When looking at your work through a welding hood, it’s sometimes necessary for the lens to be less dark so that you can see what’s in front of you. Nothing would feel more hectic than flipping the helmet every time you need to see.
While exposed to something as bright as a weld, an auto darkening lens gets darken, but the glass will remain lighter when performing tasks such as grinding. They enable you to work in a more secure environment.
That’s why auto darkening welding lenses are the best accessory for welding. Among the various sizes, 2X4 is the most convenient as it’s suitable for almost all types of welding tasks. But, choosing the best 2X4 auto darkening welding lens might feel daunting due to the variety of applications and features available.
But, fret not! We’re here with a list of the 11 best auto darkening welding lenses in 2021 and also a guide to how you can choose one among these.
Best 2X4 Auto Darkening Welding Lens: Quick Comparison
| Products | Viewing Area (square inches) | Dimensions (inches) | Lens Shade | Weight (lbs.) |
| ArcOne Tradesman | 5.25 | 8.5 x 5.7 x 0.2 | 10 | 2.39 |
| Lincoln Electric | 6.6 | 6X1X1 | 8-13 | 3.84 |
| ArcOne Horizontal | 5.25 | 7.5 x 5.5 x 1 | 9-12 | 2.39 |
| Miller Electric | 5 | 6.2 x 6.2 x 0.5 | 10 | 3.20 |
| AmeriArc | 5.25 | 4 x 2 x 0.2 | 5-13 | 3.52 |
| ArcOne S240 DUO | 5.25 | 6.97 x 5.63 x 0.4 | 10/11 | 3.52 |
| Lincoln Electric Shade 11 | 6.6 | 7.3 x 6.4 x 0.6 | 11 | 3.2 |
| Optrel Nova | 5 | 4.5 x 2 x 0.5 | 10 | 0.01 |
| Armour Guard | 5.14 | 7.36 x 5.47 x 1.1 | 10 | 2.36 |
| Techniweld Seer | 5.14 | 6.3 x 4.76 x 0.71 | 9-12 | 1.42 |
| Tefuawe | 5 | 4.53 x 2.2 x 0.47 | 10 | 1.23 |
Now, let’s move into the reviews to find the best auto darkening welding lens to keep you safe while welding!
Best 2X4 Auto Darkening Welding Lens Reviews
1. ArcOne Tradesman Horizontal Auto-Darkening Filter
To begin with, we’re going the present one of the most affordable but efficient 2X4 welding lenses available in the market. The Tradesman from ArcOne offers maximum clarity with protection. The switching time is amazingly short and more than adequate to perform any welding tasks.
Versatile Filter
One of the best features of the Tradesman is its versatility. The independent sensors it comes with can respond to any welding. The sensors will keep the lens when you’re not welding and will start to get darker as you begin to weld. Stick, MIG, Flux, no matter what type of welding you perform, the Tradesman can protect your eyes from anything!
No Fatigue or Strain
When you weld for a long time, you’re bound to get strained eyes or fatigue. But, with the Tradesman, eye-straining will be minimal due to its automatic responding ability and lighter weight. It’ll add no significant weight to your helmet and will ensure both protection and comfort.
Large Viewing Area
The Tradesman from ArcOne offers a 5.25 sq. in. viewing area. It’ll fit on most of the welding helmets. The viewing area is large enough to save you from moving your head to see around you. You’ll enjoy your welding sessions more than before with this universal 2X4 auto darkening welding lens!
- Responds extremely fast
- Lightweight but durable
- Relatively easy to install on a helmet
- Comes in an affordable price range
- Doesn’t offer HD technology
2. Lincoln Electric
If you prefer clarity more than any other essential features, then the KP3775-1 from Lincoln Electric is the best 2X4 auto darkening welding lens for you. The lens will give you a clear view of the puddle and the arc without straining your eyes. Its overall features will make your welding easier and precise.
8-13 Shade Range
The variable range of shades is a compelling feature that makes the lens versatile. It’ll automatically go into a lighter state when you’re grinding and will start to get darker as you start working with the arc. You’ll get the maximum clarity and minimal distortion with the crystal clear viewing area.
4C Lens Technology
Welders who have moderate knowledge about welding equipment know that the 4C lens is the most efficient welding lens you could find. It provides a clear view of the puddle, materials, and the arc itself while welding. It’ll help you get true color saturation and a clear picture of the arc.
Comfortable Design
The KP3775-1 offers maximum comfort with its compact design and lightweight build quality. It’s suitable for all kinds of welding helmets, including the ones for pipeline welding. It’ll save you from strained neck and eye fatigue while offering maximum protection.
- Crystal clear viewing area
- Lightweight and comfortable build quality
- Versatile uses with universal fit
- Easy installation with a variable range of shades
- Battery life could be longer
3. ArcOne S240-10 Horizontal Single Auto-Darkening Filter for Welding
ArcOne is a famous and reliable brand that produces the best welding lenses. The Tradesman from ArcOne is one of the most affordable welding lenses, but it doesn’t have an HD vision. This is where the S240-10 Horizontal performs better than the Tradesman. It’s got everything that the Tradesman offers, but with a better viewing quality.
Cost-effective and Versatile
The S240-10 Horizontal is one of the most cost-effective 2X4 auto darkening welding lenses with HD vision. Its versatile uses make it suitable for MIG, Stick, and TIG welding. You can reset the settings based on your work to ensure maximum comfort.
HD Technology
As already mentioned, the S240-10 Horizontal comes with a High Definition viewing lens that provides maximum clarity. The 5.25 sq. in. viewing area is suitable for performing any welding sessions with precision. True color saturation will give you an actual image of your surrounding that’ll help to improve the welding sessions as you like.
Runs with Solar Power and Dust-Resistant
The S230-10 Horizontal runs on solar power, which sets you free from the hassle of charging it. The lens isn’t waterproof but can resist any damage caused by dust or moisture. The sensors on the lens run independently and respond amazingly fast.
Overall, this 2X4 auto darkening welding lens deserves to be among the best ones!
- HD vision offers clear viewing quality
- Durable and long-lasting
- Saves a lot of energy as it runs on solar power
- Versatile uses and easy to install
- Viewing area could be larger considering the overall quality
4. Miller Electric Shade 10 Auto Darkening Welding Lens
The purpose of welding lenses is to keep your eyes safe from the hazards of welding arcs. So, it’s redundant even to mention that welding lenses can provide protection. But, the auto darkening welding lens from Miller Electric is a step ahead of the other options available in the market in terms of safety assurance.
ANSI/CSA Standard Adherence
All the companies that make welding lenses claim that their lenses can offer protection. While these are often tested, but not many auto darkening lenses ensure meeting the ANSI/CSA standards. The 2X4 auto darkening welding lens from Miller Electric ensures quality and protection, along with providing a clear view of your welding station.
ClearLight Technology
Miller Electric welding lens comes with ClearLight technology that increases visibility and improves productivity. The technology lets more spectrums of color enter the lens without straining your eyes. It ensures accurate vision with relieved muscles of your neck.
Versatile Uses
The welding lens comes with a wide viewing area that allows you to see around without moving your head too much. The shade 10 lens is enough to be used in TIG, MIG, and Stick welding as per your needs. It takes a short amount of time to respond, adding benefits to its overall stability.
- Offers maximum protection in any welding session
- Universal fit with great versatility
- Easy to install and control
- ClearLight technology and wide viewing area
- Doesn’t have a grind mode
5. AmeriArc 2×4 Auto-Darkening Welding Lens Variable shade 5-13
AmeriArc has been producing high-quality welding lenses for a long time. Their lenses are pretty famous among professional welders for their distinctive features of eye fatigue reduction. This extremely durable welding lens can endure high temperatures and keep you safe from any debris coming from the arc.
No Green or Orange Tone
The auto darkening welding lens from AmeriArc is equipped with a blue tint. It stops orange and green tones that are responsible for eye-straining. You’ll be seeing a blue-shaded view that’ll keep your eyes relaxed in longer welding sessions.
Adjustable Settings
One of the fantastic features of the AmeriArc auto darkening welding lens is its adjustable settings. You can set the shade, delay time, and sensitivity based on the type of welding. You can choose the shade from level 5 to 13. You can adjust the delay time setting to set the time to switch from light to dark as you want.
Runs on Solar Power
The welding lens runs on solar power, which saves a lot of energy. You won’t have to go through the hassle of charging it as it can store the energy it needs from solar power. It can even charge itself while you’re working if you’re outside. What more could you want!
- Blue tinted lens
- Suitable for long welding sessions
- Control dials for adjusting settings
- Highly durable and compact build quality
- Might not fit on some helmets due to thickness
6. ArcOne S240 DUO Horizontal Single Auto-Darkening Filter for Welding
Don’t be surprised to see another ArcOne welding lens on our list. ArcOne is a company that’s known for its wide range of versatile lenses. And the S240 DUO is yet another significant production among their auto darkening welding lenses.
High Definition Vision
The S240 DUO comes with HD technology that provides true color saturation with precise vision. If you don’t want tinted lenses and favor actual images, then this is the perfect auto darkening lens for you!
Quick Switching Feature
The purpose of the auto darkening feature is to switch from light to dark or vice versa, depending on your work. This switching needs to be quick to ensure maximum protection against the hazardous impact of the welding arc. The S240 DUO can switch amazingly fast and ensure added security.
Water and Dust Resistance
Although not waterproof, the lens has resistance ability against dust and water splashes. It will help to keep the lens safe from moisture and rain. So, you can work in any environment without worrying about damaging it. The overall longevity of the lens is quite satisfactory.
- High Definition and clear image
- True color saturation with wide viewing area
- Fast switching ability
- Comes with a grind mode
- A bit pricey considering other options
7. Lincoln Electric 2X4 C-Series Auto-Darkening Welding Lens Shade 11
If you’ve been suffering from eye fatigue and strained neck muscles from working on longer welding sessions, then this auto darkening welding lens from Lincoln Electric is the right choice for you. Its wide viewing area and true image help to reduce fatigue and strain.
4C Technology
The auto darkening welding lens comes with 4C technology that ensures crystal clear vision with true color saturation. It helps to have a detailed view of the arc, puddle, and your surroundings. The advanced technology will reduce any blurriness and provide a clear picture. You can’t have a better option in terms of clarity!
Suitable for Medium-Range Welding
This lens has a fixed shade 11 that might seem like an inconvenience to some people. But, you have to consider that the lens is built for light to medium range of welding where this shade is adequate.
Highly Durable and Compact Design
As the lens has a fixed shade level, it doesn’t have any knob or button for adjusting. It makes the lens compact and comfortable to use. Also, it’s one of the most durable options you can find in the market within this price range.
If you perform medium-range welding tasks a lot, then this Shade 11 lens from Lincoln Electric is the perfect option for you!
- 4C technology with true color saturation
- Highly durable with comfortable build quality
- Perfect for low to medium range of welding
- Provides longer battery support
- Fewer options to adjust settings
8. Optrel Nova Autodarkening Filter
Most of the excellent auto darkening welding lenses can provide a clear picture and protection against welding debris. But, for some people, design and build quality means a lot, along with the essential features. The Optrel Nova will blow your mind away with its design. This is the thinnest auto darkening welding lens you can find in the market within this price range.
Super-Compact and Lightweight
How much lighter can welding lenses be? No matter what weight you’re thinking of, the Nova is lighter than that. It weighs only 0.01 pounds that’ll almost add no extra weight to your welding helmet. The super-compact build quality looks classy yet makes it durable.
Runs on Solar Power
This auto darkening welding lens runs on solar power that saves energy and allows you to work for a long time. If you’re working outside, it’ll recharge itself while you’re welding and store the energy. You don’t have to look for an outlet to charge it, as the lens will never go out of charge.
Universal Fit
The retrofit design makes this lens suitable to fit on most welding helmets. It comes with Shade 11, which is perfect for low to medium range welding. Longer welding sessions will not feel hectic anymore as you won’t strain your eyes with this auto darkening welding lens.
- Can endure high temperature
- Compact but durable build quality
- Stores energy even while being used
- Fits on most of the welding helmets
- Not suitable if you require more versatility
9. Armour Guard 2 x 4 Auto Darkening Fixed Shade 10 Welding Lens
Armour Guard produces durable and efficient welding equipment. Their welding lens is a true sign of their ability with everything you could want in a welding lens. This is the best 2X4 auto darkening welding lens for switching speed. It’ll ensure maximum protection against arc hazards.
Enhanced Blue Vision
The welding lens is equipped with Clear Blue Technology that’ll reduce eye fatigue. It’ll stop the color spectrums that might strain your eyes during longer sessions of welding. The grinding mode will make the lens go lighter so that you don’t need to remove your helmet to see well.
Rapid Switching
As mentioned before, this is the best welding lens in terms of switching speeds. The arc sensors can detect light and respond extremely fast. It comes with the circuitry of auto-on/off feature that provides the rapid switching ability. This feature makes the lens efficient in both protecting your eyes and helping you see your surroundings.
Durable Build Quality with Versatile Use
The overall build quality makes the lens quite durable, and it can endure minor scratches and high temperatures. The shade 10 is adequate to medium range welding and compatible with most welding helmets. A wide viewing area will ensure you don’t have to move your head too much to see around you.
- Fast response and clear blue picture
- Comfortable and durable build quality
- Independent sensors with auto-on/off feature
- Reduced neck muscle strain and eye fatigue
- Might start flashing sometimes
10. Techniweld Seer Solar Auto Welding Lens
Techniweld is famous for maintaining the American standard build quality in all of its equipment. The auto darkening welding lens from Techniweld is a fantastic product that offers everything you may require for safe welding. It’s available in 9-12 levels of shade so that you can choose the one suitable for your tasks.
Enhanced Blue Clarity
If you’re not a fan of true color saturation, then the Techniweld Seer auto darkening welding lens is the right fit for you. It comes with a clear blue feature that’ll reduce eye-straining. You’ll experience an enhanced clarity while using this lens, even in longer sessions of welding.
Compact and Universal Fit
The lenses are available in different shades with fixed clarity. So, it doesn’t come with any added knob or button, which would increase the size. This compact but durable welding lens will fit on most of the welding helmets available in the market.
Quick Charge Feature with Independent Sensors
Techniweld Seer welding lens has two arc sensors that work independently to detect light and respond. It takes quite a short amount of time to switch from light to dark. The quick charging feature will make it charge the battery quicker so that you don’t have to wait a long time.
- Equipped with an inner lens as added protection
- Responds and charges extremely fast
- Fits on most of the welding helmets
- Provides a clear blue picture with enhanced clarity
- The thickness makes it less suitable for pipeline welding
11. Tefuawe Auto Darkening Welding Lens True Color Blue Technology
Most of the welding lenses that we reviewed are suitable for use in workshops or at home. But, if you’re a pipeline welder, you need something more than the basic features. Tefuawe is the best auto darkening welding lens on our list for pipeline welding. However, it’s suitable for workshops and DIY projects as well.
Protective Cover Lens
When you’re a pipeline welder, you need your equipment to be extra durable to handle the adverse environment. You’ll have to spend hundreds of dollars to buy welding equipment if they’re fragile. The Tefuawe welding lens comes with a protective cover to keep the lens safe. You can keep working without worrying about the safety of your equipment and yourself.
Rapid Response Feature
The arc sensors in this welding lens are efficient and can respond fast enough while detecting light. It’ll automatically go lighter when you’re not welding. You won’t have to remove your helmet every time you need to see around you. This is an essential feature for pipeline welders that the Tefuawe provides.
Enhanced Blue Vision
When it comes to clarity, you don’t have many options better than clear blue technology. Not only it restricts the color spectrums that strain your eyes, but it also enhances the overall clarity of the picture to provide a clear vision.
- Extremely durable and suitable for pipeline welding
- Easy to install and control
- Ensures enhanced clarity and clear picture
- Blue tinted lens will reduce eye-straining
- Flickers a bit in low light
How To Choose The Best 2X4 Auto Darkening Welding Lens?
After going through the best auto darkening welding lenses and knowing how they work, you need to know what factors to consider before buying one. So, go through this guide to learn all about them!
Welding Type
The shade of your welding lens should be compatible with the type of welding. Not all the lenses are suitable for all welding tasks. For example, shade 9-13 is ideal for TIG and Stick welding. For MIG welding, the shade should be 10-13. So, if your welding lens can’t provide enough level of shade, it’ll serve no purpose to offer you protection.
Work Environment
The environment where you work plays a significant role in choosing your welding equipment. If you’re working at home on DIY projects, you can select a welding lens that comes with the basic features.
But, if you need to work outside, make sure to choose a welding lens that has resistance against moisture and dust. For pipeline welding, the lens has to be highly durable and endure adverse environments.
Viewing Area
It’s an essential factor to consider as you’ll be seeing through this space. The wider this space is, the more convenient it will be for you.
If you choose a welding lens with a small viewing area, you’ll have to move your head a lot to see correctly. Your peripheral vision won’t work as well since most of your vision is blocked. On the other hand, if you go for a wider viewing area, you can see adequately without even moving your head now and then.
Try to buy a welding lens that has a viewing area of at least 4.25 inches or more. Anything less than that wouldn’t be convenient.
Mode for Grinding
When you are just grinding, you don’t need your welding lens to get dark. Instead, you need to be able to see appropriately to make sure you’re doing your work in a precise manner. This is why the welding lens you choose should have a grinding mode so that it can go light when you’re not welding. Otherwise, you’ll have to remove the helmet every time you stop working with the arc.
Fixed or Adjustable Shade
Auto darkening welding lenses are available in certain levels of shades. Some of them are fixed, some of them are adjustable. Fixed shades come with one level of shade only.
For example, if you buy a fixed shade 11 welding lens, it’ll turn to shade 11 from a lighter state every time you weld. But, if you buy a lens with an adjustable shade, the lens will adjust the shade based on the light created by the welding task.
For example, a welding lens with adjustable shade 9-13 can provide different levels of shade. Its arc sensors can detect the light and respond accordingly to create the level of shade.
Design and Weight
The welding lens you choose should be compact and lightweight. Otherwise, it might not fit on a lot of welding helmets. Also, if the lens weighs too much, it’ll increase the overall weight of the helmet. The welding helmet weighs a lot, so you wouldn’t want the weight to increase even more!
Vision Clarity
The purpose of an auto darkening welding lens is to protect you from arc hazards. But, you need to be able to see properly while you’re welding as well. So, if the lens doesn’t provide clear vision, you won’t be able to see how you’re performing and may end up ruining the work. So, it’s best to go for a welding lens with an HD display that’ll offer the best clarity.
Tinted or True Color
Welding lenses are available in a lot of variations. Some of them are tinted, while the others provide a true image. What you should choose between these two depends on your preference. If you prefer to have the actual true color saturation, go for the ones that aren’t tinted. And if you like blue-tinted lenses that block out orange and green color spectrums, go for the lenses that have clear blue technology.
Price Range
Finally, price is a significant factor to consider if you’re on a budget. Good quality auto darkening welding lenses will cost a bit more than the regular ones. But, you have to consider the features it provides against the price range. If you find a better alternative within the same price range, go for the second one and save some money.
Also, consider the features that you need. If you’re not a pipeline welder, you don’t need a welding lens that’s highly durable and more expensive. Medium range welding lenses would be sufficient to use at home and in workshops.
How Auto Darkening Welding Lenses Work?
Auto darkening welding lenses are equipped with a filter for interference. Its job is to block infrared and ultraviolet radiation. There are three more filters for polarization placed in front of the initial filter. The polarization filters work just like sunglasses. When they detect that light is passing through them, they get darker.
These combined sets of filters can absorb more than 99.99% of UV radiation. The layers of metal and glass can reflect more than 99.99% infrared light. When the welding lens isn’t on, they’re in this state like a sunglass.
Now, these filters also have LC or liquid crystal cells in them. When the light goes through them, the crystal cells bend it.
When you turn the welding lens on, the crystal cells start to work. The more light passes through them, the darker they get to bend the light away, which turns into a dark tint.
If any of the filters or LC cells in this set don’t work, the entire welding lens will lose its efficiency, and you need to replace it with a new one.
Additional Read:
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I go for 2X4 auto darkening welding lenses?
The size of the welding lens has to be compatible with your welding helmet. Otherwise, the welding lens has no use for you. The most common welding lens size is the 2X4. And that’s why you should go for 2X4 auto darkening welding lenses to ensure universal fit.
How can I test if my welding lens is working or not?
The easiest way to test your welding lens is to use it in the sun. Try looking at the sun through the lens, and see if it starts to get dark. Then, move it around a bit to see whether it gets lighter or not. This switching of shades should be fast to ensure its effectiveness.
What is the darkest shade of welding lens that I can buy?
Among the shade levels, 13 is the darkest that you could find. Fixed shade 13 lenses are available in the market if you only require this level of shade. Also, you could go for an adjustable lens that has shade 13 in it.
How should I take care of my welding lens?
Welding lenses can often get damaged if you don’t take proper care. Welding environments create a lot of debris and harmful gases that will make the lens dirty. Wipe it with a damp cloth every time you use the welding lens.
Also, make sure to put a protective cover on both sides of the lens as an added protection.
How long can an auto darkening welding lens last?
Any welding lens will last a long time if you take good care of it. If you don’t cause any damage to the lens due to external force, then the lens can last even up to 10 years.
Final Verdict
A welding lens is the piece of protective equipment where a welder should pay the most attention. Auto darkening welding lenses indeed are the most convenient option when it comes to saving your eyesight as they eliminate the need to flip your helmet every now and then.
But, make sure to choose the best one depending on your needs. If budget is an issue, you could go for the ArcOne Tradesman that offers all the essential features within an affordable price range.
The KP3775-1 from Lincoln Electric is the best option for maximum clarity. If you want your lens to be tested and offer you complete protection, you can go for Miller Electric, which meets the ANSI/CSA standards.
Optrel Nova will be the best option if you want a thin welding lens. If you want the best welding lens for pipeline welding, Tefuawe will be a smart choice.
In the end, it all comes down to your work and personal preference. Just make sure to choose the best 2X4 auto darkening welding lens that fits your welding environment and provides maximum protection.
