[sgo70]

I just bought an auto darkening helmet a little while ago for about $85 and had a few questions. First do all of them have green lenses when you're not welding, mine is quite dark green and I keep checking to see if I left the protective covering on . I find that when I'm stitching sheet metal I don't use it and just close my eyes, they're starting to get burnt and I know it's bad but even with the double halogen spot lights I can barely see anything. I've even got it set at 9-10 and it is clean.
So I'm thinking it's not worth it and I should buy a good one but if it's gonna be dark like that I guess there's no point. Does anyone know a good one to buy that's not too expensive maybe $200-300. I'll order it from the US cause everything here is marked up so high so I won't be able to try it until I get it.

Thanks,
Sean

[malc]

Check this thread out.

[sgo70]

Yea I read that but it doesn't mention about the lower setting when not in use. I found one that says it's a #3 but I don't know what mine is to compare.

[red rs ss 68]

hi go back to where you bought it and get a clear lense. just closing your eyes will give you a great tan on your eye lids but it will wreck your eyes and give you a vicious radiation burn to go with it believe me i know..........sean

[oldred]

This may sound like a dumb question but do you have that thing turned on? Most of them are really dark if they are off but will lighten considerably when switched on. They will never lighten above about a shade 4 (no matter what they CLAIM) and that can be a hassle when trying to use them in dim light but if the halogen lights don't light up the area enough to see then there definitely is something wrong, yours may very well be faulty and not turning on properly. I once saw a guy using a carbon arc gouge (Air-Arc) with a new auto dark helmet and after about 5 minutes he threw the thing off and proclaimed that it was junk and he had wasted his money but when I picked it up and turned it on it worked just fine!