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Not too sure which helmet is right for you? Check out our welding helmet buying guide to help you choose!
Practical answers on choosing, checking and looking after an auto-darkening or powered air welding helmet.
Test it every time before you start. Most helmets have a test button, or you can point the lens at a bright light source and see whether it darkens straight away. Check the battery or solar cells, make sure the sensors are clean and uncovered, and look over the cover lens for damage.If the lens does not darken instantly, do not weld in that helmet. Follow the instructions supplied with your helmet, because the exact test method and battery check vary between models.
Replace it when it is cracked, scratched, pitted or heavily covered in spatter. A damaged or dirty cover lens reduces how clearly you can see the weld and, on some helmets, can interfere with the sensors so the filter flickers or does not darken properly.The cover lens is there to take the wear so the filter behind it does not. Fit the new one with its gasket the same way round as the old one, and use the part specified in your helmet's manual rather than a lens that only looks similar.
Wipe the cover lens and the sensors gently with a soft, clean, lint-free cloth. Mild soap and water is usually fine if the manual allows it. Avoid solvents, abrasive cleaners and strong chemicals, which can damage the plastic and the filter.Do not spray liquid directly onto the helmet, as it can get into the electronics. Keep the sensors and any solar cells clean, because dirt on them can make the lens slow or unreliable. Always follow the cleaning advice in the manual for your helmet.
Low-amp TIG gives a dim, small arc, so the helmet may struggle to see it. Raise the sensitivity setting, and set it while you are in your normal welding position with the work lit as it will be in use. A helmet with more sensors, and a filter that states a low minimum working current, generally copes better.If you set the sensitivity very high, the lens may darken from other bright light, so find the lowest setting that works reliably. Check the maker's stated minimum current for your filter, and if the lens still flickers at low current, the helmet may not suit that work.
Auto-darkening filters are normally built with permanent ultraviolet and infrared protection, whether or not the electronics are working. That does not mean you can see to weld, and it does not mean a failed filter is safe to use: the lens will not darken, so you could be dazzled by the arc.Check the markings and instructions for your filter to see what protection it states. If it fails to darken, stop welding, fit a fresh battery or replace the filter as the manual directs, and repeat the test before you carry on.
The shade needed depends on the welding process, the current you are using and sometimes the electrode or wire size. Higher currents and brighter processes generally need a darker shade. The helmet's manual or the filter maker's shade guide shows suitable settings for each process and current.A common approach is to start with a darker shade than you think you need, then step lighter until you can see the weld pool comfortably without glare. Never choose a shade that is too light just to see better. Variable shade filters make this easier because you can adjust it between jobs.