Lens # choice?

[undercut]

I bought the HF auto helmet after the boss here at work picked one up and had been welding (tig) with it for about 6 months. He kept on saying how it worked just as well as the Jackson that it replaced (when the jackson was dropped and broke). I've been using it for about a year now and it works great. I too had to fiddle with the sensitivity switch, but unless I am in a position that blocks the sensors it doesn't flash me at all any more.

HF currently has three different models and I suspect at least two of them come from different manufacturers. Some models may work better than the others. I've heard good things about the "Blue Flame" version (Model 91214) which I think is priced higher than their other helmets.

Oh, forgot to mention ... I believe both the online description and the manuals say that the blue flame variety supports TIG. Can anyone support this claim?

[Injected65]

They only had the blue flame version at the store here. I picked it up on one of their 50% off specials that was in the local paper.

[Slartybartfa]

HF currently has three different models and I suspect at least two of them come from different manufacturers. Some models may work better than the others. I've heard good things about the "Blue Flame" version (Model 91214) which I think is priced higher than their other helmets.

Oh, forgot to mention ... I believe both the online description and the manuals say that the blue flame variety supports TIG. Can anyone support this claim?

Yes, I just looked. It says suitable for TIG greater than 10 A. The cheapest HF auto darkening helmet is like the cheapest NorthernTool helmet. Neither has the sensitivity control. But the next more expensive model from each vendor does.

[Rambozo]

I believe both the online description and the manuals say that the blue flame variety supports TIG. Can anyone support this claim?

Depending on where you look you can find claims that is fine for TIG as well as warnings about it not being ok for low amperage TIG. I have a couple of them and the manuals change from time to time. They are not bad. I think the red one and the blue flame are the same guts, while the plainer one seems different. No comment on the skull. As long as you don't block the sensors they respond well to TIG. But they are only dual sensor, so it's possible to block them if you are welding around obstructions. Even if an autodark goes off from something, you might get dazzled but you shouldn't get a flash burn. They default to shade #4 when off and have full IR and UV filtering all the time.

[Rambozo]

Does anyone here have a Miller Digital Elite with the X-Mode function? I have always been curious as to how well that system works and if there are things that can fool it. I've never found an autodark that works reliably when using a mirror or two.

[ncsugrad2006]

I believe weldingtipsandtricks.com guy reviews one and compares it to some of the cheaper helmets. The X-Mode was pretty cool, depending on your application.

[undercut]

Depending on where you look you can find claims that is fine for TIG as well as warnings about it not being ok for low amperage TIG. I have a couple of them and the manuals change from time to time. They are not bad. I think the red one and the blue flame are the same guts, while the plainer one seems different. No comment on the skull. As long as you don't block the sensors they respond well to TIG. But they are only dual sensor, so it's possible to block them if you are welding around obstructions. Even if an autodark goes off from something, you might get dazzled but you shouldn't get a flash burn. They default to shade #4 when off and have full IR and UV filtering all the time.

Doing too much reading in this forum .... Now I want a plasma cutter. Any idea whether the blue flame HF helmet is OK to use with a plasma cutter? The helmet is on sale now.

[Trip59]

For that eventuality, I decided to just stick with the fixed shades until I can get a Fabricator helmet in. No way I'm trusting my eyes to HF...