welding helmets

time for me to get a new one, Whats the best one out there that is tried and true?

so far looking at Lincoln 3350 and Miller Elite

The Miller Elite has a really small viewing area but a nice head gear setup. The Lincoln 3350 has a larger viewing area. Other than that they are pretty similar from my experience. I use Speedglas products myself.

i have been using a SP? save phace. Has large viewing area and head gear is comfortable. The mechanism to hold the hood up when not in use comes loose all the time but otherwise is working fine. Only had it a year.

I have a Lincoln with a large viewing area and it has been the best helmet that I have ever had. I use a Speedglas at work and prefer the Lincoln over it but only because of the larger viewing area. What ever brand you pick, get the largest viewing area possible IMO.

I got an Optrel Crystal 2.0 for my new tig and it's definitely nice. Not sure if its worth the price as little as I use it. I almost got their Panoramaxx with the crazy wide view.

The-Boss said:

I got an Optrel Crystal 2.0 for my new tig and it's definitely nice. Not sure if its worth the price as little as I use it. I almost got their Panoramaxx with the crazy wide view.

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Thats a nice looking helmet

Thanks Y'all. Went with the Lincoln Viking 3350 Series Hot Rodders Auto Darkening Welding Helmet (K4440-4)

I think I would like a big viewing area, but I use a 2.5X power cheater lens and I think they are usually much smaller than the big lens (maybe 2.5" X 4.0"???). So I'm not sure I would get any use out of the larger viewing area. ??????

98TJ said:

I think I would like a big viewing area, but I use a 2.5X power cheater lens and I think they are usually much smaller than the big lens (maybe 2.5" X 4.0"???). So I'm not sure I would get any use out of the larger viewing area. ??????

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My dad uses a cheater lens and I was welding something up for him one day and wasnt paying attention and grabbed his helmet and scared the **** out of myself when I started going. Was not expecting the damn arc to be right in my face like that.

I use a miller digital infinity. Viewing area is pretty large IMO. I've been happy with it.
miller digital infinity

Also have a Digital Infinity with cheater lens. Had it for 3+ yrs as a hobby welder, no issues. Like the big viewing window, only downside is that extra glass = extra weight, so it is a little heavier than one with a smaller window. I noticed it when I switched from a helmet with the "normal" sized window, but you get used to it and wouldn't notice unless you were constantly switching back and forth.

Happy with my Esab Rebel. Going to look into cheater lens for it.

mine arrived today, bought cheater lens
for it as well.

So it looks like you can adjust the cheater lens up and down? I like that feature.

I have a clutch, I know it's not that great of a brand, but I found it laying in the middle of the road a few years ago, so can't complain about free. Before that I used a pancake hood, only a 2x4 viewing area, but welding on pipelines that's all you need