There's a huge difference in auto darking hoods. Saying not welding enough to me should be out of the picture. You need to test drive these hoods. You'll definitely see the difference in them. The Lincoln and Miller Clear Light are amazing. Yes, they are expensive , around $250 or so Check for rebates .


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Which harbor Freight hood did you get?

I have their Vulcan ArcSafe, a Miller Digital elite, and a Miller T94. To me eyes the clarity is more or less the same. The Vulcan actually has the largest viewing window size, it is a 1/1/1/2 I believe whereas the digital elite, and the T94 are 1/1/1/1 the difference is imperceptible to me. The digital elite is approx $100 more than the Vulcan and the T94 retails for $150 more than the Vulcan. If you’re on a budget, it’s a no brainer to me. Headgear is comfy to boot.

Just something for your consideration - No shipping to deal with, and returns are easy should you not like it.

Regardless of what you choose, you should not cheap out “because you don’t weld that much” as the poster above mentioned. It’s exactly for that reason you should buy quality, an experienced weldor can recognize what the puddle is doing, and where it’s going even in a crappy hood that’s smoked up, and has pock marks all over the cover lens. If you’re just picking up the hood once in a while you’ll want to see exactly what you’re doing as clearly as possible I would imagine.

 

….an experienced weldor can recognize what the puddle is doing, and where it’s going even in a crappy hood that’s smoked up, and has pock marks all over the cover lens. If you’re just picking up the hood once in a while you’ll want to see exactly what you’re doing as clearly as possible I would imagine.

Real good point. You're exactly right. From what I've learned/read, one of the Strikers or the Vulcan will be there without adding another $100-$150.

If you call like an arrogant ahole with the first words coming out of your mouth on the telephone being "You need to replace my [whatever item]....", well that may not get you very far.

Yep, that point was also reinforced in a fairly recent Eastwood thread. HOWEVER, after hunting around this morning I found a bunch of complaints much like what's been seen on here, plus they have a D- rating on Better Business Bureau with 5 unanswered complaints and 2 out of 5 stars from customers. Can't find anything on USAWeld either via Google nor BBB where they have an A+ rating and 0 complaints.

So I think my direction has changed a little, at this point it's between one of the Strikers and the Vulcan. They may both have the same clarity and from what I read it's every bit as good as Lincoln & Miller. Perhaps the Vulcan has better headgear, IDK. Maybe I'll get them both and return one.

 

I also just got the Vulcan ArcSafe helmet and like it a lot! I read somewhere when researching helmet that it is a clone of Miller digital elite, the hoods themselves look a like! Color you see when welding is awesome compared to the old green color of my old helmet. There is a 20% off coupon on Vulcan accessories on the net that is still good I paid $118 out the door.

 

I have the older HTP Striker CSV and even though I have an Optrel e684, the Striker is awesome too because it is a very light shade when un-darkened, approximately shade 2, not 4 like others. And I have owned an Eastwood TIG200 AC/DC Tig welder and currently own the VersaCut40 plasma cutter. I've also owned an Eastwood MIG 175. I had the plasma cutter replaced no questions asked about a month or two in (this was about 6 years ago). Eastwood sent a prepaid label and everything when they didn't have to. Also the solenoid on the MIG 175 started acting up within the warranty period. They send me a whole new machine, even sent a pre-paid label for the old machine when they didn't have to. I'd say that is excellent customer service. You just have to do your part and call with a calm and non-demanding demeanor and do whatever trouble-shooting they ask you to do, if possible. If you call like an arrogant ahole with the first words coming out of your mouth on the telephone being "You need to replace my [whatever item]....", well that may not get you very far.

I haven't tried the new HTP Striker helmets, but I can't see them being any worse than before. :zdunno:

What I do know is that when Gamble told me about the e684 being released, I bought it right away and sold my e680 and never looked back. The viewing window is small but the clarity and features make up for it IMO.