[kermdawg]

Imma pick one up now Any brand recommendations or are they all pretty much the same?

[Sarge]

Not sure I have ever noticed a brand name on mine.

[4m welder]

If you do decide on an auto dark, its an investment if you are a serious welder. I've had my jackson for 7 yrs now...paid 300 then..i only got one set of eyes. And gold is good

[rickbreezy]

I also started out using a (non-auto)passive sheild. After years of using nothing but auto darkening, i was surprised to use a passive again and see the difference in clarity and definition. For a pipe welder, this might be key. Auto darkening sheilds though, cant be beat for their ability to speed up the productive process, when fine a+ quality welds are not needed.

That in mind, a pipe welder might want a passive sheild, particularley one with a large face plate.

-Rick

[genesis]

For what it's worth, watch this video on welding helmets. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUhD63fmB-k. If you're interested in the cheap one he tested, click here: http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/ ... _200311850

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