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Practical answers on choosing and looking after the replaceable parts of a powered or supplied air welding helmet system.
Check that the hose and sealing parts are free from any visible damage, and that the hose is fitted correctly to both the blower or air source and the head part. Maker instructions for supplied and powered air equipment ask for this check before every use.The HSE also says respiratory protective equipment must be thoroughly inspected before each use. Look for cracks, cuts, kinks, hardened or flattened seals and loose connectors, and replace anything damaged before you weld. Do not tape or patch a damaged hose, because the protection depends on the air path being sound.
A powered system's particle filter should be replaced according to the maker's schedule and sooner if it is damaged, clogged or the airflow warning shows. Do not clean or blow out a filter to extend its life. One maker's manual makes clear that damage caused by cleaning or blowing a filter is not covered, and that a late change is a misuse.The interval depends on the maker, the filter type and how dirty the work is, so use the manual and your risk assessment rather than a fixed figure. Keep a spare set of filters so you are never tempted to carry on with a worn one.
Use the type label or marking on the head part, the blower or the air regulator, and the model information in the manual. Helmets, filters, hoses and covers are often built in several versions, so a part for one version may not fit another that looks the same.The manual's parts list or exploded drawing is the safest guide, and the part number on the old item is a good second check. Note whether the system is powered, which uses a blower, or supplied-air, which uses an airline, because hoses, connectors and seals differ. Photograph the old part before you remove it.
Sealing rings and similar gaskets close the joints between the hose, the head part and the air source so air flows through the filter and tube rather than leaking. Straps and neck pieces hold the hose in a comfortable position and keep it from pulling on the connection.Replace any seal that is cracked, flattened, hardened, torn or no longer grips, and replace damaged parts straight away because a leak or a loose hose reduces protection. Fit the new part exactly as the manual shows, and check the joint again after fitting.
