Weld Like a Pro

Choosing Welding
Helmets and Goggles

An ARC-ZONE.COM ProductSelection Guide

02-10-2022

GeneralMIG/GMAW

TIG/GTAW

Stick/SMAW

PlasmaGeneral/Multiprocess

Introduction
Few decisions affect the safety and well-being of welders as much as his or her choice of eye
and face protection equipment. The CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) estimates thatapproximately 10,000 eye injuries related to welding occurred each year, and making a wise choiceof helmets or goggles can greatly reduce the chances of your becoming injured. Most importantly,
always choose helmets and goggles complying with ANSI Z87.1. When choosing them, there arethree main considerations:•Fixed filtration versus variable electronic darkening•

Traditional flip up helmets versus autodarkening ones•

The filter shade rating number required by the job

The filter lens should be marked with the manufacturer, the shade number or number range, andZ87.1. For cutting or working overhead, use a full-face shield on top of safety glasses. If using
goggles, to prevent fogging, ensure that the vents aren’t obstructed.

Fixed Versus Variable FiltrationThis choice usually comes down to cost and reliability. Fixed shade helmets and goggles are lessexpensive, easier to maintain, and more reliable. Variable shade helmets are electronic devices
that provide much greater flexibility if welding conditions vary. The shade rating determines thewelder’s ability to see what he or she is doing when welding. Welding shades range from nine to
14 with higher numbers being darker. If the shade is too light, the arc will obscure details of thewelding puddle. If the shade is too dark, only the arc will be visible. Contrary to popular opinion,
the shade rating has nothing to do with the shade’s ability to protect the user from light radiation.
All welding shades provide 100% protection.

Autodarkening Versus Traditional Flip-up Helmets
Many modern helmets automatically darken when the welder strikes an arc. Traditional flip-up
helmets are less expensive, easier to maintain, and more reliable; however, autodarkening has
many important safety and quality advantages. Autodarkening filters have the following traits:•They give continuous visibility before, during, and after striking an arc. This discourages raisingand snapping the helmet and improves weld starting accuracy.

•Keeping the helmet down lessens the chance of injury from nearby workers’ activities.

Arc-Zone.com, Inc. • 1331 Specialty Dr • Vista, CA 92081 • Tel. 1.760.931.1500
Email: info@arc-zone.com

•Even when the electronics fail, they provide protection like a fixed filter.

•Their darkening can be delayed by blocked light sensors, poor configuration, low temperatures,
or weak batteries.

Fixed shade filters have the following traits:•They only provide protection when they are worn and in the down position. Welders raise theshield when starting a new weld or inspecting a completed one. This greatly increases thelikelihood of unintentional radiation exposure.

•Raising and lowering fixed shields by head snapping can result in neck or muscle strain.

•The inability to precisely position the arc before starting encourages shield snapping andmisplaced starts.

Choosing Filter Shades
Choosing the proper shade number for welding and flame cutting is very important. Factors toconsider include:•Type of lens filter—reflective or standard•Radiant energy intensity produced by cutting or welding•

Background lighting intensity

The following table lists the recommended minimum lens number for welding activities. If twonumbers appear, the first is for standard and the second is for reflective. Welders may always vary
their choice to suit their needs. The bottom line is whether the welder can properly see the detailsof the work.
Type of work

Indoors

Outdoors

Air/carbon arc cutting

12, 11

11, 10

Flame cutting

43

Flux core welding

12, 11

11, 10Gas metal arc welding

11, 1010, 9Gas tungsten arc welding

11, 1010, 9

Gas welding

54

Plasma arc cutting

11, 1010, 9

Plasma arc welding

11, 1010, 9

Shielded metal arc welding

11, 1010, 9

Torch brazing

92

Torch soldering

22

Arc-Zone.com, Inc. • 1331 Specialty Dr • Vista, CA 92081 • Tel. 1.760.931.1500
Email: info@arc-zone.com

Cheater or mag lenses are essentially reading glasses for your welding helmet. Because ageinduced farsightedness (presbyopia) is a normal development, nearly all welders will eventuallyneed some sort of help seeing when welding. You have two choices—wear corrective lenses under
your helmet or buy lenses designed to clip to it.
When choosing the strength of your cheater lens, consider the following: The correction you
need is directly related to how old you are. If you are under 40 years old, you probably needaround a +1.25 diopter lens strength. At 40–45 years old, you need around +1.75. At 45–50, youneed around +2.00. Above 50 years old you need around +2.25. Even knowing this, there’s nosubstitute for simply trying different lenses. Hold the lens up to your face at the distance it would
be in a helmet. Look at detailed items at the distance you normally weld at. Alternatively, most
reading glasses displays at stores have a reading chart for choosing a lens; however, it’s common
for welders to use a slightly different diopter for welding than they do for regular reading.
Choose the lowest diopter where you can clearly see. Use the minimum diopter that does the job
because the higher the diopter the greater the size distortion of the perceived item, and theshallower your depth of field. Depth of field is the distance range that items can be awayfrom your eyes and still be in focus. A shallow depth of field means that you have to
move your head more often to ensure that what you’re looking at remains in focus.

About ARC-ZONE.com
Jim Watson
Jim is CEO and founder of Arc-Zone.com. He is a master fabricator with years ofhands-on experiencein his own shop and also as a winning motorcycle racer, car builder, and chief mechanic
for a top motorsports team. He also has extensive experience in manufacturing, technicalsales, and product development. Before launching Arc-Zone.com, he held leadership positions
in some of the most respected companies in the welding industry.
Arc-Zone.com
Under Jim’s direction, Arc-Zone.com has led the industry in product innovation and online sales
and service, becoming the world’s leading supplier of high-quality, high-performance welding andmetal working tools and accessories.

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Arc-Zone.com, Inc. • 1331 Specialty Dr • Vista, CA 92081 • Tel. 1.760.931.1500
Email: info@arc-zone.com