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A welder’s helmet is essential to staying safe in welding jobs. Since you wear it constantly while working, it becomes an extension of yourself. Because of its safety and because you’ll spend so much time wearing it, you need to make sure you pick the right type of helmet. This piece will explain some of the basic types and how they’re used in different jobs.
Essential Welding Job Safety Equipment
Welders encounter various potentially hazardous situations, whether they work for a big industrial business or a small, individual fabricator. Here’s a list of the essential safety equipment for welding jobs:
- Welding helmet
- Safety gloves
- Safety eyewear
- Welding jacket
- Flame resistant pants
- Protective footwear, such as leather boots, to safeguard your feet
The Right Welding Helmet for the Right Welding Job
If you’re in the early stages of considering whether you want to become a welder, you might not actually be aware that there are various types of welding helmets, each with their own pros and cons that make them suited to different types of work.
Passive Welding Helmet
This kind of helmet is the easiest and least expensive on the market. It features a fixed shade lens, usually in the #10 shade. It is appropriate for welding jobs that don’t demand precise or complex labor and provides essential protection.
Auto-darkening Welding Helmet
Auto-darkening welding helmets offer immediate protection from UV and infrared radiation thanks to a lens that darkens when the welder comes into contact with an arc. These helmets are appropriate for various welding jobs and are available in several shade ranges.
Grinding and Welding Helmet
This helmet, with its transparent glass, is also appropriate for non-welding jobs like grinding. It provides a flexible alternative for welders who regularly transition between welding and grinding activities.
Pancake Welding Helmet
Named for its flat, circular shape, this type of helmet consists of a shield attached to a wooden box that fits over your eyes and is secured with a strap. Its main advantage is being very lightweight. This type of helmet is primarily used by pipeline welders and on other outdoor jobs.
Respirator Welding Helmet
Thanks to an integrated respirator, this helmet shields the welder from potentially harmful gases and particles emitted during welding. It works well for welding jobs that generate a lot of fumes and particulates.
How to Become a Welder
This list has only scratched the surface of the options available in welding helmets. This variety helps to show what a wide range of jobs and specialties are available to professional welders. That same variety makes becoming a welder an attractive career option for many people.
If you want to become a welder, all you need to start is a high school diploma or GED. The first step in the process is to enroll in a training program at a reputable welding school like ETI School of Skilled Trades. Our welding program will shape your skills by putting you in job-site simulations and guiding you through each welding process (SMAW, GMAW, GTAW, & Oxy Fuel Cutting). When you graduate, our job placement assistance will help you get started in the industry right away. Enroll today or contact us for more info.
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