My review of the Miller big window elite welding helmet. I am trying to warn people not to buy this helmet if you are going to be welding in the overhead position because it is not built for that and says so in the instruction manual.
discount Miller and Lincoln MIG and TIG welders
My review of the Miller big window elite welding helmet. I am trying to warn people not to buy this helmet if you are going to be welding in the overhead position because it is not built for that and says so in the instruction manual.
June 17th, 2009
I am a steamfitter LU449 and have had enough of my pipeliner hood at work so decided to buy this hood. You make the point that it says no overhead welding should be done. That is because like most of the auto hoods they have a lip under the window screen. Even the cheap ones do. I burned one up learning overhead when I was a first year apprentice. I think more the problem is arc control to limit the amount of metal raining down. You learn pretty quickly after being burned a few times.
June 17th, 2009
alright thanks alot for the help
June 17th, 2009
I like the cheapo harbor freight auto dark helmet and it is on sale all the time you should get that one until you figure out what you want then upgrade later. trust me don’t let anyone tell you it sucks because I own one and I love it. it has worked well for over a year and needs no batteries and the lens covers are cheap. It has all the same settings as this miller and darkens even faster. If you want to spend lots of money now buy a jackson or speedglass. just don’t get this one for overhead.
June 17th, 2009
i was gonna get this helmet so thanks for the heads up…but now im clueless what would be a good helmet to do all welding postions and all types of welding. help please
June 17th, 2009
hey i put up some old videos of me facumforming in my kitchen making one of the visors for my helmet.i was thinking i could facumform the miller so i can have a clear protective shell plus the slag would just roll off the helmet. i’ll try it with my old one first then i’ll see how it works, i’ll keep you posted thanks.
June 17th, 2009
yea I bought one of those basic leather flaps and it was little velcro dots but those didn’t last long so I used some long velcro tape and that works great. I would just cut the sleave off an old welding jacket if I had to do it over again and not spend anything on it but I am learning all these things as I go. Man if you do any vaccum molding put a video on here I love all that stuff.
June 17th, 2009
yeah sure thing, i bought this welder thru AIRGAS, the company i work for has an acount with them so we use them alot. Hey did you velcro the leather to the bottom of the helmet? i was stinking of using snap bottons and then doing the same to the leather so i can snap it in place and then replace it when i want too.Then i was thinking of figure out a way to make vacumeform plastic peace of clear pteg plastic to put over the lens that i can snap into place too.
June 17th, 2009
nice those 212’s are great machines. where did you purchase it? you should look at cyberweld(dot)com they have the best prices usually for everything miller plus free shipping and no sales tax unless you live in their state. I love miller welders I just don’t like this helmet. you should make a video with that badboy when you hook it up. I wish I had one like that I have the suitcase extreme 12vs but its too much of a pain to hook it up so I use my cheapo harborfreight welder for most things.
June 17th, 2009
son a bit_h i sjust got two of those for work not my money,but i’ll be doing lot’s of over head dam!!! well at least you did give some good ideas to put tape on it. anyways coold video. Oh got the inferno and the vintage helmets and i also got the new millermatic 212 with auto set.
June 17th, 2009
I have never heard of them can you make a video review of your machine when you get it?
June 17th, 2009
Guys, Miller is not worth their money. Buy FRONIUS. Once you’ve used a Fronius product I guarantee you all that you won’t be able to buy any other brand. I started out with a Miller Syncrowave 250 which I will be replacing with a Fronius Alu Edition sometime in the near future, Fronius is pricey particularly here in South Africa but worth every cent.
June 17th, 2009
The only reason I can tell is the spatter gets caught on the bottom lip where the clear plastic meets the black plastic and melts it. I have seen other peoples get ruined this way and mine started to melt until I put tape over that part.
June 17th, 2009
do you no why you cant use it in the overhead position, cus i cant think of any reason why you wunt b able to
June 17th, 2009
That’s awesome I know of 5 other people that are not going to get this piece of crap helmet because of my warning about the overhead position. I almost feel like I’m even for getting cheated in the first place. ALMOST. now I know why none of the “REAL WELDERS” I know have a miller helmet and use jackson or speedglass or the old school flip downs. that’s 8 down everyone else to go.
June 17th, 2009
I have this P.O.S helmet and I damn sure would not have paid this kind of scratch if I knew then what I know now. I don’t want to have to use different helmets for different processes and I know of three people in my class that were going to buy this until I showed them this video and the book. This is not a good helmet at all. Would you have bought it if it said do not use in the overhead position on the front of the box and not in small print in the book? batteriesrunoutevery month16X12=192 yr
June 17th, 2009
Boo hoo.
June 17th, 2009
you know what that’s a good analogy this helmet is like church shoes. pretty fancy shiny and useless for working in.
June 17th, 2009
Are your batteries constantly running out or did I just get a dud? I changed mine like 3 weeks ago and I’m already getting the blinking red light of death.
June 17th, 2009
I’ll bet you cut your grass in your church shoes……..
just kiddn.
June 17th, 2009
Might I suggest 1/4 aluminum tape. Or maybe you could just use it primarily for gtaw……… I love my elite, & I only use it for tig. I keep my older jackson hood for overheard, & heavy arc welding.
June 17th, 2009
it has solar assist but I don’t think it recharges the battery I think it just keeps it from running out as fast.
June 17th, 2009
does it have solar power battary recharge?
June 17th, 2009
Good review Freddy. I’m using mine for only tig, it’s the digital one and it works very well. Does it work $300 well? Eh, probably not. I felt a little like a noob JA once I heard and saw the down side of owning this hood. I do like the large window but man, that’s a lot of jack for extra visibility. It does make learning tig easier. . . I guess. I’m wishin I’d bought the HF now as a first helmet. Miller needs to make a bulletproof hood to put these electronics in to allow for overhead.
June 17th, 2009
i just bought the miller pro hobby for welding school….it also has the do not weld overhead warning right on the helmet…it was $100 cheaper than the elite…it has AAA batteries ..i think and a solar helper……i have to admit it has improved my welding tenfold…when i have to do overhead i just use my old shitty flip visor…..i also love the camo print…YOU CANY SEE ME
June 17th, 2009
Damn! this is a good example of why companys should not rip off a welder. even if he is just a hobby welder.