Welding is cool. Everybody knows that, especially people who are not welders. But every welder knows that rule number one is – protect your eyes.
You know you've got to wear a helmet whenever you pick up the torch. So here's how to pick out a great welding helmet – must haves, things to look out for, and then the extra stuff that makes it fun.
First things first. They're basically two kinds of eye protection. First, the old-fashioned kind. It's a dark lens on a helmet that's designed to be flipped up when there is no arc. These haven't changed a whole lot in the last 50 years. They're less expensive than the kind we will talk about next, but they come with a built-in extra risk. Forget to flip it down one time when you strike your arc, and you could get the equivalent of sunburn on your corneas. Do it regularly and you run the risk of losing your eyesight.
Technology has come along with auto dimming lenses. Just as the name says, strike your arc and the lens goes dark, stop it and it goes clear. So there is no need to constantly be flipping the helmet up, and no risk of forgetting to flip it back down. An LCD panel, run by a combination of solar cells and rechargeable batteries, reacts to the bright light of the arc and, almost instantly, darkens.
You'll want an auto darkening welding helmet if you're working in a tight space, such as under a car or truck, where there isn't enough room to flip open your helmet. And, not the least of it – flipping the helmet up and down all day can become a literal pain in the neck.
If you choose a welding helmet with an auto dimming screen, here are some things you need to know. The speed of the auto darkening can vary from 1/3,000 of a second to 1/10,000 of a second or faster. Even though the slow speed (1/3,000) is hundreds of times faster than the blink of an eye, if you do a lot of welding, over time, your eyes will notice the difference and feel fatigued and be dry and scratchy. If you are a frequent welder, investing in a top-quality auto dimming lenses makes sense. Professional level helmets will darken in 1/10,000 of a second or less.
Most welding helmets are made of hard molded plastic that's lighter weight and impact resistant. With plastic, comes a lot more alternatives in both shape and color. Instead of the old alien robot look that was a given with the original welding helmets, you now have your choice of colors and designs. You've got a great chance to express yourself. You can get one in red and be Daredevil, pick one in black and be Darth Vader, or go for the colors of your favorite racing helmet and team. And the stars and stripes is always a popular choice.
Some of the best brands include Miller welding helmets, jackson welding helmets, Speedglas welding helmets, Hobart welding helmets, Arc one (aka Arcone), 3m, Optrel, Hunstman, Radnor and Camo. You can sometimes find these cool brands cheap on sale in online stores.
Some welding helmets with the auto darkening feature come with an internal, non-replaceable lithium battery and solar panel. These are less expensive, but require a charging period before they can be used for the first time, and any time they've been stored for an extended period. This can be eliminated by choosing a helmet that's powered by replaceable batteries.