Helmet filter plates

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Hello,I'll be buying my first welding helmet for home/hobby use in the near future, for use with a 175 amp MIG machine. Since I spent a bunch of a nice machine, I'm a bit short on money for a while. I'm looking at getting a decent quality helmet with a passive lens, rather than a cheap auto darkening helmet. I've never used an auto hood, but have used a couple of passive hoods over the years without really knowing anything about them, like what shade filter plate they used or what model helmets they were. All have been green lenses, polycarbonate I believe.The Jackson HSL100 seems like a good helmet, so I'm leaning that way. Cyberweld sells one for about $25 with shipping. It comes with a shade 10 green lens.I'm in my mid 30s, decent eyesight, don't need reading glasses. I'll be doing a bit of work under a car, exhaust, rust repair, stuff like that, and some light fabrication. And filter plates are cheap, so I was thinking about picking up a few different shades so I can play around a bit, and have some spares when I inevitably drop the helmet or whack it against something and crack the filter. I've seen the charts recommending shade by amperage, but I haven't seen any talk about filter plate material. Should I use a glass or polycarbonate filter plate? Green or gold?Thanks.
Reply:I usually wear an auto anymore but when I have to wear fixed shade I wear a shade 10 green lens. I know a few guys around here swear by the gold lens but I tried one once and hated it. It had a bevel on the outside so there was a gap between the outer plate and it so it cast a shadow. Looked like there were two puddles.
Reply:The gold lenses are expensive.  I have a work mate who swears by them and swears at them when they get scratched.  I use a regular ten shade.  For MIG I like the large plate style but a fixed window.  The flip up style are fine on the smaller size glass but give problems on the large size.  I have been nodding my helmet for over thirty years so I am not about to change.  The Autos are just too expensive a fragile for my style of work.
Reply:i use a green #12 glass shade lens with a clear plastic one in front of the glass..i used to use a clear glass plate in front of the green lens but it got too heavy after a while....carry on  ...zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:Don't get that Jackson. It's what I'm using now and I hate it. Doesn't drop when you want it to and drops when you don't want it to. The balance is kind of off to so it stresses your neck when up.    aI've been looking at the Optrel Galaxy with the big window. I always read good things about the auto Optrels, and it's the same thing just with a passive lense.http://www.envirosafetyproducts.com/cats.php?id=632Student on a mission.   Be the best. If I can't be the best I sure as hell won't be the worst.
Reply:I say  YOU have to beg, borrow ,or steal (even buy ) several different lenses & find out for YOURSELF what works best  FOR  YOU . It doesn't matter what we like , it matters what works for you ! I personally like a AMERICAN Optical gold lense. do i buy them ? NO, too expensive for me . I found a good substitute in the GREEN Diamond gold lense (about 1/2 the price of A O. ) I ended up using a green Diamond (gold) #9 for light tig & mig . in a regular lense i need about a #10 . Lately I been using a cheapie Harbor Freight auto  with lightest setting possible . ALL this is to say "try for your self, we can only say what we use" , i want you to find the best for YOU . by the way , i alway found i could see better through glass lenses , even though the polycarbonate may last longer . Change your plastic clear lenses often, they don't last long , cleaning them scratches or makes them look blurry .Hope this might help a little
Reply:Roy makes a good point about what works for one might not be what another likes.I use a #11 or#12 glass in the passive lens style and have two differant brands of ADF`s.