Auto Darkening vs. Fixed shade

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I did a quick search on the site to see if there was already a thread on this and didnt find anything. If I missed it feel free to delete this one and redirect me to the other one. I was wondering which type of hood ya'll prefer. I've only used one auto helmet and didnt really like it. I have a fixed jackson 12 shade and a fixed hobart 10. I just dont feel safe using auto helmets...is that just me or does anyone else feel the same?
Reply:For TIG and MIG I prefer an auto darkening.  For stick a fixed shade is fine.  I have a speedglas and love it.  Also have an old fibre metal with an auto shade that I use for stick welding.At workMillermatic 252Syncrowave 250DXAt HomeLincoln Pro Mig 140Lincoln AC/DC 225/125
Reply:Hi, auto great for tacking without raising hood. Great for fine pin point tig or art work. Great for beginners . Actually, best to have both. Once you use a auto you can get spoiled.
Reply:I tig most of the time and prefer the fixed lens. I use a big window huntsman with a gold shade 10. I like the gold because I can see in color, which is nice for tig. The big window is good for out of position work.Ian TannerKawasaki KX450 and many other fine tools
Reply:I have an old fibre metal fixed shade( small lens) and thats all. I feel that I don't weld enough to justify the money for a good auto and a cheap one is asking for trouble.Miller thunderbolt 250Decastar 135ERecovering tool-o-holic ESAB OAI have been interested or involved in Electrical, Fire Alarm, Auto, Marine, Welding, Electronics ETC to name a just a few. So YES you can own too many tools.
Reply:I have a low end Hobart auto darkening and a couple Jacksons with fixed shade that have the big window. I prefer the Jacksons because i think it is easier to see what is happening around the arc than when using the Hobart auto darkening helmet. Its like my view is cleaner. Also I had trouble finding clear lenses that would fit the Hobart. I never felt unsafe when using the auto darkening helmet because the window is always shaded and blocks the UV light. One day i will get a top of the line auto darkening helmet.
Reply:As a beginner I think that the auto-shade made a  lot of difference in how I was learning to weld. I tried a fixed shade for a little while and felt like I was struggling to see around the arc. Then I got a kind of cheap auto-shade and I got better but was still having some trouble seeing around the arc. I went and got a better auto-shade, A Lincoln Viking (I have a review of that helmet with photos and a video at the link below) and that seemed to help me a bunch as I could adjust the shade yet see much better around the arc which in turn has helped me get welds where I really wanted them. It also lets me see the puddle more clearly  - MIG and stick - which again helped me make better welds,http://www.newmetalworker.com/Review...nghlmtrvu.htmlTom Hintz, publisherwww.newmetalworker.comLincoln Pro Mig 180Lincoln AC 255Determination
Reply:i bought the fixed shade helmet when i first started, #10 and i couldn't see crap!  i almost hated welding cause if i didn't have the sun shining on the work i couldn't see where i had my gun. Couple weeks ago i was at Northern Tool and seen an auto darkening helmet for $49 and got it.   What a big difference! I enjoy welding now.  I don't see how anyone can see through fixed shades,  i couldn't.
Reply:I use a fibre metal fixed shade with a #11 lens most of the time.Fixed lens big window for tig, and I use a miller hobby something shield that I got for free when knocking around the shop and tacking stuff.IW Local 580 NY, NY
Reply:Fixed shade = Carpenter using his harmer to build a houseAuto darkening shade = Same carpenter using a airgun to build a houseNo contest here.
Reply:Originally Posted by DanthemanFixed shade = Carpenter using his harmer to build a houseAuto darkening shade = Same carpenter using a airgun to build a houseNo contest here.
Reply:I have an auto darkening helmet and I would not trade it for the world.  I have had expensive helmets and cheap helmets, they pretty much all work the same, just the expensive helmets have more adjustments.
Reply:Gold Lense fixed 10. Seems a magnifier may help me too. Haven't got one yet. I'm. 30$ into my helmet.HTP Invertig 201Lincoln Idealarc SP250Miller 180 AC StickBy farmall:They should have held the seagull closer to the work, squeezing evenly for best deposition.
Reply:I'm spoiled to my Miller Elite auto dark that I use for tig. It's the only quality auto dark hood that I have experienced. On mig or stick applications I have my trusty Jackson fixed shade that has been with me since the beginning. Mr. Jackson and I have traveled all over and made alot of money together over the years. Aaahh the memories,lol.When in doubt, carry two guns instead of one.
Reply:In my opinion, if you learn to weld with an auto dark you will always have to use one. I recommend learning with a fixed shade and evolving from there.When in doubt, carry two guns instead of one.
Reply:Originally Posted by FabWizardIn my opinion, if you learn to weld with an auto dark you will always have to use one. I recommend learning with a fixed shade and evolving from there.
Reply:Originally Posted by dumb as a stumpI have an old fibre metal fixed shade( small lens) and thats all. I feel that I don't weld enough to justify the money for a good auto and a cheap one is asking for trouble.
Reply:this has been beat to death.a crappy auto, even ones that fail entirely to dim, still protect you from the UV entirely.  because that protection comes from a fixed UV filter and the not visible light electronic filter.it's just anoyingly bright.
Reply:Originally Posted by dsergisonthis has been beat to death.a crappy auto, even ones that fail entirely to dim, still protect you from the UV entirely.  because that protection comes from a fixed UV filter and the not visible light electronic filter.it's just anoyingly bright.
Reply:I learned with a fixed shade 20 years ago and struggled with welding, Bough an inexpensive Speedglass auto shade about 15 years ago and haven't looked back. My Speedgalss finally crapped out and now i'v got this (http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...6894_200416894) helmet. I enjoy it very much and is very adjustable.
Reply:I use both, I have a pipeliner with a gold shade 11 and a auto lense shade 11, i swap them out when i feel like switching things up.
Reply:I have a fixed lense in an automatic hood.  My hood is specialized to when I look down it automatically drops.  everynow and then I have to nod a little to speed it up, but don't nod too hard as you may flip the whole hood off your head.  I have three hoods.  one jackson that I have a number 5 lense in and two tiger hoods that have a 9, 10, 11, or a 12 in it depending upon what I am doing.  one of the hoods carris a 12 for when I am gouging.  the other hood typically carries an 11 or a 10 depending upon the conditions I am in.  I have a 9 lense for these few times I need to see and I simply can't due to too few amps or the lighting conditions that surround me.Clear as mud?  I also have some automatic pipeliner hoods that have fixed lenses in them too, but they are for onlookers to watch.  I love thier reaction to using an automatic hood.  the queer look on their face lets me know I have achieved my level of being off tilt honestly.  For those who don't know what an automatic hood looks like or how it operates, simply place the hood of your choice on your head nod it forward and voila!! it is an automatic hood.  I know I ain't right.  but then again, you may be the one whose expense I may get to use to enjoy my day with.The last guy I had come out spent over 20 minutes trying to figure out what he was doing wrong with the hood.  He finally came up to me and said, "I think it broke it. I can't get it to work automatically.  When I put it on and nodded my head and said see it is an automatic "hood", the other welder who was drinking coffee blew hot coffee out his nose.  then we all got a good laugh at his expression of expelling hot coffee out is nose.Life is good when you are simple.
Reply:I have noticed that welders who make a living at it use fixed lense helmet.I use fixed lens helmet for 55 years.I like a gold lense.Wont risk my eyes to a china lense.
Reply:Another thing to think about is your age and eyesight condition.Some young gun welder with eagle eyes can probably see a lot clearer with a really crap mask than an old fossil like me, that needs to wear glasses.It is not just the ability to focus, but you definitely need more light to see clearly as you get older.Cheers,  Tony._________________________________Transmig 310 + Argoshield LightOxy acetyleneOxy propanePrehistoric stick welder_________________________________
Reply:I've tried the auto dark helmets from a buddy. Went to buy one and the rep said they aren't friendly to bangs or drops. I work all position all the time and I am very careful with my helmets but they have to take getting banged ocassionally getting in tight spots. Is it true they are that sesitive to damage from being banged around? . I could see it if you were production welding or  tig welder would use one .Originally Posted by farmer welderI've tried the auto dark helmets from a buddy. Went to buy one and the rep said they aren't friendly to bangs or drops. I work all position all the time and I am very careful with my helmets but they have to take getting banged ocassionally getting in tight spots. Is it true they are that sesitive to damage from being banged around? . I could see it if you were production welding or  tig welder would use one .
Reply:Doing heavier welding and less fitting these days.  I use a random helmet with a phillips glass Aethermal shade 11.  (That's a mouthful!  )
Reply:I used a fixed hood for over 40 years.  My son was getting a new auto dark helmet and gave me his old 2 year old model.  I could not believe how nice it was.  A lot of the welding I do is in tight quarters where to see where you need to weld and room to move your helmet are not of the same vocabulary. With the auto dark I can get into the best possible position then start welding without fear of more eye damage than age has already given me.
Reply:I have 2 miller elites, one standard Jackson flip front with a gold 11 and a pipeliner with an ao 12, autos for tack up or tight places, Jackson as a back up, or something that gets beat up in a shared job box, and the pipeliner for big mig (autos don't hold up to the amount of heat put off)UA local 32Team weld-coolTeam miller elite tack upMiller pro-staff
Reply:I got a pipeliner with a huntsman #11 auto darkening and I love it.   Also have a cheater in there...lol!
Reply:Originally Posted by BamaTeacherI got a pipeliner with a huntsman #11 auto darkening and I love it.   Also have a cheater in there...lol!
Reply:Originally Posted by dsergisonthis has been beat to death.a crappy auto, even ones that fail entirely to dim, still protect you from the UV entirely.  because that protection comes from a fixed UV filter and the not visible light electronic filter.it's just anoyingly bright.
Reply:Huntsman makes a damn good lens with no bull**** green shade to it like miller and the rest have. It's almost like a blue tint but it's true color.
Reply:Originally Posted by Zca4Huntsman makes a damn good lens with no bull**** green shade to it like miller and the rest have.  It's almost like a blue tint but it's true color.
Reply:Originally Posted by Titan Upi bought the fixed shade helmet when i first started, #10 and i couldn't see crap!  i almost hated welding cause if i didn't have the sun shining on the work i couldn't see where i had my gun. Couple weeks ago i was at Northern Tool and seen an auto darkening helmet for $49 and got it.   What a big difference! I enjoy welding now.  I don't see how anyone can see through fixed shades,  i couldn't.
Reply:Like most of us, I have both auto and fixed. For me atleast, the both have their place, but nothing beats a Jackson or Huntsman fixed with that Gold lense!To see the contrast of weld color, wetting ect. overides the convience of the auto depending on what your welding. weld it like you own it
Reply:I have 3 different helmets that I use. One is a Lincoln AD, I use it the most. Great for doing lots of tacks and short welds. I have a Blue Point fixed with a 10 gold. I use it for most of my stick welding. It has a large lens that flips up. I have a straight front Jackson with a small lens, 10 gold. I use it if I have to do much work over head the long straight front offers good protection for your neck area. Its the heaviest hood of the three. I notice that when I use my AD hood for a long time and then pick up my fixed lens hoods I have trouble getting my arc established where I want it. It takes a few times to get the feel of getting set up and dropping the hood then starting my arc. Thats one of the advantages of the AD hood, you can see exactly where you are right up to the split second the arc starts. I am waiting on my new AD hood to get here. Its the free one that comes with the new Thermal Arc 181i. It looks like it is going to be an upgrade from the Lincoln AD. Lincoln AD has no adjustments on the lens you can only choose between a 10 and 11 shade setting but thats it.
Reply:Here is a picture I took playing around with my camera. It is all three of my hoods.
Reply:I bought a Jackson Nexgen when i was at school 3 years ago, i've used it during all my school and 1 first year in shop, after changing the batteries for the second time i just bought a kit of gold and clear 4'' lens (because you can use both fixed and AD) and since that time im using fixed shade in my helmet and keep the AD lens at home!it was really cool to use it at school because you start and its easier to try stuff during fitting, and for TIG, but now at work in the shop, im just about fitting on my table, doing layout and fit stuff into it, and tack stuff together and hold my helmet in my hand maybe 90% of the time when i need to do good tack welds, found the AD lens useless for me i had to take care to much and don't like it, i think its good if you do smooth and relax clean jobs, like TIG on stainless and aluminum (personally)!Calculator > Bevel Square
Reply:I was always paranoid that AD helmets wouldn't give as good of eye protection as fixed. After a year or so of using a Miller Elite I am not too concerned. Still nice to have both options or at least a fixed backup."Never trust anything you read on the Internet" - Abraham Lincoln
Reply:Originally Posted by farmer37I have noticed that welders who make a living at it use fixed lense helmet.I use fixed lens helmet for 55 years.I like a gold lense.Wont risk my eyes to a china lense.
Reply:Originally Posted by farmer37I have noticed that welders who make a living at it use fixed lense helmet.I use fixed lens helmet for 55 years.I like a gold lense.Wont risk my eyes to a china lense.