In Brief: 3M Speedglas 9100 Auto-Darkening Filter Review
The Speedglas 9100 helmet is a professional-grade welding helmet that can be used for MIG, TIG, and stick welding. It is ideal for professional fabricators but can also be of great use to amateurs and DIY hobbyists. It comes with the first of its kind side windows that give added visibility. Its Auto Darkening feature, comfortable fit, and grinding feature make this product a good choice.
Speedglas is a brand if protective gear supplied by 3M, a company from Maplewood, USA.
It was founded in 1902 and was formerly known as the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company.
The 3M Speedglas 9100 helmet comes with its signature Auto-Darkening Filter 9100xxi.
It can be used for stick, TIG, and MIG welding. It helps protect your eyes and face from harmful radiation, debris, and improves visibility.
Contents
Key Specifications of Speedglas 9100
The Speedglas 9100 lets you recognize colors more readily. This allows you to focus on the weld area with improved inspection and precision grinding.
It comes with external controls that give you fast and easy access. The auto-darkening feature keeps your visibility clear before and after welding. Within milliseconds of the arc igniting, the screen will go into dark mode.
A knob on the left side lets you adjust the parking position while one on the right is for adjusting friction. There are self-adjusting twin pads inside that contour to your head.
Unlike most welding helmets, this one has peripheral vision. The side windows with two, shade five filters allow you to see obstacles and fellow workers.
Check out this video to see this product in use:
Major specifications of the Speedglas 9100 helmet with Auto-Darkening Filter Speedglas 9100xxi
| Parameters | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | 3M |
| Model | 9100XXi |
| Switching time | 40-800 milli sec |
| Lens size | 73x107 mm |
| Dark state | Variable dark shade 5, 8-13 |
| Light state | Shade 3 |
| Standards | EN 379, EN 166:BT, EN 166, EN 166 |
| Battery life | 1800 hrs |
| UV/IR protection | Shade 13 |
| Dimensions | 11 in. x 11 in. x 10 in. |
| Weight | 2.9 lbs |
| Warranty | 2 years |
How to Use the Speedglas 9100 Helmet
The Speedglas 9100 helmet has a multilingual, single-paged instruction guide. The steps include how to switch on, set any of the seven shades, pick one of five positions, and adjust the sensitivity.
It also explains how to maneuver the auto dark settings and use the grinding mode. Go through it to understand the ADF memory settings, delay settings, and other useful information.
Watch this video for further guidance:
Warranty / Repairs
You must register your product here to get a warranty. You can use the same webpage for part replacement, repairs, and customer service.
You can also click here to download the product registration form. To read more about the 3M Speedglas warranty procedure, click here.
Customer Review Analysis
We examined several e-commerce websites and online forums to gauge how buyers feel about the Speedglas 9100 helmet.
Customers are more than happy to give five-star ratings on multiple platforms. They are happy that the product they received is exactly like how 3M advertised it.
Users have praised its lightness and comfort. They are especially pleased with easy controls and special features. The side windows give it unprecedented visibility.
Negative reviews were next to negligible. People think it’s a great buy and worth every penny.
Pros/Cons of Speedglas 9100
By studying different consumer reports and expert comments, we inferred the following pros and cons of the Speedglas 9100 helmet:
Pros
- Quick transitions and 3 arc sensors of the auto-darkening filter
- Decreased chances of fogging and overheating
- Comfortable
- Durable
- Ideal for professionals
- Easy adjusting
Cons
- Hefty looking
- Expensive
Recommended accessories with the Speedglas 9100
Customers who bought the 3M Speedglas 9100 also ended up buying the following:
3M Speedglas Starter Kit 9100XX, Welding Safety
3M Speedglas Magnification Plate 2.0X, Welding Safety
3M Speedglas Headband 9100, Welding Safety 06-0400-51/37179(AAD), Including Assembled Parts
3M Speedglas Sweatband 9100, Welding Safety
FAQs
SW stands for side windows. The difference is the auto-darkening filter included. Products ending with SW will include the 9100xx filter and those with ISW will include the 9100xxi filter.
3M Speedglas decals are not included with the 9100 Welding Helmet, 06-0100-30 ISW.
The batteries should be replaced when the low battery indicator flashes. It is right next to the Speedglas icon. Change batteries if the LEDs do not flash when you press buttons.
Our Recommendation
The Speedglas 9100 with Auto-Darkening Filter 9100xxi is a high-quality professional-grade helmet. It is ideal for both large-scale fabricators and DIY hobbyists.
It not only ensures safety but also provides improved visibility. The three arc sensors immediately detect when an arc is ignited. They change your vision from light to dark in a matter of milliseconds
The controls are placed in accessible positions and can be adjusted even with gloved hands. These special features and appropriate price make the Speedglas 9100 helmet a good buy.
