Welding isn’t a job to be taken lightly. There are a whole host of safety regulations that should be considered. While some welders prefer using traditional welding helmets, it’s worth noting that these models can’t keep you safe from inhaling dangerous fumes created by welding materials. It might be time to switch to one of the best welding helmets with respirator options currently on the market.
If you’re considering upgrading your old, conventional welding helmet to a more modern model, this article is for you! We’ve compiled a detailed guide featuring a few of the top welding helmets that should make it to your shortlist with the 3M Speedglas Heavy-Duty Welding Helmet 46-1101-30iVC as our Editor’s Choice. Additionally, we’re also including a nifty buyer’s guide to identifying the necessary features to consider when looking for the perfect welding helmet with the respirator. Some notable features to consider include filter and field of view. Both of these features will make finding the right welding helmet so much easier!
More features: natural color technology, additional accessories available
If you want a welding helmet that offers you modern functionality as well as a futuristic appearance, then the 3M Speedglas Heavy-Duty Welding Helmet 46-1101-30iVC should be on your shortlist!
Aside from a sleeker design, this helmet also offers the 3M Speedglas called “TrueView,” which allows more colors through the lens. Better coloring through the lens means you have better control over your weld pool, and you can see your welds so much better!
This unit is ideal for professional welders, fabricators, or boilermakers. With the narrower viewing area, it’s ideal for welders who prefer a more focused view in confined spaces. While this model is an upgrade to the previous version, the essential difference is the narrower shape of the helmet in general. Again, this is ideal for work that needs to be done in smaller, narrower spaces.
More features: highest safety class, Swiss made, TH3 filter
If you need a smaller, narrower option for welding or for work to be done in tight spaces, the Optrel Clear High Efficiency Powered Air Purifying Respirator is a firm favorite to consider.
For starters, the respirator has a TH3 filter making it incredibly safe from any harmful fumes you’re exposed to. If you need to weld for extended periods, the 2 lithium-ion batteries that are included will easily provide you with an amazing 18-hours of uninterrupted work. An advantage is that it comes with solar cells that provide an additional power source.
This slimmer, sleeker welding helmet is ideal for welders who often work in smaller, narrower spaces. Welders and boilermakers in industries such as the aircraft industry benefit from its narrow design. Narrower types of helmets make it easier for users to work and move around in smaller spaces.
More features: high-efficiency system, lithium-ion battery, side windows, auto-darkening filter
If you need a welding helmet that can easily be worn for long hours and still feel comfortable, then the Adflo 3M 35-1101-20SW Powered Air Purifying Respirator is well worth looking into!
The most prominent feature of this model is its ergonomic design that allows the helmet to be comfortable and compact when worn for extended periods. The head suspension can easily be adjusted to your required comfort level.
With its widened view and double hood, it’s an ideal option for welders or boilermakers who weld for considerable hours at once. The double hood’s safety feature is a great function for hazardous conditions. Simultaneously, the built-in respirator with extra HEPA filters is the best way to keep toxic fumes out.
More features: made in the USA, eye protection, easy to use, multi-adjustment head suspension system, dual air distribution
Many professional welders and boilermakers find this welding helmet quite impressive. The RPB safety-15-018-11FRZ4 Welding Respirator with PAPR has a few features that make it a firm favorite. As a USA product, this model is made entirely from domestically sourced componentry. This makes replacing components so much easier and quicker.
Additionally, the package includes a complete kit which includes a head harness, welding/grinding helmet, respirator with HEPA filters, battery charger with high-capacity batteries, flow meter, belt, and quick release belt support, as well as a quick connect breathing tube.
This model is ideally suited for work in foundries with harsh temperatures or even hazardous medical or chemical environments. Its lightweight and compact design serve to maximize user comfort. Since the unit is vertically mounted, it easily contours to the welder’s back with the additional support of a flexi belt system.
More features: variable black shades, clear protective visor, 6.7 inches thick
This helmet comes with many advantages. It has a G5-01 filter with 3M natural color technology, which makes the filter view lighter, more colorful, and more detailed. The G5-01 welding filter comes with dark shades 5, 8-13 and tack welding comfort mode. It can be used for arc welding.
Its protective visor is curved, with clear peripheral views, and it’s quite large at 104 x 170mm. Its airflow system also allows you to direct air wherever you like. This product was designed for welders working at high amperages who need to grind frequently.
More features: adjustable headgear, HEPA filter, integrated clear grind shield, assigned protection factor (APF) of 25
The Viking 3250D FGS PAPR with Standard Battery is one of the more popular welding helmet options. And it’s easy to see why! One of the top features is the premium optics that boast 4C® Lens Technology. A much larger widescreen provides a viewing area of 12.5 sq. inches.
Additionally, the rechargeable lithium-ion battery offers a minimum of 9 hours of battery life before needing a recharge, providing enough power for a day’s work! Another prominent feature is the HEPA filter that’s inside the respirator! HEPA filters can easily filter about 99.97% of particulates, greatly reducing the risk of respiratory issues contracted from extensive welding. It’s very easy to see why this model is regarded as the best-rated air-purifying respirator with a welding helmet!
This model is ideal for professional welders that prefer a larger and wider viewing area. The 12.5” range will be a plus for any welder serious about the project they’re working on! The side windows even out neck strain because it isn’t necessary to continuously move your head.
There’s no denying that welding is a dangerous job. During welding, welders experience a wide variety of potential health-threatening hazards. Aside from extensive eye protection, it’s important to consider the other hazards.
Many welding materials used can be dangerous to the respiratory system. Some of these materials include base metals, coatings, and shielding gases that emit harmful gasses during the welding process.
Some of the benefits of using a welding helmet with a respirator include the following:
Provide clean air: Filtration systems in the welding helmet purify and provide clean air to the welder.
Protects the welder from dangerous fumes: Some materials only become toxic when they’re heated and subsequently release toxic fumes. A respirator will filter the air and prevent inhalation of toxic fumes.
With this in mind, it’s a clever idea to invest in a welding helmet with an attached respirator. Many welders prefer to use these types of helmets, irrespective of what material they’re welding with.
Depending on what your plans are for your welding helmet, some features are more important to consider than others. Once you’ve identified what materials you’ll be welding, it makes it easier to consider the importance of distinctive features. We’ve listed a few of the more common functions & features to consider!
The purpose of a welding helmet with a respirator is to prevent Trusted Source Welding Safety Tips and Guidelines for 2020 When it comes to welding, personal safety is not a choice. As a welder, every decision you make should be guided by safety standards set in place by organizations like the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). www.uti.edu inhalation of toxic or harmful gasses. The component responsible for this is the filter inside the respirator.
A clever approach is to look for filters that contain a layer of charcoal that absorb all types of gasses and vapors. It’s important to choose a welding helmet with a respirator that features a quality filtration system.
One such example from our review list is the VIKING 3250D FGS PAPR with Standard Battery that features a HEPA filter system that purifies 99.97% of fumes, toxins, and particles in the air.
The actual helmet filter should always have an auto-darkening filter to protect your eyes. A common choice for a quality auto-darkening filter is the 3M 35-1101-20SW Powered Air Purifying Respirator.
A smaller, narrower field of view, on the other hand, provides a more focused view. It’s important to note that helmets with larger viewing areas tend to be heavier. An option to consider if you prefer a larger viewing area is the VIKING 3250D FGS PAPR with Standard Battery with a 12.5” viewing area.
Alternatively, the 3M 35-1101-20SW Powered Air Purifying Respirator features side windows allowing you to work without having to constantly keep turning your head to get a view of your work. This simple feature makes work easier and goes a long way toward preventing neck pain!
A quality welding helmet protects Trusted Source Welding safety | ISHN Welding emits ultraviolet light, so every welder and helper should wear suitable helmets, goggles, or cutting glasses. Lenses are filtered and the amount of the filter is numbered — welders helper’s glasses might be a 2.0, brazing goggles might be a 3.0 or 4.0, and the filter for an arc welding helmet might be a 14. www.ishn.com your eyes and facial skin from severe sparks as well as vision-damaging infrared or ultraviolet rays emitted by the welding arc.
Always consider the amount of protection the size, shape, and features of the helmet provide. It’s important to opt for a helmet that has great protection features as opposed to one that simply looks great. One such option to consider is the 3M 35-1101-20SW Powered Air Purifying Respirator that features a double hood adding to its safety feature.
Bear in mind, though, welding helmets that feature double hoods or grind visors are usually heavier and bulkier.
Whether you’re an at-home hobby welder or a hard-core professional who welds long hours every day, a feature you should always consider is the auto-darkening function. The more modern, advanced helmets with an auto-darkening function allow the helmet to automatically change between welding and non-welding. Not only do auto-darkening helmets allow you to see clearly in the down position, fast-changing LCD technology quickly gets the helmet ready for the next weld.
One of the top welding helmets with an auto-darkening function is the 3M 35-1101-20SW Powered Air Purifying Respirator. It features an auto-darkening filter that eliminates the welder having to pause work to adjust a helmet between welds.
Many welders prefer the benefits of an auto-darkening helmet. Most auto-darkening welding helmets need batteries to work. For the most part, auto-darkening helmet batteries have a lifespan of about seven years before needing to be replaced. This, of course, depends on the amount of work you need to do. Just remember they will need to be recharged at regular intervals, so plan for this in your work schedule.
The VIKING 3250D FGS PAPR with Standard Battery offers a battery that has 9 hours of life before needing to be recharged. Optrel Clear High-Efficiency Powered Air Purifying Respirator offers a battery life of 18 hours.
Ensuring your batteries are fully charged will prevent you from having to quit work halfway through your job.
If you’re opting for an auto-darkening helmet, be sure to check the battery details. To save yourself a lot of aggravation, ensure you know where to get replacement batteries. Some welding helmets have solar batteries, which makes charging so much easier if you’re working outside.
A welding helmet should always fit comfortably over a person’s neck and face. Opting for the right size helmet will ensure your neck and face aren’t exposed to sparks which can cause burns. If you’re going to be welding for extended periods, many expert welders suggest choosing a lighter helmet. While lighter helmets tend to be a bit more costly, they provide the necessary protection.
Additionally, they reduce the pressure of the helmet on your neck and shoulders. An option from our review list is the RPB Safety-15-018-11-FR Z4 Welding Respirator with PAPR is lightweight and compact enough for user comfort.
Fortunately, welding helmets with respirators are available in a variety of sizes ranging from small, medium, and large. This means you’ll easily be able to find a size that fits you comfortably.
When considering welding helmets with built-in respirators, it’s important to consider the comfort of both the helmet and the respirator. A helmet that’s too heavy or too big will become a safety risk.
Heavier welding helmets also increase fatigue and make use uncomfortable after only a few hours.
It’s important to remember that welding helmets aren’t universal, and you should fit them on before making your final purchase. If you’re not 100% sure of your exact size, you’ll have to go to a store to fit on one before opting for an online purchase.
Our review list features a variety of models in varied sizes and weights. The RPB Safety-15-018-11-FR Z4 Welding Respirator with PAPR weighs 10 lbs. and has dimensions of 18.5” x 14.5” x 11.5”. Our favorite, the VIKING 3250D FGS PAPR with Standard Battery, on the other hand, weighs 2.5 lbs. with dimensions of 25” x 13.2” x 12.9”.
Before making your final decision, always consider the warranty the manufacturer offers. In general, a superior quality welding helmet lasts around seven to ten years. The longevity of a welding helmet has to do with the lens, sensors, and batteries.
In some helmets, these components can be replaced, making it cheaper than having to buy a whole new helmet every few years. It’s also important to check the criteria associated with the warranty conditions.
Welders need to use the right types of welding helmets to ensure safety and comfort whilst working. For this reason, we trust our informative review of 6 of our top welding helmets with respirator products makes it easier to find the one perfect for you.
We chose the 3M Speedglas Heavy-Duty Welding Helmet 46-1101-30iVC as our Editor’s Choice and rated it at 9.7. Its “TrueView” feature allows more color through the lens, giving you more control over your weld pool. With its narrower viewing area, it’s perfect for welding that needs to be done in narrower spaces. Additionally, it boasts adjustable airflow, which directs air away from the user’s eyes. This is great for welders who suffer from dry eyes when using respirator units.
The Optrel Clear High-Efficiency Powered Air Purifying Respirator made it to our best value option and was rated at 9.5. This option is perfect for welders or boilermakers working on materials with high toxic levels. With its TH3 filter, you’re guaranteed cooler and cleaner air to breathe!
The VIKING 3250D FGS PAPR with Standard Battery, is our favorite welding helmet with a respirator which offers a huge 12.5” viewing area. This feature allows users to get an extensive view of the project they’re working on. With its HEPA filtration system, it filters out about 99.97% of toxic fumes. It’s the ideal unit for everyday, heavy-duty use!
