@HappyTopster, I mentioned in an earlier thread that welding is basically all about controlling the puddle. In order to do that you have to see the puddle clearly and this is where a discussion about welding hoods comes in.
When I began my welding career in the mid '80s there was no such thing as an auto-dimming welding hood and it was no big deal. When they started to become more common, most professional welders balked at the idea and considered them to be for hobbyists and not "real" welders. There were theories at the time that the delay in activation of the darkening lens would cause eye damage for professional welders arcing up thousands of times a day. Also, the cost compared to standard welding hoods at the time was significant, and most welders had to buy their own leathers, welding hoods and gloves. I never saw a professional welder using an auto-dimming welding hood in my career as a welder working in construction, commercial diving, steel erecting, shipyard, or fabrication shops and I have no idea how it is today. Most of us back in the day simply selected a lens that we liked (#10 for me) and that's we used for every welding process that used an arc.
I bought my first auto-dimming welding hood around 10 years ago and there are some real benefits to that type of hood for beginners through experts. The ability to quickly and easily change the amount of light filtration is a big deal, particularly as you get older and visual acuity starts to decline. Different processes also affect the ability to see the puddle. Flux core can be a challenge, even 7018, basically any process that produces a flux over the weld metal can make it harder to see the puddle and changing the amount of light filtration can help. Also, a welding hood can be used for plasma as well, which is what I prefer over goggles since it prevents skin damage due to radiation.
