Why Pipeliners Do NOT use Auto Darkening Welding Hoods (Fixed vs Auto-Darkening Welding Lens)

In this video, I share why pipeline welders don't use auto darkening welding lenses. The truth is, we do. The types of welding hoods we use can actually be used as either an auto lense or fixed lens. A couple of types of welding hoods we use are the pancake style and the pipeliner style fiberglass also known as a "sugar scoop." I will also go over a couple things I like about a fixed (fixed, meaning "not auto darkening) welding lens over an auto-darkening welding lens.

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[jaredhammonds]

I appreciate that this video isn't 15 minutes long

[jeremycrisp]

I have used fixed until I bought a tig welder. Bought an auto darkening helmet when I was having difficulties. Love my auto darkening helmet.

[bigdave]

I use auto darkening, I have used all varieties, , don't knock it til you 've tried it! Loved 'em since the first time I tried em !!

[phildegruy]

I used a cheap Lincoln pipeliner fixed hood for years (lighter than the fibre-metal ones) with a fixed #10 gold plated glass lens. It was green but the gold plating made it really cool on the eyes and seemed to help show the puddle. It was reliable, light and I could shove it into a 5 gallon bucket along with everything I needed for most welds. Now for the little welding I do I use a newer auto-darkening.

[TheNovaMan]

Hi Austin, I'm a hobbyist. I bought a MIG welder and a cheap fixed shield about 20 years ago. The fixed shield sucked horribly. Couldn't see much of anything unless i had a crapload of lighting. A few years later, i got an Optiva auto darkening helmet as a gift, and it was almost literally night and day difference - i could actually see things to some extent. Within the last 5 years or so, i bought a $90 Hobart Auto darkening hood, and it's another night and day difference. Like switching from 90s cable to DVD or Blu-Ray

[douglas]

I used to use a gold fixed lens. Gorgeous colors. Accurate color representation

[johnston]

Nice short concise vid with minimal shameless self promotion! Nice upgrade from rambling on! Good job man

[jamesswain]

I’m a 68yo retired welder certified in SMAW and TIG processes in 6G and 6GR positions. I’ve never used an auto darkening lens. And always a 2x4” lens on both my pancake hood and my stand up hood. I could focus on how the metal moved in the liquid state much better. Thanks for the memories!

[johnmurdock]

I was professional welder and I love the Vulcan auto darkening hood from Harbor Freight. It also has a blue lens, so, yeah... I know what you mean. Also if you don't trust how quick it darkens, you can close your eyes the instant you strike. I've welded in tight spaces where there's not a lot of room to flip your hood down. Also the very action of flipping my hood down has thrown me off just enough to start my bead in the wrong place. I prefer auto darkening.

[garthland]

I'm a 'shop' welder, 25 years in.I use a passive Jackson large window, paid 40 bucks for it new, I own Speedglas and Viking auto's, only use them for tig and plasma cutting/gouging.The thing I like about passive hoods is that they always work!Flip of the head and you're burning-

[TBJKJeep]

I am not a welder nor fitter but a (mostly) self taught hobbyist fabricator. I used to used the cheaper auto hood from Northern when they had better quality. I moved up to a Hobart then now a Lincoln 3350. It’s the bee’s knees. I only went to auto-darkening was welding sheet metal. I have used the speed glass which are nice, just can’t justify that one.

[franksprecisionguesswork]

Hello from Los Angeles….I’ve been Welding for over 40 years, occasionally professionally, but now it’s just home hobby stuff. I saw your introduction to the pancake hood and thought that would be a great idea cause I’m always fighting the sunlight. There is three welding shops within a few miles of my house, and I none had any clue of a pancake hood. Personally, I like the gold lenses.

[carlabridger]

Being a fitter I like my auto dark hood !
If I only welded a fixed shade worked fine!! It all depends on just what you get into I have used them all over the years.
Who does not have a collection of hoods from over the years!!

[TehButterflyEffect]

The only pipeliner I knew personally used an auto darkening lens in a fiber-metal "sugar scoop" hood. He kept a penny in the channel in front of the clear lens so he could block the sensor when he needed to grind.
I use an auto dark for everything. I bought all my welding students auto dark hoods a few years ago. A lot of kids really struggle to learn with a passive lens.

[chadsmith]

I use an auto darkening lens and hood I got years ago in trade school. It's just a plain jane matte black hood. Being I've only done structural work, it's just served it's purpose and what I'm accustomed to.

[comeandfindme.]

As the years flew by I found my eyesight changing and had to adapt with it. I am a retired Pipefitter and only weld when I have to. I use a auto-darkening large lens #10.

[Jurgy]

I learned to weld with fixed lense. I think it definitely refines your depth perception and coordination between arc strike and workpiece. Knowing how to consistently find your way back to a spot in the dark is huge. Helmets have come a long ways. I really like some of the Optrel auto hoods

[richardkawucha]

Working as a field construction Boilermaker, I had a large lense big hood and, what we called a "soft hood". A smaller one which I added a leather bib to. Never used an auto-darkening lens, but always carried a variety of shades with me. That way I was always ready for any kind of light conditions and tight quarters. As well as my heli-arc gloves, cloth gloves and heavy leather welding gloves. This along with my cutting torch supplies fit nicely into a 5 gal. plastic bucket with a "Bucket Boss" seat lid.

[bjorker]

I was a Pipeline welder for 35 yrs and just recently retired...most of the last decade of my career was welding 36" diameter Heavy wall natural Gas Pipe, I've been using an Arc One HD auto Darkening lens with a flip front Wendy Pancake all that time and every single day and have been through a few say 5-6 in all those years, at $100 bucks each that really is not so bad. These lenses are awesome and unbeatable by far to a fixed lens. The largest hurdle to jump is the stubborn attitude of these old timer pipe welders who refuse to change a thing in their normal routine feeling it'll jinx them on their next Xray, you wouldn't believe how stuck in their ways and habits and especially superstitious an old pipeline welder is, I know since I was caught up in this spider web in the beginning until I stopped ignoring simple logic I dealt with many of these ridiculous reasons of why not to weld with one until they finally tried it and got hooked themselves.
BTW...I was one of the first to let go of my trusted Classic 2 and 300D Lincolns and Got myself a Miller Pipe Pro back the first year they came out and got hell from them at the time for doing so....Funny thing is they all own a Miller

[toddanderson]

I used a fixed lens until about five years ago. I have been welding since 1992. Fixed lens is great because it always works, it is cheap to replace, and the new welders look at you like you brought a dinosaur to the shop.