Review on Antra True Color 13.5 Sqi Wide Shade Range Auto Darkening Welding Helmet AH7-860-001X with TIG, MIG/MAG, MMA, Plasma Grinding, Solar-Lithium Dual Power – 6+1 Extra Lens Covers by Kirt Phillips

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. (That's less than the 4 x 4 inches that seems normal for fixed filters, and I was nervous that it would be too thin. But I haven't found it limiting yet.) 2. Filter Optical Performance (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 darkness varies with angle, but in a fairly linear way 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 increase the sensitivity just because I could. However, I accidentally decreased it, which I think takes longer to darken. Not by much. Just maybe enough to get it to notice. Someone should have bought this and then had an almost subconscious feeling that it should get darker faster, might I suggest they turn up the sensitivity a bit and see if that helps.) Darkness wasn't something I got into took some getting used to (although I've played around with it a bit and I like what I can do.) Helmet: I have a fairly large head (no 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 then again I haven't had any issues with it and I expect with proper care 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 harsh environments 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.