A welding helmet is perhaps the most important tool of the trade. These specialized pieces of gear protect the eyes and face from injury and allow you to complete consistent, clean welds. Whether you’re preparing to get into welding as a profession or a hobby, it’s essential to choose a style of helmet that suits your needs, preferences, and the types of projects you’ll be tackling. Here's a look at some popular types.

Popular Styles of Welding Helmets

1. Passive Helmets

The most basic style, a passive helmet, typically features a fixed-shade lens. These are affordable and offer protection from ultraviolet light, intense heat, and flying pieces of metal and other debris. Because the lens is permanently dark, this option can be difficult for new welders to use, since the lens can obscure your workpiece and make it more difficult to strike an arc and line up your work. However, the lens can be replaced with darker or lighter options, if needed.

2. Auto-Darkening Helmets

Auto-darkening helmets are the most popular and widely recommended for experienced and beginner welders alike. When an arc is struck, light sensors will darken the normally clear lens to protect the eyes. Variable-shade models can be adjusted to suit the power of your welding torch and your project, while fixed-shade helmets darken to one preset shade. 

Most auto-darkening helmets are battery-powered, but solar-powered versions are available for working on long projects during which frequent battery changes may otherwise be needed.

3. Leather Welding Hoods

When working in confined spaces or areas where overhead sparks are a concern, whole-head protection is necessary. While wearers of auto-darkening and passive helmets often wear leather caps for additional protection, a leather hood may be a more effective option. These fit over the whole head and face and come with a darkening lens that flips up and down.

4. Pancake Welding Masks

Pancake welding hoods consist of a balsa wood box supporting a specialized lens to protect the eyes from high-intensity light. The superior protective qualities of their lenses make them particularly well-suited to welding outdoors, where the UV light from the sun can overwhelm other types of lenses. The lightweight material used to construct the mask makes pancake hoods comfortable for long periods of wear.

When you need welding helmets and other supplies for your next metalworking project, you can count on Wayne Oxygen & Welding Supply Co. to meet your needs. In business since 1959, they offer clients throughout the Waynesboro, VA, area an extensive selection of welding tools and supplies for purchase or rent to accommodate your requirements and budget. Visit them online to learn more about their products, or call (540) 942-4145 with questions.