northern tool welding helmet for tig?

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http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...5271_200485271i just got my tig machine and i'm using this helmet which i've been using for mig.  so far everything seems to be working ok.  i did some practice runs on 22 ga steel sheet with the .040 tungsten electrode and the helmet autodarkened like its supposed to. i will be doing this as a hobby and maybe for 1 hour a week.  thoughts? taking into consideration i will not be using it daily for hours on end. thanks for any help
Reply:I used that shield for a few years stick welding and then tig welding and always thought it was great. Then one day the headgear broke and I used a regular non-autodarkening shield and I was AMAZED by how much better I could see the puddle.Since then I've used some higher-priced autodark shields (Miller Digital Elite) but I swear I can see a LOT better with a non-autodark shield.Now I use an autodark only for when I'm tacking stuff together, or when I absolutely must see what's going on right when I start the arc ... otherwise, I use the non-autodark because I can see so much better.FWIW...
Reply:hey kelvin, thanks for the reply. i really appreciate it.after some research it looks like harbor freight sells this same helmet under a different brand.  i used the tig machine yesterday (2nd time) and i think i understand what you are talking about.  i can see the puddle but its not as clear as i would like.  what shade do you recommend for a non AD helmet?thanks again
Reply:I have the Harbor Freight version of that helmet for friends to watch/use and absolutely cannot use it for Tig welding. I let my buddy use my Miller Digital Performance while he was practicing and I put the HF one on.The auto-dark kept "flickering" on/off while I was trying to watch him weld. I tried to adjust the shade and sensitivity, but it had no impact. Oddly enough it didn't seem to happen when we started messing around with some 6011. Could be something wrong with mine I suppose.I like to keep the shade on my Miller set to "9" for Tig.FWIW, I have not found that any difference in seeing the puddle when using an "auto dark" or non-AD. I've used both. I think it all depends on the quality of the helmet itself. Biggest difference for me is with the size of the viewing area.
Reply:Originally Posted by KelvinI used that shield for a few years stick welding and then tig welding and always thought it was great. Then one day the headgear broke and I used a regular non-autodarkening shield and I was AMAZED by how much better I could see the puddle.Since then I've used some higher-priced autodark shields (Miller Digital Elite) but I swear I can see a LOT better with a non-autodark shield.Now I use an autodark only for when I'm tacking stuff together, or when I absolutely must see what's going on right when I start the arc ... otherwise, I use the non-autodark because I can see so much better.FWIW...
Reply:so long as you can see the puddle and it auto-darken's properly, you'll be fine.  Although there is a difference between the cheap lenses and some good ones.  There was a big difference in my HTP Striker CSV helmet vs my old HF $40 AD helmet.  Everything was MUCH clearer. 1st on WeldingWeb to have a scrolling sig! HTP Invertig 400HTP Invertig 221HTP ProPulse 300HTP ProPulse 200 x2HTP ProPulse 220MTSHTP Inverarc 200TLP HTP Microcut 875SC
Reply:Originally Posted by kerfwhat shade do you recommend for a non AD helmet?
Reply:I have that northern helmet and I like it just as much as my Miller Elite. You can't beat it for the price...I only TIG with it. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Reply:As a hobby welder doing TIG I started with the Northern Tool auto-darkening helmet a few years back. I did OK with it until I started trying thinner stuff as the 2 light sensors don't always darken the helmet and I would get flashed. For my next helmet I went after an Accustrike one. There's no electronics to doubt, optics, batteries, etc, but it does take time to figure out the chin moving along with adjusting both the head part and the chin part of it but I like it. Going back to no shade at all compared to the lighter shade with an auto-darkening helmet is nice. I did spend a few more bucks and got one with a little fan inside which is nice to have. OK, that adds batteries and a bit of electronics I'm a hobby welderFixing up a 67 CutlassHarbor Freight MIG flux core thingEverlast iTig 200 (I like this one)
Reply:I had the same issue with my autodark lincoln helmet.The lens seemed blurry.Well Turns out you are looking through 3 windows!!!!I removed the front plastic window and the back protective plastic window. Now I only am looking throught the autodark "glass" (which is actually four layers of glass with two polarizing films inside)now the welds look crystal clear.so when in doubt , just remove the stupid plastic protection in front and back
Reply:hey guys,  yeah i've had no issues yet with this helmet with either tig or mig.  i don't have anything to compare it to since this is my first one but it's great and i think i only paid $30 with a coupon.  no regrets