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4 1/4" x 2" Shade 11 Lens
Practical answers on choosing, fitting and looking after the small-format shaded, cover and back lenses used in many fixed-shade helmets.
The usual rule of thumb is to start with a shade that is too dark to see the weld zone, then step lighter until you can see the work properly. The important limit is that you never go below the minimum shade for your process and current.Before swapping shade, check the simple things: a dirty or spattered cover lens, poor lighting, or a pitted back lens can all make a correct shade look too dark. If you do change shade, use a chart for your own process and current, or ask your supervisor or the equipment maker, rather than guessing.
Older lenses often carry markings from standards that have since been replaced. The current standard series for welding eye and face protectors is EN ISO 16321, with Part 2 covering welding.An old marking does not by itself mean a lens is unsafe, but you should be able to read the shade clearly and the lens must be undamaged. Check the shade is correct for your work, and ask the maker or your supplier if you want to know whether a lens meets current requirements.
No. The filter lens is there to cut down arc radiation. Eye injuries commonly come from slag, grinding and chipping, so eye protection is recommended even after the arc has stopped. Goggles are also advised when chipping slag or wire-brushing welds.Flip the helmet up for these jobs only if you are wearing suitable impact-resistant eye protection with side protection underneath. Never grind with just a tinted weld lens in front of you unless the maker's instructions and your risk assessment say it is suitable.
Replace it as soon as it is cracked, scratched, pitted or covered in spatter to the point that it affects your view. Makers' manuals generally describe the cover lens as a sacrificial layer that protects the filter behind it, so it is the part you will change most often.How quickly it wears depends on how much spatter and grinding dust your work produces. Keep spares to hand, and do not weld without the cover in place, because spatter can pit and crack the shaded filter, which is harder to replace.