arcone helmet

[shadetree]

I see an auto-dark helment from Harbor Freight for 150 bucks.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=02506

Does anyone know whether that's a reasonable price? I think it is a single shade but should be OK for what I do (110V wire feed flux-core playing around).

Thanks.

[Arc Burn]

If $150 is your budget,I'd be looking at the Hobart auto hoods or even a low end Speedglass,this way you know what your getting.

[Guest]

I was at the welding store in town, and saw the new Optrel Satelite by Uvex. any body got one? I was selling for about $400!



This is the one I use.

[shotgun]

Optrel

Rocky I have several of those, if you want to borrow one let me know off list you have my email address--also I know where to buy those for 298.00 or so--thanks Russ

[Big Nate]

I have that same helmet only black, I picked it up for $89.99 around mid march works great always on and I have only gotten flashed once when doing some out of position work and the sensor got blocked overall I am happy I have $10 off of $100 coupons if ya want one

[Arbo]

Rocky,

I have been watching the Satellite on ebay. They are down to $249.00 there. I'm not sure if that includes shipping but I think it may.

[brianw]

arc one helmet

that is a fair price for that helmet, Arc one is running a clearance on them, I guess the jet motif wasn't selling so well. The lens itself is a nice unit, the extended viewing area gives you a lot of flexibility, one thing they do not show is the inside of the lens, there is a 2x4 autodarkening area with a sh10 pane above and below. There is about a 1/4" strip between the autodarkening and the fixed shade areas for electronics. In all my dealings with Arc One they have been a good company always stand behind thier product. As suggested above you may want to look at the miller/hobart hoods, you can usually get the millermatic autodarkening w/ adjustable shade for just over 200. Let us know which you end up going with, good luck, BW

[morpheus]

Originally posted by Big Nate
I have that same helmet only black, I picked it up for $89.99 around mid march works great always on and I have only gotten flashed once when doing some out of position work and the sensor got blocked overall I am happy I have $10 off of $100 coupons if ya want one

Big Nate ... is yours the flip up one or is just like the painted one in the link above ?

- jack

[AV8OR]

My Thunking On Helmets



My $0.02 worth on the Hornell Speedglas, Optrel Satelite and the Jackson NexGen EQC while TIG welding ONLY.

1. Hornell Speedglas 9000X - I have a Hornell Speedglas 9000X helmet with SideWindows and I’m not impressed. Been flashed so many times it’s not funny. I now wear safety glasses designed for electrical linemen with the helmet. The safety glasses are about a shade 3 so that gives me a little protection from the light if/when I get flashed. It always happens when TIG welding I dip the electrode into the puddle or I go around a corner and the helmet looses sight of the arc. The lens goes light and bingo I’ve been flashed again! I’ve had the helmet to long to take it back but I wouldn’t buy it again. I needs a delay like the Optrel or Jackson.

2. Optrel Satelite – I haven’t “test drove” one yet but I have seen them in my local welding store. The sliding switches for the “Shade Range Selection” and the “Delay Switch” seem flimsy. Not a positive feel when going from one setting to the other. The window is much smaller too. Optrel claims you will get the same view because they have the helmet closer to your face which will increase what you see. It was still a small window with a small view. Besides why would I want my nose closer to the helmet on a hot summer day anyways?

3. Jackson NexGen EQC – Once again I haven’t “test drove” one yet but I picked it up after I put down the Optrel Satelite. All of the membrane control buttons are inside the helmet and are intuitive to use. They seem like they would hold up better then the flimsy switches on the Oprtel Satelite (just don’t push the buttons with a filler rod). Without reading the instructions I had it up and running in short order. I had the delay set at max and I looked down at the floor to set the sensitivity so the window would be clear. I then looked up at the lights in the ceiling and the helmet would darken. Then I would look back down at the floor and started to count the delay time. It seemed to take a little over a second to go back clear. The window was much bigger than the Optrel Satelite too.

Of the three helmets above the Jackson is the most dull looking of the group but if your going to be behind a helmet all day long I would not worry about looking cool and go with what works. If I had the money laying around I would give my Hornell to my kids and go with the Jackson NexGen EQC. It has the best features, biggest window, and seems to be sturdy too. The guys in the welding shop said of the three they sell more Jackson NexGen EQC.

Maybe Rocky D or someone else can set me straight on what I’m doing wrong with my Hornell but until it gets a delay feature I can’t recommend it to anyone.


Click Here For Hornell Speedglas

Click Here For Jackson

Click Here For Optrel Satelite

[Guest]

AV8OR, If you have the X version of the Speedglas, you have a delay for heliarc. To set it, point your hood to the area where you will be welding with the knob set to the red zone for heliarc. Then turn your adjustment knob to dark..then with the hood still pointing to where you will be welding, turn it slowly till the lens lightens up. This sets it for the ambient light in the weld area. If you go too far beyond where it lightens up, you can get flashed. The other thing I think you mentioned is be careful not to block the sensors so they can't see the light...quite common in all autodark hoods.

Hope this helps. Another thing about the Optrel...it's heavier than the Speedglas. I, too thought the controls being on the outside were wimpy. I don't want the controls out where they can be accidentally changed while I'm welding.

[Big Nate]

mine has the flip front and the arcone 240 "singles" cartridge