Welding is a dangerous business. Any experienced welder will agree; the most important piece of equipment in your welding is not your welding machine, grinder or cutting saw, but your welding helmet.
The helmet is necessary to protect the welder’s head, face, and most importantly, their eyes. Welding helmets must be ANSI certified and meet all required standards to protect workers from ultraviolet light, infrared light and heat.
However, there are different types of custom welding helmets. Depending on the type, frequency and material of the welding job, welders should choose different types of helmets. Below, we’ve broken down the most popular types of welding helmets and what kind of welders they’re recommended for.
Different Types of Welding Helmets
1.Passive Welding Helmet
Passive welding helmets are the most basic type of welding helmet available. Passive helmets have a fixed lens that does not change color. While passive welding helmets may not have all the features of some more expensive helmets, they can still get the job done.
These helmets have many advantages.
-They are relatively inexpensive and will allow you to get the job done
-It protects your eyes from intense heat
-It also protects your eyes from flying objects
While passive welding helmets are sufficient to protect your eyes, their biggest drawback is that they are hard to see through lenses that are too dark when you’re not welding. Most of the time, if you want to check your work, you need to flip the shield up or remove the helmet altogether.
There are many different manufacturers that produce passive welding helmets. In most cases, this type of helmet will be the most affordable option in the store. If you are a beginner just starting out, an occasional DIYer, or just looking for cost effective welding equipment – a passive welding helmet is an option worth considering.
2.Auto-Darkening Welding Helmet
Auto-darkening welding helmets solve the problem of passive welding helmets because they automatically adjust the shading of the lenses so you can see.
As the name implies, the lenses of this type of helmet can automatically adjust to darker shadows. Using batteries or solar power to power the sensor, the helmet can detect the ultraviolet light produced by the electric arc and change the shadows on the helmet’s lenses within a fraction of a second.
There are two different types of auto-darkening welding helmets to choose from – fixed shade and variable shade. But they share a common disadvantage, which is that they are useless without power, because the sensor that automatically switches the shade of the lens does not work without electricity.
When purchasing an auto-darkening welding helmet, please consider the following
Solar vs. battery-powered auto-darkening welding helmets: Both options work well, and the choice comes down to the welder and their personal preference. If you are new to welding, it may make more sense to choose a solar-powered helmet. Many beginners (and even seasoned pros) forget to turn off their welding helmets, which can quickly kill the batteries.
Fixed visor vs. variable visor auto-darkening welding helmets: Whichever style of visor you choose, you’ll have to choose a power source. If you are a DIYer, or need a visor to make repairs at home, or to repair your child’s bike, you may only need a welding helmet, then a fixed visor will do. However, if you work in a fabrication shop or on a construction site, then it may make more sense to go with a more expensive variable visor welding helmet.
