Tips That Will Help You Choose a Good Welding Helmet

Welding is one of the most interesting handy careers.

13:48 28 February 2020

With the use of a gas rod or electronic rod, simple pieces of metal can be transformed into an amazing work of art, or structure. As a matter of fact, some of the strongest and tallest skyscrapers wouldn’t have competed without the art of welding. Nonetheless, it’s a skill that subjects one to several safety risks while working. This is why welders are required to be on their safety gear at all times, and it’s also where the importance of a welding helmet comes in!

Now, while welding, the worker is subjected to the risk of sustaining burns from welding flames and parks, not forgetting the fumes produced from rods. Adam Mason from WeldingPros.net says that a good welding helmet is one of the must-have protection gear during a welding task. Apart from protecting your head, a good welding helmet protects your eyes from the sparks and fumes, allowing you to do your job safely and effectively. Picking a good helmet can also go a long way in improving the quality of your welds.

But with the wide range of welding helmets out there, choosing a good one for your welding tasks can be an overwhelming task, precisely if you don’t know what to look for.

Fortunately, below are some tips that will help you choose a good helmet.

1. Helmet Type

In your quest to pick a good welding helmet, one of the first things to do is to understand the available helmet types. Of course, these range from simplistic options to sophisticated ones, but since you’re looking for something quality, you will have 2 major options to pick from. These include passive lens helmets and auto-darkening helmets, each of which is covered below.

i. Passive Lens

Passive lens or standard lens helmets are perhaps the most common helmet options among welders, probably because they are cheaper than their auto-darkening counterparts. They protect the welder’s vision and face when striking their arcs. However, you wear the helmet in the up-position and only when you’ve viewed the arc is when you flip it by snapping your neck to get it into position. The main caveat about these helmets is that they are less ergonomic and due to the constant snapping of the neck, the welder could end up with neck pain after work.

Additionally, you have to flip the hood into position at the right time or your eyes get exposed to harmful welding light. The passive lens helmet may also be a bit problematic for some beginner welders to work with due to the high level of precision required when working with one. This may result in low-quality welds. All the same, it is less expensive and can be ideal for a welding expert whose budget is on the lower side. 

ii. Auto-darkening lens helmets

As you can tell from the name, auto-darkening lens helmets are designed to change shades depending on the welder’s preferences or needs. They automatically darken when striking the arc and lighten when you want to see your work. This is enabled by sensors that cause the shade to darken or lighten depending on what the welder is doing at the precise moment. Also, one of the advantages of auto-darkening lens helmets is that you don’t need to flip the helmet or shade into place and back frequently while carrying out your task. They offer more protection, are more ergonomic, offer more comfort, and allow the welder to produce higher quality work. Nonetheless, the slight caveat is that they are more expensive compared to passive lens options. When choosing an auto-darkening welding helmet, some things (features) you may need to consider include:

• Number of sensors – the more, the better
  
  
• Lens reaction time
  
  
• Viewing size
  
  
• Fixed or Variable Shade
  
  
• Adjustable sensitivity control
  
  
• Adjustable delay controls
  
  

2. Helmet Weight

Helmet weight is an important factor to consider. A heavier helmet might seem more professional, but it can easily put more strain on your neck. It can be overly uncomfortable and painful, especially if you’re welding for several hours. A lighter helmet will be more comfortable and less injurious to your neck, but you may have to increase your budget allocation since they tend to be a bit more expensive. All the same, the best choice may depend on how long and how often you perform welding tasks.

3. Battery vs. Solar Powered

If you go for an auto-darkening helmet, you may have both solar and battery power options or one of the two. Battery-powered helmets may use non-replaceable batteries, AAA batteries, rechargeable batteries, or lithium batteries. Some options also come with solar assist channels to charge the batteries. However, lithium battery options tend to be more expensive. Your decision will be based on your budget and how easy it is to access replacement batteries.

A good helmet keeps your eyes and face protected from the safety risks associated with welding. It also ensures high-quality welds, efficiency, and effectiveness in the job. With the above few tips, choosing an excellent welding helmet for your needs should be a breeze.