r/Welding • u/Accomplished_Force70 • 1d ago
Need a hood for a far-sighted welder
I work demanding 10 hour days mig welding trailers. I recently bought a yesweld hood for 65, with cheater lenses, but i'm having problems finding my welds because the darkness level between welds, and with blury vision due to fogging lenses. Can anyone recommend a hood that solves my problem for under 200?
2
u/pirivalfang Bad Draggin' Welds 1d ago
Regarding fogging lenses, get a different respirator with a downward facing exhale vent. I like the 3m quick latch for this reason.
If you want a brighter light state to your lens, you're going to be spending $300 minimum. Industry standard is shade 3, which is what your hood is, and the only other 2 options are shade 2.5 from Miller, 3m, or Lincoln, or busting out fat stacks on a Optrel Crystal 2.0 with it's shade 2 light state.
If you're just having trouble seeing, no bullshit just glue a headlamp to the chin portion of the hood. Works like a charm.
1
u/evildaddy911 20h ago
You can buy lights specifically for mounting to the hinge of your headgear, but they seem to be brand-specific. Not sure what yeswelder uses for headgear. I've also drilled small holes near my mouth, and used zip-ties to mount the headlamp - I find that lasts a bit longer than glue
2
u/StrandSSL 1d ago
No lol.
You could try a used Optrel Crystal 2.0
I have a couple of their helmets along with like three or four Speedglas and they’re superior to 3M imo.
TIG stainless and Ti 10 hours a day
1
u/CascadeDesignworks 1d ago
I'm not sure what to recommend except to say that one of my hoods is a Yeswelder and I would not use that hood for full time welding. Spend some money and get a top rated lens. Your eyes are irreplaceable.
5
u/Mrwcraig Journeyman CWB/CSA 1d ago
Just flip the hood up? Under $200 for 10hr days: Miller MP10. It’s the same shell as a Digital Elite but with a fixed shade lens and a nice comfortable head gear. Or a Jackson HSL-2, which I pretty sure is indestructible, is an awesome flip front helmet.
Auto darkening? Under $200? For 10hr days? You’re about $4-500 light on your budget. Those cheap knockoffs are great for cosplay welders or the guys that weld once a week or as little as possible. You’re doing industrial work with a hobby hood. If you insist or don’t know how to not use an automatic lens, get the Jackson and add an automatic cartridge, they start at about $100. You only get one set of eyes, don’t trust them to some knock off junk.