Eye protection from plasma cutting

[metalbender]

When plasma cutting eye protection is very important. What is the lightest
shade that one can use.. the dark goggles I use with the A/O seems a bit uncomfortable and bright, the instant on welder helmet works good but dont like the bulky feel. Dark goggles dont protect one from sunburn of the face so what do you experts use when cutting alot of metal?

[Zrexxer]

http://products.sellstrom.com/details_new.asp?seriesID=58

[Rocky D]

You could get by with a 6 or an 8 shade lens...most guys don't wear anything...but for precision cutting I use my Speedglas AD helmet

[Old Sporty]

Just like welding, the shade # of the lens is determined by the amps being used for cutting. With my Spectrum 375, I use and old helmet that I put a shade 5 lens in. It works fine for me from the light amp cuts all the way up to max. You might have a much larger cutter, however, and might need a heavier lens.


Check your owner's manual and see if there isn't a recommended shade in there for the machine. Might help.

[Dmaxer1]

Call me a cretin but I use a pair of dark grey tint polarized prescription sunglasses. For the most part I can't see the arc anyway when I'm cutting a piece hanging off the edge of my table because the arc is visible only on the other side of the piece. Even when I'm gouging, the dark unglasses dim the glare from the arc to the point that it doesn't bother me. But then I'm using a small plasma unit.;)

[Old Sporty]

The two main reasons I use the old helmet is the 1. I already had it, and 2. it helps to shield my face and neck from blowback.

Trust me, eventually it's going to spit back at you and that stuff is hot.

[ptsideshow]

Here you go, http://www.hobartwelders.com/weldtalk/showthread.php?t=32035

The current thinking is the higher the amperage of the torch setting the darker the shade needed
Less than 300amps arc current Minimum is shade 8
300-400amps shade 9
400-800amps shade10 your comfort level may be higher the suggestion is 9, 12, 14

These are from American welding society, Safety in welding,cutting and allied processes.

They are your only set of eyes, unless you come from a couple of other planets near by! So one should always do your best for them.:D

[jimcolt]

Plasma cutting eye protection info can be found in the front safety section of the plasma system operators manual.....at least the ones from reputatble manufacturers that care about their customers safety! The following is from a Hypertherm plasma operators manual. These recomendations are from an ANSI standard Z49.1.2005 and are minimum recomendations...it is suggested for comfort that you should use at least one shade darker than these listings...

less than 40 Amps shade 5

41 to 60 Amps shade 6

61 to 300 Amps shade 8

301 to 400 Amps shade 9

401 to 800 Amps shade 10

Jim Colt Hypertherm