Review on Antra AH7 360 7312 Darkening Welding Grinding by Jonathan Wilson

I'm a keen observer, but also a novice welder. So I'm not an expert. I started learning to weld at the school store about eight weeks ago and played an hour or two a few times a week, mostly with a welding machine. I've been using this helmet for about four weeks. Any comparisons I make are to old-school gear, ie, solid-tint Jackson helmets. While I certainly don't need or deserve a fancy auto-dimming helmet, my exercise (game) consists of scraps I collect, some of which are old snow chains. Turns out it's difficult to weld a chain if you can't see until the arc is struck. So I took off. Among the inexpensive helmets, I found this one to have some standout features. 1. Its nearly 4″ by >2″ viewable area is unmatched until you hit about $100. (It's less than the 4 x 4 inches that seems normal for fixed filters, and I was nervous it would be too thin. But I haven't found it limiting yet.) 2. Optical performance of the filter (1- 1-1-2) almost as good as it gets. His only sub-par assessment is off-axis hue consistency, which struck me as the least critical. After running a very artificial test I found that the dimming varies with angle but is fairly linear and not to the extent that I think most users will ever notice during actual use. 3. This device has four arc sensors, which is generally considered to be more reliable. Filter: As the optics values show, the image quality is very good. I didn't notice any distortions from the filter. When it's off (fade 4) I can see pretty well even in the dimly lit shop I work out in. I really like the auto and variable dimming features and this filter seems to work great so I won't waste words on it. . I adjusted the sensitivity closer to the center and never had to change it. (Although folks working outdoors with low-brightness systems may need to.) I adjusted the delay to my liking and haven't touched since. (Update: During TIG welding, I decided to turn up the sensitivity just because I could. However, I accidentally turned it down (the controls are pretty basic. I just wasn't thinking, and it's all my fault .When I got back to welding with electrodes, I started to notice what I think takes longer to darken. Not by a large amount. Just maybe enough to notice. Turn up the sensitivity a bit and see if that helps.) Darkness wasn't something I had to get used to (although I've played around with it a bit and I like what I can do.) Helm: I have a pretty big head (not ego, hat size is 7 1/2") and I wear glasses. This helmet fits me well. It's not the widest on the market but I haven't had any problems. The shell seems a little light but on the other hand I haven't had any problems with it and I expect that, we If it is treated with proper care yes, it will last a long time. The headpiece adjusts and fits well and the brow pad is much better than I expected. However, the headgear, like the helmet, looks a bit weak. While it works well and I don't think failure is inevitable, I don't expect a hat to last. The good news is that the headdress appears fairly standard and not expensive. For the price I think it's ok. In the end I would call this helmet a good buy. If you're a professional welder working in tough conditions and need a helmet that will stand up to (and protect you from) constant abuse then you probably aren't reading this. If you are a hobbyist or even a serious welder working in light conditions this is a work helmet and a good filter at a very good price.