I began welding school like 2 months ago, and they gave us auto darkening. My instructor showed me his fixed lenses and was amazed because I was able to see more than just the arc. I already did much better on my 5g weld compared to when I had auto darkening on the first day
Have been a professional welder for more than fifty years. Still have a passion for welding as I did from the start. Enjoy each of your videos. Yes a person can learn from each one you put out. You are an awesome teacher, keep up the good work! Thanks!
I’ve been a trucker my whole life, done it all and I can’t see a damn thing under that stick lol I’ll keep hauling the heavy loads, you boys keep doin the good work.
Radnor 24S drop-in autodark got me through welding school with ease. I dropped the pipeliner style hood a couple years ago for an Optrel and haven't looked back. Expensive, but absolutely worth it.
I have been using Optrel 2.5 and clear 2.0 for the past few years and I really like them. They weigh 17 oz. But I just bought a pipeline cloud carbon fiber hood that only weighs 9 oz. I am going to use this with a high clarity lens and also a wens fixed lens for backfeeding tig root while looking through the gap
Shade 11 was my go to for most thin wall to heavy pipe applications. A shade 10 would give me a headache after a full day. Wouldn't recommend using anything less than a 10 for most arc welding applications. To each their own, but most the welding I did was doing had at least a TIG root and hot pass and then either a 7018 filler and cap or just TiG the rest of the way out.
I’ve been a Pipefitter/welder for just shy of 10 years now. I did general fab for a bit before that. Im just getting started breaking out on my own doing whatever welding work comes my way. It’s a side hustle for now but, my goal is to be fully self employed within the next few years. I appreciate all your content. Great tips and info 👊🏼
I had no idea how many lens are available, both fixed and auto darkening. I got my first auto darkening hood maybe 5 years ago and the reason I got was a friend was rep for someone and had a demo he gave me and I liked it well enough that I bought another one, it's been really nice to use. Thanks for showing all the different looks through the lens.
I'm in Iran. i was browsing in the internet about auto darkening helmets, if i convert to us dollar a whole helmet with a spare lens was something between 25$ to 50$ in different brands. And everyone was happy in the reviews.
I'm an Ironworker. I normally use what is provided Crap #10-12. If I have a gravy OT gig I'll break out my gold, in a fiber-metal hood. 30 years welding. I'm currently flux core welding 1-1/4" moment connections, so I'm using a #11 gold.
Thanks for making this video. Gives us our best guess to what we want without spending 500$ to narrow it down. I can't believe you use a shade 8, I use a 10 and want to go to a 11 lol
They haven't made them in years, maybe decades (for modern safety standards) but if you can get yourself a red/rose lens you will be blown away by the clarity, even better than gold.
Opticool sells scarlett. Best custom lenses I have ever used. I am speaking of the 2 piece lenses he makes. Although I don't have the red I have a white and a gold. All the same quality though just whatever color you prefer. I am color blind so I pretty much have to stick with white and gold or else I can't see where I am going very well.
I've worked mainline construction, compressor stations, refineries, power plants and even built miles of pipe fence, all I know is welding just like my dad and my grandpa. All I've ever used for 16 years is a fixed shade, usually 10 or 9. I've always preferred a gold lense or a Lincoln Super-vis, I tried an auto darkening lense once but I didn't like it because we were heli-arcing 8" and when I went to look through the bevel to put my bead in guess what didn't happen. The sensor was blocked by the pipe and it didn't activate, after that I said never again. I know a lot of hands like the auto because it lessens the chance of arc marks but the old hands welded for 100 years without them and they did just fine. But what do I know? I'm just a broke toothed welderer. Good job on the video Austin, keep it up hand.
well, stick welding outside in the bright sun, you'll see why some weld that low, even a shade 10 and 9 is too dark, but i wont go less than what miller and lincoln recommends
@@Mikey-ym6ok You're still damaging your eyes. Instead of using such a light shade lens, you should shade your work area with either an umbrella, tarp, pop up, etc. Or more convenient is a pancake hood, or tape a cape over the back of your hood. Not trying to be preachy, but shade 8...man, you GOTTA be scarring up those eyes!
@@AZ-kr6ffI've welded with just mirrored googles on and covering the arc with the nozzle. Had my eyes checked after years of doing it here and there and my optometrist said my perscription has pretty much been the same. Then again the goggles have uv protection. Pretty sure that has something to do with the lack of damage on my eyes. 🤷🏿♂️
Man. I love your video. I've been a combo welder for 25 years and in the past three years, been able to see the puddle has gotten harder and harder. I wear progressive/transition glasses plus a cheater in the hood but wearing 2.50 reading glasses and a 1.00 cheater lense seems to suit me better specially putting the root. keep up the good work.
Just bought an arc one singles HD shade 10. I absolutely love it. I usually use a 10. I stick, mig, tig, high frequency tig aluminum. Everything from stainless pipe to car body panels. I have an old technology automatic shield. I have heard good things about the Miller lens also
I've ran stick @ up to 145 amps and mig @ 240ish with Lincoln viking passive hood shade 10. Always comfortable, Eyes never hurt , and no redness fer over 29 years now
The trouble with gold or silver fixed lenses is scratching the coating. One tiny scratch and you are asking for flashburns. I found that using two gaskets in front of the lens to make more space helped prevent the clear resin lens from warping and scratching the gold coating when it got hot. Once I got my first electric lens, I never went back to a fixed lens unless I needed to use a sock hood or it was raining heavily. I was a journeyman shipfitter since 76 , certified structural and crane boom repair welder before I retired.
Only need 3 lenses in your career. The wens lens if your doing process pipe or mirror welding, and the tradesman and single 240 for anything else. I’ve had all three for 5 years and I will never go back. Great video. Sorry I’m a little late
hey austin good videos but ive been welding since i got out of high school in 1975 and been always told that you should never use anything less than a #10 when ever you do any kind of electric arc welding that means mig tig or stick. are you sure your not messing up your eyes.? im 62 now and still dont need glasses. been using a#11 shade whether auto dark or fixed gold coated or even old school green glass love your channel bud and keep that shield down and your making money
I’m currently in a welding program at my local community college, and the textbook, if I can remember correctly, states to run between a 9-13 shade. But my teacher personally recommended nothing less than a 10
Phillips glass lens works for me. I love gold lenses, but they never last. The gold flakes off the plastic gold lenses and the gold rubs off the gold glass lenses. I have used the Phillips super magenta and their blue filter too, and I like both of them. I really like the super magenta. However, I find the standard Phillips glass to be my go to lens. My opinion auto shades are only good when you are in a tight spot and you cannot flip your hood, otherwise a good glass lens cannot be beat.
@@JustinRolfe gold lenses? Yes. Get them at a welding supply place or there's glass ones on amazon. Clearest lens I've ever used, but you pay for em. Not as much as an autodark lens though
The brighter the ambient light, the lighter the shade you need due to your Iris constricting reducing the amount of light entering your eyes. High frequency has nothing to do with brightness as you can watch with no lens... but not for long as uv and infrared is admitted. Hope this helps. Like the tip on glasses under pancake.... keep up the good work...
I watched this video and purchased one of the wens lenses and I run 1/16 dual shield and 7/32 dual shield wire and I got a shade 13 because I run 400-600 amps and I love it it is amazing I also do A LOT of gouging at 600+ amps and it’s the best lens I have ever used thank you
I always wanted a variable shade lens to throw in my pipeliner, can’t wait to try it! I use Wens lens shade 10 for Tig and Arc-One HD shade 11 for everything else🤘🏼
I really like the old school Lincoln super visibility lens in the blueish paper sleeve. Shade 9. Super clear you can see literally everything going on in the puddle and around it. I used it welding in power plants on all processes. I used a miller elite before and a guy let me try his lense and I never went back.
I GOT INTO WELDING IN DALLAS,TEXAS IN 1980 AT A TRADE SCHOOL.WE ALL STARTED OUT WITH SHADE 10 IN STICK WELDING,E-6011AND 7018 1/8 .I ALSO GOT INTO GMAW(MIG)AND GTAW(TIG)WELDING ON ALUMINUM AND STAINLESS.BUT SHADE 10 GOT ME THREW THE COARSE.
Structural Ironworker local 378. I weld flux core NR 232 so it's really bright and hot. I use an 11 shade auto lens. My puddle looks orange or amber through my auto lens. Was hoping to get a different color auto lens, maybe a green. Just figure it would be a little softer on the eyes and look cool. Been trying to get my dual shield flux core cert lately and it actually seems brighter than 232 flux core. Maybe I'll go for a shade 12.
I run a fixed shade 11 silver doesn’t mess with my eyes but at the same time under a roof or in the field I can see the outlines so I don’t run off track really recommend I’m gonna try a gold one soon
I use a Jackson Shade 11 in my Pancake hood, mainly I'm welding outside so it helps me see alot of detail on the puddle and where I'm at in regards to the weld that needs to be done. I also like that Gold shade lens that comes with the Pipeliner hood. It very detailed as well and makes the puddle reddish orange, only if it came in auto darkening would be awesum.
Austin my welding back ground is like a carbon copy of mine.I had a bag teacher named mr.Roberts ya know all we had was the 50 lb. Boxes of 1/8 inch 6011 which is my opinion made for rust and old farm equipment. BUT I LIKE THE WAY YOU LOVE TO STRIKE AN ARC IN 03 I WAS TUNED LIKE A PRIZE FIGHTER MY SPECIALTY WAS FITTING PIPE AND ROOT BEADS.But I got addicted to pain killers and burned talent instead rods I'm catching up with the products and equipment its come a million mile.
I weld 18-20 ga sheet up to 3/16" and I am happy with my Antra X60-6. Setting 9 for mig 10 for tig. I almost always require an external light while working indoors.
Have always used 2 clear lens in the front. People think I'm stupid for doing it. Good to know others welders do this too. Love my Wens Lens Cool Blue. 😁
Love the videos man. Just starting out doing stick. Have autodarking and this makes me want to try a fixed. I was a bit nervous about trying them and this cleared a lot of things up for me.
A little bit of welding I use shade 10 like for small detail work that is in dark areas if I’m Welding all day I use a shade 11 so my eyes don’t hurt at night I use a shad 8 for cutting torches
Generally I like a shade 12, but I have 9-12 and a couple auto darkening helmets, and run at 12-13, only time I drop to 9 or 10 is ooutside with too much light getting Into back side of helmet, uunfortunately most of what I do is sheet metal on cars, whether panel replacement, or fixing rust. 1 thing I notice on auto-darkening, is if I use a 1/20,000 second response time, doing hundreds of tack spot welds, it will burn my eyes, but a 1/25,000 wont burn my eyes? I always adjust to fastest response time. For your video, the ice blue looked awesome, but a little skeptical on using a #8 lense
Same thing I was thinking with the shade 8, I normally go with a shade 11 because I'm young and still want my eyes to last a long time so I was hearing about using a shade 8 and was skeptical.
I use a a shade 10 stick welding no problems there but have trouble seeing outside the puddle mig welding. Been using a shade 9 for mig and still difficult, looks like a green blob when welding. I try to stick weld when i can. Both are auto darkening. Both are low cost hoods. I like a yellow or red lens . Mine are green and blue. Great video.
The demos are worth the click. The Wens Lenses have more color but don't filter out the haze from the smoke very well. Looking through smoke while welding is a headache.
This is a good idea. I really need to look into those filter Lenses. I think that would allow me to enjoy looking though the HD lenses a little more. Thanks for sharing this. Where do you get the filter lenses?
I’ve got the wens electric ice and I like it. I will say the camera doesn’t show the clarity well but you get a good idea of the color. It’s the clearest lens I’ve ever used. My only complaint is when you’re tig welding, if you dip the tungsten, it’s hard to notice if you’re not paying attention and you’ll wonder why why the puddle isn’t doing what you want it to. But for stick on pipe it’s my favorite. I’m ready for this auto cool blue lens
Have you tried the Miller auto lens? I've use Shade 10 I like it. I thinks it's a little darker which for me I like. I also have blue eyes which I've also been told are more sensitive. I also have a singles #10 model 240. It's much lighter also a shade 10 much much lighter than the miller. For me the older real glass shade 10 fixed static lens has the clearest view than any other. I like it best for Stainless TIG welding.
The 4c is an amazing lens, it's what I've been using on my pancake for almost ½ a yr now but I have to say they're a bit pricey. The armor guard lenses are pretty darn good and usually around 40 here in Texas
Aye no damn doubt about that 4c lens they made,I got a Lincoln helmet of one and I can honestly say the light blue arc helps light up so much more stuff around your plates or pipes.
I weld with regular fixed lens shade 12. I recommend people to do the same since is the most common one, and depending on auto darkening and other "special lenses" is not as good, specially for a beginner welder. That being said once you learn to weld really good with the fixed lens then you can do whatever you want.😉
I say this cause a regular fixed lens is less expensive then an auto darkening or any other type of special lens. One lens I would recommend getting is a gold coated one, eliminates the smoke, and lets you see more clear.
Hello there friend (-: the best part of the video and often the hardest examples to find was the actual showing of the lens color in use. thank you and great job man!!
I have a wense lense and like it, but I also have a couple opti-cool lenses that I like better. The AO replica and the mean green. High quality and very clear.
I weld on tankers for chemical and fuel/oil. Plumbing 6" and below and barrel Work/structural. Tig and Mig aluminum 5356 and SS (GTAW AND GMAW) so i upgraged to a miller Infinity hood from the miller classic series ive had for 5 years. Really nice HD and 3-13 auto dark shade. Worth the price. But thinking about doing pipeline and getting a pancake. Really nice and i formative vids my man.
Not a welder: The one thing I like is your always dressed with Ironed clothes, shows you hold yourself to a higher standard. Started watching welding videos a month or so back, not sure why, maybe because my brothers were rig welders in south east Texas. I also do taekwondo with one when he's home, think he just left going to Minnesota or somewhere. Thinking about taking a class this fall at the local North Arkansas community college, was told it's free for old guys like me 69, but think you have to pay for and have your own helmet and other stuff. Keep up the good work.
Welding 1".065 pipes into .120 manifolds @145A ~200\day Radnor lite60 auto set to 10 Started with a harbor freight auto no flash burn after covering the backside of my hood (not hoods falt but the wight gloss painted walls) but experienced noticable loss of night sight (more difficult to see in the woods at night w/o flashlights ) that was getting worse till I made the change.
I'm nota pipeline welder just a mechanic and I have a hard time with regular hoods because off my fat head. Just bought a pancake hood got it trimmed down to fit my Mellon and this was a great video on picking a lense. Definitely going to but an assortment of them
I do a lot of pipe and structural fabrication and I use a Lincoln Electric 3350 hood, but I am looking. I want a good pancake hood with a good lens because I work in the heat all year. Thank you for your video
Well I’m not a welder so I really don’t know what I’m talking about. As far as what welding I do it’s mainly DC Tig mostly 150-200 amps and occasional 7018/6010 for outside work. I generally use shade 10 for TIG and stick. I use a couple of auto dark hoods a Miller and a really cheap Lincoln I bought at the Home Depot for under $50. Honestly I prefer the cheap one it doesn’t need batteries seems to react better the head gear is way more comfortable. I never would have bought it under normal circumstances but it was a Sunday emergency several hundred miles away from home. I have both hoods hanging next to each other and I always grab the cheapie I think it’s a all around better unit. Yesterday I used both and I have got to say the cheap one wins hands down.
My cousin who is an optometrist told me your actually better off using the lightest shade you can stand because your eyes strain less trying to define the puddle
To avoid scratching my regular glass dark lenses when changing out the clear lenses. I'll get some electrical tape and make a boarder around the lens. And trim any excess with a razor blade. It works for me.
If your cheap like me I use the hobart shade 10 gold glass lense in my sugar scoop awesome passive lense for and awesome price I pick them up for 8 bucks at any northern tools or tractor supply.
@@Thrxxx I think they are expensive because of the cost of production. I heard they use a filter plate sandwiched between two plates of glass. Wens and Opticool make these sandwich lenses, I'd be curious to try one or a Phillips Alloweld but I'm pretty comfortable right now with my $20 Phillips gold
🤔 .... I knew a kid back in 1968 who was a 'carbon copy' of you right down to your speech tone and gentle intent, I believe he could have easily been your Father? We have been out of Spring Branch in Tejas & out of contact all these years so I joined your lil'Hootenanny Y-Ttube Channel to support & listen to a long gone voice I once knew! I have a Channel but it ain't much. ***To cap this all off ... & taker or leaverite here ... "He was leaving for Alaska for the 'Pipe Line' just several days after our formal graduation from High School there in Spring Branch', that Alaska Pipe Line took several of our Metal Shop kids over the years ... I swear I "think his name was Tom". Take Care YongSpud & live a long life & watch that dad'gum '6' by keeping that lil'head on a swivel! Semper Fi ... charlie 😎
I used a shade 8 and I weld for like 6-7 hours of pure weld time with little to no stop time and at the end of the day I have a big spot in the middle of my vision for sometimes 20-30 minutes plus headaches. While I’m welding it’s great but it has its downside
Hi, Austin Ross, thanks for this very informative video! I'm still at the community college, on structural welding. I'm on 3G 1/2" plates and I use 11 dark shade. But I would like to try those auto darkening lenses I liked the bright orange Len's but blue is my favorite color 😁😉😋 but seriously I think I'm going to try that 🍊 lens and also buy that auto darkening lense with extra clears. And about learning new things....your so right, because of my other instructor I tried different amperage and different degrees in angle I was able to lay better stringers and in the right place. Have a great weekend Austin! Keep em coming!!🤓👩🏭✌️👌🤙👏👏👏👏oh I forget, I also want to be a pipe welder. God bless.😉😋😀😁
Buenos dias yo soy de la patagonia chilena y vivo en punta arenas e trabajado de soldador pur 39 años es el mejor trabajo quisiera saber donde conseguir una mascara de soldar pantake ..tienen alguna dirección donde conseguirla
You really changed my mind on fixed lens vrs auto I ordered both the wens lens can’t wait to try em out thanks for the help you’ve really help me come along way in my fitting and welding
I began welding school like 2 months ago, and they gave us auto darkening. My instructor showed me his fixed lenses and was amazed because I was able to see more than just the arc. I already did much better on my 5g weld compared to when I had auto darkening on the first day
Have been a professional welder for more than fifty years. Still have a passion for welding as I did from the start. Enjoy each of your videos. Yes a person can learn from each one you put out. You are an awesome teacher, keep up the good work! Thanks!
What he said... Here's to the men of steel!
Thinking about a shade 8 makes my eyes hurt
Even a 10 hurts mine
I think shade 11 is best all around on steel for me. Aluminum Tig however shade 13 seems to be most comfortable
I agree ouch
Gold 9 lens basically shade 8
I go shade 12 green
I’ve been a trucker my whole life, done it all and I can’t see a damn thing under that stick lol
I’ll keep hauling the heavy loads, you boys keep doin the good work.
10:45 for the lens footage
Thanks, this dude talks mass shit.
MVP
Cheers
You sir deserve an upvote to the top IDGAF about his opinions, show me tangible facts
I’d go blind with that shade 8, I hurt my eyes with shade 9 before so I only use shade 10 or 11
Radnor 24S drop-in autodark got me through welding school with ease. I dropped the pipeliner style hood a couple years ago for an Optrel and haven't looked back. Expensive, but absolutely worth it.
I have been using Optrel 2.5 and clear 2.0 for the past few years and I really like them. They weigh 17 oz. But I just bought a pipeline cloud carbon fiber hood that only weighs 9 oz. I am going to use this with a high clarity lens and also a wens fixed lens for backfeeding tig root while looking through the gap
Shade 11 was my go to for most thin wall to heavy pipe applications. A shade 10 would give me a headache after a full day. Wouldn't recommend using anything less than a 10 for most arc welding applications.
To each their own, but most the welding I did was doing had at least a TIG root and hot pass and then either a 7018 filler and cap or just TiG the rest of the way out.
Where can I buy a shade 11 lense im currently in highschool and I have shade 10 but I’m tryna got a shade darker
@@osbaldohernandez9174 the Lincoln one on the video is adjustable. Its decent. I have it.
I’ve been a Pipefitter/welder for just shy of 10 years now. I did general fab for a bit before that. Im just getting started breaking out on my own doing whatever welding work comes my way. It’s a side hustle for now but, my goal is to be fully self employed within the next few years. I appreciate all your content. Great tips and info 👊🏼
I had no idea how many lens are available, both fixed and auto darkening. I got my first auto darkening hood maybe 5 years ago and the reason I got was a friend was rep for someone and had a demo he gave me and I liked it well enough that I bought another one, it's been really nice to use. Thanks for showing all the different looks through the lens.
I'm in Iran. i was browsing in the internet about auto darkening helmets, if i convert to us dollar a whole helmet with a spare lens was something between 25$ to 50$ in different brands. And everyone was happy in the reviews.
I'm an Ironworker. I normally use what is provided Crap #10-12. If I have a gravy OT gig I'll break out my gold, in a fiber-metal hood. 30 years welding. I'm currently flux core welding 1-1/4" moment connections, so I'm using a #11 gold.
Thanks for making this video. Gives us our best guess to what we want without spending 500$ to narrow it down. I can't believe you use a shade 8, I use a 10 and want to go to a 11 lol
8 is supposed to be for torch and plasma, I weld with 12!
They haven't made them in years, maybe decades (for modern safety standards) but if you can get yourself a red/rose lens you will be blown away by the clarity, even better than gold.
Opticool sells scarlett. Best custom lenses I have ever used. I am speaking of the 2 piece lenses he makes. Although I don't have the red I have a white and a gold. All the same quality though just whatever color you prefer. I am color blind so I pretty much have to stick with white and gold or else I can't see where I am going very well.
I've worked mainline construction, compressor stations, refineries, power plants and even built miles of pipe fence, all I know is welding just like my dad and my grandpa. All I've ever used for 16 years is a fixed shade, usually 10 or 9. I've always preferred a gold lense or a Lincoln Super-vis, I tried an auto darkening lense once but I didn't like it because we were heli-arcing 8" and when I went to look through the bevel to put my bead in guess what didn't happen. The sensor was blocked by the pipe and it didn't activate, after that I said never again. I know a lot of hands like the auto because it lessens the chance of arc marks but the old hands welded for 100 years without them and they did just fine. But what do I know? I'm just a broke toothed welderer. Good job on the video Austin, keep it up hand.
I spit my coffee out when you said shade 8
I did the Jim Carey gag from dumb and dumber
“Take care of your eyes!” - 20 seconds earlier - “I use a shade 8”. Whatever works for you man, but I have no idea how anyone could weld with an 8
well, stick welding outside in the bright sun, you'll see why some weld that low, even a shade 10 and 9 is too dark, but i wont go less than what miller and lincoln recommends
@@Mikey-ym6ok
You're still damaging your eyes.
Instead of using such a light shade lens, you should shade your work area with either an umbrella, tarp, pop up, etc.
Or more convenient is a pancake hood, or tape a cape over the back of your hood.
Not trying to be preachy, but shade 8...man, you GOTTA be scarring up those eyes!
When throwing the bead an 8 is good to see ur root going in
He does a ton of downhill. The puddle is on the opposite site so it's nowhere near as bright.
@@AZ-kr6ffI've welded with just mirrored googles on and covering the arc with the nozzle. Had my eyes checked after years of doing it here and there and my optometrist said my perscription has pretty much been the same. Then again the goggles have uv protection. Pretty sure that has something to do with the lack of damage on my eyes. 🤷🏿♂️
Man. I love your video. I've been a combo welder for 25 years and in the past three years, been able to see the puddle has gotten harder and harder. I wear progressive/transition glasses plus a cheater in the hood but wearing 2.50 reading glasses and a 1.00 cheater lense seems to suit me better specially putting the root. keep up the good work.
You're like me,long time welder with glasses .If I can see it,I can weld it!
Fun to watch your videos, Austin. You do yourself and your trade proud. Thank you!
Just bought an arc one singles HD shade 10. I absolutely love it. I usually use a 10. I stick, mig, tig, high frequency tig aluminum. Everything from stainless pipe to car body panels. I have an old technology automatic shield. I have heard good things about the Miller lens also
The Wens Ultra blue seems to be the one I want to try, Im using a standard shade 9 for now, would you try the Wens lenses in the same shade as well ?
I've ran stick @ up to 145 amps and mig @ 240ish with Lincoln viking passive hood shade 10. Always comfortable, Eyes never hurt , and no redness fer over 29 years now
The trouble with gold or silver fixed lenses is scratching the coating. One tiny scratch and you are asking for flashburns. I found that using two gaskets in front of the lens to make more space helped prevent the clear resin lens from warping and scratching the gold coating when it got hot. Once I got my first electric lens, I never went back to a fixed lens unless I needed to use a sock hood or it was raining heavily. I was a journeyman shipfitter since 76 , certified structural and crane boom repair welder before I retired.
I use an auto darkening with 8-12 most of the time. If I use a fixed lens I prefer a gold lens
Have you tried shade 14 fixed lens, is it too dark to see well?
I like the gold lens too and I got an auto darkening one. .
Only need 3 lenses in your career. The wens lens if your doing process pipe or mirror welding, and the tradesman and single 240 for anything else. I’ve had all three for 5 years and I will never go back. Great video. Sorry I’m a little late
hey austin good videos but ive been welding since i got out of high school in 1975 and been always told that you should never use anything less than a #10 when ever you do any kind of electric arc welding that means mig tig or stick. are you sure your not messing up your eyes.? im 62 now and still dont need glasses. been using a#11 shade whether auto dark or fixed gold coated or even old school green glass love your channel bud and keep that shield down and your making money
I’m currently in a welding program at my local community college, and the textbook, if I can remember correctly, states to run between a 9-13 shade. But my teacher personally recommended nothing less than a 10
thank. you. austin. 17 years old getting into welding, just got a pipeline industrial honeywell helmet and am looking for lenses, this helped so much!
Interesting Perspective.
35 plus year
Structural Fluxcore Welder .
#12 until age 50.
#11 from then on.
Those single digit shades blow my mind !
Phillips glass lens works for me. I love gold lenses, but they never last. The gold flakes off the plastic gold lenses and the gold rubs off the gold glass lenses. I have used the Phillips super magenta and their blue filter too, and I like both of them. I really like the super magenta. However, I find the standard Phillips glass to be my go to lens. My opinion auto shades are only good when you are in a tight spot and you cannot flip your hood, otherwise a good glass lens cannot be beat.
Way to go Austin you're always up you're always thinking and added to our industry and taking care of our 798 work and represent it well! good job
Shade 8 and 9 😳😳😳 my eyes would burn out of my head after 12 hours I run a gold fix shade 11
Do you if they make them in the bigger 4x4 or 4 x5 lens
@@JustinRolfe gold lenses? Yes. Get them at a welding supply place or there's glass ones on amazon. Clearest lens I've ever used, but you pay for em. Not as much as an autodark lens though
Glass shade 12! Plastics suck
😂
I run a SEER auto darkening lens in a shade 12, love this lens because it's a clear color. The arc looks white it's awesome on the eyes
The brighter the ambient light, the lighter the shade you need due to your Iris constricting reducing the amount of light entering your eyes. High frequency has nothing to do with brightness as you can watch with no lens... but not for long as uv and infrared is admitted. Hope this helps. Like the tip on glasses under pancake.... keep up the good work...
I watched this video and purchased one of the wens lenses and I run 1/16 dual shield and 7/32 dual shield wire and I got a shade 13 because I run 400-600 amps and I love it it is amazing I also do A LOT of gouging at 600+ amps and it’s the best lens I have ever used thank you
Caleb i might be late for this but did you get the ultra electric ice or cool blue wens lens. I also run 1/16 dual shield and got a 12 but want a 13
I always wanted a variable shade lens to throw in my pipeliner, can’t wait to try it! I use Wens lens shade 10 for Tig and Arc-One HD shade 11 for everything else🤘🏼
Blinded By The Light what lense ????
I really like the old school Lincoln super visibility lens in the blueish paper sleeve. Shade 9. Super clear you can see literally everything going on in the puddle and around it. I used it welding in power plants on all processes. I used a miller elite before and a guy let me try his lense and I never went back.
I GOT INTO WELDING IN DALLAS,TEXAS IN 1980 AT A TRADE SCHOOL.WE ALL STARTED OUT WITH SHADE 10 IN STICK WELDING,E-6011AND 7018 1/8 .I ALSO GOT INTO GMAW(MIG)AND GTAW(TIG)WELDING ON ALUMINUM AND STAINLESS.BUT SHADE 10 GOT ME THREW THE COARSE.
Structural Ironworker local 378. I weld flux core NR 232 so it's really bright and hot. I use an 11 shade auto lens. My puddle looks orange or amber through my auto lens. Was hoping to get a different color auto lens, maybe a green. Just figure it would be a little softer on the eyes and look cool.
Been trying to get my dual shield flux core cert lately and it actually seems brighter than 232 flux core. Maybe I'll go for a shade 12.
I run a fixed shade 11 silver doesn’t mess with my eyes but at the same time under a roof or in the field I can see the outlines so I don’t run off track really recommend I’m gonna try a gold one soon
I use a Jackson Shade 11 in my Pancake hood, mainly I'm welding outside so it helps me see alot of detail on the puddle and where I'm at in regards to the weld that needs to be done. I also like that Gold shade lens that comes with the Pipeliner hood. It very detailed as well and makes the puddle reddish orange, only if it came in auto darkening would be awesum.
Austin my welding back ground is like a carbon copy of mine.I had a bag teacher named mr.Roberts ya know all we had was the 50 lb. Boxes of 1/8 inch 6011 which is my opinion made for rust and old farm equipment. BUT I LIKE THE WAY YOU LOVE TO STRIKE AN ARC IN 03 I WAS TUNED LIKE A PRIZE FIGHTER MY SPECIALTY WAS FITTING PIPE AND ROOT BEADS.But I got addicted to pain killers and burned talent instead rods I'm catching up with the products and equipment its come a million mile.
I weld 18-20 ga sheet up to 3/16" and I am happy with my Antra X60-6. Setting 9 for mig 10 for tig. I almost always require an external light while working indoors.
Have always used 2 clear lens in the front. People think I'm stupid for doing it. Good to know others welders do this too. Love my Wens Lens Cool Blue. 😁
Love the videos man. Just starting out doing stick. Have autodarking and this makes me want to try a fixed. I was a bit nervous about trying them and this cleared a lot of things up for me.
A little bit of welding I use shade 10 like for small detail work that is in dark areas if I’m
Welding all day I use a shade 11 so my eyes don’t hurt at night
I use a shad 8 for cutting torches
Philips gold plated (CoolBlue) shade 11 tig/stick... the detail an clarity pretty good...
You should teach video production and post production , music and the sound of the arc ? Brilliant!
That was a dang good video Austin. Thank you for shedding some light. Would like to see reviews with lenses for Mig and Tig?
I love my auto singles HD I had the fixed blue and let a welding partner have it I need to buy a new one. Great vid as always.
Generally I like a shade 12, but I have 9-12 and a couple auto darkening helmets, and run at 12-13, only time I drop to 9 or 10 is ooutside with too much light getting Into back side of helmet, uunfortunately most of what I do is sheet metal on cars, whether panel replacement, or fixing rust. 1 thing I notice on auto-darkening, is if I use a 1/20,000 second response time, doing hundreds of tack spot welds, it will burn my eyes, but a 1/25,000 wont burn my eyes? I always adjust to fastest response time. For your video, the ice blue looked awesome, but a little skeptical on using a #8 lense
Same thing I was thinking with the shade 8, I normally go with a shade 11 because I'm young and still want my eyes to last a long time so I was hearing about using a shade 8 and was skeptical.
For tack spot welds, I think it's better to adjust longer delay time (dark to light), so you won't flash frequently.
I use a a shade 10 stick welding no problems there but have trouble seeing outside the puddle mig welding. Been using a shade 9 for mig and still difficult, looks like a green blob when welding. I try to stick weld when i can. Both are auto darkening. Both are low cost hoods. I like a yellow or red lens . Mine are green and blue. Great video.
Shade 9 wens has been my go to for 6 years. Interesting about the double lens. I think I’m gonna use that
Shade 10 gold coated passive lense, shade 12 for when I crank the amperage up, is all ive ever needed for pipework
The demos are worth the click. The Wens Lenses have more color but don't filter out the haze from the smoke very well. Looking through smoke while welding is a headache.
I love my Singles HD Cool Blue #9 with a Cool Blue filter lens. You can see so much and it is very clear
This is a good idea. I really need to look into those filter Lenses. I think that would allow me to enjoy looking though the HD lenses a little more. Thanks for sharing this. Where do you get the filter lenses?
@@arosswelding AULEKTRO which is made by wens makes filters. I just ordered a lens off Ebay that came with 2 different colored filters.
My job provided me these magnification clear lens, I absolutely LOVE it!! It took a moment to get used to but it is SO helpful!!!
Couldn't tell you the brand but I use a gold coated #10. Works best all around for me stick,mig al tig steel tig I'll drop down to #8
Me too, I love my fixed shade gold lens
I’ve got the wens electric ice and I like it. I will say the camera doesn’t show the clarity well but you get a good idea of the color. It’s the clearest lens I’ve ever used. My only complaint is when you’re tig welding, if you dip the tungsten, it’s hard to notice if you’re not paying attention and you’ll wonder why why the puddle isn’t doing what you want it to. But for stick on pipe it’s my favorite. I’m ready for this auto cool blue lens
The clairvoyant is my go-to
Thanks for this! I am shopping around
for a auto darkening, and this is just
what I needed to see! Thanks!
once u get a good set of auto darkening lenses, you wont go back to regular ones hah
Have you tried the Miller auto lens? I've use Shade 10 I like it. I thinks it's a little darker which for me I like. I also have blue eyes which I've also been told are more sensitive. I also have a singles #10 model 240. It's much lighter also a shade 10 much much lighter than the miller.
For me the older real glass shade 10 fixed static lens has the clearest view than any other. I like it best for Stainless TIG welding.
The 4c is an amazing lens, it's what I've been using on my pancake for almost ½ a yr now but I have to say they're a bit pricey. The armor guard lenses are pretty darn good and usually around 40 here in Texas
Aye no damn doubt about that 4c lens they made,I got a Lincoln helmet of one and I can honestly say the light blue arc helps light up so much more stuff around your plates or pipes.
Did you have to file down your helmet to fit the 4c in?
#9 or #10 techniweld clear blue lense...thats what i use they are amaaaazing
Beau Godwin same here. I love mine
@@drummerguy676 yea i do to an there not over priced either so its a win win
yeah them seer your lenses,technicolor r the best I've used.they similar to the old cobalt blue from the 90s
There a great lens
Even the arc shots gave me flash !
I weld with regular fixed lens shade 12. I recommend people to do the same since is the most common one, and depending on auto darkening and other "special lenses" is not as good, specially for a beginner welder. That being said once you learn to weld really good with the fixed lens then you can do whatever you want.😉
I say this cause a regular fixed lens is less expensive then an auto darkening or any other type of special lens. One lens I would recommend getting is a gold coated one, eliminates the smoke, and lets you see more clear.
I think the Lincoln c4 was my favorite
Hello there friend (-: the best part of the video and often the hardest examples to find was the actual showing of the lens color in use. thank you and great job man!!
Just started welding classes. Older so eyes not 20/20 anymore. I can’t see my line at 12. Using 10 shade is where I can follow.
I have a wense lense and like it, but I also have a couple opti-cool lenses that I like better. The AO replica and the mean green. High quality and very clear.
Where did you buy the opticooland the ao replica lenses from? I looked for an ao replica but couldn't find any
I weld on tankers for chemical and fuel/oil. Plumbing 6" and below and barrel Work/structural. Tig and Mig aluminum 5356 and SS (GTAW AND GMAW) so i upgraged to a miller Infinity hood from the miller classic series ive had for 5 years. Really nice HD and 3-13 auto dark shade. Worth the price. But thinking about doing pipeline and getting a pancake. Really nice and i formative vids my man.
Not a welder:
The one thing I like is your always dressed with Ironed clothes, shows you hold yourself to a higher standard. Started watching welding videos a month or so back, not sure why, maybe because my brothers were rig welders in south east Texas. I also do taekwondo with one when he's home, think he just left going to Minnesota or somewhere. Thinking about taking a class this fall at the local North Arkansas community college, was told it's free for old guys like me 69, but think you have to pay for and have your own helmet and other stuff.
Keep up the good work.
Heavy starch... the BB's (sparks)bounce instead of burning your shirt sleevesand arms full of holes.
Welding 1".065 pipes into .120 manifolds @145A ~200\day
Radnor lite60 auto set to 10
Started with a harbor freight auto no flash burn after covering the backside of my hood (not hoods falt but the wight gloss painted walls) but experienced noticable loss of night sight (more difficult to see in the woods at night w/o flashlights ) that was getting worse till I made the change.
I will definitely be buying a wens lens today thanks Austin
I just found my grandpas old hood and lenses and there my favorite
I run a shade 10 and with x mode lvl 6. I tig,stick,mig and braze plate. Not certified but do them at work for different jobs."still in school"
I'm nota pipeline welder just a mechanic and I have a hard time with regular hoods because off my fat head. Just bought a pancake hood got it trimmed down to fit my Mellon and this was a great video on picking a lense. Definitely going to but an assortment of them
I do a lot of pipe and structural fabrication and I use a Lincoln Electric 3350 hood, but I am looking. I want a good pancake hood with a good lens because I work in the heat all year. Thank you for your video
Well I’m not a welder so I really don’t know what I’m talking about. As far as what welding I do it’s mainly DC Tig mostly 150-200 amps and occasional 7018/6010 for outside work. I generally use shade 10 for TIG and stick. I use a couple of auto dark hoods a Miller and a really cheap Lincoln I bought at the Home Depot for under $50. Honestly I prefer the cheap one it doesn’t need batteries seems to react better the head gear is way more comfortable. I never would have bought it under normal circumstances but it was a Sunday emergency several hundred miles away from home. I have both hoods hanging next to each other and I always grab the cheapie I think it’s a all around better unit. Yesterday I used both and I have got to say the cheap one wins hands down.
I use gold shade 12 most of the time my auto helmet is almost always at shade 13 with delay on slow. I will never compromise my eyes
My cousin who is an optometrist told me your actually better off using the lightest shade you can stand because your eyes strain less trying to define the puddle
@@davidhurst5915 interesting I had no idea
I just use 11 . Lower then that my eyes start to tear so I cry basically 😂
I learned to weld before auto darkening.
To avoid scratching my regular glass dark lenses when changing out the clear lenses. I'll get some electrical tape and make a boarder around the lens. And trim any excess with a razor blade. It works for me.
I use a AO Weld Cool 10 and 12. The only lens worth using.
If your cheap like me I use the hobart shade 10 gold glass lense in my sugar scoop awesome passive lense for and awesome price I pick them up for 8 bucks at any northern tools or tractor supply.
Jesse Smith that’s what I use
Jesse Smith I use the same exact ones and what is it about these wens that are so expensive
@@Thrxxx
I think they are expensive because of the cost of production. I heard they use a filter plate sandwiched between two plates of glass. Wens and Opticool make these sandwich lenses, I'd be curious to try one or a Phillips Alloweld but I'm pretty comfortable right now with my $20 Phillips gold
🤔 .... I knew a kid back in 1968 who was a 'carbon copy' of you right down to your speech tone and gentle intent, I believe he could have easily been your Father? We have been out of Spring Branch in Tejas & out of contact all these years so I joined your lil'Hootenanny Y-Ttube Channel to support & listen to a long gone voice I once knew!
I have a Channel but it ain't much.
***To cap this all off ... & taker or leaverite here ... "He was leaving for Alaska for the 'Pipe Line' just several days after our formal graduation from High School there in Spring Branch', that Alaska Pipe Line took several of our Metal Shop kids over the years ... I swear I "think his name was Tom".
Take Care YongSpud & live a long life & watch that dad'gum '6' by keeping that lil'head on a swivel!
Semper Fi ... charlie 😎
I used a shade 8 and I weld for like 6-7 hours of pure weld time with little to no stop time and at the end of the day I have a big spot in the middle of my vision for sometimes 20-30 minutes plus headaches. While I’m welding it’s great but it has its downside
I can tell you weld for a living. Your arc control is superb.
Thanks Austin I just ordered my wens cool blue
I like the blue
Thanks Austin, your tips are much appreciated.
Thank you for the video. I'm buying some clear lenses right now.
I'm in a lot of tight spots and I got the new Lincoln Welding Google and that lens rips! The toes light up like the 4th of July!
Hi, Austin Ross, thanks for this very informative video! I'm still at the community college, on structural welding. I'm on 3G 1/2" plates and I use 11 dark shade. But I would like to try those auto darkening lenses I liked the bright orange Len's but blue is my favorite color 😁😉😋 but seriously I think I'm going to try that 🍊 lens and also buy that auto darkening lense with extra clears.
And about learning new things....your so right, because of my other instructor I tried different amperage and different degrees in angle I was able to lay better stringers and in the right place.
Have a great weekend Austin! Keep em coming!!🤓👩🏭✌️👌🤙👏👏👏👏oh I forget, I also want to be a pipe welder. God bless.😉😋😀😁
I don't weld any more but when I did I made hand railing in a fab shop it was all mig welding
Buenos dias yo soy de la patagonia chilena y vivo en punta arenas e trabajado de soldador pur 39 años es el mejor trabajo quisiera saber donde conseguir una mascara de soldar pantake ..tienen alguna dirección donde conseguirla
I used a shade 10 when I am stick and mig welding and a 9 when I Tig weld
I have a reflected pure gold plated non auto tint glass...beautiful.
You really changed my mind on fixed lens vrs auto I ordered both the wens lens can’t wait to try em out thanks for the help you’ve really help me come along way in my fitting and welding
Does WENS LENS
Does the gold face the inside /go on the inside of the hood? Or does it face the outside of the hood?
Thanks guys
I use the Jackson BH3 with Bulter technology and I love it
Gold lens by Philips, good stuff. 👍
Thank you Austin, for sharing your knowledge it is very usefull.
That cool blue 🧑🏻🏭🧑🏻🏭👁👌👌👌👌