- Welding helmet
Welding helmets are headgear used when performing certain types of
welding to protect the eyes, face and neck from flash burn,ultraviolet light , sparks and heat. Most commonly used witharc welding processes such asshielded metal arc welding andgas metal arc welding , welding helmets are necessary to preventarc eye , a painful condition where thecornea is inflamed. Welding helmets can also preventretina burns, which can lead to a loss of vision.All welding helmets include a small window, called a lens shade, through which the welder looks at the weld. In older helmets, the window can be made of darkly tinted glass, or perhaps a pair of
polarized lenses. In more modern helmet designs, transparent material that darkens automatically when exposed to the flare of a welding arc are more common. Either type, however, is susceptible to damages such as cracks that can compromise the protection from ultraviolet rays. In addition to the lens shade, the helmet has a shroud around the face to protect it from hot metal sparks generated by the arc. Some older models have a leather covering protecting the neck and shoulders as well.Fact|date=February 2007References
*Jeffus, Larry (1999). "Welding: Principles and Applications". Albany: Thomson Delmar. ISBN 0-8273-8240-5 .
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