Hi All; As many of you know I have started a
RMH business.
Building the metal pieces needed for batchbox's & J tube
RMH's. This of
course requires welding.
I learned to weld as a teenager. Being a mechanic required at least knowing how.
I never considered myself a good welder (having worked around pipefitters) but I could stick things together and although not pretty my weld's held up just fine.
I still have my very first welding hood and another just like it. Very small non opening view port and a flip hood.
Those hoods both still can do the job. Just not for me anymore!
I bought a super cheap auto darken hood a while back. I figured that with as much welding as I did no reason to buy a $100 one...
As my first auto darken hood I "thought" it was great! Man how cool! You can see before you strike an arc!
And then I opened
Dragon tech... suddenly I was welding every day. No longer a crane operator or mechanic... now I am a metal fabricator!
I need my welds to look good as well as hold up. Being 61 closing fast on 62 my eyesight is not what it used to be.
My brother in Idaho is a top notch welder. He came over one day and after listening to me whine and looking at my welds. He told me throw that piece of junk hood away and buy a quality hood with magnifying lenses.... you can't weld good when you can't see... hmmm I'm afraid he is right! It sucks getting old!
So I went on the hunt for a new welding hood.
My goodness is there a lot of choices. Most in the $75-100 range. But there were higher quality, new tech hoods out there, they ran from $200-400!!! OH MY!
I continued researching. I narrowed my search down to Hobart , Miller or Lincoln electric.
I finally settled on the Lincoln Electric Viking 3350. Their newest model with super large view port and new high tech clarity while welding. On sale, in plain jane black ,it was still $224 delivered OUCH!
OMG this thing is like magic! Super comfy , really lite weight, incredible view before striking an arc, but it really shines once you start welding! Man you can see the puddle, EASY!
My welds improved immediately! I called my brother to thank him. After telling him what I had bought. He had to give me shit about some dang equipment operator / mechanic has a better welding hood than he does! I expect to see a new hood at his house next time I visit... no doubt just a little bit better than mine.
Bottom line, It pays to buy quality! Oh and like I said, it sucks to grow old!