whats a good auto darkening welding hood?

BrandNew · 09-05-2008, 08:14 AM

i have an old jackson auto darkening, but im looking for a new one maybe from miller? just wondering what you guys are using and whats good out there

**rustywrangler** · 09-05-2008, 08:18 AM

I like my miller elite. Does very well for me.

**Jerry Bransford** · 09-05-2008, 08:22 AM

Near as I can tell, my Hobart helmet is the same as a Miller but with a lower cost. When I took it to buy a few parts for it, the parts I ended up with were all for Miller helmets. So near as I can tell, they're both made by the same company since neither Miller nor Hobart actually make their own helmets. Its lower cost is apparently because it says Hobart and not Miller on it.

Goody1231979 · 09-05-2008, 08:58 AM

+2 my miller elite is also great

also i have a speedglass at work which is nice

Scotch740 · 09-05-2008, 09:54 AM

Only auto darkening helmet I have used is the Miller Performance Series helmet. I am very happy with it but again its the only one I have used.

Has an auto on and auto off feature, and a test button to make sure its working. Other than that its the standard adjustable shade, sensitivity, and delay.

OldFatGuy · 09-05-2008, 11:07 AM

I have this one from Lincoln and I like it a lot. It has pretty good features and the price is reasonable.

**Jerry Bransford** · 09-05-2008, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scotch740

Has an auto on and auto off feature, and a test button to make sure its working.

I wish mine had that, I have to push the little on-off button inside first. At least I think I do, I'm afraid to weld without having pushed it first.

**Unlimited04** · 09-05-2008, 03:11 PM

i've got the $60 cheapo from harbor freight and it works fine for me as long as i use electrical tape to keep the adjustment from moving

JJs99TJ · 09-05-2008, 03:36 PM

I had that cheapo HF version too at first, $40 on sale I think and it has
the auto on/off. I got a nice Kobalt one from Lowe's a while back but I
still have the HF one as a backup.

firejeep344 · 09-05-2008, 09:12 PM

I bought the Kobalt hood from Lowes and I hate it. No test button and only solar cells. I end up welding in my garage and at night a lot and it doesn't work. Maybe I got a bad one, but I get flashed almost every time I weld.

JJs99TJ · 09-06-2008, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by firejeep344

I bought the Kobalt hood from Lowes and I hate it. No test button and only solar cells. I end up welding in my garage and at night a lot and it doesn't work. Maybe I got a bad one, but I get flashed almost every time I weld.

hmm... I have none of those issues with mine. for the price you pay
for their helmet, I'd be talkin to someone or taking it back.

njbowhntr · 09-06-2008, 09:30 AM

I have the first generation Elite by Miller. I really love my hood. Has adjustments for sensitivity, delay to dim, and shade. It is initial battery start and then solar from then on. I love the newer generation Elite's because of the 4 sensors to detect light. I have been flashed by mine once do to me blocking the sensors with my hand, but only did that once.

LJlunatic · 09-06-2008, 07:31 PM

Speedglass baby!

j0nesy · 09-07-2008, 03:01 AM

i have a miller elite i use for my personal stuff .... on the job i have a jackson pipeliner.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jerry Bransford

Near as I can tell, my Hobart helmet is the same as a Miller but with a lower cost. When I took it to buy a few parts for it, the parts I ended up with were all for Miller helmets. So near as I can tell, they're both made by the same company since neither Miller nor Hobart actually make their own helmets. Its lower cost is apparently because it says Hobart and not Miller on it.

Hobart is and isnt related to Miller Electric.

Hobart is a subsidiary of ITW (Illinois Tool Works) and has, to my knowledge, always been that.

In 1993, ITW allianced with Miller Electric as its new leader after the death of the previous president (who was the daughter of the founder of miller electric

Hobart is run and owned by ITW ... Miller is currently run by ITW but is still semi-independently owned.

so they are and aren't directly related .. depending on the relation in question ... hahah ... confusing enough??

in a sense, you could argue that both companies are manufactured by ITW under different names.

hence the similarities and the misnomer that Hobart is owned by Miller Electric.

**Jerry Bransford** · 09-07-2008, 12:40 PM

Since I fully understand Hobart and Miller are both owned by ITW and are separate companies, having posted that here a few times, I was only saying that it appears that the same third-party company makes the helmets for both.