I'm a newbie myself in welding school now. I have the 9100XXI. My professor says its one of the best, comparing it to my classmates helmets I've tried, I love it.

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Dealer must’ve been misinformed, the 9100xx as you said does have three, and if you bought it based on 4 sensors he should be good about taking it back.

I’ve been thinking about the 9100xxi, but the side windows have me wondering though. I’m not so worried about getting eye damage, as they are UV filtering shade 5. However it seems weird to me to have windows letting light into the hood and causing reflections off the main window.

I was gung-ho about getting one based on their reputation, but I will definitely be doing some welding with one before deciding to buy one. That’s a lot of money, and it better make one hell of a difference. I’m using Harbor Freights Vulcan Arc Safe Hood(Miller Digital Elite Clone), and its just as good as the real thing(using the digital elites at school). The digital elite is $215, the arc safe I got for 149.

Makes you think twice about spending all your pennies for the name... Speedglas is renowned though, wont pass judgement until I try one.

 

....the side windows have me wondering though. I’m not so worried about getting eye damage, as they are UV filtering shade 5.

Surely if you need shade 10/11 on the front; you would need the same on the sides. It's not as if the side windows are at 90 degrees either.

 

I have a speedglass hood,really like it. I got it thru work for a maintenance school i took.

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I think you'll find that the side lenses themselves, regardless of the shade, provide more than adequate UV protection. UV is where the eye damage occurs. The shade 5-to-13 thing is merely a brightness issue. For better peripheral view a lighter shade is probably better.

 

I believe mine is set to 10 or 11 on darkness.

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I installed the side covers on mine... They haven't fallen off yet. I don't notice any light through them.

add what Sandy said and I think you will like the lid. ( UV / not shade #)

My biggest beef was the headgear.. but I just got used to it.

 

I installed the side covers on mine... They haven't fallen off yet. I don't notice any light through them.

Can I ask why you decided to use the covers? And how on earth do you get them to stay on? Mine just have one long slit on the bottom but that doesn't hold them for more than a few seconds....I must be missing something.

 

And if all else fails......


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See that's the thing.... you buy a helmet costing hundreds of dollars and you start off having to use duct tape to hold bits of it in place..that's just doesnt seem right to me and it's another reason why I'm doubtful about this lid.

 

Actually the plastic covers on mine fit really tight... with no tape or anything.

The only tape I used was around my cheater lens to keep it secure.

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JohnT, you can order a kit from Speedglas to hold the cheater lense. I can't figure why side lenses are needed, maybe just an extra bell or whistle for sales hype. My 100 is about 8 years old and, for their cheapest, has served me well as a hobbyist. Now if I had to use it in my pre retirement job, I don't know. It doesn't have a solar cell and I haven't had to change the battery yet.
Mike

 

normally at work ive been using miller digital infinity for last couple months but i tried speedglas with side windows a few times and it was a bit distracting. maybe because i wasnt used to it. seemed like a good helmet other than i didnt care for the side windows but i would just cover them if i had to use it every day

 

side windows can be a problem if your not used to them. nearly every helmet ive used didnt have the windows ,so they were quit a distraction for me. wether or not i could get used to them is hard to say because i rarely use that style of helmet

 

I used to use an old FibreMetal non auto-darkening until the UPS guy dropped off the 9100V. I was curious as to if I'd like the windows or if I would have to cover them. As I said, I don't really notice them. It's probably an individual thing. Some will be bothered, others not.

 

I like the side windows. It takes a second or two for the weld to cool and the auto dark to shut off. So after stopping the arc I'll peek at the weld through the side window and can continue welding faster.

You don't notice the windows unless you want to.

 

You don't notice the windows unless you want to.

Ridiculous.

Humans don't have the choice to shut off or ignore peripheral vision.... It is there and working (in most people)
If you happen to lose your peripheral vision, that would be Tunnel vision. (a real medical condition)

You do NOT want that. :laugh:

 

I used one with the side windows at work, (not a professional welder) we have 2 that have that write up. Anyway the side windows didn't hurt but they made it easier to see the stinger on set up. With someone welding about 10 feet away no eye strain.

I was filling in for one of our welders who was out on bereavement. Again not a professional welder, but they did pass xray certification. I also don't own a speedglass myself, but that's just because I haven't invested in on. Using a Miller Classic at home.

 

I have been using Speedglas for over 20 years and bought a 9100xxi a year or so ago after the lens cracked on my old 9000x. Anyway ..after a year of using it i just don't like it but not because of the side windows ( which annoy me uncovered due to the distraction of peripheral reflection of my own welding) but due to the weight and goofy feeling headgear...i often work out of position with my head tilted right over and the helmet just wonks around wherever it wants and drives me nuts. Down here in Aus it cost me a fortune which i was happy to pay to have the best but in truth i'm very dissapointed. Ive just bought a replacement lens for my old 9000x and now i wouldnt swap it for anything..feels like I've replaced a diving bell with a baseball cap.
Anyway...just my take on it

 

I agree, this helmet is way too bulky, goes out of headgear adjustment too easily and is overpriced for what it is. I tried a Lincoln blue lens helmet....much better than the Speedglass for vision despite all the hype about it.

 

My side covers haven't come off in 3 years and I weld all day long. Either you're not putting them in right, or they're broken.

 

FYI the covers arrived without the fitting holes punched out....as they need to be exactly the right size and perfectly round to stay in position a replacement set was sent under warranty.

 

I have had my windows uncovered since I got my hood 3-4 years ago. Don't notice them much but have used them a few times. They are nice when you are working around others who are welding. Just leave the hood down when changing parts or positions and you will never get flashed.

 

About 30 years ago we got something like that with the side windows none of the welders liked them they too much light in. But then that was 30 years ago maybe they have changed them. First gen auto darkening atached to the mig gun when you pulled the trigger it darkened the glass.

 

I like the side windows as well. Make you see things around you when welding.

I have the 9100xx and on the 9100 they made a change to the pivoting so the helmet wouldn't stick up as far when you have it up. They also made it wider because people would burn their ears with UV light.
Anyway, that's why it's different than the older speedglas models.