The best MIG welding mask is a must-have for any welder who wants to protect themselves from the harmful effects of welding.
Moreover, MIG welding is a popular process for joining metal sheets together, but if you are using high currents to generate the welds then it can be hard on your eyes.
OSHA recommends that MIG welder use a minimum lens shade level of DIN number 10 when working with currents from 60-500 amps.
On the other hand, ANSI and AWS both recommend that welder shades should be rated at number 11 for welding under 60-160 amps, 12 for 160-250 amps, and 14 if you're planning to weld between 250 - 500 amp.
So, what is the best MIG welding mask? According to our research YESWELDER Panoramic is the best welding helmet for MIG welders. It offers quality protection for beginners to professionals in various fields of work. It has many impressive features which include a neck with an adjustable elastic strap that ensures comfort, a 180° field of view with four sensors strategically positioned on top, and two on either side ensuring maximum visibility as well as UV/IR protection (DIN16). It also comes with an advanced shade adjustment system that permits users to adjust the darkening intensity up or down in four stages (four to nine, and nine to thirteen).
It's also important that you have a good quality mask, as it will make your work easier and more comfortable. If you're looking for the best MIG welding masks on the market, this article has everything you need to know about them!
You'll find reviews of some of our favorite products in this article, so be sure to read through them before making your purchase decision!
We've included helpful tips on how to choose the right one for your needs budget.
HOW WE DECIDED
--We researched every product, we review with our own.
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Researched Source
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Hours Researched
6
Experts Interviewed
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Consumers Review
How to choose the best MIG welding helmet?
MIG welding is a type of welding that people use for many different things. It means less spatter. You need to wear safety gear when you are using MIG welding, such as cotton clothes, MIG welding gloves and a safe helmet. When buying an auto-darkening helmet, be sure it has the following:
How much should I spend on a welding helmet?
To find the best one, you need to know how much you want to spend. You can get one for $50-$100 that will protect your eyes and skin but not have as many safety features as higher priced helmets with more features like darkening when you weld so that sparks don't hit your face. Which one you buy will depend on how often, where, and what level of protection from getting flashed are important factors to you!
How much does a welding helmet weight?
Welding helmets are heavy to wear. This is bad for your neck if you have to work with it for a long time. It's important for full-time welders who need light equipment not only because it doesn't hurt anyone but also because the lighter ones are easier to move around and do smooth turns while working under cars. If you're working in an unusual position while MIG welding, then the weight of your helmet is important. Too heavy and it can strain your neck; too light and safety features will be compromised.
Auto-Darkening Lens for Welding Helmet
An auto-darkening helmet is important no matter what type of welding you do. It’s a good idea that all welders have one. You can purchase helmets with 2 sensors or 4 sensors, but it's not a must if you use them for metal building and other similar work because they are always kept in the same place.
But if you're doing some automotive bodywork then an auto darkening helmet will be very useful because when working under cars, there can be lots of light coming from different angles and positions and without a good helmet to protect your eyes, it could lead to losing sight in those eyes permanently. Some cases have occurred where welders lost vision in one eye but still had their other eye uncovered during the work process which allowed the sun’s rays to cause permanent damage and loss of their vision. You just need to be careful when you're working under cars because of the UV light.
How can I protect my eyes from welding flashes?
If you already welded at least once in your life then surely, you know how dangerous it is if you look directly at a hot metal when MIG welding. You'll get blind for a couple of minutes or even lose some eyesight immediately! One way to protect you is wearing auto-darkening safety glasses that darken automatically whenever they sense bright light like sunlight reflected off of another surface. It will block out the sun's harmful ultraviolet radiation, too. You'll love this feature while you're working under the hoods on your car.
Does a welding helmet protect against radiation?
A welding helmet protects you from the sun. It can protect your skin when you MIG weld by shielding it from UV rays. The shade of the welding helmet does not matter; what matters is that you use an additional cover to completely block your neck, and that it fit comfortably.
Any exposed parts of your body will get badly sun buried if you do not wear a welding mask when MIG welding because any exposure to radiation could lead to pain or even cancer in humans if prolonged exposures are not followed by enough time spent out in daylight.
Welding Helmet Viewing Area
Some helmets for Welders offer a large viewing area which can be really helpful if you are MIG welding and need to make accurate welds.
Warranty
A warranty is essential when selecting welding helmets. Customers should choose the helmet that lasts for a long time to help to prevent customers from facing automatic and control issues over time. Therefore customers should buy a welding helmet lasting for three years and above due to their high reliability than those lasting for a short time.
What Are The Best MIG Welding Mask?
Here are some of the best MIG welding mask we found:
01. YESWELDER Panoramic 180 View Auto Darkening Welding Helmet
Salient Feature
- Viewing Area: 4.0x3.7
- Response Time: 1/10000s
- Shade Range: 4/5-9/9-13
- Optical Class: 1/1/1/1
- Arc Sensors: 4
- UV/IR Protection: DIN16
- Weight: 2.2
- Meet Standard: ANSI/CE/CSA
- Source of Power: Solar/lithium battery
If you are not a professional welder, and you have been looking for a solid welder that can do a lot of things in many different ways, then I highly recommend the YESWELDER welding helmet.
The best thing about this one is that it has 3 LCD screens, each with 6 sensors to provide you with the best high-definition picture that you could want. They work independently and simultaneously so there is no concern about eyesight mistaking your screen for another one.
It also has an auto darkening feature so the light will always be perfect. You don't have to worry about safety because this helmet is rated for most plasma applications and TIG MIG MMA welding in terms of what it can take on.
One other thing that I really liked about this helmet is the ability to swap out filters so that it always matches your working environment. You can change them from a clear view for just reading, to darkening when you turn on the welding torch - all without having to adjust any settings or anything.
The only thing I noticed with this one was that there is a tiny bit more weight than what I'm used to. That being said, the battery life is much longer and worth the tradeoff for me.
It also has an anti-fogging feature which is really cool too because you can have it on full blast without worry about your lens getting foggy or scratched up by metal slag.
A negative for this helmet is that the headband is made of a fairly thin plastic. It's not going to break, but it might bend or give way if you're moving around while wearing it.
You can take this one with you to any job and know that it will get the job done, even if you're not a welder. It has enough features for professionals but is simple enough so that anyone could use it without having to learn anything new.
Pros
Cons
02. DEKOPRO Welding Helmet
Salient Feature
- Viewing Area: 3.62 X 1.64
- Response Time: 1/25000
- Shade Range: 4/9-13
- Optical Class: 1/2/1/2
- Arc Sensors: 2
- UV/IR Protection: DIN16
- Weight: 15.2
- Meet Standard: CE/ANSI/CSA
- Source of Power: Solar/lithium battery
The DEKOPRO Welding Helmet is a welding helmet that uses an innovative technology called Auto-Darkening Filter Switching from Light to Dark.
This patented technology will sense when the light is too bright and automatically darkens the filter, helping increase the visibility of welds.
It also features a solar-powered welding helmet with an auto-darkening filter switching from light to dark in 1/25000 sec. that will allow you to see clearly while working.
Another good thing about this welding hood is that it has a 4.33 inch viewing area with 7 square inches of viewing area, which means you can still see what's going on even when you're wearing the mask! Built with adjustable settings for personal preferences, it may be tailored to fit your needs.
Also, it has a Lithium Battery (5000 hours) powered by solar cells that will give you long-lasting use and easy mobility.
The DEKOPRO welding helmet is constructed of high-quality materials, making it comfortable to wear and durable enough for rough work. This makes the product an ideal welding mask for use in most environments where the lighting is not ideal.
There are several downsides to purchasing this DEKOPRO welding helmet. For one thing, it may be difficult to get used to wearing such large goggles over your face. Also, because of this mask's bright yellow lens color and smooth surface, some welders have had issues seeing the welds through the lens.
Unfortunately, women with long hair may have a hard time wearing this helmet because of its snug fit and headband construction. Also, if you're not used to wearing welding goggles on top of your head all day (which will be very uncomfortable), then you might want to get another type of mask for use on your next project.
Lastly, some users experienced difficulty in adjusting their settings properly. But once they got it right, they were able to enjoy long-lasting use out of this product! It's worth the minor hassle!
Over ALL I think that DEKOPRO Welding Helmet is useful and has many positive reviews. If you are a welder or just someone who needs it occasionally then I think it will be good for you.
This solar-powered welding hood is a great addition to your toolbox! It's one of the best products on the market today for its price point and overall value proposition as well as easy user interface and usability. For those who don't want to mess with changing batteries all the time, this product is perfect!
Pros
Cons
03. YESWELDER True Colour Solar Powered Auto Darkening Welding Helmet
Salient Feature
- Viewing Area: 3.93X1.67
- Response Time: 1/10000S
- Shade Range: 4/9-13
- Optical Class: 1/1/1/2
- Arc Sensors: 2
- UV/IR Protection: D16
- Weight: 1.8
- Meet Standard: CE/ANSI/CSA
- Source of Power: Solar/replaceable CR2450 battery
You know that welding is a dangerous job, but you need to protect your eyes from the bright light.
The problem with most welding helmets is that they are bulky and heavy, which makes them difficult to wear for long periods of time. They also don't offer enough protection from the sun's UV rays.
On the other hand, the YESWELDER True Color Solar Powered Auto Darkening Welding Helmet is a powerful welding helmet that offers 12% increased battery life. This high-quality solar-powered auto-darkening welding helmet provides exceptional protection from harmful UV rays. The YESWELDER is designed for TIG, MIG, MMA plasma and it comes with 2 premium sensors.
My favorite thing about this helmet, the viewing size is 3.93"X1.67", which makes reading reference material at the job site easy. Productivity is increased since this welding helmet includes a cheater lens that can be worn over the eyes to magnify welds or artwork while welding as well as an adjustable headgear system for maximum comfort and security during long hours of work at the job site.
Moreover, YESWELDER has a wide shade range of DIN4/DIN9~13, so even MIG or TIG welding requires less time adjusting the helmet, and there is no guesswork when choosing a specific shade.
Truly, the True Color Technology prevents shadows from being cast on work surfaces or material at the job site, thereby increasing reading clarity while achieving an accurate weld. The response time is ≤1/10000 S. This welder's auto-darkening lens provides superior vision through its 1/1/1/2 optical clarity and features a unique "True Color" view with 100% transmission of light for more precise welds. It's easy to use too.
I find it odd how this lens responds to light. When welding, the lenses work as expected and darken when in an arc of high intensity or bright lights.
What is even more interesting are that they respond normally with other types of lighting: 100w incandescent bulb? Darkens and allows you to adjust shades on them; 500 lumens LED flashlight? No tinting at all!
I also found that using sunlight just causes no change whatsoever which makes me wonder what type of technology these glasses use for their auto-darkening functionality since sun exposure should cause some kind of reaction like those mentioned before (no direct look).
So if you are having problems with your current welding gear and want to replace them with something advanced, then you might think about getting this helmet from YESWELDER. This helmet offers innovative features that other brands don’t have.
I highly recommend this helmet because of its ability to provide high-quality imagery and comfort without making you spend more than necessary on it. It is a great investment you should not miss out on.
Pros
Cons
04. Antra AH6-660-6218 Auto Darkening Welding Helmet
Salient Feature
- Viewing Area: 3.86X2.50
- Response Time: 1/25000
- Shade Range: 4/5-9/9-13
- Optical Class: 1/1/1/2
- Arc Sensors: 4
- UV/IR Protection: D13
- Weight: 16.5
- Meet Standard: ANZI
- Source of Power: 1XCR2450 Replaceable
Auto Darkening Welding Helmets are expensive and hard to find.
The Antra AH6-660-6218 Auto Darkening Welding Helmet is the perfect solution for those who need a helmet but can't afford one or find one in stock.
This welding helmet has an auto darkening lens that adjusts to changing light conditions, so you'll never have to worry about not being able to see what you're working on. It's also lightweight and comfortable, with a wide field of view that makes it easy to work on any project without straining your neck or back muscles.
The welding helmet is made of good materials and it can withstand the heat of welding all day. The viewing size is big, so you can see well. It has four sensors to make sure that nothing goes wrong. If you are not facing the sun straight on, it will be more sensitive.
The lens darkens quickly when a DC arc reaches 2 Amps or above to protect your eyes from how bright the light is (this means that it will get darker). This product ensures maximum safety while providing an excellent field of view so you don't miss any detail as well as giving extra convenience with its auto-darkening feature.
The welding helmet protects your eyes and skin from the harmful UV rays emitted by the arc (meaning that this will not happen to you anymore). The Antra AH6-660-6218 Auto Darkening Welding Helmet is equipped with a shade 7 lens, which allows welders to see right through it when they are welding. It also features a dark to clear delay function that prevents any accidental flashes of light while welding.
The range selector switch, "5-9" or "9-13", can be used to set the desired shade numbers on this helmet. 5 - 8 shades (which mean 5 - 8 visors) are great for low amp applications such as plasma cutting jobs. You'll never have to worry again!
There is no anti-fog feature included with this helmet. But you can prevent fog from forming by rubbing wax on the inside of your welding helmet and beading it up so that when you come to using your helmet it's all ready for the work you need to do.
Pros
Cons
05. ESAB 0700000800 Sentinel A50 Welding Helmet
Salient Feature
- Viewing Area: 3.93 x 2.36
- Response Time: 1/25000
- Shade Range: 5-13
- Optical Class: 1/1/1/2
- Arc Sensors: 4
- UV/IR Protection: D16
- Weight: 1.4
- Meet Standard: CE/ANSI/CSA
- Source of Power: Solar/ lithium batteries
I am happy with my new welding helmet. It is high quality, comfortable, and reliable. I read reviews on the ESAB Welding Helmet to find out more about it.
I found many reviews online that told me this product was good for my needs. That is why I am writing an article to share more information with people who are looking for a welding helmet also so they can make a good decision too.
Some of the features of this product that I like are the hard hat adapter option which lets me use ESAB hard hats and provide extra protection while I weld, a head gear that is comfortable and offers balance when working, and an LCD panel on the front of the welding helmet that has 8 settings you can choose from so you can adjust your screen to the light conditions you are in.
There is also a memory for colors which is nice because I do not have to keep adjusting it every time I go somewhere with different lighting conditions. The battery is strong and lasts 8 hours at a time on normal settings so I do not have to recharge very often.
I am happy with this product and would recommend it to anyone who wants an excellent welding helmet that has high quality features such as wide viewing area, lightweight design that allows you to move around easily without feeling fatigued soon, external detection system and auto-on/auto-off switch that makes using this helmet quick and easy.
Pros
Cons
Do you need a mask for a MIG welder?
When it comes to welding, safety is always the number one priority. That's why, when using a MIG welder, it's important to wear a full-face welding helmet and cover up all exposed skin, including your neck. Additionally, you'll need to wear leather gloves to protect your hands from the UV radiation given off by the welder. By following these simple safety precautions, you can help ensure a safe and successful welding experience.
What are the two types of welder mask?
There are two types of welding helmet, that are:
- Passive welding mask
- Auto darkening welding helmet
- Passive welding mask
A passive welder mask has a dark tinted lens, typically a shade #10. When the helmet is in the down position, you will see through the dark lens. The lens will not switch from a light state to a darken state.
- Auto darkening welding helmet
An auto-darkening variable shade welding helmet has a dark lens that automatically darkens when exposed to the arc. The shade of the lens will vary depending on the welding application. For example, a shade #5 lens is typically used for welding with a gas metal arc welder (GMAW), while a shade #8 or #9 lens is used for welding with a gas tungsten arc welder (GTAW).
What is the minimum shade for MIG welding?
When it comes to welding, the minimum shade for MIG welding is a DIN number 10. This is according to OSHA's Fact Sheet. MIG welding, or flux-cored welding, requires currents of 60 to 500 amps. The minimum lens shade level protects the welder's eyes from the intense light and heat produced by the welding process.
Conclusion
MIG masks are quite imperative for familiar people in welding operations. The best MIG helmets mentioned in the article comprises of the detailed features and buying guide that enables customers to make a wise choosing decision. Additionally, customers need to visit our website to get more information and the application experience of each best MIG welding mask to avoid future maintenance and replacement expenses.
FAQ
What Is The Best MIG Welding Helmet?
Yeswelder is the best MIG welding since it provides a large viewing area that prevents visual distractions.
What Shade Should You Use For MIG Welding?
The recommended shade ranges between 10 and 13 welding lens preventing flash eye burn
What Is The Clearest Welding Lens?
The clearest welding lens is 4
Can You Weld With Shade 5 Glasses?
5 glasses can apply when cutting Oxy-acetylene but unfit in MIG/TIG welding.
What Is The Darkest Welding Lens?
The 14 shade is the darkest welding lens.
Last Updated on April 16, 2022 by weldinghubs