Plain old solid shade helmet?

[Ascinder]

I am using a solid #10 shade helmet after being blinded repeatedly by the autodarkening HF helmet I had. So far with the practice welding I've been doing the solid shade works great. Is a good autodarkening helmet really worth the extra money if I don't seem to have any issues with the solid lense?

[Gadget]

First off the HF helmets and all helmets have UV protection even when the lens is open. That doesn't mean you won't have issues seeing after that big flash. the big advantage of the AD helmet is you don't lose your position due to having to bob your head to lower the hood. That's really the biggest reason to use the AD units.

[SICFabrications]

in a production atmosphere, the guy wearing the auto lens is gonna FLY by the guy wearing a passive filter.... it is what it is.... you gotta do your research on a lens before you buy one.... your eyes are NOT something to skate by on... you bought a harbor freight hood, you deserve the dry eyes that ya got....just sayin...

as for me and mine? i pay close to 400+ bucks for my hoods...making sure that the throat guard extends long enough to touch my chest and the lens is of the proper quality to withstand a certain amount of use

[Ascinder]

So basically in a strictly Hobby/seldom use environment the solid lense will do just fine? I don't have any issue flipping down the hood when I have to. The harbor freight helmet was bought probably 5 or six years ago with my first welder and I didn't know jack. I just don't think at this point an AD helmet is right for me for the expense of buying a high end unit. I just don't weld enough to justify it yet.

[Lonewolf9029]

Ascinder: i have thought about trying the AD hood. I've never used anything but the pipeliner hoods since the beginning of my career (71'). Don

[Ascinder]

Yeah, that's what I'm saying. I really have had nothing but trouble with the AD hoods vs. nothing but solid performance from the "old" hoods. I just can't see where it's that much of an advantage for the vast majority of work I do. Crawling around inside airplane frames and other tight/restrictive spaces I see a benefit, but anywhere else, it's neat but not a dealbreaker for me.

[matteh99]

I had some trouble with my Longevity AD helmet while TIG welding until I discovered the sensitivity knob above the lens. When it was turned down I kept getting flashed. I turned up the sensitivity and now it works a lot better.

It worked fine for stick and mig welding at the lower setting.

Eric

[mdkrusemark]

Solid shade hoods are fine for the hobby user and many professional welders still use em. Autodarkening hoods are getting cheaper now days. I have a hobart hood that I really like I got it for around $80 on sale a few years back. If you go to your LWS they should also have some reasonably priced AD hoods starting around $70 now. The sensitivity setting is very important. I can make my hood darken when I look at one of my 250watt mercury lights in my shop.

[tomsign]

I'm a firm believer in if you have a pair of $10 eyes buy a $10 hood, just remember you only have one set

Tomsign

[KHK]

I have my AD hood adjusted so that looking at 2-40 watt florescent bulbs will darken it. Don't get rid of your old standard helmet, the AD helmets do not work in the cold weather. They are all different, mine says 17 deg F. is the cut off point.