Welding Helmets For Old Guys

Date 11-10-2007 17:20 Edited 11-12-2007 13:05

A while back I got down on our welding helmet manufacturers for the junk they were peddling. The main problem I had was with the headgear. The lenses were either two or four sensor and multi shade or single pretty much the same.

For us old guys there was a lack of good useful features. Let me explain. I wear progressive lenses (muli focal length eyeglasses without lines). Because of the way this type of lenses works, you need to be able to have your helmet in a lot of different positions. You need to be able to bring it along way down so that you can gaze down for close work. you need to have it stay up when you tip your head back for overhead. You want good neck coverage so that you don't have to use a leather bib on your helmet, this keeps the weight down.

At the shop where I work we just bought a new Miller 350P. We had never pulsed before so were glad to have a Miller rep. come in to help us get up to speed. Silvio Modena, District Manager for Miller's South West Region, was the rep. that came to our shop.

I couldn't help noticing his helmet, with the flames and Miller stenciled on the front, and the ease with which he moved around while wearing the thing. It was stationary yet dropped into place with little effort. I asked to try it and was not immediately impressed. I asked to have a demo model sent to the shop so I could give it a try and pass it around to the other guys.

The demo showed up and I spent a little time with it and to put it in perspective "I didn't pass it around to the other guys. When our supply salesperson came in I told her that if she wanted anybody else to demo the Miller Elite she would have to bring another one in, "This one is sold".

Features that are especially important to us old guys:
Light weight, four sensors, excellent neck coverage, fully adjustable headgear (over the top depth-- distance from the window or nose clearance 1 1/2" of movement--nice thick rubber cushion for the rear ratchet nob area--détente stops that hold the down positioning wherever you want it from all of the way up to all of the way down) Shades 8-13, delay for air arc, sensitivity including full on for grinding. Automatic shut off.

The only thing I didn't like was that it doesn't have an on button. It's auto on. The first arc turns it on. If your eyes are open you will have some minor spots. I got used to closing my eyes to for the first arc strike and I'm loven it.

Even if your not as old as me this helmet is the best I have ever had in my 40+ years in welding.

Well done Miller you guys got it right with the "Elite".

Dennis @ O&M Industries

PS This unit runs for about twenty minutes after it comes on. I only need to strike an arc to turn it on. I blink or look away to turn it on.

I noticed that they have a more expensive digital model with on and off functions.

By thirdeye (***)

Date 11-11-2007 00:23

I have seen those, they have good features and some wild paint jobs.

I have had an Optrel for 2 years for some of the reasons you mentioned, totally adjustable headgear and shade selection from 5 to 14. I'm pleased with everything about it too. Very comfortable fit. The controls are on the outside, some folks don't like that. I just had the sensor go wacky and they replaced it with no questions asked, so customer support is very good. I think the Miller has a bigger viewing area, and again some cool paint jobs.

~thirdeye~

By TRC

Date 11-11-2007 00:33

I use the Optrel also and love the outside control for grinding.

By Lawrence (*****)

Date 11-11-2007 13:39 Edited 11-11-2007 13:42

The problem I have with the $300-$450 Fancy Miller helmets with flames and eagles and other boastful paint jobs is that when you turn the thing over and read the fine print inside you will see the following:

Not to be used for overhead welding

Oh they show pictures of people welding with them overhead in their sales literature...

So 90 percent of folks who use them are using them out of compliance and unsafely.

Miller and the others (except Huntsman) need to wake up and make their equipment, especially $400 helmets safe in all positions.

By dschlotz (***)

Date 11-11-2007 14:26

Lawrence,

I bought the plain Jane black, no flames, no paint job. The list price is under $300.00.

By fbrieden (***)

Date 11-11-2007 16:56

Jackson 3N1 Executive...I beat the crap out of it on a daily basis. The ONLY way to go!

By Aspirate (**)

Date 11-11-2007 19:51

The bigger cartridged Jackson EQC is a bit too heavy ..lightning fast sensor though.
You don't have to blink at start ups, except on rare low battery conditions (occurs after 1 yr of use? thats about when mine went low).
I don't think there is any other cartridge that switches faster than the EQC.
But the cartridge is so heavy, both compatible headgear sets from Jackson don't hold very well.
Good neck muscles needed on overhead or pipe at 6:00.

By dschlotz (***)

Date 11-11-2007 22:49

I had a Nexgen prior to the Miller Elite. Too heavy and the headgear for compatable helmet is junk.

By dschlotz (***)

Date 11-14-2007 13:42

Lawrence,

I got an email form Miller claiming that the reason they do not recommend the "Elite" for overhead is because it is not a cape style. They say, that when there is a possibility of getting hot stuff down your neck, you should wear a "welders sock " that's what us older guys called them when I came up. Mine was leather and fit like a hard hat divers helmet. You could still burn anything that was not protected by other fire proofing.

With any tool you have to use a learned amount of caution. Experience dictates that you cover yourself up when welding overhead. I don't think that this Miller helmet will spontaneously com bust if I use it in the overhead position. I am going to let everyone know if I have a safety problem with Miller.

Thanks for the warning

Dennis

By Lawrence (*****)

Date 11-14-2007 21:41

It won't combust of course.

But don't expect it to last very long if your welding overhead

By Wrench Tech (**)

Date 11-11-2007 23:43

I bought a Miller Elite about 3 months ago and I love it - mostly because of all the features you wrote about....Oh crap...Does this mean I an "Old Guy"???

By litchko (*)

Date 11-12-2007 03:57

I've been using a huntsman for about 6yrs.(4 photo cells)its got good viewing and darkens in an instant the only trouble I've had with mine (lately)is.When it hot out and I'm sweating like crazy she'll act up and won't darken up for me .I have to put it aside and use the old type till the next day

By Tommyjoking (****)

Date 11-12-2007 10:32 Edited 11-12-2007 10:36

Okey dokey

I almost bought an elite...almost. Instead I got a Jackson Halo (super duper lightweight...super duper light). Jackson headgear is fine for me...agreed not quite as nice as the elite or the optrels (But the pad in the back can be purchased and will fit just fine on the Jackson). This is a $40 dollar hood without lens. As far is lenses I bought the new Boss EQC which has the largest viewing area period...bigger then optrel, bigger then miller, bigger then anyone....it is almost a full 4x5 lens. Second it is a combo between green and amber view.....on aluminum especially I have noticed a MUCH reduced eyestrain over a 10 hr day. Infinitely variable between 9-12 (dials not buttons), shade 5 for torch work, shade 3 for grinding. The biggest thing tho is the shading....all the auto lenses I have tried before ...the shade varies greatly from the center to the sides (and/or even changes color)....this lens is WAY more consistent in shading then any I have tried out. I will say I firmly believe it has much better visual clarity then other autos....in the work I am doing that alone is a big selling point. Its biggest downfall is only two sensors and if you get your hands in the way just right its a headache.....however cranking that sensitivity up can solve this.....I do a lot of super low current work (15 amps or less) and the lens works fine. Second downfall is it uses AAA batteries (think nimh rechargables) with no solar cells for charging....so it is probably a few ounces heavier then some others......but when combined with a Halo hood its actually just a little lighter then an elite. Overhead Smaw or Gmaw....forget about it....I would not even attempt it with this hood without a substantial amount of rawhide attached. But for TIG work or table top work my setup rocks...and costs less then a basic elite with Millers best lens.

BTW Speaking of hot rod fashion sense.....those cool graphics on the Elites are not paint they are just stickers.....on the halos they are stickers too but they are clear coated so they look like paint....also the halos have actual automotive quality paint on them (Imron).

Not knocking the Elite at all, its a really nice setup....just maybe overpriced a bit.....the optrel hoods are in a world all their own.

My $.02
Tommy

By mody454 (**)

Date 11-12-2007 18:48

me personaly i swear by my optrel. i love everything about it. and i pimp it to everyone looking for a new hood. only paid about 250 for it thru airgas. so bout the same as the millers, but 10 times the helmit. but thats just my opinion. now they say they are a little heavier, but im still young and cocky and dont have any problems holding my head up high. lol just teasin old timers my day will come soon enough

By Mat

Date 11-13-2007 05:32 Edited 11-13-2007 05:52

Currently, I use an Optrel Satellite Evolution OSE, payed for by a prior company. (shucks, golly, gee.)

Not something I would buy, but since I have it, I might as well use it! The helmet is awesome (and strangely comfortable!)

The only thing I don't like about autotints is they're generally darker in the center of the lense. Prior to this, I had been using a wide lense $50 helmet, and until the Optrel breaks, I'll continue to use it!

In terms of a paintjob, I painted it bright orange and drew Snoopy on it.

By 1mancrew (**)

Date 11-15-2007 03:14

Am I the last guy in the bizz to use a standard hood? I swear by my huntsman 411P. I've used a lot of other models but this is the one I keep coming back to. It's light weight and I don't get a lot of annoying glare.
Don't you guys have problems with glare or "ghosting" with the auto darkening hoods?
Just curious.

GH Weidman

By Tommyjoking (****)

Date 11-15-2007 07:21

very good point Mr. Weidman

The one I am using ...yes I will get light off my clothing in some positions if I am wearing light colored clothing..(always a bad idea imho). But then again my current favorite is designed specifically for super light weight with a big emphasis on shop tig work and thats what I do with it so I can control my point of view quite a bit. The hoods like a shadow or the Miller elites with that spoiler on the front not only look cool they block reflective light very well especially the elite. Optrels do not use this sort of design but because of their excellent headgear adjust ability and very thoughtful design the allow very little backwash to get imho. I have just tried Optrels of various models I have not used them day in day out but I hold them in high regard they are very well designed. As far as the auto lenses they cause no xtra glare or reflective images inside do to the lens....thats all in the design of the hood and how it fits you. All in all hoods are a personal thing and you just got to find what fits your need. I own several different ones and I pull them out according to what I will be doing with it.

By jp2welder (**)

Date 11-15-2007 22:20

Hey Dennis,

Sounds like the helmet folks listen to you. They don't listen to me!

Could you put in a request for me? I like hoods with colors (black, blue, red, silver), but the graphics irritate me. I've always felt a welder should have personality, so I don't want to buy my personality churned out by a helmet manufacturer.

Could you request more solid color helmets? That way, I can put my own graphics (decals, custom paint, etc.) on there to reflect who I am.

By ZCat

Date 11-15-2007 23:49

I thought this would be a built-in cheater hood

Today I was wondering if I could get a cheater made with my reading glasses prescription

By dschlotz (***)

Date 11-16-2007 13:39

ZCat,

There is a built in holder for a cheater.
Dennis

By medicinehawk01 (**)

Date 11-16-2007 00:39

I have just bought a miller elite and yeah, I have to say it's the best auto-darkening hood I have ever tried. I had a speedglass 9000V which was lighter, but as far as function goes and the larger window......Miller has it beat. I am still not used to the first arc turning the thing on and have gotten myself a few flashes, but I am still getting used to it. Mine was under 300 bucks which is alot, but my neck is done with the hood down/hood up thing so I think it is a good investment. My 2 cents.
Hawk

By dschlotz (***)

Date 11-16-2007 13:37

medicinehawk01,

I have just found what I think is the solution to the problem of the flash on initial start. In the instructions Miller says to test the lens before you start welding by pushing the reset button and watching for two activations of the auto darkening. When I do this the lens seems to be (ON) and ready without the otherwise resulting flash.

Dennis

By medicinehawk01 (**)

Date 11-19-2007 10:20

Thanx Dennis, and I read about that reset which was included with the manual. Also, I realize that the first arc of the day is what activated the lense and now once it has been reset, it seems to work fine.

By waynekoe (**)

Date 11-16-2007 17:12

By mody454 (**)

Date 11-16-2007 17:43

that is hilarous. go to show the quality of craftmanship over there. what do you think he does in over head when his newspaper catches on fire?

By emccorma Date 11-17-2007 18:03

I have had a sellstrom Phantom GTW for years. The setup is great, it has 3 modes (weld, grind, torch , ) and 9-12 filter.I'ts a little heavy but I beat the crap out of it daily and it holds up. Don't hear many people talking about sellstrom, could be the price tag around $ 400. I have tried the speedglass flexview and hated it. This expensive helmet had the worst headgear I have seen ( on a better quality helmet ). Thats only my opinion.

Ed