Northern Tool Welding Helmet

[Jarrett]

Does anyone have this welding helmet from Northern Tool? It has a very quick response time and a very attractive price. Also, what are the pro's & con's you've experienced with a solar only welding helmet?

 

[SnowRidge]

It sure got a lot of positive reviews. I have one of the $250 helmets, which has both solar and batteries, and I wouldn't rate it that high. It easts batteries, even when switched off.

Why not just buy it?

 

[Mighty Dodge]

I bought one 3 years ago. Works great and you can't beat the price.

M.D.

 

[J_J]

Does anyone have this welding helmet from Northern Tool? It has a very quick response time and a very attractive price. Also, what are the pro's & con's you've experienced with a solar only welding helmet?

I have one of those helmets. It has worked great, with variable shade adjustments. I read somewhere that if they fail, it will fail to somewhere around a shade four. You can test them with a cigarette lighter. I usually look to the side of the helmet on the first arc just to make sure that it is working.

 

[SnowRidge]

I have one of those helmets. It has worked great, with variable shade adjustments. I read somewhere that if they fail, it will fail to somewhere around a shade four. You can test them with a cigarette lighter. I usually look to the side of the helmet on the first arc just to make sure that it is working.

I squeeze an acetylene striker to test my helmet.

 

[bobodu]

I don't own that particular model,but I have basically the same helmet from HF for three years.Just bought the battery operated "skull" model on Friday.I have a problem with the mess in my shop and figure that big red skull outta stand out when I misplace my helmet.I find it cheap enough to replace the whole thing when the lens gets messed up enough not to see through.

 

[bx24]

I have that helmet and I really like it. I was using it during the very hot summer months (95+ degrees outside in the shade) and I was looking almost straight down while welding and I noticed that my forehead was dripping saltwater onto the switches. The helmet did fail shortly thereafter but it was not a big surprise given the relationship between saltwater and printed circuit boards. The replacement has operated flawlessly since. I would not hesitate to buy one - you will enjoy it.

If you are in the heat like I was, either keep a slight angle or put a piece of tape over the switches.

 

[wushaw]

I have the same helmet, it works good. I have had it for @ a year now.
The head gear is junk, I swapped out the head gear with better stuff and I am happy with it now.

 

[Georgia Boy]

I have one like that and used it for the first time last week and I really liked it. I was welding some fence panels on some gates and using a 135 mig, you would not believe how fast I finished each one. There was no raising the helmet or changing rods.

 

[Tom_Veatch]

Does anyone have this welding helmet from Northern Tool? It has a very quick response time and a very attractive price. Also, what are the pro's & con's you've experienced with a solar only welding helmet?

Don't know about that particular helmet, but I have one from Harbor Freight that is a "solar only" helmet. In response to that part of your question, I can only say that it's never failed to darken properly.

In fact, I find that I usually reach for the el-cheapo HF helmet instead of my considerably more expensive Miller XLix. (And if anyone asks why, I can't really give you an objective answer - I just like it better.)

 

[SkunkWerX]

Thnaks for all the reviews everyone, this helps. I haven't gotten one yet, but the prices are so low, now, I am going to have to grab one.

BX24, that is a great recommendation about protecting the circuit board.

Once they have darkened, like if you test it with a striker, how long does it take to go back to lighter. I know the darkening is ultra-fast, but how about afterward, just as fast? or a second or two...or five?

 

[kossetx]

I started a post about this about a year ago. I had mone for about 2 years before ever using it. I'll never go back.

Some here it may hurt your eyes. Not a problem for me.

 

[bx24]

it lightens back up in a second or two .... Until you asked the question, I never thought about it so that will tell you about how much of a problem it is

 

[Harry c]

The helmet works great. The time for returning from dark back to light is actually adjustable on this El Cheapo! It has a 2 position switch that I originally thought controlled the darkening time. The only complaint is the tilt friction adjustment creeps and after raising and lowering a couple of times I have to retighten one of the knobs. I've had it a year and like it better than the three high dollar units I've used. The literature says the lens blocks 100% of the harmful UV even if it isn't darkened. It stops the eye damage but the flash will still be really bright. I understand the lens will eventually go bad but it will last much longer if kept in the dark. I just drop mine back in the original box and stuff it in my storage cabinet.

 

[3RRL]

I liked mine so much I ended up getting another one for at home.
Now I have 2 of them, one for home and one for camp. I think they are great.

 

[heymack]

I have one too. It lightens back up very quickly after the arc is stopped.

 

[blacksmith]

I have used a Harbor Freight helmet that I paid $49 for years without any problems using stick, tig and mig.

 

[wushaw]

I need to let ya know mine just broke, it took a year.

I was doing some tack welding and didn't notice anything till later that night, my L/H eye was hurting and I tried to figure out what was up all night and the rest of the next day.

I decided to test the helmet with just a flashlight and much to my surprise it was not working correctly, it would go dark but then lighten up, so I decided to file it away in the trash and my GF is getting me a Miller Elite for XMAS.

Here is a pic of it before it hit the trash. I removed the headgear and put it back on my Jackson.

 

[Deerlope]

I have had a Hobart for 6 years. Love it, solar, battery and auto on/off. I paid a lot more than 50 bucks for it.

 

[kenmac]

I just bought 1 from H.F. today . 49.95 . I had a 15% off cupon that they sent me