Welding helmets, HF review Options

[Bartlett 914]

OK I know this has been beat to death but I feel I have to bring it up again. I had a nice high dollar helmet that died. It had internal batteries that cannot be changed and one shorted. I fell for the low price HF helmet. It seemed to be OK and I did use it but I felt that I was getting "flashed". It just seemed to be a little slow. Well I was welding on my sons car replacing a panel. This requires lots of spots. Very short bursts. My eyes started seeing spots in the middle of my vision. Now I am welding in the dark. I purchased a Lincolin helmet. It has 4 sensors and several controls. The window is huge. I also used the "Cheater" lens. OMG what a difference. Helmet cost me 300.00 but I would go blind with the HF unit. In all fairness, there is a possibility the HF batteries are a little weak. I did put it in the sun for awhile. I am sure it could take more time for a full charge. There is no way to tell. The batteries cannot be changed or measured. The upside of this is my HF helmet makes for a nice grinding helmet by removing the lens

[URY914]

I've posted in threads on other forums about cheap self-darkening helmets. I don't get why people would risk eye damage for $100. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif)

[Bartlett 914]

I've posted in threads on other forums about cheap self-darkening helmets. I don't get why people would risk eye damage for $100. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif)

I purchased the HF unit with the opinion that probably these self-darkening lenses were made by the same supplier. I suspected the more expensive units were simply overpriced. I may have been correct that they are made by the same supplier but the difference between them I found to be huge. I welded for several hours and I never felt I was "flashed" by the new helmet. The darkening seemed seamless.