Lost $150 on a cheap welding helmet, should have bought better

I bought a no-name auto-darkening helmet off Amazon for $50 last spring and it flickered out on me after two months during a job in St. Louis. Had to scrap a whole day's work because the lens kept sticking. Has anyone else tried those budget helmets and regretted it?

3 comments

3 Comments

ray_martinez821mo ago

Wow, fifty bucks... that's crazy low for a welding helmet.

kelly3851mo ago

$50 for a helmet is wild to me honestly. I got a no-name one off Amazon for like $35 and it worked okay for a month before the sensor started lagging hard. I think people overhype the used market too. I tried a used Miller off Craigslist once and the batteries were shot and the lens had scratches I didn't notice until too late. Sometimes paying a little more new is worth it just for the peace of mind.

mark_carr71mo ago

Have you looked at used Lincoln or Miller helmets on Craigslist? I grabbed a used Miller Big Window for $80 and it's been solid for two years now. Just make sure you test it before handing over cash.