Any welders on the forum? welding hood question

zarrdoss

I have been a welder for over 18 years now and started out using a POS fixed glass hood, then the first auto-darkening came out and those were magnificent but weighed a ton. With the evolution came better and better technology and after using a Jackson for years I am now using a Miller elite and did not think it could get much better. Well the other day our welding supply guy drops off a Speedglas 9100X for us to try out. It seems better to me after I got used to it, its lighter over all and has windows on the side so you don't feel boxed in all day and reduces glare, less fatigue on the eyes and seem to just be able to see through it better when the darkening is off or on. Also I weld bronze statues and weld in a bunch of tight areas where other helmets have flashed me, I could not get this to flash me no matter what I tried.
I was wondering if anyone has used one or other Speedglas hoods and what they think of it? I would really like to get one but the cheapest I found was $350 on line and cant really commit to that without more info.
much appreciated!:)

Polkersince85

I've got a couple of Lincoln mig units and a couple of the cheaper helmets. I use mine for hobby and repair. If you weld for a living, go with the best. Don't look at what it costs but what it will make for you plus the comfort. You could probably justify it.

snow

zarrdoss wrote: »

I have been a welder for over 18 years now and started out using a POS fixed glass hood, then the first auto-darkening came out and those were magnificent but weighed a ton. With the evolution came better and better technology and after using a Jackson for years I am now using a Miller elite and did not think it could get much better. Well the other day our welding supply guy drops off a Speedglas 9100X for us to try out. It seems better to me after I got used to it, its lighter over all and has windows on the side so you don't feel boxed in all day and reduces glare, less fatigue on the eyes and seem to just be able to see through it better when the darkening is off or on. Also I weld bronze statues and weld in a bunch of tight areas where other helmets have flashed me, I could not get this to flash me no matter what I tried.
I was wondering if anyone has used one or other Speedglas hoods and what they think of it? I would really like to get one but the cheapest I found was $350 on line and cant really commit to that without more info.
much appreciated!:)

Not sure what info your looking for, you say you weld all day it has all these great features that work well for you, if its better than what you have used in the past then it should be a simple matter of deciding whether the features are worth the extra cost

BTW I have never used their products so im of no help other than I know if I am doing something for a living and a tool makes my job easier faster more bearable I buy it unless its so expensive that the costs outweigh the benefits.



REGARDS SNOW

Toolfan66

Kevin you will be hard pressed to find a better helmet. Worth every penny bro..

zarrdoss

TOOLFORLIFEFAN wrote: »

Kevin you will be hard pressed to find a better helmet. Worth every penny bro..

thanks man! and thanks everybody, just a matter of coming up with the $350, my Miller works fine this just seems to be a little better. perhaps tax time.

snow

zarrdoss wrote: »

thanks man! and thanks everybody, just a matter of coming up with the $350, my Miller works fine this just seems to be a little better. perhaps tax time.

Your welcome. I see on Ebay where the Speedglas 9100X is selling for $280.00 with free shipping all I know is that I wish I had something as comfortable looking as that when I was welding 12hr days 7 days a week for 2-3 months at a time.

REGARDS SNOW

zarrdoss

snow wrote: »

Your welcome. I see on Ebay where the Speedglas 9100X is selling for $280.00 with free shipping all I know is that I wish I had something as comfortable looking as that when I was welding 12hr days 7 days a week for 2-3 months at a time.

REGARDS SNOW

Thanks I am watching those, we auditioned the 9100X but I would probably get the 9100XX larger viewing area and a little more, Yeah you get used to them and really cannot go back to the fixed glass.
Did you do pipeline work? 12 hrs a day 7 days a week? That kind of welding is hard on the eyes no matter what you have.

snow

zarrdoss wrote: »

Thanks I am watching those, we auditioned the 9100X but I would probably get the 9100XX larger viewing area and a little more, Yeah you get used to them and really cannot go back to the fixed glass.
Did you do pipeline work? That kind of welding is hard on the eyes no matter what you have.

No pipleline welding but I have welded miles of pipe, stainless mainly and lots of structral welding also.

REGARDS SNOW

LessisNevermore

TOOLFORLIFEFAN wrote: »

Kevin you will be hard pressed to find a better helmet. Worth every penny bro..

^^This.^^


I like my Jackson NexGen, but it is very heavy. My next will be a SpeedGlas. $350 is probably a decent price for that hood.

zarrdoss

snow wrote: »

No pipleline welding but I have welded miles of pipe, stainless mainly and lots of structral welding also.

REGARDS SNOW

stainless is bad to breathe, we do stainless statues and have to put stainless structure in the bronzes that need it, I have gone home a few time with metal fume fever. Did you like the pipe welding?

zarrdoss

LessisNevermore wrote: »

^^This.^^


I like my Jackson NexGen, but it is very heavy. My next will be a SpeedGlas. $350 is probably a decent price for that hood.

I used a Jackson NexGen and they are heavy, the Speedglas is the lightest most comfortable I have used so far. you kind of forger its there.

LessisNevermore

zarrdoss wrote: »

stainless is bad to breathe, we do stainless statues and have to put stainless structure in the bronzes that need it, I have gone home a few time with metal fume fever. Did you like the pipe welding?

Not sure if it works with stainless, but a ton of the old timers I work with swear by drinking a glass of milk before welding on galvanized...... Doesn't cost much to try.:D

Just make sure you have some big fans pulling those fumes away from your work and you. Be careful with your lungs, you only get one set.

Toolfan66

I never weld Galvanized steel. We will spot weld it and that's it..

zarrdoss

what happened was we were inside a huge bronze welding stainless structure and we were in a hurry, we both got sick. I too have heard the milk thing, we usually have adequate ventilation. welding galvanized just plain sucks!

read-alot

My professional welding days are over, over those years I welded frames and roll cages on NASCAR Cup cars and a few liquor stills for my car owner's family.

I would have loved to of had one of those high dollar electronic lids back then though.

snow

zarrdoss wrote: »

stainless is bad to breathe, we do stainless statues and have to put stainless structure in the bronzes that need it, I have gone home a few time with metal fume fever. Did you like the pipe welding?

Never have gotten sick but Galvanized is much worse as far as the milk goes better drink a gallon Ye I liked welding pipe because usally you would have a pipe fitter setting things up in advance less work than structrual welding overall pays better and I love the smell of Argon.

REGARDS SNOW

gdb

I am a casual/farm/hobby welder with only an 225 AC lincoln buzz box. I'd be interested in buying your current helmet when you buy your new one,if the price is within my budget.:)

zarrdoss

gdb wrote: »

I am a casual/farm/hobby welder with only an 225 AC lincoln buzz box. I'd be interested in buying your current helmet when you buy your new one,if the price is within my budget.:)

it will probably be some time, and I will keep the current for a spare, these usually just die all the sudden. Check your local CL and pawn shops. I found this place on line and they're great, huge selection low prices and quick delivery!

http://www.cyberweld.com/

this one would be perfect for your application, and also Hobart and Miller are the same

http://store.cyberweld.com/hohoweheblxv.html

gdb

Thanks, that's where I got some leads and an electrode holder before.:cool:

gdb

WoW....$116 shipped ain't bad at all ! Good pick,Thanks !!:D

read-alot

zarrdoss wrote: »

it will probably be some time, and I will keep the current for a spare, these usually just die all the sudden. Check your local CL and pawn shops. I found this place on line and they're great, huge selection low prices and quick delivery!

http://www.cyberweld.com/

this one would be perfect for your application, and also Hobart and Miller are the same

http://store.cyberweld.com/hohoweheblxv.html

zarrdoss, why would they say that helmet is not suitable for tig welding?

I know nothing about these latest auto shades but that just seems odd. I have a 300 Miller Dynasty DX out in the shop to play with when something breaks and I'm still using my old Jackson from back in the 80's that you could mig, tig and stick with the same lens.

zarrdoss

TIG welding can be hard on an auto darking lens because you stop and start allot. It can also be very bright and hot. Most hobbyist helmets will work but when you throw them into industrial, TIG welding they only last about 6 months or less. Also most of the inexpensive ones don't have enough light sensors and you can get flashed allot. Them saying its not suited for TIG or industrial welding is basically a disclaimer on their part.

zarrdoss

another reason TIG welding can be very low amp and non TIG will not darken.

read-alot

zarrdoss wrote: »

another reason TIG welding can be very low amp and non TIG will not darken.

That's what I thought, if you strike a very low light arc the less expensive electronics in some lids may not activate.

Thanks

toucanet

Sorry for bringing up an old thread, but it was an appropriate thread to ask the following question:

Can anyone recommend good welding books that cover the various types of welding, various types of metals, and other related welding topics, etc.?

SDA1C

IPC Metal trades Handbook.

SDA1C

Sorry...it's the IPT not IPC...

mcasey

For the welding of bronze statues, these are one of thebest. Try to lookup a bit more, if you get a deal around 300 bucks, that will be great.

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welding hood

obieone

reported

shawn474

zarrdoss wrote: »

......I could not get this to flash me no matter what I tried.

Story of my week on Bourbon Street in New Orleans last summer........:cheesygrin:

Sorry, back on topic.....