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.

Arc-Zone.com is adding safety apparel to its ecommerce store. Online, you’ll now find a full line of TIG Welding gloves, including the Firefly TIG Glove which is part of Revco’s AngelFire Gear® Designed Exclusively for Woman.

And speaking of women…   Arc-Zone has also added a Category for Women’s Welding Wear.

My friend Scott always says, “A clean job site is a safe job site.” Thankfully he’s never seen my desk. Of course my desk is covered with papers, not with heavy equipment or sharp objects so safety isn’t much of an issue. I also don’t do much welding at my desk.

Thinking about safety isn’t usually the most fun part of a welding project, but it is essential. Jim just wrote a great post over at JoeWelder. com talking about safety when it comes to grinding tungsten electrodes. And another about safety, “What’s Your Health Worth?” Check ‘em out.

And lately there’s been a lot of buzz online (and off) about the “new” OSHA regulations regarding hexavalent chromium (present in welding fumes).

If reading government regulations is too overwhelming, Practical Welding Today wrote a pretty good article about how these regulations specifically affect your welding operation and what changes you need to make to be in compliance. You can read the full article online, “OSHA’s new hexavalent chromium standard: what it means to you and your employees.”

And you can download the American Welding Society’s fact sheet on Hexavalent Chromium (a PDF document)

If that’s not enough information for you, check out the picture on the left Jackson Safety — they’ve got a space age looking welding helmet / air purifying rig.