Auto-darkening vs Fixed Lens Welding Helmets. Miller, Blue Demon and Hobart 

When I used a Fixed lens Welding. A high intensity flood light aiming at your work surface made it easier to start welds. You can keep your shield down and see your start point.

LOL! Cool effects at the end; wasn't expecting that! Thanks for the comparison.

One thing I havent seen anyone talk about yet in regards to the panoramic helmets that I thought was significant, is I do a lot of unsupported overhead welding, and the extra peripheral vision you get greatly helped me with my balance.

Hey Justin! I have been watching your videos since I started welding at my trade school, and have been working on TIG for about 4 months now! Almost have 3G TIG down, and love your videos! Keep it up man! 👍🏼👍🏼

Awesome ending with the accidental discharge. Well done.

Fantastic video, love the ending . Cheers 🇨🇦

Great video! I've been learning to weld at work, and the only helmet available is an old school fixed shade one with a little flip up visor for the shade. I do a mix of TIG, MIG and stick so changing out plastic lenses comes with the job. But I'm loving the fixed shade helmet, even as a young guy.

I have been using Jackson NexGen for over a decade, I'm sure its old tech by now but it was the closest to color to a fixed gold shade at the time. Also, I believe its still the lightest shell on the market.

I keep a non-auto darkening helmet with a #10 and a #13 shade. The gold lenses are nice. If I have an outdoor project, I use the standard helmets because the sun doesn't mess with them. Those are usually cumbersome scratch start TIG projects anyway. Frame boxing, tractor repairs (OMG), trailer mods. -- Sometimes, my auto helmet will un-darken. I never figured out why. I use it so I can tack faster, and also get more post flow on stainless.

Drink every time he says nascar fabrication career! Excellent ending! Nice honest practical overview of the hoods.

LOL at the end!😂

Kool sculpture!

2:48 couldn’t have been timed better😂

Love the channel, love the merch! Just ordered from your store. I'm welding again after 25 years and I'm loving your content. Keep em coming!

Very informative. Thanks Justin

came for the helmet review, stayed for the cool TIG sculpturing. good stuff!

I'm an Elite owner too. Can't beat the hood. Interesting stuff on the larger view on the BD. Thanks for sharing.

I had a Miller Digital Elite from around 2004, it finally had to be replaced. I got another DE with the Clearlight lens, great hood and I really like the Xmode since I mostly do TIG welding. The Blue Demon may be a good hood but I don't care for the looks of it, JMO

The blast got my sub. Nice touch. 😄

Badass blaster and great arc shots. Really gave a great look at the a Blue Demon hood. 🔥👍🏼🔥

Hey, bruv...I love your TIG gloves. I use them all the time. Cool video too mate.🤩

So weird. I looked everywhere for this video. Well not everywhere. But through my notifications and subscriptions. Finally just searched. I know I was subbed. Said I wasn’t. But you know I have been Justin. I’ll check out a new helmet. I Iove mine, but I could upgrade. More is better.

I still use a non auto darkening Helmet. It's a Forney Bandit 2, believe it or not while the headband sucks the narrow helmet profile works well in places where serious reflection from above and behind is a problem where my Optrel Vega View 2.5 flares out too wide to protect against. My Weld Cote auto darkening helmet has a full view feature and is superior to the Optrel in that when pulse tig welding, it handles the on off cycles a bit better. However the Forney is perfect for pulse tig because it never gets confused by the pulses ergo no surprise flashes. Each helmet has its strengths and weaknesses and should not be dismissed on account of it lacking certain features. But 36 years in the game and you figure out what works in the situations you are able to test.

HAHA! the end was hilarious. Thanks for the information it was very helpful.

I actually prefer the non-auto darkening. I guess I'm just old fashioned that way.

Should have used the Sentinel in this as well. It rocks!

If you put your helmit in the sun light it will recharge and you won't have to replace batterys I leave mine in the passenger seat of my truck during lunch haven't had to replace them yet (Miller digital elite 6 month's of every day use) p.s love the truck in the background

I just got the Optrel Crystal 2.0 last week..... BRUHHHHH... IT'S UNBELIEVABLY CLEAR and BLUE..... NO GREEN AT ALL !!!!!!! You should try it out...

Haha looks pretty cool,, careful going through the airport with that thing!

Miller t94i or speedglas 9100 is all I’d buy anymore the color clarity makes it 10x easier to see what’s going on

I definitely like my miller digital elite

I'm on the fence getting an auto darkening helmet because that's just something else that could fail. Even the expensive Lincolns fail.

with a super bright light on work area could you see with hobart

You never know when realities decide to mix and make scrap metal blaster to shoot. :D

For someone looking to buy a helmet, these reviews are pretty light on info..... please try again

Cool videos ,keep them coming, my eye are getting old so I've tried a few of the expensive helmets and found I like the Esab 50 with cheater lens works good for me most of the time. Laughed my ass off at the end , man you make Tig look to easy, I tried my dammitest for few months and got frustrated so I quit, think I need a whole new setup or figure mine out , like the videos

Great video Justin, I think I just found my new helmet!

Dude! You just made Marvin the Martian's space blaster!

I’m gonna have try out that hood. The main reason I have the 3350 is because I like how it has the American flag pattern on the outside (for if Blue Demon reads comments, variety is always a plus instead of one color always being black). I do like the big window on the 3350 as well, so I don’t even know why this didn’t even occur to me as an option to buy for a hood. Point being- this video actually did shed light on a potential new customer for Blue Demon. Call me lazy, I just hate having to constantly flip up my hood to do things lol. When I have to get a new hood, I’m gonna definitely check out Blue Demon. And on a separate note: I don’t know why but I like your background. It’s simple but it looks unique and maybe it’s something with the camera having good focus, but your videos have always stuck out as both good visual quality, and of course content quality. Good stuff man.

Hola soy de Argentina 🇦🇷 ✌️ saludos

Love blue demon! next time you talk to them tell them to make a place to store 2 backup batteries on the helmet... Saves a trip to the truck!

Beautiful, and heavy. I hope it shoots out a good stream of oil.

You'll put your eye out with that thing

Im older and really want to learn how to weld. but im terrified of burns and inadvertent eye damage

Jackson hlx 100 shell with the upgraded Jackson 370 headgear and passive gold lens here. Super lightweight, headgear beyond perfection both in function and comfort, with a positive lock in the up position, flicks down only when you need it to and that huuuge adjustment wheel for easy strap adjustment wearing welding gloves. And lasts a lifetime costing 10 times less than the autodark drop'em and weep units It doesn't get any better than that. Autodark is only for high production Mig work imo...

So it was you who shot first! Han!

Looks like Han Solos blaster, very cool man..

Fixed shade. A easier to say name :)

Biggest advantage to a fixed shade helmet.... No one asks to borrow your lid :D I know I would enjoy an auto darkening helmet, but the fixed shade does good enough enough for gluing together metal at work. Cheers

I wish companies could sell helmets for diff size heads. I have a small ass peanut head and tried about 10 diff helmets thru time and the only one that fits really tight is a cheap fixed lens piece of garbage that im lookn to modify and take out nice 4" auto darkening lens from a good helmet to put in it. I weld in crazy positions and just want a helmet made for my head. Sometimes I wish they wouldnt focus so much on gadgetry and just good fitment to keep price reasonable. Just my 2 cents

I really could use a new hood. I'm having a bit of a hard time seeing the puddle clearly when I'm using the powertig.

We have a miller elite at work and I want to make it better since the company won't spend the money for something better. I do 50/50 stick and tig, tried a contractor's "HD" blue lens and it was so much better. Is there anything like that available for the Millers?

*If you value your eyes then use Fixed shade number 12!*

Remember to always leave your weapon on safety never play around with a loaded gun! Lol

Michael ferric cup they work as good as they say.

Please can you do a video on your right angled die grinder

I loved the end of this video!😂🤣😂 Justin Voss, have you tied the Accustrike Helmets? I have auto-darkening as well as the Accustrike helmets. Expensive Miller and Esab Autodarkening helmets, but sometimes I really like using the Accustrike. For simplicity and no battery changes, no delay, simple chin lift mechanism that lets you see your work. The Accustrike works very well. I hope you consider doing a review of the Accustrike Helmet.

Worlds heaviest hand laser

That looks like a box of Jericho or G force transmission parts!

Please a review the lincoln 3350 3034 4.

Hey brother, looks like you could really benefit from the Stronghand Tools MAGTABS. Pretty handy and affordable, like $20 for 1 jumbo, $30 for set of 4 regular size. They hold those small parts in place while you tack. Great blaster btw! Where the heck did u pickup all those bearings/parts?? Lol I'm guessing from work. Thats where I get most of my oddball parts. Nice helmet and camera shooting bud! Keep it up!

Why that insane wolfram stick out?

Hey Justin, if you want to feel like a spoiled Nancy boy tig welder ( I weld with a dynasty, digital infinity clearlight, and crystal 2.0) go check out txs viking! FYI put a gold lense in the fixed shade and you will be impressed for the $30 investment

I thought this was about hood?

Stuck between the digital elite and infinity, production mig/tig welding. Opinions?

I have no affiliation with YesWelder but they have true view large lens hoods for 70 bucks. I been using one for 2 years and it works great for the money and a great view not that green shit. I had to replace the head gear as it stripped but a miller head gear fits it perfect. I am retired now but have over 25yrs in the field. Just thought I would let you guys know in case someone is looking for a good hood without dropping 300 bucks.

How did you get into nascar. Were you live to work in nascar. That's my type of welding and fabing.

I have that same vintage Miller too. I recently got a TIG ....what settings are you using with it while TIG welding?

What die grinder are you using exactly? I am about to order one as the stores are closed here in Germany, but I was wondering which one would be good as some say the sanding plates fly off some sometimes.

What cutoff wheel is that?

Blue demon è o top

11 shade gold lens always and only

Take a shot everytime he says nascar career

Good morning Justin, what brand and model of gas lense do you have on your tig torch? That is going to be some kind of master blaster ray gun. It will take a man and a boy to carry that thing!!! Thanks and take care.

I've used those cheap Hobart helmets, they are better than nothing, but otherwise really $uck. Just a tip, when shooting video through an autodark lens, white balance through the lens before it darkens to remove the green tint. You may need to hit the work with more light to balance the exposure.

I would think that some white LEDs on the front might help when you're setting up if the ambient lighting isn't the best.

I wouldn’t trade my huntsman 951p for any other hood, I have a gold lens in mine and it’s amazing. And clear lenses are cheap for it

I thought this was a real video until the paid promotion sponsorship came up more than halfway through the video. You’re comparing those OK hoods I not so great fixed shade. What about a pancake with the gold lens in it?

Office pop

"Box of random bearings and parts" :D

Looks like a pit stop gun

That was funny!😂😆😅😂🤣😀

Idk what’s happening but you thicc 11/10 I would.

Try a gold lens

I dig my Jackson fixed shade helmet with #12 gold lense. The head gear is super comfortable! I just released a new video building an air tool rack on drawer slides that I think you would like! If you do, please subscribe!

Bruh I'm more interested in your welding gloves..

Bro that's not the lights helmet you can get have u tried a carbon fiber pancake hood those are the lightest and they dont reflect off background or so rounding items/lights

Mau😔

What about OTHER BRANDS clear view auto darkening helmet that DON'T sponsor you? So money buys your words?

Welding in T-shirt is a "very smart"

nascar nascar nascar lol how is that relevant not a bad video but....

So it was you who shot first! Han!