The tables below show the recommended welding helmet lens shade number based on the type of welding and your amperage range. Protecting your eyes is crucial: you should never start welding with insufficient lenses.

Each process generates different levels of radiation, requiring specific shade recommendations.

Stick Welding

Stick welding uses a consumable electrode, and the arc generates moderate to high light radiation levels, depending on the amperage used.

MIG Welding

MIG processes produces moderate levels of light radiation, requiring lens shades in the mid-range.

TIG Welding

TIG welding produces more light radiation than the other processes, and you will have to choose a darker lens than the other alternatives.

Flux Core Welding

FCAW generates moderate to high levels of light radiation, with higher amperage producing brighter arcs.

Plasma Cutting

This process uses a constricted, high-velocity ionized gas jet to cut through metal. PAC generates moderate to high light levels, depending on the amperage used.

Welding Lens Shade Specifications

Welding lens shade specifications are crucial in selecting the appropriate eye protection during welding processes. Lens shades, ranging from 4 to 14, offer varying visible light transmission levels, infrared, and ultraviolet protection. These specifications ensure your eyes are shielded from harmful radiation, tailored to the welding process and amperage used.

Welding lenses are made of specialized materials that absorb or reflect specific wavelengths of light. The shade number corresponds to the level of protection provided, with higher numbers offering greater filtration and darker lenses.

Higher amperage generally produces brighter arcs and requires darker lens shades.

ANSI Z49.1:2012 offers detailed advice on which welding lens to use under numerous circumstances.

How to Select the Correct Lens Shade

Select the correct welding process and amperage range based on your project and material thickness. This gives you a good starting point using the tables above.

You should select a lens that is too dark to see the weld zone, and incrementally go to a lighter shade until you can see the weld zone without going below the minimum. This is the safest option to avoid going too light from the start.

You will have personal preferences for lens shades due to differences in vision, sensitivity, and comfort. Test various shades within the recommended range to find the most suitable option.

Auto-darkening helmets automatically adjust the lens shade based on the detected arc brightness.

The post Welding Helmet Lens Shade Chart appeared first on Beginner Welding Guide.

Many welders wonder why it’s important to wear a piece of equipment that makes you look like a sci-fi supervillain. How do these helmets work, especially the fancy new auto-darkening ones that seem to have more controls than you know what to do with? 

Understanding how a welding helmet works is one of the most important things you must grasp for your safety as a welder. Here is my guide to help you protect yourself and have the best possible welding experience. 

What Is a Welding Helmet?

First, let’s establish what a welding helmet is. A welding helmet is protective equipment that goes over the face, head, and neck as you’re welding. It consists of a protective shield that goes over the face, top, and back of the head and a darkened visor that protects your vision. Eye protection is important because the flash from the welding arc can damage your eyes.

Welding helmets were first sold in 1937 by the company Willson Products. Since then, the welding helmet has evolved to include advanced technology and better materials to protect the face. There are a few different types of welding helmets, depending on the type of welding you are doing and the protection you need. The newest models include auto-darkening lenses, which automatically darken the shade to protect your eyes when the arc turns on. 

Best Overall

Lincoln Electric Viking Auto Darkening Welding Helmet

• Large 12.5 Square Inch Auto Darkening Lens
• Premium Optics with a Crystal Clear View
• Comfortable Adjustable X6 Headgear
• 3 Year Warranty

Check Latest Price on Amazon

Best Value for Money

Antra AH6 Auto Darkening Welding Helmet

• Full Face and Neck Protection
• Highly Responsive Arc Sensors
• Extremely Lightweight Design for Reduced Muscle Fatigue
• Sonar Panels Extend Battery Life

Check Latest Price on Amazon

Best on a Budget

YESWELDER Solar Powered Auto Darkening Welding Helmet

• Suitable For TIG, MIG, MMA
• 8 Square Inch Viewing Area
• Comes with Replacement Lenses
• Comfortable Pivot Style Headgear
• Get 10% Off with Discount Code 'BWG' at Yeswelder.com

Check Latest Price at Yeswelder

Components of a Welding Helmet

A proper welding helmet has a few different components that all work together to keep you safe. These include:

• A helmet shell, the hard material that goes over your face and head
• Cover plate, an additional level that goes over the shell to protect from radiation and other dangers
• Dials, to control the size since helmets have to be snug-fitting
• A filter lens, which blocks out the harmful light from the electrical arc
• Retainer lens, which is a piece of plastic that goes on the inside of the filter and prevents any shards from reaching your eye in case of an accident.

If you have an auto-darkening welding helmet, your lens contains a few additional components, including:

• Polarization filters, which darken the light as it comes through the lens
• UV/IR filter, the first layer on the lens, which blocks these harmful forms of radiation
• LC-Cell layers, which twist to reflect light
• Arc sensors, which detect light and adjust the shade of your lenses accordingly

How Does the Lens Work?

Of all the components listed above, the lens is one of the most important. The lens on the welding helmet protects your eyes from damage caused by the brightness of the welding arc.

Most traditional welding helmets are passive, so you have to put the visor with protective lenses down manually. Passive lenses have a visor that flips up or down, or a lens fitted permanently in place. For the lens to work, you fit your helmet so that the lens is securely over your eyes and flip the visor down. Then, the special coating on the lenses blocks out UV and infrared rays, protecting your eyes.

However, the downside of passive welding helmets is that when the welding arc is off, you can’t really see what you’re doing. The lens stays dark even if you don’t have anything to protect from. You either have to flip the visor up or take the helmet off.

How Does the Auto-Darkening Feature Work?

The way lenses work for helmets with an auto-darkening feature is quite different. 

1. Secure the helmet and turn it on. Use the adjustable gears to ensure the helmet securely sits on your head. Make sure the helmet is on, and the batteries are charged. The LC cells need power to adjust their positioning. During this step, you adjust the settings to the shade you want.
2. The sensors detect light. The arc sensors will activate when you strike a welding arc.
3. Polarization filters and LC-cells activate. The sensors send signals to the polarization filters to darken to the appropriate level. The LC cells activate by rotating, which reflects more light.
4. The sensors turn off when you turn off the arc. Once you’re done welding, the sensors turn off the polarization filters, and the LC cells return to their normal position, allowing in normal light and letting you work.

The auto-darkening feature is great because you don’t have to manually move lenses or flip up visors when you’re done welding; the eye protection happens automatically.

Features of a Welding Helmet

A good welding helmet should have a few features, including:

• A full-coverage viewing area
• Controls for the functionality, including light sensitivity, delay, and more. Although auto-darkening helmets automatically adjust to the light outside, you still want control over the settings. Your eyes may be more sensitive than other people’s, so you want to give yourself the maximum protection.
• Controls for the fit so you can loosen or tighten the helmet
• Fast lens reaction time
• Lightweight helmet shield material
• Power source—different helmets use different batteries to power up

How to Test if It Works

Before you turn on your welding arc with your new welding helmet, an important safety precaution is to test if it works. You don’t want to find out the helmet isn’t working properly when you’re staring down the barrel of a very bright welding arc.

To test if your helmet works properly, put it on and adjust the settings. Then, look at the sun. The filters should darken quickly, adjusting to the change in light. If they are slow to change or don’t react to exposure to the sun’s rays, then your helmet probably isn’t working. 

Other signs of a helmet not working anymore include a bright flash when you expose it to UV rays. While it will still work afterward, thanks to the built-in passive UV/IR filters, that is a sign that something is wrong with the auto-darkening feature, and you should start looking for a replacement helmet.

How to Maintain a Welding Helmet

Once you find a good welding helmet, you want it to work for a long time (plus, replacing those things is expensive). With the right maintenance, your helmet can stay in good condition for years to come.

Make sure you have replacement parts on hand, such as lenses, batteries, and sweatbands. Replacing parts is easier than replacing the whole helmet. 

Properly store your welding helmet at all times. If you are welding in the field, invest in a good welding helmet bag which will protect the parts from any damage while you are in transit.

Clean your helmet regularly, especially if you notice debris on your lenses that prevent you from seeing properly. Wipe lenses with a soft brush and lens solution, then wipe dust and grime off of the rest of your helmet.

Final Thoughts

Welding helmets work by using UV and IR filters to protect your eyes from harmful rays. Auto-darkening welding helmets have automatic sensors that adjust the filters to the right darkness when you turn on the arc. Welding helmets are crucial pieces of safety equipment you should maintain properly so they can last a long time.

The post How Does a Welding Helmet Work? appeared first on Beginner Welding Guide.

A welding helmet is one of the most important pieces of equipment that you can have to protect your eyes and face during welding. Auto-darkening welding helmets are a new innovation, around since the 1980s, that make welding even easier. These helmets automatically adjust the polarization of the helmet when you strike the arc and release when you turn the arc off, leaving your hands free to work.

However, you need to know that your auto-darkening welding helmet works before accidentally exposing yourself to a welding arc’s bright flash. Here are the steps you should follow to test your welding helmet.

Why You Should Test Your Auto-Darkening Welding Helmet

First, let’s establish why it’s important to test your auto-darkening welding helmet. 

Auto-darkening welding helmets are a great innovation because you don’t have to manually adjust the visor as you do for typical welding helmets. Although some welders are nervous about putting their faith in an auto-darkening welding helmet, these helmets are perfectly safe.

However, to ensure that you are actually safe, you need to test your welding helmet. Welding helmets can stop working, and you want to ensure that the filters are working properly before you strike the arc. If the filter isn’t working, you could hurt your eyes by looking directly at the arc. You also want to test the helmet before using it for the first time to make sure you adjust the settings to the right sensitivity for your eyes.

Best Overall

Lincoln Electric Viking Auto Darkening Welding Helmet

• Large 12.5 Square Inch Auto Darkening Lens
• Premium Optics with a Crystal Clear View
• Comfortable Adjustable X6 Headgear
• 3 Year Warranty

Check Latest Price on Amazon

Best Value for Money

Antra AH6 Auto Darkening Welding Helmet

• Full Face and Neck Protection
• Highly Responsive Arc Sensors
• Extremely Lightweight Design for Reduced Muscle Fatigue
• Sonar Panels Extend Battery Life

Check Latest Price on Amazon

Best on a Budget

YESWELDER Solar Powered Auto Darkening Welding Helmet

• Suitable For TIG, MIG, MMA
• 8 Square Inch Viewing Area
• Comes with Replacement Lenses
• Comfortable Pivot Style Headgear
• Get 10% Off with Discount Code 'BWG' at Yeswelder.com

Check Latest Price at Yeswelder

How to Test Your Helmet

There are a few different ways to test your welding helmet before you start working.

1.  The Sun Test

To test your welding helmet, you don’t need any special equipment—you need to go outside and look at the sun. Sunlight is very bright and has UV and IR rays, similar to welding arcs. However, it is not as strong as a welding arc, so you will not damage your eyes if the filters turn out to not work. The lens has built-in UV filters anyway, so these will protect you even if the polarization doesn’t work.

To use the sun test, check your helmet’s sensitivity. You don’t want to panic and think that the helmet is not working, only to realize that you set the light sensitivity to low and there isn’t enough sunlight to trigger the helmet. Then, put on your helmet and go outside to face the sun. Your lens should darken automatically within a few seconds.

However, for the sun test, you are dependent on the weather. If it’s rainy or cloudy, you won’t get a good idea if your welding helmet works, which is why it is good to know some of the other tests.

2. The Welding Test

One of the best ways to see if your helmet will function when you work is to mimic your work conditions as closely as possible. To check if the welding helmet will work when you strike an arc – briefly strike an arc. Put on all your safety equipment and start working as normal, striking an arc. Then, see if your helmet darkens as it should.

This test is great because you don’t need any additional equipment. However, it is riskier because if your helmet doesn’t darken, you risk the welder’s flash. Only use this test if you are mostly sure that the helmet works and want to confirm before you expose yourself to the arc for a longer period.

3. Remote Control Test

One unconventional test is to use a TV remote. Many remote controls use an IR light to turn on the TV, so make sure the control you are using has this feature. Then, point to your helmet and see if it darkens. Since your helmet is supposed to block IR light, a remote control should trigger the sensors. 

However, with a remote control, the margin for error is too high. Too many things could go wrong: the remote control could be one that doesn’t give off IR light, it could send out a pulsed signal, or be very weak. If your helmet doesn’t darken, the problem could be with the test itself, not the helmet.

4. Cigarette Lighter Test

Finally, you can use the spark from a spark or cigarette lighter. Lighter flames are like a weaker version of the welding arc—bright enough to trigger the helmet but not bright enough to hurt your eyes.

To conduct this test, put your helmet on and flick on the lighter. Flick it on and off and move it around to test how your helmet reacts to changes in light and motion, which will happen as you weld. 

This test is very reliable, but not everyone has lighters on hand.

What to Look for During the Tests

When you test your auto-darkening helmet, you will know it is working properly if the following signs appear:

• The helmet darkens
• The lenses change color in a few seconds
• The shade lightens when you remove the light
• You can see clearly throughout the whole process

What to Do if Your Helmet Fails a Test

If your helmet fails to darken properly or there are a few issues, here is what you can do.

First, make sure there isn’t a problem with the test. Ensure there is enough light to trigger the sensors and that you are exposing the helmet to the right light.

Then, try to fiddle with the settings. Maybe the sensitivity or delay settings are turned too high. 

If the helmet still fails, try replacing the lens or the battery instead of the whole helmet.

The last option is to buy a new helmet. I have written a guide to selecting a welding helmet that suits your needs if you are looking for more information.

Final Thoughts

Before you turn on your auto-darkening welding helmet, you should test it to make sure it works. You can use the sun, a cigarette lighter, a TV remote, or even a low welding arc itself to make sure the helmet darkens in time and adjusts to changes in brightness without affecting your vision.

The post How to Test an Auto-Darkening Welding Helmet appeared first on Beginner Welding Guide.

You use your welding helmet in a pretty dirty setting, exposing it to dust, fumes, and other debris. This debris makes your helmet look dirty and compromises its ability to work properly.

Here are more details on how to properly clean your welding helmet.

Why You Need to Clean a Welding Helmet

An important part of using a welding helmet is what you do with it afterwards – namely, cleaning and maintaining it. 

Cleaning a welding helmet is not just important for aesthetics—although you should want to keep your equipment neat and clean if you take pride in your workshop. First, you need your helmet to be functional. When the lens is blurred with dust and other debris, you can’t see through it and do your job properly. Poor visibility also leads to workplace injuries, and you already know that welding is one of the most dangerous jobs in America.

If you let too much time pass between cleaning periods, you can cause damage to the expensive parts of your welding helmet. Built-up dirt can permanently damage your lenses, controls, and other parts of the helmet. While replacing parts is easier than replacing the whole helmet, you still want to avoid any unnecessary damages and replacements.

TIP: If your welding helmet is damaged beyond repair, have a read through my guide to choosing a brand new welding helmet for beginners.

Best Overall

Lincoln Electric Viking Auto Darkening Welding Helmet

• Large 12.5 Square Inch Auto Darkening Lens
• Premium Optics with a Crystal Clear View
• Comfortable Adjustable X6 Headgear
• 3 Year Warranty

Check Latest Price on Amazon

Best Value for Money

Antra AH6 Auto Darkening Welding Helmet

• Full Face and Neck Protection
• Highly Responsive Arc Sensors
• Extremely Lightweight Design for Reduced Muscle Fatigue
• Sonar Panels Extend Battery Life

Check Latest Price on Amazon

Best on a Budget

YESWELDER Solar Powered Auto Darkening Welding Helmet

• Suitable For TIG, MIG, MMA
• 8 Square Inch Viewing Area
• Comes with Replacement Lenses
• Comfortable Pivot Style Headgear
• Get 10% Off with Discount Code 'BWG' at Yeswelder.com

Check Latest Price at Yeswelder

How to Clean the Lens

One of the most important steps in cleaning your welding helmet is cleaning the lens. After all, you need to be able to see through the lens to work! Plus, the lens is the part of the helmet that collects the most dirt. You should clean your welding helmet lens daily.

To clean the lens, follow the following steps:

1. Remove the lens. Most welding helmet lenses either remove easily or pop out with some work with a screwdriver.

2. Wipe away the dust. Then, gently buff the lens to get rid of the dust. You can use gentle material because you don’t want to damage the lens. Suggestions include a soft-bristled brush or a buffing wheel.

3. Get rid of any built-up grime with a lens solution. If it’s been a while since you cleaned the lenses or you were doing a very dirty job, there will be some dirt spots left over. Spray the lens with lens solution, then wipe it in soft, gentle circles using a soft cloth.

4. Replace the lens and store your welding helmet.

Use Compressed Air

Compressed air is an important asset when cleaning lots of equipment, including your welding helmet. Compressed air ensures that no pesky dust particles will stay on your helmet. It also makes it much easier to clean hard-to-reach crevices that you can’t polish with a cloth but where dirt is most likely to gather and start trouble. 

To use compressed air to clean your helmet, first, wipe down the helmet with a cloth to get rid of most of the dust. Then, take out your compressed air canister or duster. Add the nozzle and aim it at your helmet. Spray it in a short, 3–5 second burst, then let the can rest before spraying again. This way, you get the most pressure out of the can and the most cleaning power.

For safety reasons, ensure your helmet is turned off and unplugged. Compressed air could damage the mechanism if your helmet is turned on.

Use Helmet Cleaner Chemical

After cleaning your lens and getting the dust off your helmet, the next step is to take care of the helmet’s shell. A helmet cleaner chemical works as a degreaser, removing persistent grease spots without leaving streaks.

Apply a few drops to the helmet shell to use a helmet cleaner chemical. Then, rub it with a soft cloth or terry cloth. Make sure you buff it completely to avoid leaving streaks.

Disinfect the Helmet

After you clean the helmet of any surface-level dirt, you also need to disinfect it. Your helmet is near your face all day—you don’t want to be in contact with all the bacteria that live there!

Use a special disinfectant designed for welding helmets. Spray it all over your welding helmet, especially the parts against your face. Let the solution dry completely.

Dry the Helmet

Before storing your helmet, you need to dry it. You can use a plain bathroom towel for this. Use large, sweeping motions to remove any water droplets or cleaning residue. 

Store the Helmet Properly

Proper storage goes a long way toward keeping your helmet in good shape. A few tips for proper storage include:

• Keeping it in a welding bag at all times
• Securing it someplace where it won’t fall
• Let it dry and ventilate properly before storing it away 
• Putting it in a place that is not exposed to sunlight, high heat, or dust

Protect the Electronics

If you are using a high-tech auto-darkening helmet, you will need to take extra precautions when cleaning to ensure you don’t damage any electronics. 

Turn off the power completely when cleaning. Remove the batteries and be careful not to touch the battery slots.

Use gentle tools and motions when cleaning, especially the lens. Auto-darkening lenses contain sensitive electronics that will get damaged if you use too much pressure. 

Make sure you use just water or cleaners designed for welding helmets. Harsh cleaning materials could damage the electronics.

Final Thoughts

Cleaning a welding helmet is important for your safety and for keeping the helmet functional. To clean it, ensure all electronic parts are turned off and removed. Clean the lens and remove the dust with a cloth and compressed air. Finish by disinfecting, drying, and storing the helmet properly.

The post How to Clean a Welding Helmet in 5 Mins appeared first on Beginner Welding Guide.

If you’ve upgraded your gear to include a welding helmet, here is what you need to know about this nifty equipment.

Types of Welding Helmets

You will encounter a few different types of welding helmets as you shop around. Here is a quick guide to the most common ones. Although the most basic welding helmets have been around since the 1930s, new types are more high-tech. 

Auto-Darkening Welding Helmet

Auto-darkening welding helmets have an LCD system that is clear when working normally but automatically darkens the visor when you strike an arc. There are two types of auto-darkening welding helmets: variable shade and fixed shade. Variable shade helmets allow you to choose between different shade settings depending on the brightness of the arc, while fixed shade helmets have only one shade. 

Fixed shade helmets are going out of style, and I recommend getting a variable shade one. However, they are a bit pricey for beginner welders.

Best Overall

Lincoln Electric Viking Auto Darkening Welding Helmet

• Large 12.5 Square Inch Auto Darkening Lens
• Premium Optics with a Crystal Clear View
• Comfortable Adjustable X6 Headgear
• 3 Year Warranty

Check Latest Price on Amazon

Best Value for Money

Antra AH6 Auto Darkening Welding Helmet

• Full Face and Neck Protection
• Highly Responsive Arc Sensors
• Extremely Lightweight Design for Reduced Muscle Fatigue
• Sonar Panels Extend Battery Life

Check Latest Price on Amazon

Best on a Budget

YESWELDER Solar Powered Auto Darkening Welding Helmet

• Suitable For TIG, MIG, MMA
• 8 Square Inch Viewing Area
• Comes with Replacement Lenses
• Comfortable Pivot Style Headgear
• Get 10% Off with Discount Code 'BWG' at Yeswelder.com

Check Latest Price at Yeswelder

Passive Welding Helmet

A passive welding helmet has a dark lens that you can flip up when you are working regularly and down when you are using an arc. It is simple and gets the job done. If you’re new to welding, you might struggle with coordinating flipping the shade up and down along with your other tasks.

Pancake Welding Helmet

Pancake welding helmets look funny compared to other welding helmets because they are round, like pancakes. There is a darkened viewing window that protects your eyes. This type of helmet is mostly for welding outdoors, for example, for pipeline welding.

Leather Welding Mask

A leather welding mask is a leather hood with a darkened visor that flips up and down. It looks a bit like a hazmat suit helmet. These masks are mostly for people who do overhead welding professionally since it protects you from flying sparks, but they are not very comfortable for welding at home.

Components of a Welding Helmet

Most welding helmets have the same few components, even if they are very different models. These include: 

• A visor
• A protective mask that goes over your face

Some components are specific to auto-darkening welding helmets, such as:

• A UV/IR filter that filters out radiation at all times
• Polarization filters to block out the light of the arc
• Liquid crystal cells
• Arc and light sensors to detect harmful light, including very bright arc light 

These components are necessary for an auto-darkening helmet to darken and protect your eyes.

How to Control Your Helmet

Controlling the helmet is simple for most welding helmets, such as passive and leather ones. You flip the visor up when you are not welding and flip it down when you are about to turn on the arc.

For auto-darkening welding helmets, controlling them is a bit more complicated. You have to follow these steps:

1. Check your helmet for maintenance. Ensure you don’t need to replace the battery and that all features work. Do this in a clean, clutter-free place when you are not welding since you don’t want to find out something’s not working when the arc light is on. Clean the lens to give the most visibility.
2. Know your welding setup. Variable shade auto-darkening welding helmets have different darkness options. The higher the amperage of your weld, the brighter the arc will be, so the darker your visor should be. Know this information ahead of time.
3. Adjust the settings. Helmets have knobs that allow you to adjust the light sensitivity and delay. Adjust the light sensitivity to the right shade for your working arc and the delay so the helmet darkens in time. 
4. Test the helmet. You want to test the helmet before you turn on the arc, so you don’t damage your eyes. Let it darken and see if it darkens to the right shade and fast enough.
5. Save the settings (if you can). Some high-level welding helmets have memory controls, so once you find a setting combination that works for you, save it for future use.

Features of a Welding Helmet

Here are some features you should look for when looking for an auto-darkening welding helmet.

• Full coverage viewing area to make sure you can see what you are working on 
• Controls so you can adjust the settings easily as you work
• High-end light sensors so your eyes are protected, and you’re not fiddling with controls as you work
• Quick reaction time, so the lens darkens quickly enough to protect your eyes
• Batteries, which can be rechargeable or replaceable 
• Lightweight material, so it’s comfortable to wear as you work

How to Use a Welding Helmet

Finally, let’s talk about how to use a welding helmet safely.

First, fit the helmet to your head. It should fit snugly without being too tight. That way, it won’t move around and potentially endanger your eyes, but it also won’t squeeze your head like a vise.

Then, adjust the settings. Take into account the brightness of your arc as well as the sensitivity of your eyes.

Next, you can start welding freely. Ensure that the helmet is securely on your head when welding and that the visor is dark enough. If your eyes feel pain or sensitivity, stop welding immediately and adjust the helmet.

Final Thoughts

A welding helmet is a crucial part of protecting your safety while welding. New welding helmets, called auto-darkening welding helmets, make protection even easier because they darken automatically. To get the most out of your helmet, make sure the lens is dark enough to protect you as you weld and that the helmet fits securely.

The post How to Use a Welding Helmet for Beginners appeared first on Beginner Welding Guide.

Welding masks protect the eyes from sparks, UV radiation, and other debris that may be created during the welding process. Since the solar eclipse also emits high UV radiation, some people have wondered if it would be safe to use a welding mask to look at the eclipse.

Welding masks provide enough coverage to eliminate the risk of sudden blindness if you were to look up at the eclipse without protection. However, they do not completely block out all UV radiation. If you are going to view the eclipse through a welding mask, make sure to do so for a very short period of time.this question is yes, it is safe to view the eclipse with a welding mask.

Should I Use a Welding Helmet to View a Solar Eclipse?

There is no doubt that welding helmets provide adequate protection from UV radiation and other debris that might be harmful to your eyes. You can use a welding helmet to view the solar eclipse.

However, If you are using a welding helmet that is not in good condition, has scratches on the lens, or does not fit well, it is not recommended that you use it to view the eclipse.

In these cases, it would be better to purchase either a new welding helmet for your future projects or buy special glasses meant for watching the eclipse.

What Are Correct Shade Levels for Solar Eclipse Viewing?

Welders need to be very careful when choosing the shade level for their welding helmets when viewing a solar eclipse. The correct shade level will protect your eyes from harmful UV radiation, but too much protection can make it difficult to see the eclipse.

Welding helmets are typically available with shade levels ranging from 3 to 13. The higher the number, the more protection the helmet will offer.

The appropriate shade level for viewing a solar eclipse will vary depending on the type of eclipse you are viewing. Hence, for a total solar eclipse, you will need to use a filter with a Shade 12 or higher rating as suggested by NASA.

Different Welding Mask types 

There are two main types of welding masks: auto-darkening and passive. I highly recommend Auto-darkening welding masks, which are way more popular than passive masks and offer substantially more protection for your eyes.

Auto-Darkening Welding Helmet

Auto-Darkening welding helmets automatically adjust the shade level of the lens filter depending on the intensity of light that is being emitted. This prevents the welder from having to change the filter level manually.

Additionally, they are also equipped with a sensor that detects the presence of UV radiation. If the sensor detects high levels of UV radiation, it will automatically adjust the shade level to offer more protection to the eyes.

My top three suggestions are as follows:

Best Overall

Lincoln Electric Viking Auto Darkening Welding Helmet

• Large 12.5 Square Inch Auto Darkening Lens
• Premium Optics with a Crystal Clear View
• Comfortable Adjustable X6 Headgear
• 3 Year Warranty

Check Latest Price on Amazon

Best Value for Money

Antra AH6 Auto Darkening Welding Helmet

• Full Face and Neck Protection
• Highly Responsive Arc Sensors
• Extremely Lightweight Design for Reduced Muscle Fatigue
• Sonar Panels Extend Battery Life

Check Latest Price on Amazon

Best on a Budget

YESWELDER Solar Powered Auto Darkening Welding Helmet

• Suitable For TIG, MIG, MMA
• 8 Square Inch Viewing Area
• Comes with Replacement Lenses
• Comfortable Pivot Style Headgear
• Get 10% Off with Discount Code 'BWG' at Yeswelder.com

Check Latest Price at Yeswelder

Passive Welding Helmet

A passive welding helmet is a type of welding mask that does not have an auto-darkening lens filter. It relies on the welder to manually adjust the shade level of the lens filter depending on the intensity of light that is being emitted.

Passive welding masks are also equipped with a sensor that detects the presence of UV radiation. However, unlike auto-darkening, you must manually adjust the filter with a passive welding helmet.

What to Avoid When Watching Solar Eclipse?

When choosing a welding helmet for watching a solar eclipse, there are a few things you should avoid:

1. Welding helmet in poor Condition – Do not use a welding helmet that is not in good condition. The filters on welding helmets degrade over time, and if the filter on your welding helmet is not in good condition, you may be exposing yourself to harmful levels of UV radiation.
2. Use correct shade – be sure to choose the correct shade level for the eclipse you are viewing. If you select a shade level that is too dark, you may not be able to see anything. If you do not know which shade your welding helmet is, you should avoid using it to view the solar eclipse.
3. Do not remove it while watching – Finally, avoid removing your welding helmet while watching the eclipse because you will be exposing yourself to harmful levels of sunlight.

What Can Happen if I Use Incorrect Eye Protection When Watching Solar Eclipse?

The most common consequence of not using the proper eye protection is solar retinopathy. Solar retinopathy is a condition that occurs when the retina is damaged by UV radiation. Symptoms of solar retinopathy include:

• Blurry vision
• Light sensitivity
• Distorted vision

Additional symptoms of exposing your eyes to UV light may result in irritability, itchy or watery eyes, and temporary yellow bumps in the eyes besides the lens.

NOTE: If you experience any of these symptoms after viewing a solar eclipse, you should seek medical help immediately. Do not wait to see if the symptoms go away, as they may not and could potentially lead to permanent vision loss.

Related Questions

Read Next

• Will Welding Damage My Eyes
• Protective Equipment Essentials for the Beginner Welding
• Best Welding Helmets for Beginners
• How to Prevent Welding Burns

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