Category
Safety Gear
Helmets, jackets, boots and respirators: what each protects against, the standard behind it, and gear that matches its maker's published specs.
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Best welding jackets: flame-resistant cotton or leather, and when each is enough
Six welding jackets from Lincoln, Tillman, Black Stallion and Miller, compared on fabric, published wash life and coverage, and when leather is worth it.
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Welding boots: what the welding safety guidance asks for, and four that meet it
AWS asks for leather, safety-toed, high-topped boots and uncuffed pants over the top. Laces or pull-on is your call. Four boots compared on published specs.
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Welding respirators: which filter stops fume, and which masks fit under a helmet
What the N95 and P100 labels mean, why flux core makes the most fume, and three NIOSH filter half masks sold for welding, one of which ships without filters.
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Welding helmets explained: passive, auto darkening and what the numbers mean
How auto darkening helmets work, what shade range, sensors, switching speed and the 1/1/1/1 rating actually mean, and the one spec to check first.
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What a welding helmet does not protect against
A helmet covers your eyes and face and nothing else. The seven hazards it leaves open, what covers each, and the one check to run before every session.
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Best welding helmets, compared on what the makers actually publish
Six auto darkening welding helmets ranked on published safety standards, shade range, low amp tig rating, weight and warranty. One maker names no standard.
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Welding helmet shade chart: minimum and suggested shade by amperage
Lens shade numbers for stick, mig, flux core, tig and plasma cutting by amperage: the OSHA minimum beside the AWS suggested shade, with sources.