Welding is undoubtedly a delicate job to do. The process is a bit dangerous, too, as the welding arc and continuous emissions can damage your eyes severely. The welder has to cover himself up before any work. There is some special equipment for this work. Welding helmets are a must to have while welding. We will be discussing some best inexpensive auto-darkening welding helmets in this article.
Different companies manufacture welding helmets according to the need of welders. They use different materials and different sensors unlike types of welding. Some make expensive helmets while some make affordable helmets.
Top 7 Best Budget Auto Darkening Welding Helmets
Only industrial welders and construction site welders can afford pricy equipment. Workshop welders and household DIY hobbyists prefer cheap auto darkening welding helmets. Various companies produce such gear. As a fact, these companies are more likely to get the attention of welders.
1-DESOON Solar Power Auto Darkening Affordable Welding Helmet
For 69 bucks, this product is on top of the best inexpensive auto-darkening welding helmets in the digital market. Being surprisingly cheap yet made with a firm structure, DESOON has set a mark for the possible best. Made with PP material this product is also very compact.
The orange-colored welding helmet is likely to get the attention of every professional welder towards itself. The elegant design is enough to make any welding professional go crazy about this. The product though made cheap but has the power to work in heavy industry as well as for workshop welders and DIY household hobbyists.
This budget auto-darkening welding helmet uses CR2450, batteries for its auto-darkening feature to toil. The battery continues to work for around 5000 hours unless you use this helmet 24/7 which is not practically possible.
This large view auto-darkening welding helmet provides you the casement of 7 sq. inches that is pretty much the best you can have. The welder can see through the casement without lifting the hood. The switching time of this helmet is 0.0004 seconds from light to dark.
After the purchase, you will receive a 1x Auto-Darkening welding helmet, 1x Adjustable headband, and 1x user manual.
Pros:
- Extremely modest.
- Appealing to eyes.
- Versatile.
Cons:
- Terribly uncomfortable.
- Cheap headgear.
- Nose touches the lens, not measured correctly.
2-Instapark ADF Inexpensive Auto Darkening Welding Helmet
For 38 bucks, this auto-darkening welding helmet is one of the best inexpensive auto-darkening welding helmets under $100. The described product is solar powered and takes the power to perform its auto-darkening feature from solar cells installed in it. It can also use 2x lithium batteries.
3.63” X 1.65” inches casement allows the user to work easily. The welder can see through this window without pulling the lid of the helmet. The helmet offers ultimate defense again welding arcs, extreme flashes, and emissions from the welding process.
The head guard uses 2 arc sensors for an auto-darkening feature and has a switching time of 1/2500 when the arc is blown towards it. ADF series comes with an adjustable shade from 9 to 13 depending upon the intensity and type of welding.
The versatility of this product allows you to use it for plasma cutting, tig welding, stick welding, and MIG as well. The product meets ANSI standards and has a warranty time of 1 year in case it gets some fault.
The product also supports grinding mode and low voltage function.
Pros:
- Extremely economical.
- Long lasting
- 2 power options.
- Grinding mode supported.
Cons:
- Auto darkening feature malfunctions often.
- Cheap quality headband used.
3-Hobart 770869 Cheap Helmet For Welding
For 80 bucks this to boot is one of the best inexpensive auto-darkening welding helmets. The manufacturer of this product HOBART has evenly maintained the price and its functioning. This fine-quality auto-darkening welding helmet is built with polyamide nylon material.
The product is installed with a number of 3 arc sensors to detect the presence of a welding arc near the helmet. When the sensor detects any arc, it dark down the lens immediately. It darks out the screen in the presence of a welded arc in the blink of aye. 1/2500 seconds to be more precise.
The camouflage design is enough to make any welding professional go crazy for this item. Feathery weight of 1.15 makes it even more demanding as it makes the product super comfortable to wear for a very long time. The comfort and long-lasting has also been worked out by the manufacturers.
The porthole of 7.1 sq. inches lets the welder see his detailed work without disturbing the hood. The grind mode stops the screen from darkening providing a clear view of the environment. The welder can use this helmet for different types of functioning.
You can use it for TIG welding, MIG welding, plasma cutting, and grinding as well. At this price, the item becomes literally the best budget welding helmet in the market.
Pros:
- Comfortable to use for long time.
- Affordable
- Heavy duty arc sensors.
Cons:
- Flimsy material.
4-TOPDC Solar Power Wallet-Freindly Welding Helmet
The 40 bucks worth auto-darkening helmet has a very elegant design and will surely look striking in your workshop naturally. The product is manufactured by TOPDC. TOPDC has never failed to impress people with its radical products with good material and fully functional products in a low price range.
The optical glass lens provides ultimate protection to your eyes and other facial identities while welding. The product also meets the standards of ANSI. Made with polymer material this product is fine for heavy industries as well as workshop welders and DIY hobbyists.
This product possesses 4 arc sensors that operate on their own as soon as they detect any welding arc. When the arc is detected, the helmet automatically darkens its screen to protect the eyes of the welder from welding arcs and intense flashes of the welding process.
The manufacturer has designed this product with a lot of hard work and intense planning The final result came with the futuristic design auto-darkening welding helmet.
The casement is an aspect of 3.93″ x 2.6“ which gives the welder a very wide space to see his work and environment without lifting the hood. The shade range of this lens is 9-13 which can protect your eyes from getting burnt in different processes like stick welding, TIG welding, MIG welding, and plasma cutting.
Pros:
- Wide casement to see the work.
- Inexpensive.
- Long lasting.
Cons:
- Size of helmet is small.
- Lens is okay, but the body is made cheap.
5-Welding Shield Mask Low Budget Welding Helmet
Manufacture by BIBOWA, this welding shield has one of the most classy designs among all the auto-darkening welding helmets in the digital and international market as well. At the price of about 35 bucks, this product has crossed the limits of perfection in this product review.
Made with plastic, this auto-darkening welding helmet can be used for any type of welding like TIG welding, MIG welding, stick welding, and plasma cutting as well.
This shield will protect you from the extreme flashes of lighting and welding arcs. The helmet offers full-face coverage.
1 pound weight makes it even more demanding in the digital market. The low weighing welding helmet is very comfortable and could be used for a prolonged time without getting internal pressure.
The comfort of the welding helmet depends upon some basic factors which include weight, material, and headgear quality. The headgear quality of some helmets is dreadful. Even 500,600 bucks worthing welding helmets are likely for not having sturdy headgear.
The switching time of this helmet is 1/2500 seconds and hence makes it doubly laudable. In the blink of an eye, the arc sensors will sense the welding arc and blackout the lens to give you a detailed view of your work.
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This auto-darkening welding helmet fetches power for its functioning from 2 lithium batteries installed in it. The batteries can last around 5000 hours unless you left it working 24/7. The batteries are replaceable too, which means that this helmet will last with you until it’s not broken.
Pros:
- Quick reaction time
- Light weight and could be used for a long time.
- Comfortable.
Cons:
- Pathetic headgear.
- Plastic material is not reliable and breaks out soon.
6-Metal Man Variable Shade Professional Welding Helmet
95 bucks worth auto-darkening welding helmet is made by METALMAN. The graphic design on this hood gives it a funky look. This product will easily catch one’s eye when you walk away wearing it in the workshop. METALMAN tried their best to astonish welders with their graphic engraved auto-darkening welding hood.
Made with Nylon material, the versatility stands on its mark. You can use it for TIG welding, MIG welding, Plasma cutting, and grinding. This auto-darkening welding hood can protect your eyes from welding arcs, extreme flashes of light, and emissions from the welding process.
Installed with 4 arc sensors that provide the fastest switching time of 1/2500 which is insane for this price tag. These sensors make sure that your screen is dark enough when you are welding to not block your sight.
It comes with a 5 point adjustable headgear strap to make you feel comfortable even with a weight of 1.2 pounds.
Its material may be not suitable for such delicate jobs, but it is nonetheless a good welding helmet and does its job perfectly
Pros:
- Comfortable for prolonged time.
- Funky, yet good looking.
- Quick switching time.
Cons:
- Batteries not included.
- As most other welding helmets, uses cheap headgear.
7-Forney PREMIER Series Camo Inexpensive Auto Darkening Welding Helmet
33 bucks worth this welding helmet is the cheapest auto darkening welding in this review. The big matter is that this product does its job in a flawless way. Being cheap never means that the functioning of the product will defect.
Unlike previously reviewed welding helmets, this hood has the quickest light to dark switching time of 1/16000 seconds. In this price tag, this trait is remarkable. The lens of this hood offers external shade modification from grade 9-13. These qualities allow the product to meet ANSI standards.
Under description, the welding helmet weighs around 1.22 pounds making it super comfortable. This feathery weight allows the welder to work for a detailed time without neck stress.
Uses 2 arc sensors to detect the welding arc to immediately activate the auto-darkening feature. This hood can protect your eyes and face from tiny welding arcs, intense blazes of the welding process. It is a low-budget welding helmet that is manufactured by FORNEY. We found this helmet best for TIG welding, MIG welding, and plasma cutting as well.
It is a user-friendly product and could be used in welding workshops, DIY hobbyists, and construction sites in addition. It is offered with low-impact material.
Pros:
- Very discounted price.
- Quick switching time.
- Could be used in welding workshops, industries and household DIY as well.
Cons:
- Solar cells are low quality.
- Headgear is not reliable.
FAQs
1-Are cheap auto darkening welding helmets safe?
Affirmative. Being cheap does mean cheap quality as well. Some welding helmets are tremendously economical and also very useful and well built. While some companies manufacture 500,600 bucks worth of welding helmets that even do not work properly. So yes, cheap welding helmets are safe, unless you do not choose a good one.
2- How good are auto darkening welding helmets?
Auto-darkening welding helmets are good and perform their function in a good way. You just have to choose the right company and the right product according to your job and conditions of use. They save your eyes from extreme flashing and welding arcs by turning their lens dark automatically.
3- How do I choose an auto darkening welding helmet?
The factors which should be kept in mind while choosing a good auto-darkening welding helmet are comfort, the material used, batteries, and its function. You must know for which kind of welding are you getting a welding helmet. Without knowing these factors, you won’t be able to choose a good welding helmet.