Welding Tips and Tricks

Can anyone recommend a good welding helmet where I can wear a 3M Respirator 6291 under the hood. Looking for something in the $300-$400 range. I was looking at the Lincoln VIKING 3350, but Lincoln said they weren’t sure if the hood would hit the respirator, then they gave me a link to their PAPR helmet. Can’t afford $1500 for a helmet. I’m a hobbyist and new to welding.

Thanks!

I have the Lincoln Viking 3350 and I wear a 3M 7500 respirator with the pancake filters (2297 I think??). It fits fine for me under the helmet. Plus with the 7500 at least, the down draft exhalation keeps my lens from fogging up.

I use my 3M 7075 respirator with 2297 pancake filters under my Optrel Crystal 2.0 and Panoramaxx CLT. On the Panoramaxx I do have to set it a bit further away from my face since the respirator can touch the helmet if Iset it too close to my face. Also works on my Optrel e684 since the shell is basically the same as the Crystal 2.0. All of them are top-notch welding hoods.

I've got a Miller Digital Elite (Miller equivalent to the Lincoln). It fits a 7500M with 2097 just fine. I also like to have a lincoln leather bib attached to the hood. That basically ensures that even if the respirator is touching (which is isn't) I won't get arc light coming from underneath.

Thank you all for the great advice!! Very helpful!

I also used a Viking 3350 with a 3M respirator but cant tell which model it was. Probably one someone else already mentioned. Nice hood and respirator combo, but I haven't used some of the really expensive hoods. I did like the Viking 3350 a lot though.