Better Welding Demands Better Welding Helmets.
Professional welders know that to weld well you need to feel as comfortable as possible and have a welding helmet with high quality optics and the latest technology. Common sense tells us that to be able to relax knowing that you are properly protected from radiation you need a quality auto darkening filter, a rapid switching speed and a helmet that incorporates the latest control technology for the various welding processes that we are likely to be engaged in.
Choosing a welding helmet is probably one of the most important decisions a welder can make. Buying a cheap helmet can not only compromise safety but also make it harder to work properly and result in excessive fatigue and eye strain. Simply put, 'it is not always true that you get what you pay for, but it is usually true that you don't get what you don't pay for'. The high quality filters and LCD's used in welding helmets like those made by Servore mean that they have to be more expensive than the cheap largely untested helmets that are sold on price. Of course many retailers carry cheap imitations because some consumers don't want to pay more - but increasingly people are realizing that the cheaper helmets are often unsafe, are much more uncomfortable, limit productivity and are just not worth it. Better personal protection is an investment not an expense.
Some tips for choosing a helmet.
Choosing the wrong helmet can result in long term damage to eyes and skin and in extreme cases result in serious health problems and even blindness.
The best welding helmets are made of modern lightweight materials like special nylons - these are both light and tough and extremely heat resistant. Helmets should be properly balanced and ergonomically designed to provide maximum head protection and sit comfortably on the head.
Cheaper welding helmets use cheap radiation filters that may break down over time or not even be safe in the beginning! So you should really ask yourself if you want to take that kind of risk before buying a cheap helmet.
The ANSI and EN Standards are quite specific about the minimum recommended specifications for welding helmets. (As are the various country standards, but these tend to be very similar to the ANSI and EN Standards.) It is well worth asking the person you are buying the helmet from if the helmet meets the ANSI and EN Standards (ANSI Z87.1, EN175, EN379) and to explain how it is marked. A lot of cheap helmets are labeled as complying with the Standard but actually the way that they are marked and labeled gives them away as the Standards also include specific instructions about how the helmets must be labeled. Ask your dealer to explain. If they can't do this you might want to consider shopping elsewhere.
Auto darkening helmets also use complex electronics and sensors to control when and how quickly the auto darkening filter (ADF) switches. Most cheaper helmets will not work properly in difficult conditions or on processes such as low amp TIG.
Design is another important consideration. The helmet should be light and comfortable and ergonomically designed to fit on your head comfortably in a variety of positions. The helmet should also offer good coverage of the face, neck ears and chin area as these can be subject to irradiation or spatter.
Last but not least is impact resistance. A good welding helmet will have high impact resistance to protect you from flying objects and will probably be made of a strong, lightweight material such as one of the new special nylons.
If you take these tips into account when shopping, you should end up with a decent welding helmet that will last you a while and be worth the investment in personal protection.
Servore are always a good choice for quality, better protection and value and have recently released some new and innovative designs that are well worth looking at.