Monkey Masks FAQs
Straight answers to the questions people ask most when choosing and using a monkey mask or welding hood.
What is a monkey mask and who is it for?
A monkey mask is a flexible leather welding hood that covers your head and neck, with a window or lens at the front to see through. Because it is soft and compact rather than a rigid shell, it is popular with welders who work in cramped places, such as tanks, pipework, vessels and under machinery.
It also appeals to people who want good all-round cover of the head and neck against spatter and heat. Some versions have a fixed lens, some have flip-up goggles and some have an auto-darkening filter.
How is a monkey mask different from a normal welding helmet?
A conventional helmet is a rigid shell that protects the face and holds a filter lens, and it is usually lifted up and down. A monkey mask is a soft hood that also covers the back and sides of the head and neck. It is lighter and more flexible, but it usually gives less impact protection than a hard shell.
Many welders find a rigid helmet easier to lift out of the way, and a hood better for awkward positions and overhead work. The best choice depends on your work and how you move.
What viewing options do monkey masks have?
There are generally three styles. A fixed lens gives a constant dark view, which means you lift the whole mask or look away to see between welds. Flip-up goggles or a flip-up lens let you raise the dark lens to see clearly for setting up or chipping. An auto-darkening filter is clear until the arc strikes, then darkens automatically, so you can position the torch and weld without lifting anything.
Choose according to how much you weld, how often you need to look at the work and your process. Whichever you choose, make sure the lens suits the process and current.
Why does the type of stitching matter?
Ordinary thread can burn through when it is hit by spatter or heat, which allows seams to open and spatter to get in. Welding gear is often sewn with heat-resistant thread, such as aramid fibre, which does not melt or burn away like ordinary thread.
It is worth checking that a mask is stitched with heat-resistant thread and that the stitching is in good condition. If the seams fray, or the thread is scorched or broken, repair or replace the hood.