Choosing a welding helmet

With passive welding lenses now in the rear view mirror, auto-darkening lens technology is constantly evolving. When sensors on the helmet sense an arc start, the lens darkens in a fraction of a second.

Two particular features to consider are true/Natural colour and Variable colour. True colour allows you to view the work piece when the helmet is in it's light state, meaning you don't have to lift the head top. Variable colour technology has three colour settings to choose from; Green, blue or red. Your eye will adapt to whichever suits it best.

Budget & Optical lens scoring; Generally the more you spend, the better quality the welding lens technology. This is measured by EN379 standard, the best score being 1/1/1/1.

Side windows; Do you want peripheral vision or will that distract from the job at hand?

Durability; is it robust enough to withstand high impact? What happens to the welding filter if it's dropped?

Grinding Capability; Some helmets incorporate a clear grinding visor underneath the welding mask. Typically in the form of a dual use flip up top, it's a real time saver and acts as a two in one head top.

Spectacle Wear; Some helmets offer an adjustable rack on the headband to allow more room for spectacles. Check if the manufacturer offers magnification lenses which eliminate the need for wearing glasses.

Consumables; Are the inner and outer protection plates readily available and easy to fit?

Amount of Protection ; Are you MIG or TIG welding? You may want a deeper head shell for added protection in high amp MIG applications.

Automatic Park ; When you lift the helmet back, will it stay in the upright position?

Viewing Area ; A lot of manufacturers offer different sizes. The bigger the better!

Battery Life ; The higher quality auto darkening helmet filters are powered by replaceable batteries. The majority of the solar powered models have batteries that cant be removed.

Versatility; Thinking about TIG welding or grinding and plasma cutting? Select the appropriate filter lens. Shade 3 is ideal for grinding, 5 perfect for plasma cutting, whilst low amp TIG welding may require more sensitive settings for the arc sensors.

Headgear; Is it comfortable and importantly the level of adjustment. Can you move the head top away from your face.

With HSE now classifying all welding fume as a carcinogen, the emphasis on protecting operators with RPE has increased. The pointers above hold true for the head top, but what about the PAPR (powered air purifying respirator). You should consider the weight of the PAPR unit, its ability to provide constant air flow and battery life. Most manufacturers offer batteries have a standard run time of 8 hours per day with heavy duty options giving you 12.

Make sure the particulate filtration level is minimum P3 & there is an option for fitting a gas filter. Gas filters are often required, when more noxious substances are present in the weld fume.