Posted on May 23, 2010.
How Welding Helmets Protect Your Eyes welding helmets are undoubtedly the most precious of a welder must be protected. Welding helmets have been around for a long time and technology has steadily improved. They are much more user friendly and offers more protection. However, there are many misconceptions about how a welding helmet actually protects the welder against environmental risks of their work.
Your average layman commonly believed main task of a welding helmet to protect your eyes from the lights of a welding arc. Almost like a welder's helmet is a pair of sunglasses super. This is only partially true. The objective in the main working headphones to filter ultraviolet and infrared. The lens is designed to filter out 100% of harmful UV and IR sensitive your eyes. Do not be confused with the goal or not is dark or not. An auto darkening welding lens protect against ultraviolet whether the objective is clear or dark. It is understandable to think the light is the problem because it is visible to the naked eye. The light is always harmful to the eye, so the welding helmet has a darkened lens or a self dimming feature.
On auto darkening welding helmets, the lens will darken in 4/10ths of a millisecond to filter visible light. It is faster than your eyes have time to react to light. Anything slower than 4/10ths of a millisecond and you should not buy the welding helmet. An auto darkening model protects your eyes 100% of the time of the ultraviolet and infrared if the objective is clear and dark and protect you from the visible light 4/10ths of milliseconds after the arc is lit. It is much safer than the old style of welding helmets for the simple reason that you can see when the arc is extinguished. After stopping the auto darkening welding lens is clear. Now you can walk or see your work area without lifting the helmet. This is very important, because another function of the solder mask is to protect your face and eyes from flying objects. metal debris and other hazards can still damage your eyes.
Auto optoelectronics helmets are definitely the way forward and worth the extra cost. Rest assured that the technology will completely protect your eyes against harmful effects of light welding. The lens will fade with time so that your eyes are irreplaceable damage. A welder will not sacrifice security for convenience and is self shading models are much safer because they allow you to keep your face and eye protection, even after the welding arc is extinguished.