Welding Tips and Tricks

My Speedglas 9000x isn't working out forTig, so I'm researching helmets for a replacement. I've been considering the Miller Digital Infinity. I came across the Optrel helmets and I'm intrigued. Who has experience with them and would you buy it again and why?

I have the Digital Infinity and posted a review in the Products Review forum, there are other helmet reviews there as well, good luck

I have both Miller Digital Elite as well as Optrel e684. For tig, I don't think there's a better option than the Optrel with it's auto shade mode it can change as you weld from higher to lower amperage. Sweet.

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I have 3 Optrel helmets at the moment , 2 x e680's , one with the compressed air feed . Also a e684 which is fast becoming my go to helmet , as mentioned the auto ranging is fantastic when Tig welding .

Jared wrote:I have 3 Optrel helmets at the moment , 2 x e680's , one with the compressed air feed . Also a e684 which is fast becoming my go to helmet , as mentioned the auto ranging is fantastic when Tig welding .

Sounds like one of those things I'd have to try to know if its what I'd like. When I set my shade (for high or low amps) I never find myself wishing it was adjustable during the weld

LtBadd wrote:

Jared wrote:I have 3 Optrel helmets at the moment , 2 x e680's , one with the compressed air feed . Also a e684 which is fast becoming my go to helmet , as mentioned the auto ranging is fantastic when Tig welding .

Sounds like one of those things I'd have to try to know if its what I'd like. When I set my shade (for high or low amps) I never find myself wishing it was adjustable during the weld

It all just sort of depends if you like to use a wide range of amperage using the footpedal. If you keep a steady amperage through-out the weld and don't really start or taper off to a low-amperage, then it would be of little to no benefit. If you frequently find yourself trailing off to terminate a weld bead and you have a TIG that goes low, then this helmet is fantastic. You can literally taper down from say, 200A all the way down to 3 or 4A without having to strain your eyes to see the arc because your [traditional] auto-darkening helmet is set to shade 12+. This one will "lighten up" on it's own as the arc light intensity decreases, so you can comfortably see a sub-10A arc just as nice as a 200+A arc. It really is sweet. But of course not necessary and not for everyone.