A welding helmet is one of the most important pieces of safety equipment you’ll need as a welder, protecting your eyes… There are tons of options out there for welding helmets, and a big part of your decision will come down to personal choice. Some folks will want to go with something fun, like the Hollywood Hog Welding Helmet (pictured right).

OR, you may choose something like the Jackson Halo X with the NexGen auto darkening lens and hot flame design (pictured left)

You have to keep safety in mind foremost, but also fit and comfort, especially if you’re going to be wearing it all day long.

I found some great tips on buying a welding helmet I thought I’d pass along to you:

Tips for Choosing the Right Auto-Darkening Helmet

By Greg Coleman, Product Manager with The Lincoln Electric Company

Perhaps a welder’s most personalized accessory is his or her helmet.

There are a number of factors to consider when selecting a helmet that is safe, comfortable and functional.
…..

• Does the helmet meet current safety standards (ANSI Z87.1) to address light leakage as well as flame and impact resistance?
• Does the helmet include power circuits for extended dark storage so it always starts right out of the box?

Is the cartridge rated to darken at the low end amperages you will use?

CONTINUE READING AT WELDING MAGAZINE ONLINE–>

–and–

Welding Helmets – What you need to know before you buy

By Caleb Krisher, Product Manager for Hobart Welding Products

On the job or in the garage, every welder needs protection to prevent eye damage.

As a general rule, spending more on a welding helmet will increase comfort, improve your welding ability, result in higher quality welds and ensure your safety.

Unfortunately, selecting a helmet can be confusing if you’re not familiar with the latest auto-darkening lens technology and national safety standards.

This article will help you sort through the clutter and point out the most important things to consider before investing in this important piece of safety gear, while showcasing some of the industry’s top trends and designs.

CONTINUE READING ONLINE AT WELDING MAGAZINE–>

And, when you’re ready to buy , check out the selection of welding helmets at Arc-Zone.com, from stylish fun graphics to classic black welding helmets that you can personalize with your own collection of decals.

I was invited to guest blog over on the Miller Viewpoints blog…  while I appreciated the opportunity, and am truly honored that they asked, I have to say it was a little different blogging through a corporate machine.  First off, they wanted 250 words.  Two hundred-fifty words?  Are you kidding me?  that just gets me started! “The 250 words is just a rough guide,” they assured me.

So, I turned in my 876 word piece, Weld Like A Girl: Tips for Women in the Welding Industry. And waited.

Five days later, word came back. “Because it’s longer than we typically use for a single post, we’re going to make it into a series…” said my Miller contact.

Sounded fine with me.  I was proud of what I wrote, and three posts is better than one!

And so I waited some more as the edits, the approvals, and the blog post itself wended its way up the corporate chain of command. Word finally came back a week and a half later, “….they would only approve uploading the first topic, covering ‘Knowledge is Queen’”

[sigh]
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Most land lubbers stop at a gas station or two when they be travellin’ ‘tween Pennsylvania and Florida.  This lass, however, dropped anchor in Virginia t’ help weld up a pirate ship.

“It was a real good thing I showed up when I did. I made a lot of repairs from the welders that were there before me then I helped build the deck and above. It was probably the best job I ever had,” said Terri Asby.

Terri’s interest in welding was sparked at a Norfolk, Virginia high school in the late 70s.  She took all the elective classes that were offered:  cooking, sewing, small engine repair, wood shop and then welding, where her teacher James Reynolds took a special interest in her. “I could go to his class anytime I wanted….to build things. I built a rabbit cage, go cart, a six- foot shelf, and a coffee table to name a few,” she said.

The next year, Terri went to a vocational school where she learned even more about welding.  Then a classmate brought her an application for the Newport News Shipyard.  She applied, got the job and worked there for two years.  “They certified me for many different techniques–  ones that a lot of people never heard of, and I have not used since, but it made my resume look good!”
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Cleveland – The James F. Lincoln Arc Welding Foundation’s newest book, Arc Welded Projects, Volume IV, features step-by-step directions for fun projects targeted at the home hobbyist and do-it-yourself welder. Projects range from a gas-fired cooker trailer, to a stainless steel pickup sander, to a Dutch miser wood stove – and all were created by welding students as entries for the foundation’s annual awards programs.

Arc Welded Projects, Volume IV is divided into five categories, including:

– Agriculture – featuring projects such as hydraulic trench digger, chisel plow and hay bale    squeezer

– Trailers – featuring projects such as 24-foot gooseneck trailer, single axle van trailer and off-road monster grill-bbq

(more…)