Welding is not an easy task that anyone can perform. It requires experience and expertise to weld safely. The process involves combining metal by infusing heat and pressure.
Following the precautionary measures ensures the welder’s safety and others working around the welding area. Whether you are a novice or a pro welder, it is essential to utilize the protective gear that covers your eyes and head.
When purchasing welding supplies, choosing a reliable store that offers high-end products is vital. You will need various accessories such as scarves, goggles, and helmets to work safely.
Tips for selecting the fitting welding helmet
Welding equipment is the safety gear that protects your eyes and skin from UV and IR rays and the blue light emitted from the arc. It is not just about buying a random helmet to cover your head. The sparks and UV rays can deteriorate your eyes. Continue reading to learn some tips for buying a good helmet.
Safety standards
Investing in quality PPE and following safe welding practices are crucial for welders. You must protect the face, hands, and body during the welding process.
Though a welding helmet will cover your head and eyes, safety glasses can also be worn for additional protection. Proper ventilation in the welding environment is a nitty-gritty, as the smoke emitted during the welding process can cause breathing problems.
Buy welding supplies that meet safety standards. A quality helmet should meet the ANSI standards, which ensure that the helmet protects the wearer from harmful rays.
Helmet style
You will find two different kinds of helmets in the market: passive and auto-darkening helmets. You must select the ideal helmet style that suits your needs. From beginners to experts, auto-darkening helmets have been a reliable choice.
This lets you choose the shade preference and finetune the shades based on various welding processes. When you start welding, a light lens in the helmet offers clear visibility and evaluating the weld piece is relatively more straightforward.
Passive helmets have a dark-tinted lens and shade #10, whereas auto-darkening helmets have shades from #8 to #13. You can adjust the shades as per the requirements.
Shades
You must consider certain factors like weld type and amperage when picking a shade. The weld types include a covered electrode, MIG plate welding, MIG sheet metal, tig, mag, arc gouging, plasma cutting and plasma welding.
Which is the fitting helmet for you?
Regular lens helmets provide complete head and eye protection best suited for novice welding professionals. Variable shade helmets allow the wearer to change darkness, and welders can manually alter the helmet’s viewing space.
Though safety is the first attribute to consider during the helmet purchase, it is crucial to evaluate the comfort of wearing it. If you will be wearing the helmet for several hours, assessing the comfortability before the purchase is essential.
The helmet’s harness point elevates the comfort, so ensure the points are higher. Wearing the headgear will be comfier when you can adjust the fit. There will be no strain in wearing protective gear for a long time if the weight is distributed evenly.
Wrapping up
When you are ready to buy a good welding helmet, consider every single factor specified above. If you compromise on safety or comfort, it might not be easy to weld peacefully. An uncomfortable helmet will distract you, and welding will become a catastrophe. Ensure that you buy quality welding accessories from reputable online stores.
