Why Pipeliners Do NOT use Auto Darkening Welding Hoods (Fixed vs Auto-Darkening Welding Lens)

I appreciate that this video isn't 15 minutes long

I have used fixed until I bought a tig welder. Bought an auto darkening helmet when I was having difficulties. Love my auto darkening helmet.

I use auto darkening,I have used all varieties,,don't knock it til you 've tried it! Loved 'em since the first time I tried em !!

I used to use a gold fixed lens. Gorgeous colors. Accurate color representation

Nice short concise vid with minimal shameless self promotion! Nice upgrade from rambling on! Good job man

I'm a 'shop' welder,25 years in.I use a passive Jackson large window,paid 40 bucks for it new,I own Speedglas and Viking auto's,only use them for tig and plasma cutting/gouging.The thing I like about passive hoods is that they always work!Flip of the head and you're burning-

I used a cheap Lincoln pipeliner fixed hood for years (lighter than the fibre-metal ones) with a fixed #10 gold plated glass lens. It was green but the gold plating made it really cool on the eyes and seemed to help show the puddle. It was reliable, light and I could shove it into a 5 gallon bucket along with everything I needed for most welds. Now for the little welding I do I use a newer auto-darkening.

Hi Austin, I'm a hobbyist. I bought a MIG welder and a cheap fixed shield about 20 years ago. The fixed shield sucked horribly. Couldn't see much of anything unless i had a crapload of lighting. A few years later, i got an Optiva auto darkening helmet as a gift, and it was almost literally night and day difference - i could actually see things to some extent. Within the last 5 years or so, i bought a $90 Hobart Auto darkening hood, and it's another night and day difference. Like switching from 90s cable to DVD or Blu-Ray

Hello from Los Angeles….I’ve been Welding for over 40 years, occasionally professionally, but now it’s just home hobby stuff. I saw your introduction to the pancake hood and thought that would be a great idea cause I’m always fighting the sunlight. There is three welding shops within a few miles of my house, and I none had any clue of a pancake hood. Personally, I like the gold lenses.

I own a Esab A40 and love it. The lens color is awesome. But i still love my fixed welding hood too!

The only pipeliner I knew personally used an auto darkening lens in a fiber-metal "sugar scoop" hood. He kept a penny in the channel in front of the clear lens so he could block the sensor when he needed to grind. I use an auto dark for everything. I bought all my welding students auto dark hoods a few years ago. A lot of kids really struggle to learn with a passive lens.

Being a fitter I like my auto dark hood ! If I only welded a fixed shade worked fine!! It all depends on just what you get into I have used them all over the years. Who does not have a collection of hoods from over the years!!

As the years flew by I found my eyesight changing and had to adapt with it. I am a retired Pipefitter and only weld when I have to. I use a auto-darkening large lens #10.

I am not a welder nor fitter but a (mostly) self taught hobbyist fabricator. I used to used the cheaper auto hood from Northern when they had better quality. I moved up to a Hobart then now a Lincoln 3350. It’s the bee’s knees. I only went to auto-darkening was welding sheet metal. I have used the speed glass which are nice, just can’t justify that one.

When I started with a gold coat 2x4 fixed lense and an auto with a 'green' tint I used both regularly. Upgraded to a 'clear' Lincoln 3350 a few years ago that is fairly blue and find it to be wonderful to use. I still bring the fixed for mobile work as a backup but 95+% of my work is done with the auto hood. Mostly benchtop and fab shop tig and mig with a little mobile residential and light commercial work mixed in.

I learned to weld with fixed lense. I think it definitely refines your depth perception and coordination between arc strike and workpiece. Knowing how to consistently find your way back to a spot in the dark is huge. Helmets have come a long ways. I really like some of the Optrel auto hoods

I’m a 68yo retired welder certified in SMAW and TIG processes in 6G and 6GR positions. I’ve never used an auto darkening lens. And always a 2x4” lens on both my pancake hood and my stand up hood. I could focus on how the metal moved in the liquid state much better. Thanks for the memories!

Batteries are another form of consumable. Nice to have a fixed as a backup.

I was professional welder and I love the Vulcan auto darkening hood from Harbor Freight. It also has a blue lens, so, yeah... I know what you mean. Also if you don't trust how quick it darkens, you can close your eyes the instant you strike. I've welded in tight spaces where there's not a lot of room to flip your hood down. Also the very action of flipping my hood down has thrown me off just enough to start my bead in the wrong place. I prefer auto darkening.

i got a rod sheild lens in october and its a 2x4 auto dark lens that is blue. i weld as a hobby but so far its had no issues even with my welding hood sitting for a period of time