Is an auto-darkening welding helmet safe?
Auto-darkening welding helmets don’t darken until the welding arc is struck, and some folks wonder if the instant will damage their eyes. Welding arcs put out IR and UV light. Your eyes can be damaged (this hurts!) by these wavelengths if they aren’t protected by a good welding helmet. You don’t have to worry about the split second of exposure with a good quality, auto-darkening welding helmet because you’re always protected. Lincoln Electric recommends, for comfort’s sake, that you use a welding helmet with a darkening time of 4/10 of a millisecond.
