Welding helmets protect the face, neck, and eyes from sparks, heat, and harmful rays. Auto-darkening lenses are now available, and the viewing screen is the most important and expensive part. Other considerations include appearance, accessories, and reducing cancer risk.
Welding helmets are headgear that protects the face, neck and eyes from dangerous sparks, heat and infrared and ultraviolet rays emitted during welding. The two main parts of a welding helmet are the protective helmet itself and the window through which you can see what you are doing. You should choose a welding helmet based on the quality of this light filter, called a lampshade, overall comfort and multifunctionality.
Both professional and hobby welders need a high quality welding helmet that is easy to use and appropriate for their type of work. In the past, it was sufficient to use a helmet-like shield that only covered the face with a permanently darkened shade. One could flip this shield up and down between the welds. It was awkward, hard to see what you were doing, and difficult to use in tight spaces, like under a car. Now technology has made welding helmets with auto darkening lenses that always block 100% infrared and ultraviolet light, but also filter out visible light from the welding arc only while welding.
The viewing screen is the most important and most expensive part of a welding helmet. It has a degree of darkness or range that corresponds to the energy produced by the welding torch. For welders who work with the same amperage and metal, they can go with a “fixed” visor. For those who work with a large variety, variable lens screens detect what you are welding and darken to the right shade.
Another rating for self-tinting lenses is the time it takes to darken after the initiation of an arc. It is safe to use welding helmets that darken within 4/10th of a millisecond, as the eye cannot perceive the change in light at that time. Some helmets are powered by batteries that can be used indoors, but need to be charged. Other varieties use sunlight, good for outdoors, but aren’t compatible with the dark. Of course, you also want a lens large enough to have a wide field of view.
Other considerations concern the appearance of the welding helmet, as there are models with interesting shapes, decals and colors. Some types may come with accessories, such as breathing filters that draw in fresh air and reduce fogging. Others have detachable display screens, so you can upgrade or change them to suit your needs. Welding helmets also significantly reduce a welder’s risk of cancer.
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