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Welding is one of the most dangerous professions in the world. It requires you to work with different light sources, including ultraviolet and infrared light that can harm your eyes if you don’t use the proper welding helmet. Your helmet also needs to protect you from flying sparks.
The modern welding helmet was introduced in 1937, and companies are still finding ways to make them better. When choosing the perfect one, you shouldn’t look at the design only, but at the full functionality of it. We’ve done some research to help you make the perfect choice for under $200.
We have also compile a list of best MIG welder under 1000. So check it out too.
Best Welding Helmets Under $200 On The Market
1. TGR Panoramic 180 View Solar Powered – True Color
This TGR Panoramic has 4 independent ARC sensors with adjustable sensitivity and delay control. You won’t have to worry about light harming your eyes because this models lens auto-darken in 1/10,000th of a second. This is one of the best responsive times of any other option on the market. The grind of it will protect you from the flying particles.
The TGR Panoramic 180, as the name suggests, has an extra-large viewing area providing
It’s lightweight,so you won’t even feel it while working. You’ll enjoy the comfort of it not putting any extra pressure on your neck during long jobs. It’s made of carbon fiber, which will give you extra protection from your working environment.
The headband is adjustable to fit every type and shape of
2. Hobart 770756 Impact Variable
With the Hobart 770756 Impact Variable Auto Darkening Helmet, you don’t have to worry about the long hours of welding and its effect on your eyes as this model will react and darken in just 1/25,000 of a second after detecting an arc or flash.
Both grind and shut-off mode are possible on this model, and the transition between the two is almost instant. The shell is resistant to impacts to further help you protect yourself in industrial or construction workplaces.
The viewing area is quite large at 7.05 square inches, which will ensure you have a complete view of the area in front of you both in active and inactive mode. It comes with three light shades, but it also has a variable shade that you can use at numbers 8 to 11.
You can adjust the sensitivity and delay with a knob, and you can also lift the mask off your face and adjust the straps to increase your comfort.
3. Jackson Safety 46131 Insight Variable, HaloX
This Jackson Safety Insight model is a great one that comes at a great price (less than $110). It is digital and easy to use. It has variable shades from 9 to 13 and a wide viewing area to see what you’re welding. You can also adjust the sensitivity and delay of the helmet.
This is a value-centric welding mask that allows you to choose between grind and weld modes with ease. So It is compatible with HLX100 and HSL100 shells. It meets all the safety standards of the industry and is an
And it is also equipped with an Auto-Darkening Filter (ADF) that enables you to adapt to various working environments because as you easily control the shade of the lens and adjust the sensitivity
4. Antra AH7-X90-001X TOP Digital Controlled, Wide Shade
If you work with TIG, MIG, MMA, or plasma welding this Antra AH7 is a great helmet for you because it has 4 digitally-controlled sensors and an auto-darkening lens with TOP Optical Class 1/1/1/1(the lower the number, the better). With its LCS Shade display, all the guesswork is eliminated, and the lens will always stay on the shade for you to see better. Not only can you use this helmet for welding, but you can also use it for grinding and cutting.
It is extremely versatile and it is also very lightweight, making it easy to wear during long work hours. It has a manual ON and auto OFF switch, which is very useful. The power off delay is 30 minutes, and the filter stays on for another 30 minutes in the dark environments.
The reaction time of the lens is 1/25,000 seconds, which shows very high responsiveness for this type of helmet. It will prevent the light from harming your eyes when you fire up.
5. Lincoln Darkfire Variable-Shade with Gloves
The Lincoln Darkfire is another great product from the famous Lincoln Electric company, known for producing high-quality gear for workers. It comes with welding gloves, which is a nice extra as you’re sure to need an extra pair sometime. It has a side-mount dial that allows you to adjust shades from 9-13 for even better protection, and you don’t even have to remove the helmet to make the change.
This option meets all the idustrial safety standards, including ANSI and SCE/CE. The responsiveness of the lens is a fast 1/25,000 seconds.
TheLincoln Darkfire has a suitable viewing area of 3.82in. x 1.73in, providing you with a wide if not very long view. It’s great for long projects as it is lightweight and won’t additionally tire you. It has an adjustable fit, which means that one size fits most.
6. Forney 55708 Advantage Series Patriot
This Forney Patriot is a great option for experienced and advanced welders. When compared to the other auto-darkening welding helmets, Forney models generally stand out because they are user-friendly and more comfortable, enabling you to work longer.
The Forney 55708 has expanded the ultra-clear viewing area of 7.70 sq. in., which is enough space for you to work with. The responsiveness is 1/16,000 per second. It has 4 optical arc sensors that will protect your eyes from the light.
The shell
7. Save Phace 3010288 Chameleon Gen-X Series
The lens on the Save Phace Chameleon model has a 180-degree rotation and ADF 3/10 fixed shade that will meet the industrial standards of safety at any workplace. Because it is designed as a gas mask, it has a lot of free space inside that will let you move your head around and be much more comfortable wearing it.
This Save Phace is made out of high-quality carbon that can absorb shocks and impacts that could otherwise be harmful to you in your workplace.
There are nine points on the headgear that you can adjust to the shape of your head. It also comes with a headband that will absorb all the sweat that you may produce working in high-temperature workplaces.
Buyer’s Guide
As there are often many choices to consider before buying your
Lens View
It’s essential for every welder to have the best vision through their hood. Things to consider in helmet lenses are the lens width, the lens height, and how clearly you can see through them.
Helmet lenses are generally measured in dimensions that look like this: 3.7 x 2.3 in. This means the lens is 3.7 inches wide around
The area you can see is important, but the clarity you can see with matters more. Most helmets shield the weld well and provide the necessary UV protection to guard your eyes, but if they don’t display your weld clearly, you won’t be able to produce the best work. Compare these aspects of the helmets you’re considering buying.
Lens Shading
Welding helmets come with all sorts of shading options. Some are fixed with no variance. Those that can change come in varying ranges to suit many different conditions.
Some have a grinding mode feature that’s almost transparent, having only a light shade to it, and some have cutting shades that are slightly darker but cannot be welded with. The welding shades range from number 5 to number 13, getting darker as the number increases. The brighter the arc is, the darker you will want your lens.
If you’re TIG welding with low amps, you’ll want a helmet with a range as low as 5 to enable low amperage shading. Some helmets only have a range for higher amperage between 9 and 13, which won’t shade low amperage welding properly.
Auto-Darkening Delay
The delay of your auto-darkening is the time it takes for the shading to darken once your arc is lit. The range is between 0.35 to 0.1 seconds, with the shortest delay time being the most desirable. Both suffice, but the faster the response is, the more protection your eyes receive.
Comfort
The comfort of your helmet is also crucial, especially if you weld for any length of time more than the occasional hour here or there. The way a hood feels is critical and differs from helmet to helmet based on the weight, the headgear design, and how well balanced it is.
The helmet should grip comfortably onto your head by the locking mechanism on the headgear while sitting naturally without
The headgear tends to have the most variance from helmet to helmet and will make a world of difference in your experience using it.
Features
There are numerous different features on welding helmets, but usually only the more expensive ones include them. They’ll improve your welding experience uniquely. Some helmets have anti-fog features for good visuals even while you sweat. Others have touchscreens, multiple auto-darkening sensors, windows, ventilation systems, computer memory devices, and more.
You can also get helmets with the option to buy separate attachments like respirators, hearing protection, and hard hat features that can be fitted or removed as desired.
Most of these features are really handy and can make your welding experience much more enjoyable. It depends on your preferences and type of welding. Some people consider them unnecessary extras and prefer a less feature-rich helmet to keep the weight down for comfort’s sake. Knowing what you want before you buy will help in filtering the different options.
Size
While most helmets have a large margin between the headgear adjustments to suit most head sizes, the hood’s outer shell can differ in size significantly. The larger the helmet is, the harder it will be to get into tight spaces, and the more off-balance it will feel. However, a small hood won’t have room to fit a respirator into if you use one.
Your helmet’s size will depend on your specific work requirements, but you can be sure the options are there for you.
Warranty
Be mindful of your helmet’s warranty. Many hoods have two- or three-year warranties, and you often need to register your new helmet through a form or website to ensure it’s actually covered. A warranty will generally be a good indication of the quality of the hood, but don’t just rely on the warranty length. Reviews will give you the best insight.
The warranty should be aligned with the helmet’s price, so don’t go forking out lots of cash for something with a year or less of warranty.
Look
Helmets come in different shapes, designs, and colors. Some have graphics on them, and others, like the Esab SENTINEL A50, are designed after people’s favorite characters or games.
A helmet’s look won’t affect its performance. Often a plain hood is ideal, so you can add your own look to it, like the helmets found at 20 Impressive Welding Helmet Makeovers. Regardless of what you’re after, this is something to consider when searching for your helmet.
Conclusion
These are all the best welding helmet for the money. The best among them, however, is the TGR Panoramic. It has one of the largest viewing areas, the best protection, and is quite comfortable. It also stands out from the other options because of its True Color Technology (TCT), which is proven to help welders make fine welds.
A huge plus for this model is, of course, its panoramic view, giving you ideal visibility of what you are working on and the environment