Welding helmet review.

13below0 · #1 11-15-2008, 08:06 PM

I figured there are some people on here that actually work and fab on the rigs (and do a good job at it) that I would give you my 2 cents on a new Miller digital elite series lid. Now I have ALOT of helmets, no less than 6 right now. Everything from 2 cheap harbor freight lids, Jackson etc. and now a new Miller. I use different lids for Mig or tig. No reason to f up a big dollar helmet welding under some rusty old truck etc. Right out of the box I thought it was pretty bada$$. Pretty light weight, It adjusts forward and back to get your face closer or further from the viewing area. This helmet has whats supposed to be the biggest viewing area in industry now. Saying 30% larger. WOW, why did I wait so long to buy a helmet with a larger viewing area was the first thing I thought when I used it, its awesome. It has 4 arc sensors so it will always dim no matter what wierd position you are in. The sensitivity is very fast. I have it set at half way and it will sometimes go dark before I even strike a arc. It has a grind mode so if your lazy and dont put on saftey glasses its not to dark. I have been using this helmet for a little overa month now and I like it more everyday. If anyone is looking for a new helmet I sugesst the Miller elite seiries get a second look.

wyoming9 · #2 11-15-2008, 08:17 PM

Interesting kinda like a fancy living room you never use.

So what your saying the Miller hood is good but not in the real world. because it is to delicate for normal use. Not as sturdy as my Arc one hood that sees daily use almost for 2 years now. I bought it for being under something Trucks Trailers Heavy equipment. It has held up well.

Maybe I just misunderstood what you were saying.

13below0 · #3 11-15-2008, 08:26 PM

Yes sir, I think you misunderstood. I have different helmets from when I started welding ,to going to school, to actaully working in the field. Thats why I have more than I need. This can definetely be the 1 and only lid you will ever need. I just chose not to use it for dirty jobs. I tig weld 75% of the time anyway. So its not much a issue for me.

rdn2blazer · #4 11-15-2008, 08:32 PM

I love my Miller Elite JOKER helmet.

mikefrombc · #5 11-15-2008, 09:33 PM

what,s the digital feature ?? i bought the elite last yr this time and i like the helmet alot , it,s way nicer then my ESAB autotinter

UNSTUCK · #6 11-15-2008, 09:59 PM

I was at a Miller rep show and he was showing us the different hoods. He did not have a digital one for us to try, but told us all about it. He said if you put it in x-mode the hood would sence the electicity of the welder and would go dark. In other words, he said you could be facing 180* from someone welding and your hood would go dark. That is why I bought it. I used to always get flashed when I started welding the back side of a tube in a roll cage. This new digital does not sence me welding and does not go dark like the rep said it should. In fact I get flashed quite a bit. I have stopped using the x-mode setting and using the normal weld setting.

I have talked to a lot of people at Air Gas, and Miller and no one can tell me if my hood is junk, or if the x-mode is a joke.

Anyone know what's up with my hood.

Other than this, I love the hood.

wyoming9 · #7 11-16-2008, 09:20 AM

If I was you I would track down the demo guy, shouldn`t be real hard unless all the people he told about the hood have issues like you and are forming a lynch party.

Miller being about the best around for customer service, If you make enough noise you should get some answers or a new hood.

I have been very lucky Arc Flash does not seem to effect me as bad as most that weld for what ever reason.

13below0 · #8 11-16-2008, 03:44 PM

UNSTUCK, its funny that you mention that because I didnt even look at the book when I got the lid in the mail. I just put it on and went to work. It seemed like every time i hit the pedal I would hear the water cooler click on as normal and then my helmet would be dark before I struck a arc, so I thoguth it was F'd up. Turns out it was on the x-mode. It does it sometimes even in manual. I have yet to get flashed with this helmet. Maybe you should take yours back for a replacement.

UNSTUCK · #9 11-17-2008, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 13below0

UNSTUCK, its funny that you mention that because I didnt even look at the book when I got the lid in the mail. I just put it on and went to work. It seemed like every time i hit the pedal I would hear the water cooler click on as normal and then my helmet would be dark before I struck a arc, so I thoguth it was F'd up. Turns out it was on the x-mode. It does it sometimes even in manual. I have yet to get flashed with this helmet. Maybe you should take yours back for a replacement.

Hey man, thanks for letting me know. You're the first to really tell me that's how it's supposed to work. I plan on taking this thing back to Airgas tomorrow. I've had it for several months now, it will be nice to have a new hood.

mrc · #10 11-17-2008, 09:06 PM

I bought the Miller Elite the one with the flames about two years ago. Within the first 6 months the graphics began pealing off. I called miller and they replaced the helmet free of charge. The replacment has been fine. It is the best helmet that I have ever used the only complaint is the headgear feature could be made better as some of the plastic parts have become misshappen and wearing out prematurely. The auto darkening lense is the best. I wish I had bought one years ago.

Steve · #11 11-17-2008, 10:12 PM

I've had a Miller elite for a few years now - works very well but I do occasionally get flashed when doing "busy" cage work.

UNSTUCK · #12 11-20-2008, 08:34 PM

I talked to Air Gas again yesterday. They still think my hood works just fine. They called Miller anyways and they seem to think the same, But they agreed to exchange my lens for a new one. I should get it tomorrow. So I guess I'll know for sure how it's supposed to work pretty soon.

SweetHomeAlabama · #13 11-24-2008, 01:19 PM

I'm a neophyte to welding. I've only been at it about a year now so consider the source.

I started out with a HF auto darkening helmet when I first got my welder (budget constraints wouldn't allow more). After about eight months of use it finally broke (cheep headgear) so I needed to find a new helmet.

Welding is a hobby to me, not a profession, so a top of the line helmet was a luxury I couldn't afford. After some research and some searching on-line I found a new Miller Performance series helmet for about $150.00 delivered (yes, e-bay).

I've used my new Miller Performance helmet for about a month now and couldn't be happier.

http://www.millerwelds.com/products/...erformance.php

TBob · #14 02-05-2009, 02:44 PM

well I've had an elite for 4 years and the shade sensor went out. Only a 2 year warranty so I'm screwed. I though like most tools you buy pay for a good one and you won't regret it. Well when I bought mine I think i paid $360 - would have never expected it to die in 4 year especially with occational use. Of coarse the new screen will cost $260 - so I think I'm gona get the Northern tools one for 129 - specs out damn near the same as the Miller will see how long it holds up. Oh and on a side note - loved the Miller while it worked just very disappointed that it died so soon with little use.

Captainfab · #15 02-05-2009, 04:33 PM

My Jackson Master EQC that I bought in 1994 is still working just fine. It's neutral shade is a little darker than the newer ones and it doesn't have all the features that the newer ones do, but I've not had any trouble with it in spite of being dropped several times. I've heard that the miller hoods aren't all that great and that Jackson, Speedglass and Optrel make a good hood.

I would never buy a cheap made in China electronic welding hood.....I value my sight too much

section525 · #16 02-05-2009, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TBob

well I've had an elite for 4 years and the shade sensor went out. Only a 2 year warranty so I'm screwed. I though like most tools you buy pay for a good one and you won't regret it. Well when I bought mine I think i paid $360 - would have never expected it to die in 4 year especially with occational use. Of coarse the new screen will cost $260 - so I think I'm gona get the Northern tools one for 129 - specs out damn near the same as the Miller will see how long it holds up. Oh and on a side note - loved the Miller while it worked just very disappointed that it died so soon with little use.

This guy had the same problem:

http://www.offroadfabnet.com/forums/...ead.php?t=4986

Oh, wait...

TBob · #17 02-05-2009, 05:22 PM

Yes he did -

Quote:

Originally Posted by section525

This guy had the same problem:

http://www.offroadfabnet.com/forums/...ead.php?t=4986

Oh, wait...

motoracer250r · #18 03-05-2009, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wyoming9

Interesting kinda like a fancy living room you never use.

So what your saying the Miller hood is good but not in the real world. because it is to delicate for normal use. Not as sturdy as my Arc one hood that sees daily use almost for 2 years now. I bought it for being under something Trucks Trailers Heavy equipment. It has held up well.

Maybe I just misunderstood what you were saying.

I've had my big window elite for 4 years the only problem I had was a broken head band it get used and abused 4 to 5 hours a day been dropped many times still works great better than my last speedglass died after 2 years

DriveshaftJoe · #19 03-06-2009, 01:34 AM

Wouldn't trade my miller for any helmet, when it dies I will replace with the exact same. It works pretty much flawlessly in any cramped dirty damp little hole that I can squeeze my fat ass into. The only thing that I dont use it for is arcair, not willing to risk my eyes after expensive lazik surgury, on a helmet that might not be able to keep up to the inconsistent arc of gouging. It would probably work, but we each have our own hangups....