as far as I’m concerned but there are some bleeding good ens out there.

 

[Hood]

As said I thought I would love the 9100fx but I don't. The E684 I love but still get issues with misting up on occasions although it is much better than any others I have had.
External controls I liked but since I have had the E684 I don't touch them anyway as the Auto Pilot gets things right for me, only time I need to adjust is stick welding in bright sunshine, for some reason it is too dark but easily adjusted internal control would be fine for that so I think I can live with that on the Panoramaxx. I am in hope that the lens being close to my eyes and a nose guard on the Panoramaxx will help with the misting, if not I need to find thinner clothing which is extremely warm and probably also go on a diet

 

[Richard.]

The breath guard on the pano should sort out the misting up issues you get with the e684.

 

[Hood]

The breath guard on the pano should sort out the misting up issues you get with the e684.

I am hoping so although as I said the E684 is much better than any I have used before regarding misting but it still does it when cramped up in a corner with thick clothing on which blocks the flow.

 

[Burdekin]

I had a Viking. It was great. Had fantastic head gear. But I kept going back to my trusty old new tech and hardly used the Viking so I sold it. Have you got the 4c lens. Mine predated this lens so I didn’t get chance to try it but I’ve heard it’s on another level again.

Not sure, bought it earlier this year so it's not too old. The optics are very clear.

 

[Richard.]

Not sure, bought it earlier this year so it's not too old. The optics are very clear.

Could well be the 4C lens.
Is it green or a white/blue when you strike up. The older lens which I had was green. Very clear mind.

 

[Burdekin]

Could well be the 4C lens.
Is it green or a white/blue when you strike up. The older lens which I had was green. Very clear mind.

Blue I think bit will need to check. I'm colour blind and don't pay much attention to colours.

 

[Bill Edwards]

As said I thought I would love the 9100fx but I don't. The E684 I love but still get issues with misting up on occasions although it is much better than any others I have had.
External controls I liked but since I have had the E684 I don't touch them anyway as the Auto Pilot gets things right for me, only time I need to adjust is stick welding in bright sunshine, for some reason it is too dark but easily adjusted internal control would be fine for that so I think I can live with that on the Panoramaxx. I am in hope that the lens being close to my eyes and a nose guard on the Panoramaxx will help with the misting, if not I need to find thinner clothing which is extremely warm and probably also go on a diet

It’s early days for me yet but I have now used the panoramamaxx in the nasty conditions of late and so far I can say that misting is not happening. I’m sure I would have been cursing the other helmets by now.