A welding hat is probably the most important piece of personal protective equipment you will ever own as a welder. Top-of-the-line helmets protect you from major sparks, not to mention the ultraviolet and infrared rays that can harm your eyes. In addition, a lightweight, flexible helmet will keep you fresh and weightless during a long workday.
Some welders like to add a little personal touch to their helmets, but serious professionals focus on what's important: helmets built for the job. When it comes down to it, a good helmet can do four things.
- Protect your eyes and skin from sparks
protects your eyes from harmful light - is easy to wear and adjust as conditions change
- Durable and adaptable to a variety of working conditions
Traditional vs. advanced
Some welders still prefer traditional welding hats with standard glass lenses and fixed tints that remain dark at all times. These helmets tend to be sturdy and inexpensive, but they leave many of today's welders wanting.
Securing a shade helmet is often both difficult and time-consuming. You lift your helmet every time you need to check a joint, set your position and prepare to weld. Then, when it's time to hit the arc, you flip the helmet down again. Doing this over and over again can lead to neck strain and fatigue after a long day of work.
On the other hand, for welders who appreciate what new technology can offer, auto-darkening helmets are worth serious consideration. These newer, more advanced helmets offer continuously variable control that adjusts the shade from a light to a dark state and back again. These helmets always protect against harmful light radiation. In addition, depending on the make and model, they can be darkened to virtually any pre-selected shade in milliseconds thanks to quick-change LCD (liquid crystal display) technology in the auto-darkening cartridges.
With auto-darkening helmets, welders can see clearly in any light condition, so they can weld joints with the hood in the down position. These helmets allow for more continuous work, reducing unnecessary stop and start times, readjustments and weighting.
Further Consideration
When buying an auto-darkening helmet, start by looking at the size. After all, the more you can see, the better you can do your job. The amount of misalignment welding performed can affect the amount of viewing area needed for the helmet. Some of the largest view sizes in the auto-darkening models feature a 3.7" x 2.44" internal flap, which helps provide a clear, natural view when combined with the helmet's LCD technology.
Next, you'll want to check the helmet's sensitivity settings. Many of today's better helmets have settings that provide shades from 6 to 9 or 9 to 13. The scale allows the welder to optimize the shade for improved comfort in any given application. If you typically move between applications, you'll appreciate the flexibility of being able to change the welder's voltage, amperage or wire feed speed settings (not to mention changes between welding processes).
Next, you want to measure the helmet's response time. You want an auto-dimming helmet to dim quickly when a spark appears. A good model will dim in less than a second. The best models dim as fast as 1/25,000th of a second. The difference between these speeds comes down to your needs as a professional.
Another important consideration is the number of arc sensors on the helmet. Basic and less expensive auto-darkening helmets will have one or two arc sensors, while the best models will offer four arc sensors. The more arc sensors you have, the less likely it is that the helmet will not dim as needed.
Power is another consideration. Some models have replaceable lithium batteries. Better models combine solar cells with lithium battery assistance. Ultimately, it's a matter of personal preference, but hybrids require less battery and usually last longer.
Finally, you need to consider weight and flexibility. For professional welders, heavy helmets can be a heavy burden. Newer, lighter helmets make welding safer, easier and more comfortable. Premium models typically weigh between 18 and 24 ounces, even with a full-coverage shell. In addition, the helmet's headgear should adjust up, down, forward and backward. Make sure it's easy to adjust and comfortable to wear.
In summary
There seems to be a lot to consider. But, if you take the time to consider the important variables and do your research, you'll be glad you did. At the end of the workday, your eyes, neck and shoulders will be less stressed. Then, you'll really appreciate the value of a quality helmet.
YULONG Safety Tools Manufacturer Corp.,Ltd. is a professional safety equipment producer in China with more than 20 years. We are Specialized in Head Protection, Eye and Face Protection, Hearing Protection, Respiratory Protection, Knee Protection etc. YULONG SAFETY has passed ISO 9001 Internal Quality system Certification. All product passed CE, ANSI, CSA, EMC etc. With experienced development teams and complete production supporting facilities.
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