0 items in your basket
Total £ 0.00 EX VAT
SHOPS
Special Buys/Offers
Rapid Merchandise Shop
PATON Shop
GoGrid Shop
GasiQ Shop
CK Shop
Furick TIG Shop
GPPH Shop
Kemppi Shop
Spiderhand Shop
Optrel Shop
3M Shop
Plymovent Fume Extraction
Miller Shop
Elga Shop
CEPRO Shop
Bohler Welding Shop
SFE Shop
Hypertherm Shop
Lincoln Electric Shop
ESAB Shop
Fronius Shop
HMT Shop
Gullco Shop
FEIN Shop
SAIT Shop
Harris Shop
FANUCI & FALCON Shop
Jackson Safety Shop
Key Plant Automation Shop
Orbitalum Shop
Bessey Shop
Bester Shop
EWM Shop
MACHINES
Welding Machine Offers
Arc Welders
MIG Welders
TIG Welders
Plasma Cutters
Air Compressors
Engine Driven Welders
Battery Power Supplies
Generators
Fume Extraction
Sub Arc Machines
Weld Positioning Equipment
Cutting Equipment
Spot Welders
Stud Welders
Used Machines
LC Laser Shop
ARC
MMA Electrodes
Cable Sets
Earth Clamps
Electrode Holders
Cable Connectors
Welding Cable
Welding Helmets
Arc Accessories
Rod Ovens
Learning
Exothermic Cutting
Chemical Aids
Gouging
MIG
MIG Filler Wire
MIG Torches & Parts
Site Wire Feeders
MIG Regulators
Ceramic Backing Tiles
MIG Accessories
TIG
TIG Torches
TIG Torch Parts
Tungsten Electrodes
TIG Filler Wire
Machine Remotes
TIG Accessories
Cold Wire Feeders
TIG Gauntlets
Tungsten Sharpening
Weld Cleaning
Gas Purging Tools
LASER
Laser Welders
Laser Cleaners
Laser Accessories
PLASMA
Plasma Torches
Plasma Torch Consumables
Lincoln Cutting Tables
GAS
Cutting & Welding Outfits
Gas Regulators
Flashback Arrestors
Gas Hoses & Fittings
Gas Torches
Gas Cutting Nozzles
Gas Welding & Heating Nozzles
Gas Accessories
Gas Welding & Brazing Rods
Gas Bottle Trolleys
Gas Cutting Machines
Quick Action Couplings
Regulator Accessories
Gas Analysers
SAFETY
Helmet Spares
Air Fed Welding Helmets
Swiss Air System
Goggles
Welding Blankets
Spectacles
Visors
Welding Curtains
Ear Protection
Safety Helmets
Monkey Masks
Gloves
Caps & Hoods
Leather Welding Clothing
Overalls
Weldline Female PPE
Disposable Masks & Respirators
WORKSHOP
Build your own GPPH Welding Table
Magnetic Drilling
Rapid Pipe Shop
Bevelling Machines
Automation
Metal Markers
Inspection Equipment
Pipework Equipment
Site Equipment
Exact Pipe Cutting Machines
Welding Rotators
Welding Tables
Bandsaws & Blades
TORCH &MACHINE SPARES
Pipe Cutting Machine Accessories
Parts for CO2 Laser
Kemppi MIG Parts
Machine Parts
Plasma Welding Torches
Water Coolers
Binzel MIG Parts
Tungsten Grinder Parts
WIRE, FLUX & RODS
Brazing Flux
Sub Arc Wire & Flux
ABRASIVES
3M Abrasives
SAIT Abrasives
Spectre Abrasives
Other Brand Abrasives
Backing Pads
Finishing & Polishing Products
Wire Brushes
Abrasive Belts
TOOLS
Angle Grinders
Right Lines Tool Offers
Magnetic Tools
Welding Clamps
Pipe Fit Up Tools
Site Storage
Orbitalum Pipe Machines
Orbitalum GF Sawblades
SECTORS
AGRICULTURAL
Education & Learning Centre
HOBBYIST
VEHICLE REPAIR
SERVICEDEPT.
RAPID BLOG
FEEDBACK
HIRE
Straight answers to the questions people ask most when choosing and looking after spare parts for a powered air welding helmet with an auto-darkening filter.
Start with the model markings on the helmet itself and on the filter lens, then check them against the user manual, which lists the parts that belong to your version. Helmets in the same family often come in several variants, with different filter sizes, cover plates and side windows, so a part that looks right may not be.If you cannot find a marking, compare the old part side by side with the replacement, and check the part number printed on it. If you are still unsure, our team can help you match the part to your helmet before you order.
There is no fixed interval. Change it when spatter, scratches or grinding dust make it hard to see through, or when it has pitted or cracked. A dirty or damaged plate forces you to lean in and strain, which is a safety issue as well as a comfort one.Outer plates are the sacrificial layer that protects the filter lens, so it is sensible to replace them freely rather than risk scratching the lens itself. Heat-resistant and scratch-resistant types exist, and the right one depends on how much spatter and grinding your work produces.
The outer plate is the clear sacrificial cover at the front. It takes the spatter and scratches and is changed most often. The inner plate sits behind the filter lens and keeps dust and debris from reaching the lens from inside the helmet.The auto-darkening filter lens is the part that changes shade when the arc strikes. It is the most delicate and valuable part of the optical stack, which is why the plates either side of it are there. Never run the helmet without the plates in place.
The shade you need depends on the process, the current and the brightness of the arc, so work from the welding procedure or your risk assessment rather than a guess. Many filters offer a fixed low shade for grinding or setting up and a variable range for welding.A wide variable range covers most MIG, TIG and stick work. Check that the replacement has the same outline size as the original, and that any upgrade or replacement kit is listed as suitable for your helmet version, as the fittings can differ.
The unit normally needs a particle filter for welding fume. Where there are gases or vapours, such as solvents, a suitable gas filter can be fitted as well, and some systems use an odour filter or a spark guard for added protection. Choose the filter type from your workplace risk assessment, not from habit.Replace a particle filter when it is damaged, clogged, or when the unit's airflow warning shows that airflow has dropped. Pre-filters trap larger dust and are changed more often, which helps the main filter last longer.
Powered air units are designed to supply a minimum airflow to the helmet, and the maker supplies a method of checking it, such as a flow indicator or a test described in the manual. Follow the instructions for your own unit exactly, and carry out the check at the intervals the maker specifies. Many users also check at the start of each shift and after changing a filter or battery.If the airflow is low, common causes are a clogged filter, a part-charged battery, a kinked or damaged hose or a poorly fitted connection. Do not weld until the cause is found and the airflow is back to the level the manual requires. Never ignore a low-flow warning.