Welding Tips and Tricks

I just started a new job, and where I work supplies lenses and has keeps certain replacements on hand for their shop hoods and the A50s that several people use. I was invited to pick a helmet to take home and use out of the ones they had on hand and they had some newer but beat up miller digital elites and a likely 10 year old Speedglas 9100x with a very small amount of spatter that somehow got INSIDE the helmet itself and onto the cartridge lens. I couldn't really tell a clear winner in clarity between the two especially with dusty used lenses.

I've looked up the price of the Speedglas 9100xx and it's NOT a cheap hood though I think it debuted in 2009 so I'm not sure how much auto darks have improved in the last 10 years nor how much of that price was a function of being 3M. Does anyone have personal experience with one?

sbaker56 wrote:I just started a new job, and where I work supplies lenses and has keeps certain replacements on hand for their shop hoods and the A50s that several people use. I was invited to pick a helmet to take home and use out of the ones they had on hand and they had some newer but beat up miller digital elites and a likely 10 year old Speedglas 9100x with a very small amount of spatter that somehow got INSIDE the helmet itself and onto the cartridge lens. I couldn't really tell a clear winner in clarity between the two especially with dusty used lenses.

I've looked up the price of the Speedglas 9100xx and it's NOT a cheap hood though I think it debuted in 2009 so I'm not sure how much auto darks have improved in the last 10 years nor how much of that price was a function of being 3M. Does anyone have personal experience with one?

Don't have any experience with the XX. But I do own an XXI. I love my XXI. I believe you won't get the true color, or the external grind mode, and a few other nice things. The headgear looks to be the same and it is comfortable and very adjustable. I don't know if the XX comes with the shaded side windows or if you would need to purchase separately but I love that feature kind of like having a 180 degree view. I contemplated with several helmets including the Optrel, Miller, and A50. The A50 I worried with it being touchscreen that was something easier to break. In the end, one of my main reasons for getting the Speedglas was not only the reviews I read, but the shaded side windows. It helps me a lot being able to see what's going on out of the corner of my eye. It allows me to keep my hood down longer. Just FYI I have seen the XXI for sale at different times on eBay new for around 300$. If your not in a hurry you may want to shop around as I do think the XXI is a better filter if you can swing the extra money. In contrast you maybe able to find a deal on an XX the same way. I assume in those instances they bought it, decided to go another direction and take a hit on what they paid for it. Just a thought. Good luck to you.

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