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New year, new welding helmets

Profiling 6 helmets

New year, new welding helmets - TheFabricator.com

3M Occupational Health and Environmental Safety Division

There’s no better way to usher in the new year than to evaluate your safety equipment to make sure everything is in topnotch working order. One of the most important pieces of equipment is the one that protects to your head, face, and eyes—your welding helmet. For many welders, helmets are a way for them to showcase their personality. But more important, helmets protect the eyes from harmful UV/IR radiation and, in some cases, flying debris from grinding and other pre- or postweld processes.

Here’s a look at six helmets to keep your eye on in 2012.

 

3M Occupational Health and Environmental Safety Division has introduced the Speedglas™ 9100 FX-Air welding helmet with respiratory protection.

The helmet connects to the 3M™ Adflo™ PAPR or the 3M™ Fresh-air III supplied-air regulators to protect welders from welding particulates and gases and provide comfort.

3M Occupational Health and Environmental Safety Division, 800-328-1667,

www.3m.com/speedglasair

 

Lincoln Electric’s VIKING™ 3350 autodarkening helmet has a large (3.34-in. vertical) viewing area and a variable shade range of 6 to 13 to protect welders in welding, gouging, grinding, and plasma cutting environments. It has continuously variable delay and sensitivity to adjust to different lighting conditions. The helmet features four arc sensors with user-replaceable battery assist.

The helmet, compatible with cheater lenses and hard hats, is available in black and graphic styles.

Lincoln Electric Co., 216-481-8100,

New year, new welding helmets - TheFabricator.com

Lincoln Electric

www.lincolnelectric.com

 

The Fibre-Metal Tigerhood™ Futura™ helmet from Honeywell Safety Products provides protection for welders involved in a variety of arc welding processes.

The lightweight helmet features a front-loading, hinged glass holder and free-floating headgear.

It offers variable shades from 9 to 13 ADF. ADC technology allows the welder to work in various positions without any shade variation in the viewing area.

Honeywell Safety Products, 800-523-7048, www.fibre-metal.com

 

Miller Electric Mfg. Co. has introduced the 9400i™ that reflects radiant heat and features a quick-release front cover lens to help reduce welder downtime.

The aluminum heat shield protects the autodarkening lens in applications requiring 300 amps or more. A 9.22-sq-in. viewing area includes four sensors and an integrated, ANSI-approved grinding shield with a 180-degree field of view, allowing the welder to switch between grinding and welding without the need to remove the helmet.

The helmet provides protection in low-amperage GTAW (5-amp) environments; meets ANSI Z87.1-2003 high impact standards; and comes with a magnifying lens holder.

New year, new welding helmets - TheFabricator.com

Honeywell Safety Products

Miller Electric Mfg. Co., 800-426-4553, www.millerwelds.com

 

The Tweco® WeldSkill® autodarkening helmet is lightweight and heat-resistant.

It is equipped with a variable shade of 9 to 13, sensitivity control, welding and grinding modes, a three-position pivot setting for optimal comfort, and a 3.86- by 1.69-in. viewing area.

The variable delay function allows the user to set the filter to remain in the dark state even after the welding arc stops. A longer delay ensures user safety in environments with high amperages, high duty cycles, or low ambient light.

Sensitivity and delay knobs are located on the outside of the helmet shell for easy access. A chin-guard extension helps to block weld spatter.

Tweco®, a Thermadyne Co., 636-728-3000, www.thermal-dynamics.com

 

ESAB Welding & Cutting Products offers the New-Tech ADC Plus series of autodarkening helmets. The new angular dependence compensation feature ensures that the shade selected covers the full width and height of the helmet’s LCD screen and improves color definition and contrast throughout the cartridge.

The helmet’s blue high-visibility lens provides for extra-high definition visibility, making it easy for the welder to see the work. The XL lens has an extra-large viewing area and adjustable shade levels from DIN 6 to 13. A grinding mode allows users to switch off the ADF screen during grinding. Rechargeable solar batteries are activated by light automatically.

ESAB Welding & Cutting Products, 800-372-2123, www.esabna.com

About the Author
FMA Communications Inc.

Amanda Carlson

2135 Point Blvd

Elgin, IL 60123

815-227-8260

Amanda Carlson was named as the editor for The WELDER in January 2017. She is responsible for coordinating and writing or editing all of the magazine’s editorial content. Before joining The WELDER, Amanda was a news editor for two years, coordinating and editing all product and industry news items for several publications and thefabricator.com.