The REAL Northen Tool ADF705S Helmet Review

[Uncle Ed]

All Hail Eric!

In >>> stereo <<< where available.

When Longevity told me they had no 'large view' helmets I had to seek elsewhere. I ordered one from Harbor Freight but it's on back order so I went to Northern Tool so see what they had.


I settled on the ADF705S (Item# 164490). It's a typical solar w/battery unit that, I assume, charges the battery off all those cosmic rays that are emitted while arcing, tigging, and plasma cutting. It comes with an extra outer protection lens.



This helmet is replacing my Speedway as my primary helmet due to the increased viewing area and reliability. I had trouble with older solar helmets, which is why I bought the Speedway some time ago. It's powered by 4 AAA batteries and it's easier to replace them than wait a few hours while a solar unit (of the time) recharged in the sun. For some reason, most of my welding is done indoors or during overcast days. The new helmet, however, worked great out of the box. Bender ("Bite my shiny metal...") meet your replacement!


Here's a look at the cartridge - the lens protection film is still in place. It has nice versatility in the adjustments offered and a sensor in each corner. I have tested each sensor and they all function (no dummy sensors).


The helmet has an adjustable pivot stop. If you have a big schnozz, the helmet can stop short of swinging down onto it and getting nose prints on the lens.


continued...

[Uncle Ed]

The headgear is okay, for plastic, with two big friction knobs on the sides. The adjustment knob is smooth with a positive lock. Push in the knob, twist to where you want it, then release. No clickies to wear out. The helmet does not have pivot locks. It's held up by the friction knobs only.


With all that said, if you are on the fence deciding whether a 'large view' lens is worth the extra $$ for a measly 1 inch more, consider this scientific example...

Your face is pressed up to the lens. A small size difference next to your eyes means a big difference a foot away. It's the difference between peeking at the nudist colony through a peep hole in the fence and having a picture window installed.



All in all, I am very pleased with this helmet. I have used it with all arc modes I have to play with (arc, mig, tig, and plasma.) both high and low current and it performed well.

Pros:

Comfortable
Large viewing area
All the lens adjustments
Price

Cons:

Stoopid flames all over it like a bad omen
No pivot detents
No shade adjustment knob on the outside (this could be a pro or con depending on your use)
I had to remove the lenses to get all the protective film off
The lens is still a bit close to my nose (I would like to see an adjustment on the front of the headband in ALL helmets to allow positioning the head further back or forward within the helmet.)

Granted, it's not a Miller, Speedglass, or a Jackson. I have never used one and I'm not gonna compare a $300+ helmet to my old sub $100. I am reviewing a helmet for folks on a budget that are hoping to get a good bang for their buck.

For me it's a big upgrade and I am quite happy with it.

Ed

[KHK]

Ed, thanks for sharing! Good write up.

[itsmecord]

Good to know,I am in the market for a new helmet.This just might be the one for me !

[inot]

Cons:

Stoopid flames all over it like a bad omen

LOL!

I have the Harbor Freight helmet that comes with the blue flame stickers. Like someone else that posted here, I pulled them off first as soon as I got home.

The large-view looks really good.

[junes]

How can we see the difference in the viewing area if the tape measure is different distances away from the lens. Of course you are going to see more if you hold the tape further away.

[jonrya91]

Man, how do you guys not like the flames?? I think they look good!

[junes]

It's cause they just look cheesy

[torqueman]

The flames make it look like you are welding faster than you really are.

[arandall]

What you really need is a Clay Smith Cams Woodpecker on the helmet. It improves the welds tremendously.

Art R.