How to chose the right welding helmet.
Safety should always be the top priority. All welding helmets must be compliant according to CSA Z94.3. All PROSTAR welding helmets meet these standards and meet USA standards ANSI Z87.1. We also recommend wearing safety glasses and a welding beanie under welding helmets. Check out our full line of PPE including safety glasses & welding beanies, online at shop.lindecanada.ca or in store.
The next essential feature when choosing a welding helmet is the type but more specifically the welding lens type. There are two types of lenses; passive and auto-darkening. Passive helmets have a dark tinted lens, usually with shade #10. The lens will remain in a dark state throughout the welding process; however the user must remove the helmet to inspect the working area. These products are necessary for certain welding processes but provide a more economical choice. Auto-darkening helmets are more of an all-around solution for all levels of expertise in welding. These helmets will automatically darken once the weld arc is struck and often the different shade levels can be adjusted. Typically, shades 4-13 are used for grinding and cutting and shades 9-13 are used for welding. See shade guide table for more guidance on application and shade levels:
| Welding Process | Arc Current (amps) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5 | 2.5 | 10 | 20 | 40 | 80 | 125 | 175 | 225 | 275 | 350 | 450 | |||||||||||||||||
| 1 | 5 | 15 | 30 | 60 | 100 | 150 | 200 | 250 | 300 | 400 | 500 | |||||||||||||||||
| SMAW | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| MIG (heavy) | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| MIG (light) | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| TIG, GTAW | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| MAG/CO2 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| SAW | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| PAC | 11 | 12 | 13 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PAW | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Welding helmets come with varying dimensions of the viewing area. A larger viewing area provides more visibility to the actual weld and working area, while a smaller viewing area provides a more focused view of the weld and working area. Depending on the application the viewing area should be taken into consideration for optical clarity.
Once safety and performance are established the two other important features are comfort and durability. The welding helmet should be lightweight and comfortable to use for a full day’s work, but the helmet should also be durable to withstand the different welding processes. The helmet headgear will be an important factor in making the welding helmet comfortable. Comfort features such as integrated foam padding and an adjustable headgear will allow the helmet to be used for longer periods of time, ultimately ensuring the worker is protected during welding processes.
Clear cover lenses fit directly over your welding filter lens to protect from weld spatter.
| Description | 2x4 in (51mm x 102 mm) |
4x5 in (102mm x 127 mm) |
|---|---|---|
| CR-39 | PRS64001 | PRS64028 |
| Glass | PRS64209 | PRS64210 |
Polycarbonate safety lenses are dual-purpose for use as both an inside cover lens, and an outside safety lens. PROSTAR polycarbonate lenses meet all impact requirements according to CSA Z94.3 standards.
| Description | 2x4 in (51mm x 102 mm) |
4x5 in (102mm x 127 mm) |
|---|---|---|
| Polycarbonate | PRS64027 | PRS64038 |
Fits behind the welding lens for better short-range vision. The higher the diopter number, the greater the magnification power. Size available is 2" x 4" (51 mm x 102 mm). Available only in plastic version.
Hardened glass lenses provide UV and IR protection as well as durability and strength. Both a cover lens and a polycarbonate safety lens must be used on either side of glass filter lens to ensure proper eye protection.
| Shade |
2 x 4 in (51mm x 102 mm) |
4 x 5 in (102mm x 127 mm) |
|---|---|---|
| Shade 5 | PRS64012 | PRS64029 |
| Shade 9 | PRS64016 | PRS64032 |
| Shade 10 | PRS64017 | PRS64033 |
| Shade 11 | PRS64018 | PRS64034 |
| Shade 12 | PRS64019 | PRS64035 |
Keep your cover plate clean or replace when it becomes dirty or discoloured with our PROSTAR OEM replacement lenses for Miller and 3M Speedglass welding helmets.
| OEM Replacement Lenses | ||
|---|---|---|
| Miller Elite Series Replacement Lenses | ||
| PRS64220 | Outside cover lens | |
| PRS64223 | Inseide cover lens | |
| Miller Pro-Hobby Series Replacement Lenses | ||
| PRS64222 | Outside cover lens | |
| PRS64224 | Inseide cover lens | |
| Miller Performance Series Replacement Lenses | ||
| PRS64226 | Outside cover lens | |
| PRS64225 | Inside cover lens | |
| 3M Speedglass (Hornell) | ||
| PRS64228 | 9000 Series outside cover lens | |
| PRS64229 | 9000X/9000XF Series inside cover lens | |
| PRS64230 | 9000F/900XV Series inside cover lens | |
