Best welding hood? - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

mjkelly78 · 01-31-2008, 08:53 PM

What type of welding hood do you guys that weld alot use? I have never used the auto-darkening style, have any of you? I think they would probably be cool, but could not imagine dishing out all the $$ for one. Also, I would be to scared to use it welding in possition overhead because it might get burnt. Curious what you all thought.

toesthedog · 02-13-2008, 01:11 PM

hey bud, I have been using a speedglass hood from the 3M company. They are really bad ass and you can customize them anyway you want. How sensitive they are, response time, anything. I use mine for everything from air arcing to mig welding to overhead structural. You can by replacement cover lenses for noting. Yea they are expensive, but I found great deals on ebay for around $250. Hope this helps!

Railman · 02-13-2008, 02:03 PM

I don't weld professionally, but have been doing it for a long time, for hobby, shop machinery fabrications, & maintainance. I didn't want to spend a lot just to try one, so what I did was just buy the $50 sale model from Harbor Freight. I've been using it for about 2 years now, & don't know how I'd do without it. It's just so much easier than starting blind! It seems to be plenty fast, & has an adjustment for shade.

For $50, it's a good way to try it out!

Joe

**joasis** · 02-13-2008, 05:54 PM

Your eyes are worth a lot....get a good model. I use a Huntsman...$250 or so, and it has been dropped, abused, and used hard for 4 years now....the only thing I would prefer would be to have a dual sensor for the "arc flash" because when you are doing structural welding, you can be holding or positioning and your arm or hand can shield the sensor.

mdshunk · 02-13-2008, 06:08 PM

I bought the auto darkening one for one simple reason. It has a dial inside to set the darkness rather than experimenting with different glass shades. My eyes must be weird, because when I was learning to weld, the helmets that everyone could see just fine out of while welding, I couldn't see squat. I got the auto darkening one so that I could play with the dial until I could see what I was doing.

diggerdude · 02-15-2008, 05:10 PM

I use a Radnor auto darkening helmet at work. I love it. I use it grinding,mig,arc and air arcing. I would never go back to a traditional helmet again.

mjkelly78 · 02-15-2008, 09:29 PM

Good stuff guys. After I posted that question, my brother let me borrow his Miller auto-darkening hood and man is it cool. It makes everything so much easier. I have started saving my money because I "need" one of those

!

buildenterprise · 02-15-2008, 09:32 PM

I was in Lowe's yesterday and they had some of those auto darkening ones on clearance. Just FYI, it may not be in all stores.

CNC · 08-07-2008, 12:03 AM

miller elites are well worth the money. Especially the new digital one with presets!

HillbillyFab · 08-19-2008, 08:04 PM

I use an ole Fibermetal 2x4 flipfront and a jackson shadow. I've got so use to using these, that Ifind myself reaching for them instead of my Speedglass AD. I weld for a living and the contractors I work for provide the lenses that i use, so that might have an effect on things.