Welding Lens Q:

[false_aesthetic]

I've always used a standard welding helmet or Miller auto helmet.

Friend let me use his helmet with a gold lens. Looking through it the puddle + arc are warm, yellow, buttery.
I bought a gold lens. Looking through it the puddle + arc are cool, blue, Night King.

Here and in other forums I've seen people talk about the benefits of using a gold lens . . . but which gold?

Thanks,
#confused .

[edoz]

The gold is just a coating, and the glass will have it's own base color. Back in the day green was all you got , but now blue and orange have been added to the options. It's all personal preference really, I prefer the blue but I know lots of guys who like orange or green. There are also a few neutral grey lenses around, but they cost a little more I think.

[false_aesthetic]

So when people are saying that you need to get a gold lens is that simply because it reflects back onto the work piece?

[Rody]

Tom,

Here's what I like.

Simple, light, efficient with a big window and options for additional optics...

The Huntsman fiber helmet

W2 451P Big Window Fiber Shell Passive Welding Helmet | Arc-Zone

Get the gold lens as well, helps with clarity of the puddle. This lens will show the arc as blue

US Forge 9978 Shaded #1 Gold Cover Plate 4-1/2-Inch by 5-1/4-Inch - Eye Protection Equipment - Amazon.com

cheers,

rody

[false_aesthetic]

Thanks Rody!

That helmet is on my list due to a blog post of yours.

The link for the lens is super helpful.

[Rody]

Hope it works for ya...best wishes,

rody

[edoz]

Tom,

Here's what I like.

Simple, light, efficient with a big window and options for additional optics...

The Huntsman fiber helmet

W2 451P Big Window Fiber Shell Passive Welding Helmet | Arc-Zone

Jeez, I remember buying that hood for $35. Mine put up with 15 years of hard use. Good to see they still make them.

[abbeyQ]

I've been using the small window version of that hood for going on 15+ years, burned tons (literally) of filler looking through it. I've got the "for brazing only" version that was significantly cut down from the factory. Makes for much better ventilation when. Awesome to have when it's hot or you're staring through it for hours a day.

Side note, I've never much liked the auto lenses as they give up optical clarity compared to a fixed lens. I've tried hoods from Speedglass and Optrel and a few others and all of them are a little foggy and lose tent at the corners of the view-able area. I've got a basic one I use when I've got to tack a bunch of tools together but when it's time to weld, I switch to the fixed shade Huntsman.