Photog Keith
Jack of all trades, master of some!
- Messages
- 64
I have recently bought a Miller Elite helmet for TIG welding. I'm new to welding but wanted to review it to help others if they are considering this lid! As I use it more I'll add more info and if anyone else has experience of this lid, please stick it in here.
My main criteria for a helmet was that I needed it to switch at low current TIG welding. The Elite switches at 5 amps, so perfect for my needs (welding thin metal sheet - once I learn)!
The helmet is really well made and finished. The design is great and functional, although you do have to take the helmet off to adjust the switching current. I don't find this a problem but people used to an exterior dial may not like it.
The Elite has 2 lithium batteries that should last 3000 hours!
One particularly useful feature is that the Elite has not 1 but 4 trigger sensors! This means that you can weld in all sorts of positions, obscuring parts of the helmet and it still switches, saving your eyes.
I found that wearing the helmet for about 3 hours was very comfortable and the helmet comes with a comfort cushion that clips on to the back strap. The helmet is easy to adjust, with adjustment for height (up/down), distance from face, angle when down (distance from face) and the usual head size adjustment.
Obviously, the first thing you should always do with a new bit of kit is take it apart! It was pretty easy to do but the tabs that hold the filter unit in place did seem a little weak. Time will tell of course.
The window on the Elite is a great size - 97 x 67mm. The quality of the optics is superb and I'll let you know how they wear over time.
The adjustments, controls etc. are: Reset button, low battery indicator, variable shade control from #8-13 with a light shade of #3, sensitivity control and delay from .1 to 1 second. The shade switches in 1/20,000 second.
I use the delay as it cuts out the light from the weld pool when it stays white hot after welding. It also reminds me to keep the torch in place for the post-flow gas to do it's job!
Not so functional is the artwork but it's great quality. I chose realtree (tm) camouflage.
As I use the lid more I'll pop notes on here but all-in-all I think it was money well spent, despite the relatively high purchase cost.
My main criteria for a helmet was that I needed it to switch at low current TIG welding. The Elite switches at 5 amps, so perfect for my needs (welding thin metal sheet - once I learn)!
The helmet is really well made and finished. The design is great and functional, although you do have to take the helmet off to adjust the switching current. I don't find this a problem but people used to an exterior dial may not like it.
The Elite has 2 lithium batteries that should last 3000 hours!
One particularly useful feature is that the Elite has not 1 but 4 trigger sensors! This means that you can weld in all sorts of positions, obscuring parts of the helmet and it still switches, saving your eyes.
I found that wearing the helmet for about 3 hours was very comfortable and the helmet comes with a comfort cushion that clips on to the back strap. The helmet is easy to adjust, with adjustment for height (up/down), distance from face, angle when down (distance from face) and the usual head size adjustment.
Obviously, the first thing you should always do with a new bit of kit is take it apart! It was pretty easy to do but the tabs that hold the filter unit in place did seem a little weak. Time will tell of course.
The window on the Elite is a great size - 97 x 67mm. The quality of the optics is superb and I'll let you know how they wear over time.
The adjustments, controls etc. are: Reset button, low battery indicator, variable shade control from #8-13 with a light shade of #3, sensitivity control and delay from .1 to 1 second. The shade switches in 1/20,000 second.
I use the delay as it cuts out the light from the weld pool when it stays white hot after welding. It also reminds me to keep the torch in place for the post-flow gas to do it's job!
Not so functional is the artwork but it's great quality. I chose realtree (tm) camouflage.
As I use the lid more I'll pop notes on here but all-in-all I think it was money well spent, despite the relatively high purchase cost.