7 Best 2×4 Auto Darkening Welding Lenses to Buy in 2022 – Reviewed!

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Most welders end up taking their helmets off when they are doing something like grinding because they cannot see as well through the darkened lens.

An auto darkening lens will darken when it is subjected to something as bright as a weld but will remain lighter when you are doing tasks like grinding. They allow you to be safer while you work.

Our experts recommended the following lenses for use by beginners and professionals alike.

Take A Quick Look

Best Auto Darkening Welding Lens

1. ArcOne T240-10  Auto Darkening Welding Filter 

This lens is a 2 inch x 4.25 inch x 0,2 inch piece. It fits the majority of standard welding hoods. It is an economical filter that is designed for general welding uses.

The lens has two independent filters to help it discern when the light is so bright that you need a dark lens and when the lighter lens will be sufficient. At the lighter end of the spectrum, the light state of the lens is rated at a 3, and the dark state of the lens is rated at a 10.5.

The lens makes keeping your welding hood on while you perform tasks that do not require the darkest state of the lens easier and more convenient. By wearing your hood you will reduce the possibility that your eyes will be injured by any debris or trash that might be floating in the air around you.

When you strike the arc to weld the light is intense and the sensors on the lens respond by creating a darker lens for you to see through. There have been many welders injured because they did not pull their welding hoods into position after performing a task where the dark lens was not needed.

This lens eliminates the possibility of that type of accident occurring because you will wear your hood more.

Pros

Cons

2. ArcOne Horizontal Single Auto-Darkening Filter for Welding

The amount of clear definition that is provided by these lenses makes a huge difference in the way welders react to them. The definition is so clear that you can see as if you had nothing covering your eyes. You can make better welds that look prettier and are stronger because you can see the materials with complete accuracy.

The lens is resistant to water and to dust. Moisture, humidity, rain, dusty work areas, and pure old sweat are not going to interfere with the performance of your lens.

The lens can go from a dark state to a light state in as few as 0.5 milliseconds. You will love the speed they have when changing from light to dark because your work is never delayed.

The lens employs two sensors that work independently from one another. Those sensors determine whether the lens should change from one state to another, and to what degree the change needs to be. You get 5.25 square inches in your viewing area so you have a wide view of what you are working on.

The lens is light and it resists scratching so it is very durable. You will wonder how you ever got along without it.

Cons

Differences, Upgradations and Issues between ArcOne T240-10 and S240-10

Changes: S240-10 has upgraded with 4 extra shades than the T240-10 

Issues: It has complaints that it fishes often 

3. Lincoln Auto Darkening Welding Lens

This auto darkening welding lens is truly spectacular in performance. It delivers to you crystal clear images so you can easily see both the arc and the puddle and you do not have to strain your eyes to see.

If you have welded for any length of time you know that while you are straining your eyes you normally strain your neck muscles also. This lens eliminates the need to do that.

This lens is designed with a liquid crystal lens that broadens the range of color hues in the lens. This increased color range is evident in the light state as well as in the dark state. You get clearer images and less strain and shadows. Your work is more precise and can be done quicker.

You will notice that this lens has fewer instances of blurring and distortion when compared to other auto darkening lenses. This increases visibility and increased visibility increases performance and safety.

The light state produced by this lens is rated at eight and the dark state is a full thirteen. You get lighter light states and a much darker dark state than most lenses provide.

Pros

Cons

4. Armour Guard Auto Darkening Fixed Shade

This auto darkening lens will fit any welding hood that holds a 2 inch x 4 inch lens. It is very easy to change and very clear to see through.

The best feature of this fixed shade lens is the speed with which it changes from light to dark and dark to light. Most auto darkening lenses have a long wait period for the lens to sense whether it should lighten or darken.

This lens will not go completely dark when you are performing a task like grinding or using the cutting torch. This gives you enhanced visibility and when you start to weld it immediately goes to the dark mode so you have enhanced protection for your eyes.

This lens can reduce eye strain because it responds so quickly to the process you are doing. You will not have to strain your eyes and try to see when the lens is too dark and your eyes will not be blinded because the lens was too light while you were welding.

This lens is perfect for field hoods and for welding hoods designed to be used in the booth.

Pros

Cons

5. Miller Electric 2X4 Auto-Darkening Welding Lens

This lens has some of the most enhanced clarity that is available. You have an improved ability to see and that makes your welds look better and increases your safety. When you are welding under normal conditions you have to strain your eyes to be able to see through the darkened lens.

Many welders complain of neck strain while they are welding because they crane their necks and hold them in awkward positions to help them have a better vision of where they need their welds to be. This lens gives you a clear view and reduces the eye strain and the neck strain you suffer.

The lens has 2 independent arc sensors so it always darkens to the fullest extent when it needs to. There is less time delay between light interaction and the darkening or lightening of the lens.

It has an auto-on and auto-off circuitry designed into it so you do not have to stop what you are doing and push any buttons or make any changes. The device will automatically determine when you have not been active for a period of time and will shut down. This lightweight lens gives you up to a 10 dark shade when you need it.

Cons

6. Antra AH6 Solar Power Auto Darkening Welding Helmet

This is a welding helmet, not just the lens to be used in the welding helmet. This is complete protection for your face and neck. It is designed with advanced technology and will provide you with safety and comfort while you work.

It has a double-layered LCD shutter that automatically senses how dark the lens needs to be to protect you properly. Most advanced auto darkening lenses offer 2 sensors to determine the shade needs but this helmet has twice that many sensors in place so it accurately judges your needs every time.

The four sensors will determine the brightness and amount of light that your vision is being subjected to so it can provide you with the darkness level required to protect your vision.

The powerful sensors in this lens are not as sensitive to normal range lightings like sunlight, shop lights, and daylight exposure. It requires the bright light of a welding arc to make it go dark for your protection.

It can be used for protection when you are MIG welding, stick welding, TIG welding, cutting or grinding.

Pros

Cons

7. Gimiton Solar Auto Darkening Welding Mask Lens

This amazing auto darkening lens will provide you with light states of DIN 3 and dark states of DIN 11. You will be able to see everything whether you are welding or performing another operation.

You will be able to wear your welding hood comfortably no matter what you are doing and your eyes, face, and neck will benefit from the greater amount of protection you get.

Eye strain and neck strain will be greatly reduced when you start to use this device. Your lens will automatically sense what your eyes need and will lighten or darken accordingly.

There is an auto on and auto off feature that ensures you that the battery will not be discharged because you forgot to turn the device off when you were finished working. The battery power is from a lithium battery that is recharged through a solar supply.

This lens is specifically recommended for anyone that welds no matter what type of welding process you use or the amount of skill and experience you have.

Pros

Cons

How To Choose The Right Welding Lens - Buyer's Guide

Before you buy a welding lens there are a few characteristics you should familiarize yourself with.

Lens Weight

You want a lightweight lens. The heavier lenses add weight to your helmet and can cause you discomfort.

Size

You have to buy welding lenses that are the right size to fit into the welding helmet that you wear while working. The most common standard size is a 2 inch x 4.25 inch. This lens will fit the majority of all welding hoods and face shields.

Lens Shade

The lens shade is listed as a number. A number 3 or 4 is easy to see through shade that provides little to no protection to the eyes. When you are welding you will need the shade of the lens to be in a range from a 10 to a 13.

You can determine the shade that you will need by considering the level of amperage you are suing while you are welding. The higher the level of amperage is the darker you need your lens shade to be.

Auto-darkening lenses or regular?

Some lenses have the ability to darken when they sense an arc and to lighten back up when the bright light is gone. These lenses allow you to be able to see better, because the lens lightens up and gives you clear vision when the welding is complete. 

Regular welding lenses are in one shade and they do not lighten or darken. Welders have to lift their hoods so the lens is not in front of their eyes when they are not actively welding. The auto darkening lenses have a variety of shade strengths and capabilities.

Most auto darkening lenses are designed into hoods that require solar power or batteries to function.

There are a few other shade lenses that you might be interested in as well. We covered the reviews of passive welding lenses and Gold welding lenses on our website for your help.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How do Welding Lenses Work?

Welding lenses are like super-powered sunglasses. These lenses are designed with filters that filter out the harmful ultraviolet rays and visible light so you can watch what you are doing without burning or injuring your eyes.

The lenses are designed to filter out the blue spectrum of light and the red spectrum of light, so it looks like you are viewing the world through green-tinted glasses.

Q. Why are Welding Lenses Green?

When you are welding the light is composed of both ultraviolet light and visible light. Both ultraviolet (UV) and visible light (IR) can cause damage to your eyes.

These light sources are responsible for the phenomenon known as welder’s flash that can temporarily blind you, or permanently damage your eyes. The welding lens blocks the blue and red ends of the light spectrum and the result is you seeing everything in a greenish hue.

Q. How to Work with Auto Darkening Welding Lens?

When you have an auto-darkening lens in your welding helmet you have to learn to work with this device. The lenses darken once the helmet senses the arc has been struck. There is a delay of just a few seconds after the arc is struck before the lens reaches the best protective shade. While the lens is darkening to the best shade do not stare directly at the arc.

When you are welding be careful to not block the arc with your body or arm. If the light is blocked enough the lens will assume that the light is no longer bright enough to cause damage and the helmet will tell the filters to allow the lens to lighten back to a lighter shade.

Q. How to Test Auto Darkening Welding Helmet

The sun is the easiest way to test an auto darkening welding hood to see if the lens is working properly. Put the helmet on and look directly at the sun. The brightness of the sunlight and the powerful UV rays produced by the sun should be enough to activate the lens filters and cause the lens to darken from about a 10 to a 13.

You can SLOWLY move your hands in front of your face so they pass over the lens. A properly working lens will still register the bright light behind your hand and will not lighten the lens.

Q. How do Auto-Darkening Helmets Work

On a welding hood that has auto darkening lens capabilities, the helmet actually senses the arc when you strike an arc. As soon as the arc is detected the shade of the lens will automatically rise from about a 10 to a 13. The protection provided to your eyes is through ultraviolet light or UV filters and IR filters.

When you stop welding the sensors in the helmet relay a message to the filter to lighten the lens back to about a 10. This process repeats each time you strike an arc.

Final Note

The lens on your welding helmet is the protection device that you rely on to stop you from damaging your eyes while you are working. The slightest exposure to the intense brightness created from a welding arc can do great damage to your eyes, and over time it can cause you to lose your vision.

The auto darkening lenses are a relatively new technology, that simply makes life and work easier for welders, and anyone who uses welding equipment, cutting torches, or similar items in their hobbies or line of work.

Do you find this best auto darkening welding lens review post helpful? We always appreciate your comments, suggestions and recommendation as well.