Welding helmets are essential pieces of safety equipment that every welder must have. Helmets are needed to protect the eye from the glare caused by the welding process and the fumes as well. Since there are many different types of welding helmets that are available in the market right now, you might become confused or unsure if you are not aware of just what it is that you are looking for in the right helmet. To give you an idea, here are some of the qualities that you need to find in the welding helmet that you want to buy:
The Lens- The biggest question that you have to settle when buying a welding helmet is whether you are going to get one with a passive lens or a helmet equipped with auto darkening lens. The passive types of helmets are old ones that have to flipped up and down as you are working. Obviously this type of helmet has some disadvantages to it. The need to move the lens up or down as you are working can result in tiring out the neck and inaccurate work results. The main advantage with this helmet is that it is inexpensive.
The helmets with the auto darkening lenses have several advantages. There is no need to move the lens during the welding process. The lens automatically becomes opaque once its sensor detects an increase in the intensity of the light. This results in a more accurate work result and a cut on the working time.
Reaction Time- Manufacturers of welding helmets usually advertise the switching speed or the time that the lens helmet reacts to the intensity of the light. The higher speed the better.
Power- You need to consider the power supply of the auto darkening lens. Don’t be fooled by some helmets that are supposed to be solar powered. You might have to expose them to direct sunlight first before you can use them. Go for the ones that are powered by replaceable batteries with a backup solar panel.
Weight- While you might not pay any attention to the weight of the helmet when you are shopping for one, that is a very important factor to consider. A pound in difference between the weight might not be that much but once you are using the helmet you can feel the difference.
To help you out even further, here are the the 3 best welding helmets available today:
Hobart Black XVX Series Expert Auto Darkening Variable Shade Welding Helmet- With a reaction time of about 1/20,000 of a second you can stay safe and protected with this helmet. You can get this for about $250.
Neiko Solar Powered Auto Darkening MIG/TIG Welding Helmet- If you want an affordable yet reliable protection when welding then this is the helmet for you. You can get this for about $120.
Miller Elite welding Helmet Classic Black- This simple looking yet elegant welding helmet has everything that you need when it comes to protection. You can get for about $325.