Welding Helmets, Hoods and HatsWelding helmets are needed to perform welding operations. Using an auto darkening welding helmet is the norm these days.
They are an absolute must when you are welding. Whether you are Mig, Tig or Arc welding. With out a welding helmet, there would be no way that you could look at the extremly bright welding arc. The welding helmet will dull the bright welding arc right down so that all you see is the most concentrated welding arc, and the welding puddle. This will allow you to see what you are doing. Originaly the first style of helmets that came out where a simple flip up, flip down type. With
those welding helmets you had to flip the filter lense down each time you wanted to weld. Then you would be
protected from the welding arc. Once you finished your weld you would either flip the welding filter lense back up, or simly just take the welding helmet off. One of the biggest problems with the normal type helmets is that when you go to flip the filter lense down, you quite often lose your starting position. You have to hold the welding electrode or the mig gun at the point where you want to start to weld, then with your other hand you have to flip the lense down. When you go to flip the lense down on your welding helmet, your hand holding the mig gun or welding rod will slightly move. So when you actualy pull the trigger or strike the arc, you will not start where you wanted to start. This is a lot easier to control when mig welding as you do not have to wave a welding electrode around to strick an arc but it still make welding that little bit harder. Now there are auto darkening welding helmets. An auto darkening welding helmet, will automatically darken when there is a welding arc. These things are brilliant. Honestly, just by buying and using an auto helmet. Your welding will improve heaps.It will improve because for starters you can see where you are going, and secondly you will not get frustrated a flipping a lense up and down.You can buy an auto darkening welding helmet these days really cheap. Most hardware stores and welding supply shops will have them.
The older style helmets can be a real "pain in bottom" becasue of this constant flipping of the lense up and
down.
If that is all you have to use then it will be fine. But if you really want to start getting your welds looking
better you really should go and buy a decent auto helmet. Once you use one you will never go back.
Why? Cause every time I go to start the weld, I flip the lense down and I lose my starting position. Those of
you who have one of these non automatic helmets will know what I mean.
If you are out in the daylight sun, it isn't too bad as you can see the work to some extent.
The difference between a flip down helmet and an auto darkening welding helmet are like night and day. Easier,
faster and quicker to use.
At the top you can see the solar panel. This will activate the auto lense when you strike an arc.
Automatically!
"No need to flip the lense down."
On the side there is an adjustable shade setting, from shade 8 to shade 13. So I can weld at a varing range of
power levels.
The old "Ned Kelly's" as we call them here in Australia, you would have to change out the lenses to suit each
job. And on the inside there are adjustable settings. Mine is just a basic one, so it will not have as many
setting as other auto helmets will.
On mine I can adjust my "sensitivity" from low to high, and my "delay time" from slow to fast.
Below are a few auto darkening welding helmets that you can take a closer look at.
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