I've had a couple of these. Still have one with broken headgear. Considering you can get a name brand autodark with better headgear and an adjustable lens for $30 more, the plain Jane Jackson is a hard sell.
With a $9 upgrade on the lens, it has wayyyyy better clarity and less distortion than a sub $200 auto. Glass lenses distort the weld image much less that the autos.
Batteries never die, and it always works. Cheap insurance that it’s always ready to go despite how long between welds, weeks months or years.
Miller is currently behind lincoln in the clarity and color of the auto darks. The newer Lincoln’s are far the most true to color and clarity that I have welded with.
Speedglas is $$$ and will last with daily use.
Jackson with balder tech on the high end models led the trusight revolution for the rest of the industry.
Between my wife and I we own 3 Jackson fixed shades, a Jackson w70 bh3, 3m speedglas with side windows, two Miller autos, and 3 lincoln/Viking autos.
Only thing I have never welded with is an optrel.
If I were buying anything right now,
Fixed shade Jackson with $9 Hobart gold lens from tractor surprise. Not all gold lens are equal. You want one that is a green lens with gold. Don’t buy the orange with gold.
Lincoln/Viking auto with the biggest viewing area.
Replacement clear lenses are cheap and I prefer their headgear to millers. I have trouble with the miller headgear staying centered and on my head when out of position, despite having double the cross straps over the head.
The 3m/speedglas with the side windows is great for out of position Work and not beating your head on roll cages and assemblies as you retain your peripheral vision, but can suck In Production settings where arc flash can occur from surroundings through the side windows.
....very true statement from Mac....
