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09-12-2010, 12:23 AM
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I've never heard bad about the Millers,did you own one of the older ones when they first came out?..If so,that technology is OLD now,..if it was still new though..i beleive they have a 3 year warranty on them and replace them without questions,might want to look into that... 
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09-12-2010, 08:38 AM
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I think that may be the reason we still hear complaints about these things not working for long, batteries not lasting long and not replaceable, etc, but things have come a long way in just the last 5 or 6 years and if someone has one 10 years or older then there simply is no comparison. The reason I was so interested in finding out if the Kobalt was the same as the HF helmet is that the first Hobart, the one they called "The Hood" (and Miller of the same model), auto dark had the same exact "Chameleon" brand lens as the first models that HF sold! I had a Hobart bought in 2001 for $199.99 at Tractor Supply and that same year I was looking at the ones at HF for $59.99 and saw the similarities but when I looked at the lens it was exactly the same thing! Same brand lens in a different shell and while I am sure the shell was not as good as the Hobart there certainly was not $150 worth of difference. Both the Hobart (and Miller) and HF use a different lens now and until recently I wondered if they were still the same but after looking at the HF models I now know they are not but 9 years ago they sure were the same thing. BTW, that old Hobart is still working just fine!
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09-12-2010, 09:14 AM
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The technology has come so far in a short time it's crazy,once you use a GOOD auto lens,you are RUINED for life,lol
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09-12-2010, 11:48 AM
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Miller helmet
It was an older model with a 2 year warranty and it quit after 2 years. So I shouldn't complain.
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07-22-2012, 04:40 PM
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$48 Princess Auto hood
I agree with some of the opinions expressed here about using cheapo helmets at home. NP
I want to tell you my story from Thursday July 19, 2012. I was using the Princess Auto adjustable from 9 to 13 solar powered helmet 3 ten hour shifts that week. I had felt light discomfort in my eyes after the first 10 hour shift during my sleep, so I went to the drug store to get something for it. I bought Polysporin drops for eyes. I used it 2 times and welded for another 10 hours on Tuesday. My eyes felt less irritated during my second nights sleep. I worked a third 10 hour shift welding on Wednesday, and felt fine. I got to sleep around 3:30 AM and woke up at 5:30 AM with severe sandy eyes and much water coming out. After much consternation, I called a cab and went to the hospital emergency. I was unsure if I had any foreign material in there. The Doctor said it was arc flash, and gave me the next 2 days off. I also got a claim for 1 days pay through Worker's Compensation. I called into my employer and told them about my need to miss a day. I sat at home all day Thursday with bouts of crying eyes, and Friday I was fired. So, I think that I was fired due to a faulty helmet if used for 10 hours. My plan on my next job is to use a manual helmet, and screw the auto-dark ones.
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07-22-2012, 04:47 PM
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I have never welded that steady for so long, maybe a time or two one day long but never day after day, you bet you need good protection!
I have posted earlier in this thread about my distaste for the autodark helmets, I just don't like them. I am on my second Accustrike helmet and won't work without one, check them out. welding helmets auto darkening Auto Dark alternative Hands free  Brian
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07-22-2012, 04:49 PM
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This is an OLD thread, wonder if the guy still needs input?
Vince
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07-22-2012, 04:57 PM
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It's kind of a "sticky" because it gets pulled up often after people find it in a search. There is good into there for any new readers.
Brian
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07-22-2012, 05:25 PM
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If you got weld flash from that hood,then it was clearly as cheap as you can get...
This is why i always go with a top brand name..Jackson,Speedglas,Lincoln,Miller,Arcone,Optr el...etc..they do have a lower budget end hood to compete with the chinese junk... Buyin the cheapo's never garauntee you they are ANSI Z87.1 standard..,,,i'd NEVER trust them no matter what they say,the places they are made are lowest quality and standards you can get..... Weld hoods have 3 layers of protection..outside and inside clear cover lens..and the auto or standard filter itself....it only takes ONE of them to totaly prevent any kind of weld flash as long is it IS truely a ANSI Z87.1...as was told before in this thread,ANSI Z87.1 means it will block 99.9% of UV and IR light in the clear lens..and 100% in the dark lens...auto lens are the dark lens at all times.. It doesnt matter if its the standard type or auto filter,if it isn't up to standard then it'll hurt you......... I started as an International Ironworker in 1978..back in the 70's and 80's it was common for anyone to get a weld flash,from minor to severe enough to have to take a day off work...it was pretty common to be at work and have a slight weld flash and sort of be on light duty away from the welding and bright sunlight.. But that has all changed 100% since we have been reuqired to wear ANSI Z87.1 safety glasses no matter where you are on the job...so the glasses take care of it alone..and then the 3 more you have in the sheild..if you get flash at all..something is totaly wrong or your fault for not using up to par equipment such as at the minimum good quality safety glasses...and you can buy a pair of quality glasses for 3.00 or even less..check out Crews and Uvex brands....top quality and cheap............ In all honesty..i've yet to have weld flash in the past 10 years or more since i went totaly auto lens in all my hoods..at the moment i am still using my Jackson NexGen and Speedglas 100V..all my old standard lens hoods have been collecting dust and spider webs in the shed..you can actualy prevent less of a weld flash with an auto because you never worry about holding your gun or rod close to the work before flipping the hood down and a good possibility of arc flashing your self before you start....and it makes for better quality work..no arc strikes everywhere and you always get a good start where you need it......... I used to be the one who always asked the guys in the 90's when they came to the job with an auto and ask them"that purty fancy thing weld for you too"?..lol Little did i know at the time..the advantage those guys had over my old heavy Fibermetals and easily scratched glass lens................ I'll add one more thing incase it hasn't been covered..but it probaly won't pertain to guys in a garage welding by theirself...if you have people welding around you while you are welding and have no good safety glasses on under the hood....you can EASILY get a bad weld flash from the other people's reflection off the inside of your weld lens....the UV and IR rays reflects ....thats how i got the worse weld flash of my life..welding Nelson studs on the deck while everyone around me was also welding them down..i had an old Jackson standard big lens hood...i couldn;t do anything or even leave the house for 3 days..couldn;t even look a the TV without hurting....... Last edited by SuthnCustoms; 07-22-2012 at 05:46 PM.
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07-22-2012, 08:48 PM
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I'd be willing to bet some of those "name brand" names are Chinese imports
 . Especially since the Chinese are flooding the U.S. market with cheap solar cells.Vince
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07-22-2012, 10:32 PM
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Optrel..Made in switzerland... ArcOne..Switzerland also... Miller..made In KOREA Lincoln....CHINA I've tried every one of these mentioned..and owned 1 Arcone Carerra and old Optrel... I currently still own and use the Jackson NexGen and Speedglas 100V and both of them have been abused to hell and back,,and still workin like new..the Jacksons always seem to have the BEST clarity in the lens out of all of them............ But recently tried out the new lincoln 3350 and the features and clarity are real nice..and good price too... The cheapo's i speak of..are the mass produced for no one specials,companies and people pay a little fee to have their name put on them,but several companies have the same exact thing...those are mass produced JUNK and have no real quality control... Miller and Lincoln supposedly has their own people at the plants making them 24/7 over-seeing the operations and quality. I've had the Miller Elite for a short time..my son kind of "claimed" it when he was working a government job learning TIG..i didn;t care much about it after the fact that i bought it and was thinking i was getting an american made product because it was Miller...wrong thinking... It went on the blink only about a year and a 1/2 afterwards..and Miller claimed he abused and only wanted to give him a little discount for a new one..the abuse was claimed because the hood had slight scratches on it...i've yet to see anyone who actualy USES a welding hood stay nice n pretty..so after that expereince and a few issues i've seen freinds have with new Miller machines too?..their name is not on my buying list anymore... The biggest factor here,all those mass produced no name brands that people only buy as a product and have their name put on them are the ones that have really unkown lens in them..my suggestion if ever buying one..throw away the lens covers and go buy some good quaility Z87.1 polycarbonate lens covers....that way at last you KNOW you have at least 2 of them for real protection.
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07-23-2012, 08:10 AM
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If you got fired for a work related injury, get a lawyer and sue their *****! they can't do that
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07-23-2012, 03:33 PM
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It is not how fast it turns dark or how dark it is, it is the UV filter that does the work to protect against arc flash. Working with other welders near by or working inside a vessel will let a lot of UV attack you from your back. Wearing a good pair of wrap around safety glasses under your hood will save you those pains. I have fitted for welders for 16 hr shifts 5 days a week and never had arc flash just by wearing safety glasses. btw, I have a Hobart "the Hood", works like the day it was new - never had a problem with it yet.
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07-23-2012, 03:40 PM
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They know their legal ways of doing so and you can;t touch them.... If you have a job related injury and need time off,especialy if its a bad injury...you'll need to file a claim with workmen's comp....and it takes weeks if not months to start getting the checks..especialy if the employer disputes the claim... If they dispute it..about the ONLY way to win it,is if someone in the company is willing to lose their job and be your witness...good luck on that..and even that could easily beaten..those high paid lawyers know how to make a liar out of the most honest people in the world... The companies best little trick is to call you once you are home from the hospital or just while off because you can;t work..and they say"hey buddy,we really like you and your work,so we'll help youi out and you just come to work in the office and we'll pay you your regular paycheck,you don;t even have to do anything!,just sit here and shoot the crap with me buddy ole pal!".... Most fall for it..but the catch is..once you've worked a few days in the office,you have no leg to stand on because those paychecks proved you are capable of a job and working........ Once that's established..you get a pink slip with a seperation notice with a lil checkmark beside the "Reduction Of Force"..or worse yet..their lawyer will come up some reason YOU are at fault for the injury and not the company..and you'll get FIRED............ No company has to have ANY legal reason to have a reduction of force..in other words..a 1 man layoff..the only law they have to go by is..they can;t hire new workers for a few weeks..and then they hire whoever and how many they want..... so..if you ever get hurt real bad and it did some real damage that may effect you the rest of your life..you BETTER have a good reason that it was not even remotley your fault..such as personal safety reasons,using your own faulty Personal Protective Equipment....etc It's very RARE anymore for someone to win a big battle against companies anymore,too many new laws and escape routes...NEVER trust a company when you get injured on the job,they'll lie thru their teeth to make you look bad and get away having to pay you for thier screw ups...
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07-23-2012, 03:46 PM
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This seems to be the HARDEST part to get people to understand...lol
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