- Thread starter rrman61
- Start date
dr sportster
Well-known Member
My 35 dollar on sale one works for about two years now.
Blackhole49
Well-known Member
- Location
- White Lake MI
My glasses cost $800 and I replace them every 2 years. Only get one pair of eyes. Couple hundred for a welding helmet is peanuts. Just my $.02.
1948CaseVAI
Well-known Member
"Do they last?"
At that price who really cares. They have some with replaceable batteries that have lasted a few years for me. The ones with batteries that could not be changed lasted about two years. Almost forgot - the one with changeable batteries has adjustable darken speed also which is great.
At that price who really cares. They have some with replaceable batteries that have lasted a few years for me. The ones with batteries that could not be changed lasted about two years. Almost forgot - the one with changeable batteries has adjustable darken speed also which is great.
My first one lasted 15 years. No batteries. I was very carful about it never being dropped and abused. Loved it so much that I bought another. Lasted about 2 years. Now on the third and it is about 2 years and still works good. I do believe they have a rechargeable battery inside even though they are solar powered. I never through out my old one and someday will take apart and see if it has a battery
Steve@Advance
Well-known Member
Depends on how much you use it, how you use it, who else uses it...
For home shop use, if you take care of your tools, gentle with it, it will hold up as to be expected for the price.
If you use it daily, do a lot of out of position welding, awkward positions, banging it around crawling under stuff, no it won't hold up.
If you have helpers, other people using it, no it won't hold up.
Just don't do what I did, live with something that was inadequate for years because I didn't want to spend the money. Once it finally broke beyond repair, I sure was glad it was gone!
For home shop use, if you take care of your tools, gentle with it, it will hold up as to be expected for the price.
If you use it daily, do a lot of out of position welding, awkward positions, banging it around crawling under stuff, no it won't hold up.
If you have helpers, other people using it, no it won't hold up.
Just don't do what I did, live with something that was inadequate for years because I didn't want to spend the money. Once it finally broke beyond repair, I sure was glad it was gone!
M-MAN
Well-known Member
- Location
- Bostic, NC
I guess it depends on whether you have ever used a good one. If you have then the answer is no. I bought one years ago because I was away from home and needed it then. It was so pitiful I gave it away instead of carrying it home.
A good helmet is going to cost north of $200. My eyes are worth it.
A good helmet is going to cost north of $200. My eyes are worth it.
timcasbolt
Well-known Member
I think you'll find that the technology is pretty much the same from one brand to another. The differences are in the quality of the headgear, adjustability, and size of the viewing area. I've had a harbor freight helmet and it was ok, but I wanted a larger viewing area. Bought one this past summer on Amazon for around $65 that I'm liking a lot so far. I keep it in a lit room to hopefully have it fully charged when needed. In my case it sits around a lot without being used.
This post was edited by timcasbolt on 12/02/2021 at 10:14 am.
Crazy Horse
Well-known Member
Tim ..... a friend of mine who owned a welding shop gave me one of the ones he supplied to his staff (about 15 years ago). I suspect it's a good one, has two adjustable features ..... the darkening and also how quick it responds to the flash. I've never given any thoughts to the batteries, it must have something in there right? Not sure about that. You mentioned yours charging when out in the light, I never heard of that. I think I have the manual still, I must hunt it down and read it.
Had a Harbor one. It was OK until it died. Then I got a Miller which has several adjustments. There is no question it is a better helmet. Recently replaced the front lens. That I should have done a few years ago. Probably had this one for 15 years and I cant say any thing but good about it.
Stephen Newell
Well-known Member
I've had one of the forty dollar range helmets for about 5 years. Until recently it's been working fine but one day I was using it and it suddenly quit. It had been kept in a dark room so I set it in the direct sun for a couple hours and it worked fine again. Went to town to get another and it was included in a black friday sale and they were all gone.
I have had a Miller for probably 10 years or so. Works great. During the winter months at work I was doing quite a bit of welding and had no issues, use it at home and farm too. A cheapie might be ok for occasional use, but I still would rather have something I know wont fail and is good. You only get one set of eyes. This just coming from someone who was pretty much blind in their right eye for over 3 months last year. Non welding related. Eyesight is taken for granted. Be careful with yours. Im not saying it is a bad helmet, just that I dont take any chances anymore with any type of eye protection. Anytime you even see the smallest weld flash its hurting your eyes. Mine has shade adjustment and sensitivity adjustment. I started with a regular helmet years ago and the newer Miller has not let me down.
wilson ind
Well-known Member
yes
I've had one for maybe 10 years. It always works for me, but I do not weld often.
I also have their wire-feed welder. It is the best welder in the world as far as I am concerned. If I make a great weld, it's because I'm that good. If I make a lousy weld, I can always say 'Hey, it's HF. What do you expect?'
I also have their wire-feed welder. It is the best welder in the world as far as I am concerned. If I make a great weld, it's because I'm that good. If I make a lousy weld, I can always say 'Hey, it's HF. What do you expect?'
FLOLDFORD
Well-known Member
- Location
- Lakeland Florida
I've had one of the Vulcan hoods from HF for over two years and it has been great. It's one of their more expensive ones but does have a lot of adjustments
I had 2 of them. Worked fine for me. Battery gave out after many years on the first one. For the price, a great deal. Mine detects Mig solid and lower powered flux wire just fine...obviously stick is a no brainer. Just set it out in the sun for a day or two prior to using.
Ive used them and have not had a problem. The headgear is not as nice as some, but it works for what you paid for it.
I have a high dollar Miller hood, and yes it is better. The clarity and adjustability is amazing, it does eat batteries though. I also have a Jackson that is pushing 25 years old. Was expensive back then, it wouldnt be considered fancy now, still works fine though.
I have a high dollar Miller hood, and yes it is better. The clarity and adjustability is amazing, it does eat batteries though. I also have a Jackson that is pushing 25 years old. Was expensive back then, it wouldnt be considered fancy now, still works fine though.
Hobo,NC
Well-known Member
- Location
- Sanford, NC
HF they has some cheap garbage not to say all will not give service. They charge about 20% to return a item, my take @ 20% its a break even sale throw it in the trash and move on all will not be returned...
How much do you want to bet none of it is returned to china... A gamble of reaping 80% from every sale is not a bad concept I wish I had thought of that..
How much do you want to bet none of it is returned to china... A gamble of reaping 80% from every sale is not a bad concept I wish I had thought of that..
Bought one way back in 98 or 99, got flashed pretty good using a 300 dollar rig that we had in the shop. Was working in an aluminum extrusion place and ran a lot of miles of wire through the welders while I was there. My cheapie worked quite well.
Later on I worked at a lumber factory and had to do some welding up in a moulding machine, lots of obstructions, got flashed several times using the supplied Miller rig. Figure the sensors weren't in optimal spots...
Currently have a newer HF rig that handles anything I can throw at it....It has adjustable shades
Later on I worked at a lumber factory and had to do some welding up in a moulding machine, lots of obstructions, got flashed several times using the supplied Miller rig. Figure the sensors weren't in optimal spots...
Currently have a newer HF rig that handles anything I can throw at it....It has adjustable shades
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