Welding is a process that requires the welder to wear a variety of safety gear. One of the most important pieces of personal protective equipment (PPE) for this activity is a welding helmet. However, if you’re not taking care of your helmet, it won’t be able to take care of you. This guide will teach you how to take care of your welding helmet so it can consistently provide safety and visibility during welds.
Monitor Visor Damage
Your helmet doesn’t just protect you from sparks and hot debris. Welding helmets protect welders from harmful UV and infrared light, which means it’s vital for the helmet visor to stay in tip-top shape. In fact, these lights can be so harmful that many welding styles require workers to wear safety glasses underneath a helmet for extra protection, as well as extra protection from hot spatter produced during the weld.
Regularly inspect your welding helmet, preferably prior to beginning a weld. If you notice that the visor has taken some damage, you should replace it, even if it’s minimal damage. If your visor takes damage, its ability to defend against harmful light can lessen and potentially lead to you incurring eye injuries.
Regularly Clean the Visor
Aside from inspecting it for damage, regularly clean off your welding helmet’s visor as well to keep visibility high. Cleaning your visor will usually require a soft cloth, a suitable brush, water, and a cleaning solution that won’t damage your lens. Keep in mind that the proper cleaning methods are not the same for any and all welding helmets. Read your owner’s manual or ask the equipment manufacturer about the specific way you should clean your visor to keep it intact and ready for the next weld.
Have Extra Batteries on Deck
If you’re using a helmet that requires batteries to work, always have extra batteries by your side, just as you would with welding gloves, safety glasses, and other various types of gear. Given how essential welding helmets are to the entire process, you don’t want to find yourself in a situation in which your battery-operated helmet runs out of power, leaving you with insufficient visibility. Having good visibility while welding is necessary to avoid making mistakes that result in a poor weld quality or, even worse, injuries.
If you know how to take care of your welding helmet, you can avoid experiencing visibility issues and eye injuries during your weld. That being said, a sufficient helmet is not the only PPE welders need while working. Along with an auto-darkening helmet, welding gloves and safety glasses are essential welding gear for those who want to work like a pro. Prior to welding, obtain all the PPE you need to prevent yourself from sustaining easily avoidable injuries.
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