There are tons of great rebates on Baker’s Gas and Welding right now for welding helmets. You may have heard about the Jackson Balder rebate already that offers $100, but there’s also a rebate for $40-$60 on Speedglas welding helmets. Each welding helmet has its own advantages and disadvantages that you’ll want to consider if you’re in the market for a new welding helmet. Some are better suited for home welding projects and others provide everything you need for a busy welding job.
We’re going to look at how the top welding helmets from Miller Electric, Lincoln Electric, and Speedglas stack up.
Remember, price isn’t everything when it comes to welding helmets. Just because a helmet is cheap, that doesn’t mean it’s the best deal. And just because a helmet is expensive, that doesn’t mean that it’s the best helmet with the features you need. Also keep in mind that welding helmets specs can change over time as new models are released. All of the information in this post is based on the specs available as of this writing.
Special Features: Miller
The Miller Electric Digital Elite offers a unique setting known as X-Mode that both sets it apart from other welding helmets and puts its price on the higher end of welding helmets. X-Mode is especially ideal for professional welders who are working out of position and could be in danger of getting flashed.
X-Mode using sensors that pick up waves as they are emitted from the weld and determines when a flash is about to happen. While Miller and Lincoln offer helmets with four sensors that should pick up any flash, the X-Mode feature makes getting flashed an impossibility. You’ll be completely covered no matter
where you’re working.
You’ll also benefit from a wide range of shade options for your various welding and welding prep tasks. You’ll find shades that range from 5-13 and a grinding mode (shade 3) that allows you to wear your helmet while having excellent visibility for a variety of applications.
Miller’s Digital Elite is popular among professional welders who are on the job all day and can’t afford time off if they get flashed. It offers all of the top features you need in a welding helmet and is around the middle of the pack when it comes to price.
Viewing Area: Speedglas
The Speedglas 9100 welding helmet offers a viewing area that is over four inches wide, but it doesn’t stop there. When you’re not welding, you can flip up the darkening shades and use a full length face shield feature that will protect you while grinding, cutting, or working on anything else in your shop that isn’t welding. That saves you from having to take your helmet on and off, which is a good thing since Speedglas helmets are noted for their comfort.
In addition, Speedglas helmets offer a side viewing area that makes it easier to keep an eye on the people around you if you’re on a busy job site or if there is heavy machinery in your area. If safety on the job is a big concern, Speedglas is worth considering since you’ll have plenty of visibility.
Value for the Price: Lincoln Electric
Lincoln’s Viking welding helmet offers comparable features to both Miller’s and Speedglas’ welding helmets. You won’t find all of the viewing area features that Speedglas offers or the X-Mode feature that sets Miller apart, but you will get a solid, reliable welding helmet for an affordable price that its users swear by. You can typically find a basic black Viking welding helmet at Baker’s for close to $215 if you hit a good sale.
You’ll find that the Viking 3350 has all of the essentials covered in an auto-darkening welding helmet: four sensors, a view size of 3.74 x 3.34 inches, solar powered batteries, and even internal shade controls. It’s safe for work zones and comes ready to go with hard hat adaptor capabilities and a spot for a cheater lens if you need a little help focusing on your work.
You don’t lose all that much by way of features by going with Lincoln’s affordable option. In fact, some welders would say you’re making a very wise choice!