Tractor Supply "Metal Man" auto darkening welding helmet.

I have always wanted a auto darkening helmet from the first time I ever used my welder. I though they would be way too expensive for me, because offerings from Lincoln Electric were like $250. I was walking down the welding isle at TSC about a week before Christmas, and I saw the metal man helmet for like $40 on sale or something like that. I added it to my wish list and I got it. Anyways I tried it out for the first time, and WOW. If you don't have a auto dark and hate your fixed shade like I did I would definitely pick one up. I hate fixed shade because when you flip the lens down you have to hope your gun didn't move. My weld quality increased instantly, with the old fixed shade I couldn't even see the puddle, or where I was going. The only thing that I could see was the arc. With the new helmet I can see the arc, puddle, and I can actually see where I am going with the weld. It is nothing fancy but it gets the job done, fixed at shade 10, no grind mode, but I use it as a face shield when I grind or cut. You aren't gonna be able to weld 5 amp pulse tig or anything, but it ain't a $500 helmet either. Its still on sale for $40 as of the date of the post. Click here to check the price

I think I paid around $60 at lowes for an auto darkening job a couple years ago. Doesn't work too bad. Kobalt I guess it is. Once in a while it doesn't darken right away and you get blinded, but not too often. It's had a lot of use since I got it though, could be part of the issue. At least it's semi shaded all the time, so at least when it misses, you don't get the full light.