which Welding Helmet to buy - "I was blind for several hours."

[Johnnyappleseed]

What are your thoughts on buying a welding helmet? Should I simply buy the best helmet I can afford like the Miller Digital Infinity or Miller Elite or is a lower cost helmet auto darkening good enough. I think these helmets can also be used for grinding too.

I can tell you that a few months ago I got a chip in my eye from being completely negligent and it was a very bad experience. I had to be rushed to an eye specialist and fortunately there was no permanent damage and the eye healed up. I was blind for several hours. The eye doctor said that in his 25 years it was the biggest thing he had ever taken out of some ones eye. Seriously I thought I was going to be blind in that eye. I know my wife would surely spring for whatever helmet is the best but I don't want to over buy either.

Thoughts on helmets please?

[Aeronca41]

I have both a Miller Digital Elite (found used on CL for $100 in almost-new condition) and a lincoln Viking 3350. I like both of them and use them pretty much interchangeably. I tend to not have strong feelings about such things, as now only a hobbyist, but guys who use them all day every day can probably provide more insight. The Miller will only use Panasonic batteries; any other battery I tried was just slightly smaller and didn't work. Don't know about the Viking since I only buy Panasonic batteries now.

Eyes are precious! Only two to a customer! Glad your bad experience turned out well. A friend of my dad's (a photographer) lost an eye over "just one quick cut" on some plywood with a table saw and no eye protection. He was a very safety conscious guy, but went without eye protection "just once". My every-day trifocals are ANSI Safety glass providing an "always-on" (but not sufficient) level of safety, coupled with either a welding hood or full face shield for cutting or grinding.

One of the members here, Olivero, has commented on helmets. search his posts. I'm sure there will be plenty of opinions shortly; lots of experience available here. Lots of views.

[Johnnyappleseed]

A friend of my dad's (a photographer) lost an eye over "just one quick cut" on some plywood with a table saw and no eye protection. He was a very safety conscious guy, but went without eye protection "just once".

My situation was not much different than that but I was luckly. I hope not to test that luck again.

[Oldgrandad]

Now I have a Jackson Boss hood and a Miller digital elite. Like them both . Do a lot of hood down grinding and wire brushing, keeps the face safe and clean. One of the kids I work with has the bottom of the line Miller auto-darkening hoods and loves it, going on 5 years with no problems it was only about $70 on sale. About 10 years ago harbor freight came out with an auto-darkening hood (real cheap) myself and another welder both bought one. BIG MISTAKE we both got welders flash after the first day of welding. Got our money back but it wasn't worth the pain. I recommend sticking with the big names when buying a welding helmet, you don't need their top of the line the tech is good throughout all the hoods, just more or less bells and whistles

[H80N]

I have a Miller Big Window Elite that has served me very well for more than 10 years

My suggestion.... is to buy quality..... what is your sight worth.....??

[Olivero]

Aha!

Finally.

Where do we begin!

Depending your type of work, will be the thing on your helmet. I originally used a Miller Performance for 1-2 years, I kept getting so annoyed about the helmet flashing me when grinding so I would have to switch to a clear grinding shield.

Then one day I was surfing millers website and found the Titanium series, has a grind shield built in and the lens flips up. Has all kinds of fancy timers and alarms that I only really see handy to remind you when Dinner's on the table

It really depends on your work, I would definetley not go cheap on a helmet but get quality ones. I have not used any auto-darkening but Millers but I will stand behind them 100%. I have never had a problem with my Titanium helmet and the Performance is still hanging on the wall being used by others in the shop (no one touches my hood without permission )

all in all, they are all great helmets, head gear can break, might need to repaint them (if you care about the looks) but they last, and they work good, every time, to me, That's what I care about, I can rely on it. I can bring my helmet to a job knowing I won't have trouble with it. Then I can focus all my worrying on why my welds look awfull today and figure out I forgot to turn the gas on.......

So really, get a good helmet, I recommend Millers Elite, Infinity and Titanium. The Titaium is heavy though, you will notice that after 8 hours of looking down or up, your neck will be tired.

Won't trash another brand, ESAB is coming out with a jet pilot type hood this January for less than $300 maybe that's an option? Its a Sentinel A50 (Looks badas$) Supposedly good but I would not know.

Anyways, let me know what your specifically looking for and I will help you out

[ryanjones2150]

Holy cow....it's all about how many hot chics your hood can get you. Do we have to hash this out yet again?!!

[Olivero]

Lol, just mentioned it briefly Ryan.... Jeeeez.

I am trying to help him pick the best helmet not a pretty one, this time I won' do it...... I won't.... I wo....

[Aeronca41]

See, Johnny, I told you Olivero would have something to say on this topic! :-)

[MAC702]

You should be wearing your clear safety glasses under your welding hood (it's not a helmet). Clear safety glasses still block the bad UV and will prevent "flash" damage from UV rays that bounce back from behind you and off your shirt. You can walk around a welding shop with clear safety glasses on and while you'll get bright spots, you won't get UV damage.

While I find it hard to believe that even the cheapest hood is passing UV through the lens, even in a clear state, I'm using Miller and Jackson hoods that are going on 12 and 15 years of service, respectively. Amortize the cost.

[Olivero]

You should be wearing your clear safety glasses under your welding hood (it's not a helmet). Clear safety glasses still block the bad UV and will prevent "flash" damage from UV rays that bounce back from behind you and off your shirt. You can walk around a welding shop with clear safety glasses on and while you'll get bright spots, you won't get UV damage.

Yeah might block UV but I don't think its safe to just wear clear ones. The shade intensifies it.

I didn't believe you until I looked it up.

https://www.uline.com/BL_8957/Ice-Wraparounds

99.9% Uv protection... I had no idea.