Esab sentinel or speedglas 9100xxi?

[Adam Marshall]

which one out of these two helmets would you have? I have the esab a40 which is nice but think my brother is having that one now while he works with me.

 

[Adam Marshall]

The ESAB sentinel is a pain in the ****. The touch screen That doesn’t work with gloves, the curved lens that gets scratched super easy. Headgear is good.

So the xxi would be your preference?

 

[Tom Orrow L]

Consider the Tecmen TM1000 too, great alternative to both helmets.

 

[Rrobson]

I was in a similar position a bit back and went for a speedglas xx. I’ve been very happy with it overall, nice and comfortable, not too heavy, works very well unless the sensors are really obscured which I’ve had a couple of times because they’re all positioned along the bottom edge.
Spares aren’t too expensive and readily available and batteries nice and easy to change.

 

[Menno Bruinen]

Unlike most here, I'm an amateur/hobby welder and bought a used Esab A50...... Some would say; Now you're a Hollywood welder!

https://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/today-i-acquired.50192/page-1320#post-1728137

Jokes aside, I wanted a quality helmet which I can use and rely on to protect my eyes. A Speedglas would be overkill in terms of price for me although I wanted one very mucho.
So I set my mind on a Sentinel, it's rated very good among (pro) welders, and is in a different price range as a Speedglas xxi.
To call it a pita is a little bit too much me thinks, then again if you've got this experience with the A50 then you're entitled to say so I guess.
I think there are worse helmets out there, which can harm you more then a little pain in the bottom.

As said, the Tecmen is a good contender too if you are in the UK. I didn't dare to take one because I'm in the Netherlands and don't know if I can get parts (screen, sweatband etc) easily enough.

I've used the A50 at my work now for 3 days, mig welding (still an amateur, my boss wants me to weld a project/trial thing), and find that the lense is getting a little dull if you're close to the welding due to the mig "spluttering" (don't know how to name it, sorry).
My employer is going to pay for the lenses, so that's okay, and besides they are not very expensive and easily available.
For TIG welding, the lense will be staying clear of becoming dull/dirty I guess

The most important is that you're eyes are save from the radiation, an Esab, Speedglas, Tecmen and many more will be sufficient I guess, all comes down to personal preference........ But only the Sentinel makes you look like a Hollywood Star!

 

[James1979]

The ESAB sentinel is a pain in the ****. The touch screen That doesn’t work with gloves, the curved lens that gets scratched super easy. Headgear is good.

Dont forget that poxy grind button!!

I really rate mine but agree with Brad re bad points. Never tried a 9100 so no opinion there

 

[Hitch]

I'd have the A50 and 2 weeks all inclusive (if we could go on holiday) with the change.

You soon get into the habit of properly putting it down so it's not rolling about on its lense.

Cant say I have the glove issue Brad mentioned, most controls inside helmets are pretty delicate for gloves anyway surely?

Grind button I'd agree with though. If you've got your head stuffed in somewhere tight it's a pain if you press it accidentally against something.

 

[Hitch]

Had an airfed a50 when I was doing dirty heavy stuff too. Probably used it more doing that than I do now tbh.

 

[James1979]

Yeah forgot about the grind button.

People loved them or hated them. People slated the lenses getting scratched so quick.
£5 a lens too

I polish the lenses back with Flitz but then I'm just tight!

I have to make a conscious effort to put it down properly but that's no bad thing.

If you have your head stuffed in somewhere the lens is gonna get it, although the lid itself is bendy which is good as it doesnt ping off your head when you knock it. The controls inside dont work with gloves but then again I dont think any touch screens do?

I stuffed the grind button inside the lid trying to use it on day one! Glued it back in place but just dont touch it now. Never worked with heavy gloves anyway, big ones maybe - never tried.

 

[Tom Orrow L]

Tecman make the helmets for ESAB and Lincoln so you’re getting a top brand

100%, it’s a top bit of kit. Clarity is great and the headgear is really comfy.
Only slight niggle is the way it’s adjusted

 

[Sammy7]

I bought the xxi i think it's fantastic. BTW if you do decide on the speedglas get the "extra scratch resistant" outer lens covers, they last 10x as long as standard ones.

 

[cianh91]

Bought a sentinel and can’t fault it . Mines used for bench tig and mig through to on site welding and hasn’t blinked once it’s been soaked in rain showers and dropped countless times . Lenses are easy scratched but I replace mine as needed and at €6 a lense I don’t mind if I only get a week or 2

 

[northwest]

Consider the Tecmen TM1000 too, great alternative to both helmets.

The question is I suppose, How do they compare to the Optrel Crystal?

 

[Adam Marshall]

The question is I suppose, How do they compare to the Optrel Crystal?

That isnt even a contender in my line of work, mig welding all day never do tig apart from abit at home. Think I'm going to go for the xxi. The xxi looks a solid helmet, I've never looked through one before so not sure on the clarity but I'm not expecting it to be as clear as the optrel.

 

[Munkul]

I have a plain A50 and an airfed A50. Love em both

The 9100xxi is a better helmet altogether though. I've used em and bought em for work. They're top money for a reason.

If money was no object, it would be 9100xxi all the way. But it is an object, hence the sentinels