Welding helmets are, perhaps, the most piece of personal protection equipment a welder can have for their safety and protection. It is a headgear worn by the welders to protect their face and neck during welding operations such as arc welding, gas metal arc welding, gas tungsten arc welding, and shielding metal arc welding. If you are a welder, a good-quality welding helmet is imperative to protect you from major sparks, not to mention the ultraviolet and infrared rays that can damage your eyes. Moreover, having a lightweight and agile helmet can help keep you free and aggravation-free as the long workday wears on.
In the market, you may find many variations of helmets; however, the most popular one among them is an auto-darkening helmet. These helmets are either battery-operated or solar-powered. While each type of helmet will do the same job, most say solar-powered helmets have a few slight advantages over their counterparts. However, it is also said that battery-powered helmets can be most beneficial depending on how often you will use the helmet or where you will be using it. So it seems like finding the right helmet for welding is baffling if you are not knowledgeable about welding helmets.
To give you a brief, here’s a list of components of a welding helmet; continue reading!
- Filter lens- Filter lenses are the essential components of a helmet made from glass and contain a filter that controls the light that passes through the eyes. They are available in shades from 2-14; each filter will allow a different amount of light to pass through. As the number increases, the lens gets darker and allows a lesser amount of light to pass through it.
- Gasket- A gasket is a component between the filter and cover lens and protects the welder and the lens from sudden heat changes. This should be made from a heat-insulating material.
- Retainer lens- These are usually made of plastic and help prevent the pieces of filter lens from getting into the eyes in case of breakage.
- Outer cover plate: This is usually made of polycarbonate plastic to safeguard you from the impact of scratches and radiations.
- Shell: A helmet’s shell comprises an eyepiece that needs to be resistant to electricity and heat. It is designed to be opaque or translucent to dim the light passing through it.
Now that you are familiar with the different components of the welding helmet, it is time to select a welding helmet for yourself. But before you splurge at the first helmet you encounter over the internet, read on to learn about a few tips you must consider when selecting.
Tips to consider when buying a welding helmet
When buying a helmet, a welder needs to look for a few things like the size and weight of the helmet, the type of shade required, etc. So it is better to look for the answers to the following questions before you choose a welding helmet.
- Do you need a single fixed lens or variable shade lens?
- How much should be the switching speed of the lens? Do you want it to be as high as 1/25,000 of a second of something less will be fine?
- Do you prefer battery-operated or solar-powered?
- Do you need a lightweight helmet to reduce your neck strain?
Determining answers to these questions beforehand is of utmost importance to ensure you buy the most suitable helmet for yourself. Besides this, don’t forget to ensure that the helmet you buy is easy to wear and adjust, and it should be extra durable and adaptable to various work conditions.
