Welding Helmets & Masks for MIG, TIG & Arc welding

Welding masks are an integral component of a welders PPE.

Welding helmets protect the welders eyes whilst ensuring visibility of the weld pool and work material. They typically consist of a high temperature plastic shell with an auto darkening or passive glass filter. Auto darkening welding masks are more common, nowadays, than passive.

Recently, air fed welding masks have been increasingly more common in the industry. This is due to the health and safety executive adjusting their stance of welding fume. As of 2019, fume extraction or air fed protective equipment is required in workplaces that carry out welding.

Air fed welding helmets are ideal for reducing the risk of lung cancer and other illness' that can be caused by prolonged exposure to welding fumes. Respiratory protective equipment, such as a PAPR system, is commonly used in conjuntion with local exhaust ventilation (LEV), such as a welding fume extractor.

3M Speedglas were one of the pioneering brands to manufacture welding masks that reacted to the initiation of a welding arc. Initially, this type of helmet was very costly; however, in recent years the prices have decreased dramatically.

We, Welding Supplies Direct, curretly offer react to light welding helmets for as low as £23.00 excluding VAT.

Welding mask features

• Reaction time: Reaction time is the amount of time that is takes the welding mask lens to auto darken when the welding arc is struck. This is usually measure in milliseconds.
• Arc sensors: The amount of welding arc sensors a mask has is very important. If arc sensors get blocked the lens may not darken when the welding arc is initiated. The more arc sensors a welding helmet has the less likely it is to fail. Typically, we recommend considernig masks with no less than 4 arc sensors.
• Viewing area: The viewing area is the actual dimensions of the auto darkening filter. This is typically stated in MM x MM e.g. 110MM x 90MM.
• Grinding mode: A welding helmet that has a grinding mode feature can be used for eye and face protection when utilising angle grinders, belt grinders and plasma cutters.
• Diopter compatible: This means that the welding helmet can be used in conjunction with a magnifier lens.
• Shade range: A auto darkening filter has a shade range, typically ranging from shade 9 to shade 13. Shade 13 is darkest whilst shade 9 is lightest. There are, however, some helmets that are capable of going down to shade 5. Lighter shades are typically used for gas welding or plasma cutting.
• True colour: True colour allows for more of the visible light sprectrum to pass through the lens, thus making the welding lens more clear.
• Optical clarity: Usually stated in a format such as 1/1/1/2. Each number stands for a specific standard. The first number is the grade of accuracy of vision, the second number is the grade of diffusion of light, the third number is the grade of variations in luminous transmittance & the fourth number is the grade of angular dependence.