14 Best Gold Welding Lens (2022 Updated)

I got this to fit into a Tigerhood 906GY by filing the slot where you insert the lenses. Just make it big enough to insert the lens, and you can fit the gasket, a clear lens, the autodark lens, another clear lens and the V shaped spring to hold it in place.

The fit is tight, but certainly doable. I like it because you can have a nice autodark helmet, but still flip up the lens and use it as a grinding shield.

I was looking into upgrade my helmet, so did a lot of research into what brand I think would suit my welding best. I kept coming back to Optrel. I almost bought a Miller, but lucky enough for me my buddy had just got the one I was looking at.

Went over tried it on, man it’s super heavy. Nice hood don’t get me wrong, but it’s pretty heavy (and expensive). So after looking and trying out others I bit the bullet, took a gamble, and bought the Optrel.

I couldn’t be happier! This thing is super light, clarity is amazing, easily adjusted on the fly and no more blind spots in my eyes from a worn out hood. I truly believe at this price point, there’s not a better hood out there.

The kit it comes with is great too. 6 shields, carrying bag and bookbag. I can wear it for hours and it’s so light I forget it’s up there haha! Anyway, I’m an Optrel super fan now, so buy one you’ll love the thing! Great warranty as well!.

Had to replace lens once because the auto function was not working, new lense has same issues. So auto mode is hit and miss at best. Head gear is very dated: it has no lock up feature and relies soly on the knob adjustment to stay up, also the band ratchet has adjustment points that are too far apart I am always looking for that click that just isn’t there.

It’s either super tight or on the verge of being too loose. The exterior knobs is a bad idea, I have hit the grind button while welding in tight areas as well as knocked the whole control box loose. No to mention the grind button will get gritty and lock in the down position.

It’s just poor fit and finish for the cost. The rubber boot that covers the batteries never seems to seat correctly, the lense retention is plastic spring arm that just looks like it will break eventually.

Sweat band is cheap only has 2 sensors, I have had issues with it not darkening if I’m at a weird angle. Sure it’s a good looking arc picture when it works properly but not anything ground breaking. I prefer the look of my gold passive lense.

I really think this is a poorly designed and built hood for the premium price tag it has.

I received my hood and immediately has an issue that required a call to Optrel and replacement of the filter. Very quick and efficient service. New filters works better but I still have an issue with it flickering sunlight.

Compared to my Optrel e680 this new e684 flickers more often to the point it is more annoying. It almost has a strobe light effect. I have done everything I can to find a perfect setting but it darkens more than I care for.

I compared the two hoods together switching back and forth welding during the day and even held both of them in front of me on lowest sensitvity settings, looking away from the sun and the e684 still goes back and forth at the slightest movement, e680 is perfect and stay light until I weld or look directly at the sun.

I have a coworker who also purchased the same hood at the same time, he also has the same issue and has debated on getting rid of it also. My e680 works perfect for field welding, sadly the only negative of the e684 is it is too sensitive for out in the field.

Im not giving up yet but it is a real bummer and disappointment.

I have been using cheap reading glasses, but they don’t protect you from the splatter that ends up in your helmet once in a while, Just push it into place where the factory tabs are, it takes a little work to do this, this also is hard to remove and makes it more difficult to clean or change the inside protective lens, but I use it anyway.

I like this product because it works as well as readers, but still allow for safety glasses, and it doesn’t get in the way of your vision when the hood is off. This does take some getting used to though, you can look above and below the magnifier lens if you need to see non magnified, since the lense only covers the center 1/2 of the 3350.

These cheater lenses renewed my interest in welding …. No more wandering off you’ll put the bead where it’s spon to …..Back i n the saddle again ..

Item as described. I installed the lens in my helmet and was off welding in no time. Great product.

It’s just like it says. Idk what the smaller one is for but the 3 1/2 by 4 1/2 works great

Came quickly and fit perfectly. I can see so much better now! Thankyou!

One of the clearest lenses that I have ever used. Shade adjustment is extremely simple. I would definitely recommend one and plan on buying another one.

I have a Lincoln with the blue light technology and its amazing. I can weld tig/mig on 13 all day long and see my puddle , this little guy does the same exact job and battery is still lasting. Only thing with my pipe liner hood , you want to get a 2×4 lens in front of it and behind it as well to protect it since it does cost 100$!!! So glad I bought this.

Visibility is great. Batteries dont last long. On cloudy days they dont charge!

I’m a welding student, couldn’t drop a straight bead to save my life. I tried readers under the hood but they’re just in the way. The cheaters made all the difference I needed. Clear view! I use 1. 5 readers, and the 1.

5 cheaters were perfect.

What’s the saying? “You can’t weld if you can’t see.” So true. Now, with my Miller helmet equipped one of these magnifiers I actually enjoy the experience.

I was having trouble seeing the puddle and my welds showed it. I ordered the 1. 75 cheater lens and what a difference. Now I can see the puddle clear and the welds are much better. Thank you for stocking the cheater lens.

Bob.

The transaction was great-good price and quick service!!! This is a wonderful helmet with outstanding visibility. Everything is great until you need to replace the batteries. This helment has what the manual calls a lens holder holding the darkening lens unit in place that is almost, repeat almost impossible to remove.

A crowbar might be a welcome tool if I was not afraid of harming the warranty. After almost tearing my fingertips off, I got the lens holder off. Putting the lens holder back on is almost as bad–you have to use so much force you are afraid you will break the main hood.

My other Miller which is a Digital Elite is much more maintenance friendly. If I had this to do over, I would not purchase this helmet again but rather another Digital Elite.

I’ve been using my digital infinity for about 2 or 3 weeks now abs it’s phenomenal. I’m in college right now for welding and fab and have atleast 4 hours of arc time a day. Mig, flux core, oxy welding and cutting, plasma cutting, stick, and tig, I do it all and all with the same helmet there are crazy amounts of settings on this helmet to get it dialed just for you and making adjustments is super simple.

It’s holding up great, it looks beautiful, extremely comfortable, overall I’m very happy with my purchase and they got it here extremely quick and that was with free shipping. 10 out of 10 would recommend any day of the week!.

Awesome experience with the hood , never had the x-mode feature before and it’s amazing, not to mention the infinity itself, I can see so much clearer, I own a snapon hood I gave more money for that isnt 1/2 the hood this one is , thanks Welding Store, I’ll see you for my next purchase !!! How to make a better weld ?? Be able to see it CLEARLY !!!.

I loved the helmet the first week. Not so much the second week. I was bench welding part right in front of me week1. Week 2 still bench welding but had to do real welding. Leaning over welding the back, bottom,inside, outside every out of position you can think of.

So this is the only, but very important gripe I have. Needs more sensors. Constantly getting flashed welding with hands up high. My speedglas9100 and miller infinity not as clear but I can still see.

Don’t know if I’m ready to spend $750 for the G5-02 though.

Honestly, nothing is actually perfect. Purchase a hood that matches your style and job requirements. Watch the YouTube video from the guy that builds roll cages. It’s the most honest and extreme requirements, and compare your requirements.

For me, I’m not forced to weld in such limited space that the sensors are blocked. This is an amazing hood, lens is unbelievable and I can actually see where I am going with the weld. Not a single regret with the purchase.

The hood doesn’t make you a better welder, it simply lets you weld at your full potential. I can’t say it enough times; base your purchase on understanding the hoods sensor performance. There isn’t another hood that matches the clarity and weightless feeling this hood provides.

Protect your eyes with the right hood for the job.

I got this helmet based on the cost being so high, I thought it was the highest quality, which is not the case, the grind button gets stuck (on my 2nd helmet), the helmet material does not feel as durable as other helmets.

The stickers on the interior are even coming off when you pull it out of the box new, says a lot about the company as a whole. Cyberweld had to eat some of the cost I believe in the replacement as I don’t believe Optrel wanted to 100% stand behind their product.

The helmet is great for showing off though, and it does feel cool to run around at night with your helmet on in the dark and be able to see everything. However, I find this helmet uncomfortable to grind in, as I personally like having a clear grind shield, and if you’re like me, get a bigger viewing area in your helmet over viewing ability, but this helmet is nicer for light duty welding as you don’t have to take it off for little grind moments.

Not a lot of people like to admit they over paid for an item, but trust me, people who over sell this item as being the “best” probably can’t afford to venture.

This is a good lense. If I may explain. Im 83 yrs. of age. Been welding a long time and my eyes are not what they were but Im still doing some of the same welding jobs I was doing at 20. Good lense are hard to find and these #9 work well for me on thin Inconel and Stainless.

Used to filter UV-C light projects, for eye protection, along with a blue lens to filter out some of the blue tint, Just being Glass & not Plastic alone has extra protection in this nm wave length. Only way to view safely is at least a 5 shade.

FYI.

Found CyberWeld surfing the internet for welding lens for my shop. All other sites were charging inflated prices because of the solar eclipse. CyberWeld had a very good price and shipped super fast. Will definitely buy from this company again.

I got this as an extra helmet for when I have people assisting me while I’m welding. At first I was a little concerned that the shade wouldn’t stay dark during testing, but then I made a few adjustments and was confident it would do the job.

The helmet is not super sturdy. In fact, while adjusting the hood angle, I broke off one of the (non-essential) adjustment nubbies. oops. The knobs on the side for shade adjustment are loose and could move if bumped but if you are careful, it’s a decent helmet for the price to have around as a backup or extra.

If you do extensive welding, go with the higher end helmets out there but if you are an occasional welder or hobbyist this should do the trick for a decent price. Plus it looks way cool.

Purchased for use at work. I am not a daily welder but when I do (about once a week) I’ll be under a hood for around 6 hours. Budget was important to me. Read several reviews from multiple internet sources when I searched for best welding helmet under $100.

This one kept showing up somewhere so I bought it. Glad I did. Takes a little experimenting to get the darkness setting just right but definitely worth the money.

I’m NOT a professional welder, just a goofy kid that like to act like a welder. This helmet is cool looking, got lots of comments on it. The self darkening shield works like a Champ! It’s super light weight and the adjustable strap is nice to fit my jug head! Good value for the fair price.

I looked for a while on helmets and some had some stupid crazy prices. I love it! Good luck with your search.

Im consider myself a full time welder, working day shift, and also going to school at night. After just two uses, on different days, the size selector on the back basically fell apart. A new headset fixed it, until the hood literally cracked in two pieces.

Thought I could get away with buying a cheap hood to keep in one of my lockers, Ill stick with my Miller. Never buying a Hobart product again.

I bought this helmet specifically for Oxy-Acetylene work. I never really liked the “green welding goggles” because I am so used to getting my face up-close to the work I am doing, and well, with an O-A flame as hot as it is, I needed some good face/head protection.

The #10 lens is too dark for O/A work, so I bought a #4 lens and it works beautifully. The lens flips up so you can fire it up and see it clearly through a clear plastic lens, then as you add add oxygen and the flame/inner cone gets brighter and brighter, just flip it down and you have the best of both worlds.

I recently started welding classes at a welding supply store. This helmet is good quality at an excellent price. I could find no other helmets that came close to this low price. The helmet is comfortable and has good features for the money.

Flip front feature is good for easy weld checking. This helmet is a good value and a good deal. It is all you need for tig or stick welding.

This is my second one. These welding helmets take a beating and hold up well. The only thing that went out was the lense on my old one but after years of use. My old one I installed a regular lens. I saw a great price on a new one so I grabbed it right away! These have gotten more affordable and you cant beat the price.

I took the helmet to a friends welding shop to get their opinion also. Myself and 3 other welders were amazed at how well we could see what we were welding. This is a great helmet for the money. One day I would like to be able to test the next level helmet they make.

About time something is worth more than what you pay for it. Enjoy, Be safe and take care of your eyes. Dennis.

It’s a great fit, works perfect for the jobs i am encountering at the job site. One small tiny flaw, the tightening knobs, loosen up quickly when lifting the hood up and down all day, but use Teflon tape on each knob and works like a champ.

Nothing to second guess or lose a star over!!! Price is perfect!!! Quality is perfect!!! All around five star perfect. Thank you Sincerely Staff Sergeant Densley 118TH U. S. Army.

This Optrel Vegaview 2. 5 helmet is a great improvement over my older auto darkening helmet. Really true color and I can see everything I need to. I really shopped and read reviews, especially ChuckE2009 youtube on this helmet.

I had looked at Lincoln and Miller. They had bigger views and were great helmets. But I chose this helmet and immediately after the first use, the clarity of the Optrel just seems better. The outside buttons and adjustments also sold me.

As did the grind feature. (One thing! the Vegaview needs a bolder LED or red LED for the grind feature. I’ve gotten flashed twice by not seeing the tiny yellow light. After a while Grinder sparks hide the LED.

) I had $300 to spend. WSIOC was quick free delivery, and with a cheater lens I was still $10 under budget. My Vegaview does make welding even more enjoyable.

I bought this helmet to to replace the Chicago Electric auto-darkening helmet which kept flashing me when doing low amperage tig on 4130 tubing. The head strap fits nicely and the drop motion works as intended.

The helmet is a little flimsy if picked up from the chin location but not really a problem. The #10 shade works fine to me. I weld anywhere from 30-125 amps and can see the puddle in a well lit room.

Sometimes I wish I had a #9 shade to see a little better. Unfortunately I cannot find replacement 4. 25×5 lens for this helmet anywhere. So if I ever broke the provided lens, this helmet would be junk.

I’m going to return it for that very reason and buy a Jackson or Miller passive helmet that is nearly the same price and has replacement lens.

I’m a occasional welder and I had a auto darkening helmet that went dead after a few years of sitting around so u thought I’d try this as I’ve used fixed shade helmets in the past. Always felt they were a tad dark for my liking.

Would be nice if harbor freight carried different level shades so I could drop it down 1 or 2. Might work better in a dark environment after the eyes have adjusted but it was nearly impossible to see thru outdoors.

Anyway it is what it is and I’ve added a new auto darkening helmet to my welding cart to better suit me. This isn’t a bad helmet it’s just not for me.

It does what it’s supposed to do and the quality seems par for the price paid, I would like to see a couple of more shades of lenses such a shade 9 included with it but for the price I can’t complain.

I’ve used it only for a short time but overall I think it’s going to last. I’m not a professional welder and only do it as a home mechanic so my use over the years will be minimal compared to someone using it everyday.

This was ideal for me. I first purchased one of the helmets with the auto darkening feature but they only work for a few short years and the batteries go dead. And to top it off they solder the batteries into the unit so they’re not replaceable.

I do not recommend the auto darkening helmets just for that reason alone. Buy this one and you will be happy with it.