What eye protecting do you use for plasma cutting?

[holwellcourtfarm]

Having made the stupid mistake of using none for half the job yesterday and now nursing sore eyes, what eye protection do you use when using a plasma cutter?

Basic safety goggles?
Welding goggles?
Welding facemask? (Set to what shade?)

 

[Phil P]

Having made the stupid mistake of using none for half the job yesterday and now nursing site eyes, what eye protection do you use when using a plasma cutter?

Basic safety goggles?
Welding goggles?
Welding facemask? (Set to what shade?)

Personally I use my air-feed welding mask in grinding mode, but you may not have a mask available with that feature?
I have used my gas cutting glasses in the past but they can be a bit to dark and you can’t see where your cutting properly! You definitely need some eye protection other wise you’ll get ark eye although not as bad as welding!
If your doing a lot of cutting with just glasses you can end up with a pretty good tan as well

 

[Tommy]

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This is what I use

 

[davidroberts30]

Auto darkening helmet set to shade 5

 

[holwellcourtfarm]

Auto darkening helmet set to shade 5

That's what I used for the rest of the job. Still a bit hard to see the work properly though.

Thanks.

 

[Farmer_Joe]

You need proper plasma spec shade or it’s impossible to see what you doing I have Google’s as above but make sure you protect you face a bit too if doing a lot as it burns your skin make the mistake of doing loads in shorts this year nice red legs day after no tan either...

 

[davidroberts30]

That's what I used for the rest of the job. Still a bit hard to see the work properly though.

Thanks.

Set it to 4 then

 

[TexelBen]

Green screen visor, can see well and protects your whole face

 

[TripleSix]

Welding helmet set to "grind"

 

[Mur Huwcun]

As a minimum you need welding helmet, ideally air fed one. Damm thing always gave me a headache when using just goggles.

 

[davieh3350]

As a minimum you need welding helmet, ideally air fed one. Damm thing always gave me a headache when using just goggles.

Were you wearing a dust mask when you were just wearing goggles?
Think plasma must be one of the worst things going for nasty dust.

 

[Mur Huwcun]

Were you wearing a dust mask when you were just wearing goggles?
Think plasma must be one of the worst things going for nasty dust.

No, it was the fumes that was causing it. Welding helemt and dust mask is a lot better as the helmet directs the fumes around you aswell if that makes sense

 

[FarmerD89]

I use shade 5 sun glasses which is what you need to prevent arc eye. You can buy them on eBay for a few £ off eBay.

 

[jg123]

Gas cutting goggles and a head torch....... sounds silly but works well

 

[Swarfmonkey]

My employer mandates use of PAPR welding helmets when using hand-held plasma cutters.

The fumes from cutting some materials, particularly stainless steel, can be downright nasty to your health.

 

[TechWise]

Our welding supplier does tinted safety specs for plasma cutting. They're far handier as I find my welding mask isn't bright enough to see my pen marks clearly before cutting. I use the welding mask on shade 7 for plasma gouging though because that's a whole other ball game.