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ESAB Welding Helmets

ESAB Welding Helmets FAQs

Practical answers on choosing, using and looking after welding and weld-and-grind helmets, including flip-up and air-ready styles.

How often should I replace the cover lens on my helmet?icon-minus-redicon-plus-red

There is no single interval. Replace the clear outer cover lens whenever it is cracked, deeply scratched, pitted by spatter or too dirty to clean with a soft cloth. A damaged cover lens makes the arc harder to see and, on an auto-darkening helmet, can interfere with the sensors.

Cover lenses are normally specific to the helmet, so check the manual or markings for the correct part. Replacing a cover lens is far less involved than replacing the filter itself, so it is worth checking it regularly and changing it early.

How do I choose the right shade for my welding process?icon-minus-redicon-plus-red

Shade depends on the process and the current: a higher current gives a brighter arc and needs a darker shade. Published shade charts are only a guide, and different charts give slightly different numbers, so start from the chart in your helmet manual and adjust to what you can comfortably see.

If you are unsure, begin with the darker shade rather than the lighter one, and never go lighter than the maker recommends for the process. Low-current TIG, plasma cutting and heavy-current MIG or stick can all call for quite different settings. Our team can help you match a helmet to your work.

What is arc eye and what should I do if I think I have it?icon-minus-redicon-plus-red

Arc eye is an injury to the front surface of the eye caused by the ultraviolet radiation from welding. The eye usually becomes painful and red a few hours after exposure, and it often feels gritty. Most cases are temporary, but other parts of the eye can also be damaged by welding radiation.

The usual cause is striking an arc before the helmet is in place, or being exposed to someone else's arc. If you suspect arc eye, stop work and get medical advice. Always lower the helmet or check the filter is dark before you strike the arc.

Do other people near me need eye protection when I weld?icon-minus-redicon-plus-red

Yes. Anyone close to an arc, including helpers, assistants and passers-by, can be exposed to harmful radiation and may develop arc eye. The risk depends on how close they are and how long they are exposed, and there is no distance that is simply safe. People working near the arc need protection suited to the work, such as filtered eyewear with side protection, as set out in your risk assessment.

Where possible, screen off the welding area with screens or curtains made for welding, and keep unprotected people well away from the arc. A helmet protects only the person wearing it.

What is a weld and grind flip-up helmet, and when is it useful?icon-minus-redicon-plus-red

A weld and grind helmet has a hinged front that carries the welding filter. With the front down you weld; with it lifted you see through a clear inner visor, which is useful for grinding, chipping slag and setting up between welds without taking the helmet off.

This suits fabrication and repair work where you switch often between welding and preparation. Because the front is a moving part, check the hinge is smooth and holds its position, and that the clear visor is undamaged. Following the maker's instructions on which part protects you in each mode is important.

What do the standard numbers and impact letters on a helmet mean?icon-minus-redicon-plus-red

Welding eye and face protection is made to British and European standards covering the frame, the filter and impact resistance. The markings on the helmet and filter usually show the standards it meets, the shade or shade range, an optical quality class and an impact letter, which indicates how much impact the part was tested to withstand.

A letter followed by T means the rating also applies at temperature extremes. The meanings are set out in the helmet manual, which is the authority for your helmet. If markings are missing or illegible, do not rely on the helmet.