How to Weld With an Auto Helmet

Auto-darkening welding helmets automatically reduce the amount of light reaching the eyes.

Producing heat hot enough to melt metal, welding tools emit eye-damaging ultraviolet light. Protecting the eyes with a tinted lens, welding helmets moderate the light wavelengths to safe levels. A common problem with standard welding helmets is that the shields are so heavily tinted it's difficult to see anything, unless the welder is activated. To solve this problem, auto-darkening helmets adjust shade opacity in response to light striking the shield.

Things You'll Need

• Phillips screwdriver

Instructions

1. Adjust the headband, with your fingers, so the helmet is snug to your forehead.

2. Open the battery compartment, with a Phillips screwdriver if necessary, and confirm a battery is properly installed in the helmet.

3. Turn the shade-delay time control dial, most often located inside the helmet adjacent to the shield, up or down to transition at a speed suited to your personal preference. Transition times are calibrated in milliseconds, with even the slowest transition time being adequate to completely protect your vision.

4. Locate the shield-darkening adjust knob on the outside of the helmet. Set the shade to the darkest setting as indicated in the helmet instruction manual for your welding application -- for example, TIG or MIG welding.

5. Test the shield. With the visor down, hold the welding torch halfway between the front of the shield and your shoulder, and initialize the welder. When working properly, the shield will immediately darken upon welder ignition.

References

• Hobart 770700 Welding Auto-Darkening Helmet Users Guide; Hobart Corporation

Resources

• Airgas: How the Auto-Darkening Lens Works