Fixed Shade VS Auto Darkening Lens | Which Is BEST?

In today's video, Western Welding Academy Instructor, James Packard, goes over the pros and cons of both fixed shade and auto darkening welding lenses.
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[@jamesw6371]

Both have their uses. Tiny stuff, weld testing, and a few other places I'll use an auto. For the bulk of it, tinted glass has never let me down. For a while, the special clear lenses kept me away from autos. They are making them more universal now, though.

[@WesternWeldingAcademy]

True that

[@YR7A]

One thing worth noting is that a $4 shade 11 green lens will a lot of the time be clearer than a $100 auto darkening lens. My Miller T94i PAPR was super expensive, and the Forney lens I started my career with lets me see more.
I guess sometimes it's apples to oranges.

[@WesternWeldingAcademy]

Maybe, but to each their own.

[@corrupted_sniper8020]

I just always run a fixed shade 10. No delay issues like with auto and i just like it better. To each their own just keep welding 👨‍🏭

[@WesternWeldingAcademy]

That's cool! Running a fixed shade 10 sounds like it works well for you. Happy welding!

[@corrupted_sniper8020]

@@WesternWeldingAcademy thank you!

[@dreiback182]

I dont know about the prices in america but where I live you get real cheap auto darkening helmets for 30 bucks and for 60 bucks you can get into true color helmets from some known companys (still lower quality but they are OK to good from what I have heard). Also I am not a ful time welder just hobbyist so I havnt get to know many helmets and the diffrences...

[@WesternWeldingAcademy]

Gotcha! Prices can vary a lot depending on where you are. Sounds like you've found some decent deals on helmets.

[@dreiback182]

@@WesternWeldingAcademy The helmet I have, you would probably throw away. I just bought one of the cheapest. But I am thinking about upgrading to a real color. Any other boxes a helmet should tick? But keep in mind, I am no professional, I am still learning but I want to have some OK equipment.

[@GaryLiseo]

I’ve only ever used auto darkening. Been curious to try fixed so I don’t need to worry about batteries or the shade not darkening when you want

[@cconfay6399]

put the sensitivity up higher and wear some sort of tinted glasses so the short time in between when its not dark and it going dark your eyes don't get hit. for fixed shade have the tightness on your hood looser so you don't have to force it down because for everything except tig my hands move a little

[@michaelshortridge6379]

I use a AO Weld Cool. Shade 12 if am outside running 6010, 7018 i use a 10.

[@chauncey5962]

Bet you paid a pretty penny for tht

[@michaelshortridge6379]

@@chauncey5962 No i've these lenses since new.

[@WesternWeldingAcademy]

I see I see

[@elijahlangston]

As a beginner stick welder what would you recommend🤔

[@D3rron08]

Auto darkening, shorter learning curve

[@WesternWeldingAcademy]

We'd recommend testing them out if you can to see which one you prefer

[@josephherr4828]

You should learn to use a fixed shade lens sometime you’ll know how to use the basics. Like learning to drive a standard shift transmission. You have some kind of experience of basic things. Just think if you never drove a manual and all the sudden you had to.

[@elijahlangston]

@@D3rron08 I have a fixed shade rn but it’s kind of hard to

[@elijahlangston]

@@josephherr4828 I have a fixed shade rn and it’s kind of hard but I just don’t want to get a auto darkening

[@cconfay6399]

is there any difference between the plastic and glass lenes, and will i see better with one over the other?

[@thecheezybleezy7036]

I learned how to stick weld in high school. Had to use a fixed shade with no strap so i welded one handed alot

[@WesternWeldingAcademy]

Why didn't you get a proper hood?

[@thecheezybleezy7036]

@@WesternWeldingAcademy we used what the school provided and I was too poor to get a new one at the time

[@cconfay6399]

its better to free hand stick because you can use your other hand to prop yourself up and stay more stable and also if you need to hold something in place while you tack it.

[@wiibear1720]

I learned to weld with a fixed lens and always used fixed lenses so I never cared much for the auto darkening lenses

[@WesternWeldingAcademy]

But have you tried them?

[@dennis_the_menacesoonerlif9645]

My dad used to tell me, "I can still drive with an auto darkening lens, but not with a fixed shade."
I do not recommend

[@WesternWeldingAcademy]

To each their own!

[@cconfay6399]

if you have your auto dark set sensitive enough the headlights will trigger it and then you wont be able to see