Prevention is better than cure, and it is entirely correct in terms of welding helmets. Are you looking for an excellent auto-darkening welding helmet? Are you not sure what are the best brands, materials, and specifications to consider?
Welding helmets protect the eyes, face, and neck against the flames generated and any type of weld. But the best thing about welding helmets is that they improve your work efficiency by holding it hands-free.
Therefore, welding will no longer appear risky if you use a high-quality auto-darkening welding helmet. And since we know you need it, in this article, we show you the best auto darkening welding helmets, among many other things that will help you to know which one to buy. What are you waiting for?
Table of Contents
Why are welding helmets necessary?
Just like wearing aprons are essential for working in professional kitchens, welding helmets are an absolute must for the welders.
Be it a beginner or an expert welder; welding helmets are the most basic headgear they should use for self-protection. But why is it of utmost importance?
Let’s dig deep into it!!
We all know that the welding process includes countless risk factors. The possibilities of eye injury, head injury, skin burn are only a few to mention.
So to perform safe and proper welding, all necessary precautions should be taken. Among the basic safety attires like scarfs, goggles, and many others, welding helmets are crucial.
This is the best Personal Protective Equipment, which is a must-have for every welder. Basically, in the arc welding processes, namely shielded the arch significantly emits metal arc welding, gas tungsten arc welding, gas metal arc welding, ultraviolet, and infrared rays.
The highly concentrated UV rays are not only vision damaging but also may damage the uncovered skin areas resulting in acute sunburn-like situations. Besides, toxic gasses and splashes are equally harmful to both skin and eyes.
The discharged UV radiation affects the eyesight if eyes are not protected. It may cause cornea inflammation, retina burns, etc., leading to temporary or permanent vision loss.
To avoid this risk, welding helmets are ineluctable both for the welders and even for the viewers. A proper helmet ensures the safety of the entire head, along with the eyes.
Wondering how? Ok. Let me clarify below.
Physical injuries are common issues in the welding process because of excessive heat, sparks, several flying particles, etc.
But welding helmets keep these factors away by working as a healthy face shield. In most of the cases, the helmets don’t let the welders even feel the existence of these injurious staffs.
Best Auto Darkening Welding Helmets: In-depth Overview
Auto-darkening welding helmets are quite fascinating, and as a result, it’s hard to decide on the correct one. But don’t worry. Here, we have listed some of the best auto darkening welding helmets available in the market.
So, without any further ado, let’s start the proceedings:
Are you looking for a welder helmet with perfect lense? Here is your solution. The Esab Sentinel A50 helmet features a comfortable harness and a transparent lens with a 1/1/1/2 rating.
The transparent allows you to get a clear vision to work comfortably in welds. The clarity of its lens is outstanding.
However, it protects the eyes perfectly as if it were a dark shading. It has a front lens with excellent vision, it is very easily changeable, and it is flush with the helmet.
It is a helmet made of high-quality materials that guarantee a long, useful life with the best technology. This Esab mask offers a color LED touch screen with memory functions to configure the settings for different welding tasks.
It comes up with the touch of a button you can make the adjustment you want. This screen is hidden inside the hood, and there is a button of grinding on the outside of the helmet.
So, the transitions between welding and grinding are smooth when you keep the helmet on. This model has four sensors placed at the rear of the mask, so its use can be somewhat complicated.
Key Features:
⦁ Outstanding screen design with high-quality impact resistance.
⦁ Entirely adjustable and ergonomic helmet
⦁ Combines with automatic darkening adf technology
⦁ Different shadow modes
⦁ It has multiple control panels with a color screen.
Are you in search of the best budget welding helmet? Yesweilder LYG-L500A is one of the best on-budget auto-darkening welding lens out there. Even though it comes up with a rather low price tag, it has some excellent features to impress you immediately.
The LYG-L500A is built with true color lens technology, rare in most other helmets of this price. The true color technology combines up with an auto-darkening filter to make it even better.
There is a replacement lens included with this helmet in case you face problems with the lens. The auto-darkening procedure is susceptible. The clarity of this product is 1/1/1/2, which minimizes the fatigue or eye strain while using it.
The LYG-L500A is very light in weight and combines with a fantastic headgear. The headgear ensures that welders can work pretty comfortably with this helmet.
According to shade 16, welders will be protected from UV?IR while using this helmet. The view area of 3.64″ x 1.67″ makes it even more fascinating for the users.
One major issue with this LYG-L500A can be the unavailability of grind function. That means you have to use it only with a solar-powered system. But, overall, it’s a fantastic product in a limited budget.
Key Features:
⦁ Fantastic for TIG, MIG or MMA
⦁ Comes up with an optical clarity of 1/1/1/2
⦁ Amazing true color lens technology
⦁ The range of the viewing area is 3.64″ x 1.67″.
⦁ Auto-darkening filters
Are you looking for a complete solar-powered welding helmet? Here is your answer. This excellent DEKO welding helmet is entirely light and offers comfort when carrying out welding work.
It has a smooth and rounded perimeter in such a way that it has an ergonomic design to be used comfortably. It offers multiple adjustments and combinations to For the user to feel the most excellent comfort.
The DEKOPRO can be adapted without any inconvenience to each user’s personal preferences so that less pressure is obtained and an ideal personal fit. For that, you can claim it as the best MIG welding helmet.
Besides, the DEKO brand welding mask of MIG MMA welding type has super solar automatic dimming, in such a way that its filter changes from light to dark in just a few seconds.
This helmet is equipped with a parasol viewing area 3.8-inch transparent in such a way that light diffusion, light transmittance, and angular dependence.
It allows the welder to see clearly at different angles for a good weld. Best of all, it features automatic dimming and Infrared and Ultraviolet protection.
Key Features:
⦁ The viewing area is around 3.85-inch x 3.15 inch
⦁ The settings are easily changeable.
⦁ Very lightweight, just one pound
⦁ Compact and durable external body
⦁ The battery life can reach up to 5000 hours.
If you want an overall satisfactory performance from a welding helmet, you can choose the Antra AH6-260-0000 auto-darkening helmet for sure.
This magnificent welding helmet is right up there for its ability to provide the highest comfort and compact safety. Besides, it is pretty much the best welding helmet for beginners with all it’s features.
It is always ready to protect your eyes from the glare of welding, and you will hardly find an alternative to the quality it produces in this aspect.
The AH6-260-0000 is brilliantly compatible with a magnifying glass, and itr’s an infrequent feature to have. The magnifying glass comes up with a measure of around 2 inches to 4 inches in this helmet.
The witching speed of this Antra AH6-260-0000 is around 0.00004 seconds, which is an impressive and unique feat. It’s proof that your eyes will always be protected while using this welding helmet.
The viewing dimension of this product is 3.78″ x1.78,” and it’s not bad considering it’s other features. Overall, it’s a full package for any welder striving for quality and protection at the same time.
Key Features:
⦁ Robust and compact external body
⦁ Very lightweight, only one pound, which is excellent.
⦁ ANSI Z87.1 and CSA Z94.3 standard.
⦁ High-quality replacement lens.
⦁ Compatible with magnifying glasses
PROS:
⦁ High-speed switching ability
⦁ Amazingly responsive
⦁ A wide lens that allows you to cover wider places
⦁ Adjustable with any kind of hard hats
⦁ Protects your eyes better than other helmets
CONS:
⦁ The adjuster can cause a few problems
If you are an occasional welder and looking for a quality pro-hobby helmet, then Miller welding helmet is the perfect one for you. This helmet is a digital pro-hobby helmet and thus features a digital push-button control system instead of the classical dial operated control system.
One of the best advantages of using this helmet is that it is very lightweight and comfortable. Nylon is used as the head-pieces primary material, and the complete product weights only two pounds.
As a result, your neck won’t be strained with extended usage. What does it mean? No neck-pain! Isn’t it great? But weight is not everything of a welding helmet, and the lenses, along with the viewing system, is essential for a quality welding helmet as well.
The shade of this black helmet is 3 and 8-12 having a speedy sensitivity and delay control of 0.10 to 1.0 seconds and a switching speed of 1/10000 seconds.
Miller’s helmet also comes with five outside and two inside magnifying lenses. It has a standard viewing area of 5-1/5 square inches. So you are unlikely to have any regrets in this area.
Another useful feature of the helmet is its dual power source. Both batteries and solar power can power this trusty welding helmet. The package includes two AAA batteries, which have a lifespan of 2000 hours.
Key Features:
⦁ Very light in weight, only two pounds
⦁ The lens shade: 3 and 8-12
⦁ 5-1/5 sq. inches viewing area
⦁ Has a sensitivity and delay control speed of 0.10 to 1.0 seconds
⦁ 1/10000 seconds of switching speed
⦁ Both battery and the Sun power it.
PROS:
⦁ Very comfortable due to its lightweight
⦁ Standard, spacious viewing area
⦁ Comes with two sources of power
⦁ The immediate response of the auto-darkening feature
⦁ No on-off switch to prevent flashing
CONS:
⦁ The helmet does not come with a helmet bag
If you are not a hobby welder and looking for something a bit more professional and of higher quality, then 3M speed glass 9100 welding helmet is the one for you. Its extra-large lens and sensitivity adjustment features make it perfect for professional welders.
As you can guess from its name, the 3M speedglas 9100 welding helmet has a large viewing area of 12.11 square inches. The helmet itself also comes with auto-darkening filter and side windows.
These features will provide you with professional-level face and eye protection from harmful UV rays, IR rays, and other types of lights and debris.
The lens of this helmet features several switchable dark shades that can be selected per the user’s (meaning you) preference. The shades vary within 5, 8, 9-13. Besides the dark shades, the lens also has a light shade of three. The lens is also equipped with three sensors.
Another essential feature of this helmet is its sensitivity adjustment capacity. Due to this feature, you will be able to use it for most of the Stick, MIG, and TIG welding applications. How convenient!
The helmet is designed for increased work efficiency, but it is also designed to give high comfort to the users. The interior of the 3M speedglas 9100 welding helmet is designed and padded to reduce fatigue. The product is also light in weight, only 2.09 pounds.
Even the knobs for simple adjustments are designed to be significant to make it easier for you to use them even with gloved hands. See how much importance the producers give to your comfort?
Key Features:
⦁ High-quality eye and face protection
⦁ Fits 50 cm to 64 cm head sizes
⦁ A highly adjustable head suspension system for comfort
⦁ Adjustable auto-darkening filter
⦁ Three sensors in the lens
⦁ Grinding and torch modes available
PROS:
⦁ Large viewing area
⦁ The auto-darkening lens reduces stop and start time.
⦁ Comfortable helmet design
⦁ Supports three types of welding works
⦁ Can be used with glasses and respiratory device
CONS:
⦁ Sunlight can trouble auto-darkening filters.
If you are not comfortable using the nylon-made welding helmet, you can use the Lincoln 3350 series welding helmet; a plastic made one. The dimensions of this helmet are 13 x 10.5 x 10 inches. Lincoln helmet is colored black and weighs only 3.20 pounds.
3350 series Lincoln welding helmet is well known for its clarity in vision and color variation. This helmet features some shades of white, blues, and purple, which are extremely helpful in judging the puddle and overall welding process. It also includes four arc sensors.
You can change the shade of this auto-darkening lens as you please between 5 to 13 shades. And don’t forget about the viewing area either. It’s a massive 3.74 x 3.34 inches Viewing area that is best for a perfect welding condition.
One more advantageous fact of using this Chinese device is that you won’t need to worry about the batteries. Lincoln 3350 helmet does not need to use any external batteries as it is designed to be Solar powered. Fit right?
Key Features:
⦁ Clear vision with color variation
⦁ An auto-darkening lens with 5 to 13 shades
⦁ Features a switching speed of 1/25000 seconds
⦁ Lens technology: 4C(TM)
⦁ Has a light grind setting
⦁ Solar-powered lithium metal battery
PROS:
⦁ Durable and light in weight
⦁ Swift response time
⦁ Waterproof against sweating
⦁ Suitable for use in all environments
⦁ An affordable price
CONS:
⦁ Small hood unsuitable for fitting a welding respirator
Related: Best mig welder
Why do you need auto-darkening welding helmets?
To enjoy all the advanced opportunities, auto-darkening welding helmets are the best option to choose from.
These are more convenient with the adjustable lens, which detects arcs automatically. With LCD technology, they adjust the shade from light to dark if required and vice versa.
How does solar power work in welding helmets?
Another option to choose from the several are solar-powered welding helmets. In these helmets, there are photovoltaic cells on the top which capture sunlight as a source of power. The solar panels also use even the UV light produced by the arc.
Can you trust Lincoln Electric for welding helmets?
Among the innumerable auto-darkening welding helmet providers, Lincoln Electric has a great bunch of collections. Their 3350 Series are cost-effective and one of the best professional welding helmet in the market.
Guide to Welding Safety
Here’s a list of things you should wear while welding:
Hat: Protects hair and scalp, especially when welding in positions.
Respiratory maks for metal smoke: This mask should always be used under the mask to weld. These must be replaced at least once a week.
Welding mask: Protects the eyes, face, neck, and should be provided with inactinic filters according to the process and current intensities used.
Leather gloves: Musketeer type with an internal seam to protect hands and wrists.
Leather apron: To protect against splashes and exposure to ultraviolet rays from the arc.
Leggings: When it is necessary to do vertical and overhead welding, it must be used these attachments to avoid severe burns that may cause splashes of molten metal.
Safety shoes: Cover the ankles to avoid catch splash
Things to remember while welding:
⦁ Never weld in the vicinity of flammable liquids, gases, vapors, metals powders, or combustible powders.
- When the weld area contains gases, vapors, or powders, it is necessary to keep a perfectly airy and ventilated place while welding.
- Never weld in the vicinity of materials flammable or unprotected fuels.
- To weld in confined areas, you must always use a side puller to evacuate the fumes and gases emitted since these can damage health.
- The humidity between the body and something electrified forms a line to the ground that can produce current to the operator’s body and produces an electric shock.
- The operator must never be in a pool or on wet ground when welding, like also do not work in a humid place.
- You must keep hands, clothing, and place continuously dry while working.
History of Auto Darkening Welding Helmet
In 1937, the first welding helmet was invented for the protection of welders. But, those helmets are very crude, as it was using the polarized lens.
Then, in 1981, Hornell came up with a fantastic idea of inventing auto-darkening welding helmets. It was manufactured under the brand name of speedglas, and since then, auto-darkening helmets have become a go-to guy for welders.
Types of welding helmets
Despite the great variety of models that we can find in the market, we could classify welding masks into three basic categories, which we analyze below:
⦁ Hand Welding Helmet
It is the traditional welder helmet, the best known and cheapest, and the least features.
This mask is usually made of fiberglass or polyamide as a fundamental structural component. It is used holding it in front of the face with one hand, thanks to a handle that it has on its inner face, while with the freehand, it is welded.
Despite its ease of use, experience and expertise are required to handle it correctly and safely. That is why its use is not recommended for people who are learning the profession or have been welding for a short time.
⦁ Adjustable Welding Helmet
This helmet can be adjusted to the head thanks to adjustable support that is attached to a harness. As a result, both hands are allowed to be free, thus facilitating better support and precision in handling the welding electrode.
It provides greater protection than its predecessor, the face mask, and is more comfortable and less cumbersome when using it. Its excellent value for money has made it the most widely used professionally.
⦁ Electronic or Photosensitive Welding Helmet
It is the latest technological leap in welding equipment. It is the most modern and most efficient welding mask on the market, which is why they are usually more expensive than other simpler models.
Equipped with electronic components and a photosensitive screen, it can automatically regulate the viewing window’s darkening.
It can react instantly to sudden changes in brightness or high emissions of infrared and ultraviolet rays produced during the welding process.
The photosensitive helmet is the safest, as it protects more effectively and is more comfortable to wear than other welding masks. It is especially suitable for inexperienced welders, as its versatility gives its user more security and freedom of movement.
Related: How to Test Auto Darkening Welding Helmet
FAQs
Are cheap auto-darkening welding helmets safe?
Auto-darkening welding helmets usually are very safe to use if you follow the safety guide. But, if you consider cheap helmets, it may home risks of being poor in quality.
For that, you need to ensure that you are satisfied with the quality it’s producing. But, if you buy one with minimal qualities need to be safe, you don’t need to worry!
How long do welding helmets last?
In terms of providers, they will say that a welding helmet lasts in around 5-7 years. If it has a replacement battery, it will last more. But, in general, you will start facing problems with battery life only after 6-7 months.
Therefore, it’s better to buy a solar-powered welding helmet for a better outcome in terms of battery performance.
How bad is welding for your eyes?
It is dreadful and unhealthy if you don’t wear a protected helmet or mask while welding. It produces IR/UV radiation, which is dangerous for eyes and as well as overall health.
Conclusion
So, we have come to the end of our guide. Remember, while deciding a welding helmet, don’t just look at the price range, look for the qualities and features instead.
It will help you in decision making, and you will able to choose the best welding helmet that suits you.
Now, have you found a suitable helmet for your needings? Then, why to late? Cut the crap and get it for yours!
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