Tig welding helmet

8tonsemi · Wed Mar 20, 2013 8:22 am

So I'm starting TIG class soon and I need to provide my own helmet so I was wondering if you guys had any suggestions for a cheep reliable auto darkening helmet for TIG. My price range is about 50-120 bucks. These were a couple I was thinking of.

http://www.harborfreight.com/welding/we ... 91214.html

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/ ... _200480403

http://store.cyberweld.com/hohoweheimbl.html

Thanks 8ton

kamelhmmvafan · Wed Mar 20, 2013 8:56 am

I have not tried any of above so no opinion on them.
I used to work with welding and I tried alot of helmets from different brands.
If you going to weld much buy a good quality helmet, I love Kemppi brand helmets. Regardless just make sure that the helmet meets all safety restrictions. Its for your own protection, eyesight can never be replaced.
Just my 2 cents

8tonsemi · Wed Mar 20, 2013 9:26 am

kamelhmmvafan wrote:I have not tried any of above so no opinion on them.
I used to work with welding and I tried alot of helmets from different brands.
If you going to weld much buy a good quality helmet, I love Kemppi brand helmets. Regardless just make sure that the helmet meets all safety restrictions. Its for your own protection, eyesight can never be replaced.
Just my 2 cents

Never heard of that brand I'll have to check them out, thanks.

Labtecpower · Wed Mar 20, 2013 10:57 am

I used a 3M speedglas helmet for welding, I liked that one very well.
Very fast reaction times, and nice clear vision.

Wed Mar 20, 2013 4:23 pm

You have to keep the sensors clean in order to maintain good workmanship on ALL the auto darkening helmets. The battery driven auto darks are more reliable then the solar cell driven helmets. Of the 3 you listed the Hobart is by far the better IMO.

The other 2 are basically the same save yourself the 10 bucks if you go that way. I've heard nothing but good about the 3m speedglas, never heard of the Kemppi brand so IDK. I have a Tigerhood element I'm going to adapt a helmet to, it's just BADASS! I can't wait to get that one going....

Go to a welding shop and see 1st hand what they are using in the field. Should be a easy decision, there's only a gazillion to chose from.

8tonsemi · Wed Mar 20, 2013 8:45 pm

I think I'm probably going to go with the hobart going off what you guys said.
Thanks for the help

ramses · Wed Mar 20, 2013 9:16 pm

the harbor freight one works well enough. (for me at least). Just make sure that you don't manage to block the solar cell/sensor with anything before striking the arc. That will cause it to not trip

Crna Legija · Fri Apr 05, 2013 5:48 am

If you're gonna do much on aluminum get your self a tig finger its a life saver

Zeus · Fri Apr 05, 2013 5:57 am

Getting a decent AC TIG soon, on a "have it now, buy it when you can" arrangement. That TIG finger looks like a ripper idea, will be doing a lot of Al.

jsefcik · Fri Apr 05, 2013 7:24 am

I have harbor freight one, im cheap, I got it so I have something to use better then using a walking stick rest of your life

Crna Legija · Fri Apr 05, 2013 7:26 am

yeah saves a lot of burnt fingers and you can prop right near the weld so your steady r and end with a better weld!

i was about to but my own but i we have one at work i can use when ever for free, if you can get one with high freq start, its so much better and for alu you'll want a foot pedal

8tonsemi · Fri Apr 05, 2013 6:15 pm

I thought about getting a tig finger but I don't do enough welding right now for it to be worth it. And the welder I'm thinking of getting in the future is this one
http://www.longevity-inc.com/productcat ... gweld-200d

Or this one.
http://www.longevity-inc.com/productcat ... weldr-200d

Tig welding helmet

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