I paid $50 for my el cheapo Harbor Fright
auto darkening helmet. It is solar and has batteries.
For what little welding I do it has worked well for the
last couple of years. I only use it a few times a year.

Pooh Bear

I recommend going to a store where you can try them out,
(not actually welding, of course). The one I got,
about 5 years ago, has a lense that is too dark even
before it kicks on. Therefore I have to have a lot of
light in the shop before I can see to strike the arc.
Once I am drawing an arc it is fine. And make sure it
darkens enough for the type of welding you do, because
they make different strenghths, and everyone's eyes
are different.

If a person goes to a real weldors supply shop they will actually be able to try the helmet welding but they would be unlikely to find any $50 auto darkening helmets there, but then what are your eyes worth?

I`ve tried alot of different helmets but my longstanding favorite is still my Huntsman flip down with a #10 lens for general work, TIG requires a darker lens and an auto darkening hood is nice in really cramped quarters where an effective snap of the neck to lower the hood can`t be executed.

You guys can say what you will about the quick response times of the auto darkening lenses but I`m still not convinced that they are as good as a fixed shade lens, infact several friends who are pipefitters say that at the end of a day of welding and wearing an auto hood their eyes feel gritty, so what does that suggest? It says to me that your eyes are being exposed, unshielded, to arc flash.

I agree with barbed wire. Why skimp on the price of a helmet. How much do you value your eyes?

I tried out the one from homier distributing,I really like it,for $30 it's comfortable,and has an adjustment knob on the side for shade from (I think) no. 7---no.13 .I also noticed the first time I used it,I seem to have gotten a little flash from the arc;I was a little upset about that,but it was so quick,my eyes could get over it in a second,it was nothing bad ;..........That being said,I haven't used it longer than about an hour,so I can't say if my eyes are bothering me,or feeling "Scratchy" or tired................My favorite is a #10 gold lens,pipe fitter style on a jackson helmet..........

If use auto darking shade make sure it has ajustable shade 9 10 11 12 you be OK if use 11 are 12 on welding over long period of time like over hour. Shade goes from 10 to 11 very easy this better feature than any of fixed shade helmets they should be called adjustable shade rather than auto shade even the auto shade keep out more light than fixed shade seal better around shade ever seen chip on fixed shade glass edge not good. Any helmet needs to inspected for leaking you can do this by getting in dark place and using trouble light inside helmet look for light coming through any to much.