in the market for a mask. just want opinions on what to get. i bought a cheap jobber mask and my eye's were really hurting after. so don't want to go that route agian.

I have (2) Hobarts. Both adjustables. I got the first one at Tractor supply for $129 in basic black. The second one was at Sears.com clearance item. Black flame for $99. I use the black one for MIG and the flame one. The flame one is a newer design and has adjustable sensitivity. I have been pleased with both.

I have a Speedglas Utility http://store.cyberweld.com/speeduthel.html, and other than forgetting to turn it on every once in a while :mad3: it's been great.


Andy

there was a post on not too long ago comparing masks. i just bought a jackson eqc nexgen and it is amazing. $270 though but you only get one pair of eyes so i justified the purchase.

I have a Speedglas Utility http://store.cyberweld.com/speeduthel.html, and other than forgetting to turn it on every once in a while :mad3: it's been great.


Andy

I also have a Speedglas, but the 9000X. I have flashed my self a few times as well when I fogot to turn it on:( Very nice helmet

I have a Jackson EQC and a Speedglass the Speedglass is a little lighter and has a little better fit , but the lenses and batteries about 4 times as much $$ as the Jackson, both are great hoods, but both are $$$

I used a cheap Harbor Freight bought auto darkening for a while. Finally broke it and went and got a nice Miller auto. $225 and well worth it. Also forget to turn it on once in a while though.

We use Speedglass things at work. I like them, just wish they were cheaper so I could buy one for home. Uh, yeah, this one doesn't work anymore, I'm tossing it..........take home and replace battery and use!

Lucas

I'm using the HF auto darkening one. Its adjustable and there is no off switch :-) So far its been great, but like all HF stuff I am waiting for it to fail.

+1 On The Hobart. They Know Whats Going On They Just Dont Work Too Well OutDoors In Bright Sunlight

No batteries either solar charged.

so who's used any hoodlum products. just want to make sure they have a quailty lens


http://hoodlum-welding.com/hoods.htm

I've got a Jackson NexGen and absolutly love the thing. Well worth the money, really worth it if you weld a lot. Adjustable shade, sens., and settings for welding, griding (never use), and cutting torch. Learned real quick to make sure it's on every time, lol.

I have a miller elite series... best ive ever used and worth the 300$$....

why not get a standard hood and put the money leftover towards something usefull?

why not get a standard hood and put the money leftover towards something usefull?
You have clearly never used an auto hood. They are worth their weight in gold if you do much welding, especially out of postion with your head stuck up in a fender well or something where you wouldnt even have room to flip a standard hood up. I never realised how great they were until mine recently died and ive been stuck using a standard one until I can afford a nice new bling one.

Ive spent some time with them, one was a piece of shit and i kept getting flashed. Then they got better, but I have yet to see any real advantage to them.

You have clearly never used an auto hood. They are worth their weight in gold if you do much welding, especially out of postion with your head stuck up in a fender well or something where you wouldnt even have room to flip a standard hood up. I never realised how great they were until mine recently died and ive been stuck using a standard one until I can afford a nice new bling one.

Yeah shitty ones are just that - shitty. You pay for what you get like most things.

The main advantages:

-no more accidently moving as you flip your hood down and starting in the wrong spot
-faster - when you doing alot of welds on something you dont have to raise your hood up between welds
-space - this is the biggest one for me - there are tons of places I weld where I can hardly fit my head to begin with and there is NO room to have a hood flipped up when you are getting situated to weld


In the end though I guess it still is all personal preference - im personally a huge fan.

Another huge fan here. I had a HF one that sat in the garage for a while. The internal battery drained and I couldn't get it to charge again even leaving it in the sun all day. The battery is not replacable as far as I can tell.

I then bought a nice Miller one and couldn't deal with a standard one again. I haven't been flashed once.

I have a HF and a Miller BWE. I have found no major difference except I need to turn the Miller on. The HF is automatic.

i have a HF helmet and for the price it works great. mine has a lithium watch-style battery that is charged by the solar cells. works great and i never have to turn it on. my friend has a speedglas and it is nicely made. i couldn't justify the price difference, esp since my living doesn't depend on it. the speedglas has a nicer strapie thing which makes a difference, i'm sure.

my eyes are protected and i'm able to be lazy. me like.

andy

I've got the cheap HF one as well and it has been workig fine for me. I bought an extended warranty for an extre couple bucks, so if it fails I'll just take it back and get another. I definately think that iit was worth the money. If it fails I still have my standard mask until I get the auto darkening one replaced.

I have the Miller Elite. It is a great welding helmet and only a welding helmet. When/if I remember to turn it on, the multiple sensors make sure it sees the arc. Once I do remember to turn it on, I can't turn it off to then cut with the plasma. You have to wait for a while for it to reset.

What I like the best about the auto-darkening helmets is even if they shut off and you get flashed your eyes are still protected from the UV and IR rays. You obviously get a bright light but miss most of what causes permanent eye damage. I personally have a Miller BWE and love it,but have used nothing other than a standard hood to compare it to.

there was a post on not too long ago comparing masks. i just bought a jackson eqc nexgen and it is amazing. $270 though but you only get one pair of eyes so i justified the purchase.

X2.
I have two of these. One for work and one for home. I've had them about 3yrs or so and love them. They have settings for grinding and cutting as well as being adjustable from 9-13.