[MCTig]

I've read this thread as well as previous ones on the topic. I'm in the market for an auto-darkening helmet for TIG with headgear that fits well and doesn't easily break, has sufficient sensors to darken even when the arc is obscured from a portion of the shield, whose electronics won't fail, and whose batteries will last a reasonable time. The problem is, when I read the negative reviews on Amazon of the various recommendations, all fail. By 'negative' reviews, I don't mean ones where the item came in a damaged box, had incorrect graphics, etc., but ones that explicitly mention the headgear breaks, it doesn't darken, the electronics fail, and/or it eats batteries.

I only will use it for TIG with a 200 A machine and, were it not for troublesome reviews of the Lincoln and Optrel hoods mentioned in this thread, all seem to have all the features I'm looking for (except, possibly, the number and location of sensors for partially-shielded arcs, for which more information is needed). I'd like to keep it under $500 if possible, but could go higher if necessary.

 

[MCTig]

I don't like the Lincoln 3350, I feel like it's too heavy,

The specs show it weighs 20 oz, while my present one weighs 19 oz and doesn't feel too heavy to me, so I don't think weight rules out the 3350. At least one Optrel with Autopilot shows 18.7 oz. so they all seem to be the same weight to within an oz.

 

[MCTig]

with MIG and TIG, where you essentially have a trigger (or pedal), why bother with AD

If I could position the TIG electrode 2 mm from the spot where I needed to start welding, then flip the hood down without ever moving my hand by even a mm, or I never needed to pause for a moment part way through a weld to see what things looked like without the arc obscuring things, maybe I wouldn't need auto-darkening.