SSelf darkening helmet

[Eyecatcher]

First off, I don't do much welding. Just a little around the farm, and if my son is working anywhere in the area, I don't do that. Problem is, he's a welder/fabricator and travels wherever he needs to make a living. I have an old SA200, but haven't stick welded since I borrowed his old Airco MIG (and I aint gonna give it back), big problem is, can't see too well anymore. Bought a cheater lens for the helmet, but that's an awful small lens opening for an old man, so I bought a HF auto helmet, and use a pair of store bought specs to wear under it. Worked pretty good for a while, now doesn't darken too well. somebody told me I had to lay it out in the sun to recharge the solar system. Is that true? (aren't any batteries) or is just another HF piece of junk?

 

[DXN1EL]

I have this Variable Auto Darkening Welding Helmet with Metal Head Design

There are no replaceable battery in it, so let sit on the sun for a while

 

[CNC Dan]

I get about five to seven years out of cheap auto dark helmets. Then the internal batteries die and it takes a moment to go dark. I tried to pull one apart once, but it was glued together so well I ruined it before I got it apart. Too bad too, as it would have been easy to replace the coin cells, or add an external holder to take two AAA cells.

 

[Norm W]

I hang my helmet in the window when not in use. It's a HF auto dark and it's been going now for about ten years. Most people keep them in the dark and wonder why they don't work.

 

[diesel lover]

First off, I don't do much welding. Just a little around the farm, and if my son is working anywhere in the area, I don't do that. Problem is, he's a welder/fabricator and travels wherever he needs to make a living. I have an old SA200, but haven't stick welded since I borrowed his old Airco MIG (and I aint gonna give it back), big problem is, can't see too well anymore. Bought a cheater lens for the helmet, but that's an awful small lens opening for an old man, so I bought a HF auto helmet, and use a pair of store bought specs to wear under it. Worked pretty good for a while, now doesn't darken too well. somebody told me I had to lay it out in the sun to recharge the solar system. Is that true? (aren't any batteries) or is just another HF piece of junk?

I've seriously had my HF auto darkening welding helmet for 2 years now. Used it in a truck and trailer shop environment. No issues. 4 other techs had harbor freight helmets in the shop. Just as well that's all my college had for welding helmets. All the harbor freight auto darks work well for the cost. If it only last a year well from extensive use that's ok!! If you destroyed it because something crushed it that's alright too!!

Spending more does not mean quality always in welding helmets. To get a great welding helmet there are serious name brands for 200$. To get a harbor freight helmet with cupon is 50$ or less. I have the blue flame welding helmet. It is adjustable for jobs that require a darker shade. Ask me anything else you need to know about auto dark helmets .

A auto dark HF will last at the least 2 years. I hear they either don't get enough sun light before use age and or the internal battery's die

 

[ericher69]

I've seriously had my HF auto darkening welding helmet for 2 years now. Used it in a truck and trailer shop environment. No issues. 4 other techs had harbor freight helmets in the shop. Just as well that's all my college had for welding helmets. All the harbor freight auto darks work well for the cost. If it only last a year well from extensive use that's ok!! If you destroyed it because something crushed it that's alright too!! Spending more does not mean quality always in welding helmets. To get a great welding helmet there are serious name brands for 200$. To get a harbor freight helmet with cupon is 50$ or less. I have the blue flame welding helmet. It is adjustable for jobs that require a darker shade. Ask me anything else you need to know about auto dark helmets . A auto dark HF will last at the least 2 years. I hear they either don't get enough sun light before use age and or the internal battery's die

Funny story; not really!

Have a princess auto auto dark helmet for about 10 yrs.

Decided to splurge and get a Miller digital elite inferno sweet!

Guess which helmet I've been using for the last 3 weeks??

El cheapo!

Digital elite OFR as it kept eating batteries.

Sent from my iPhone 5s 64Gb using TractorByNet

 

[M E Race]

Same problem with "old" small lens hood. Self darkening tri-focals with small lens hood. Just got flyer from my local NAPA with ad for self darkening hood with replaceable battery for $100.00. It also adjustable shade. I was leery of the HF el-cheapo, but me thinks you have made up my mind to try the $69.00 el=cheapo.

 

[jim44]

I found out just the other day that if you forget to turn them on, they don't hardly work at all, no matter what brand they are.

 

[Deere Greg]

I can comfirm that cheap autodarkening helmets with nonreplaceable coin cell batteries fail to work sooner than you would like. My inexpensive auto darkening mask suffererd from delayed response after two years and after three years became unuseable.
In its place I bought a medium priced ... $80 cdn... helmet thay takes two regular penlight batteries. The helmet has a battery check and test button. I always have AA batteries around but it has been over a year and they are still going strong. I like my eyes... so the test feature is a bonus as is the use of common sized batteries.

 

[grsthegreat]

my eyes are too important to me to risk cheap helmet. I bought a Jackson Boss (about $250 ish) a few years ago. Has a huge viewing screen about 3.5" x 4" or so. Has 2 replaceable aa batteries...but im still one original set.

Has setting for welding and for grinding. Adjustable darkening shades from 9 - 12

Has replaceable plastic splatter shield to allow for clean vision always.

Reacts to less than 5 amp arc.

Also, if battery fails, it faults to full dark to protect eyes.

Im not risking my eyes to Chinese welding helmet.