Fire, flashes, heat, and spatter; are all of these things that are being faced by everyone who deals with welding operations. As I said, it means anyone who meets with a welding operation, although a professional worker or a hobbyist. For the proper eye, face, and neck protection one has to use a welding helmet. Welding is not an easy task. You just wear a welding helmet, gear up with a welding torch, and begin your welding operation without any interruption.
It’s a great chance that you will encounter a few problems. In a list of encounters while operating, you may face the issue of fogging up the lens of the welding helmet. To overcome these issues welding helmet fan is an excellent option for a welder. If the lens of the welding helmet is not clean, you should also check the best way to clean the welding helmet lens. Fogging up the welding helmet’s lens is not a laughing matter while welding. This will make you annoyed tired, and affect your efficiency especially if you are in a hurry to complete your project.
Fogging up of lenses is not a partial issue as one can say if you are a veteran then there is a low chance. No, this problem is faced by both beginners and veterans of welding crafts. You can also check the best welding helmet for beginners. If you are looking for how to get rid of the issue and resolve the problem, then you are at the right place. In this article, we’ll address the cause of fogging and how to overcome it. Also features and benefits of welding helmet fans.
Table of Contents
Reasons for Fogging in a Welding Helmet
Let’s see the reasons for the fogging up welding helmet lens while working. The reason for the fogging is the catch-up of hot wind with cold wind or vice versa. This process is anchored upon the scientific concept of condensation. Which is the process in which gasses convert to liquid. Cooling of hot air or warming of the cold air leads to fog formation.
There are three primary reasons for fogging up the welding helmet’s lens while working.
- Cold climate
- Rainy weather
- Excessive breathing of the operator.
Let’s discuss all of the reasons one by one.
Cold Climate
There are two possibilities regarding the fogging of a welding helmet in a cold climate. One is direct and the other one is a little bit indirect. Whether you are dealing with cutting with a welding torch or joining a piece of metal, there is a release of hot air, which is inevitable because you are dealing with open fire. When this hot air meets with the cold climate, this leads to the problem of fogging. This is due to the direct contact of your welding torch with a cold climate.
The other reason for fogging is just similar but it is a little bit indirect. When someone works at a hot temperature and this hot temperature builds up in the welding helmet. As soon as the cold wind or air makes its course through the welding helmet, there is a fogging problem. All of this happening is just a matter of a few seconds.
Rainy weather
Fogging up of the welding helmet problem is frequent for the workers of the equatorial zone and monsoon zones of the world. Because these areas received more rainfall as compared to the entire globe. It is just like the cold air sneaking into the welding helmet and causing fog up the welding helmet lens. But in this case, the reason for the cold air is the rainy weather.
Excessive Breathing from Mouth
It is the least important reason for fogging the welding helmets. Air released from the mouth is warmer than the air beneath the welding helmet. When some breathe excessively, this causes fogging in the welding helmet. To avoid this problem, one has to require exercise through the nose rather than the mouth. It will build up with the experience in this occupation.
How to Deal with Fogging
The first two problems are inevitable because these are natural phenomena. The last issue can be controlled by breathing mannerisms. However, the issue with this method is human behaviours are always not unique. They change very abruptly. Luckily, there is an option that can address all of these issues, and that one is the welding helmet fan. There are special fan kits available that are adjustable with these welding helmets.
Anti-fogging Practices While Welding Operations
A Welding helmet fan ensures health and offers comfort to the welder while working. Beyond the aspects of health and comfort, you must have a welding helmet fan to reinforce the concentration of the welder and to increase the capacity to do work. Whatever the level of experience or the level required by the operation, concentration is a key factor while working.
If you don’t pay head over the welding helmet fan or cooling while working in a hot summer or some tedious activity that involves flame and fire, just like welding or cutting, you will cut down the operation speed. Along with the speed, you will suffer from the accuracy of the operation.
If you are looking for something that will minimize the chance of compromising your efficiency of work and accuracy of operation, then you should slightly decrease the “productivity” and incorporate the anti-fogging agent into the welding helmet lens. There are multiple options available to achieve anti-fogging practices. These options are discussed in the following.
- Increase your time per project
- Create a comfortable environment in regards to welding e.g. colder place for working in the summer
- Please select some air-conditioned welding helmets to neutralize the inside temperature of the welding helmet
- Increase the number of breaks while welding operation, in regards to cooling down the surrounding environment.
If someone follows all or some of the above-mentioned practices, then it will be good regarding health issues related to heat and working efficiency for both employee and worker. These practices become crucial for the person who is 50+ because old people are more susceptible to heat-related diseases.
You become aware of the importance of a welding helmet fan, and anti-fogging practices, by reading the above few words. In the following, there are some major reasons or benefits that you can get by having it.
Benefits of Welding Helmet Fan
The best way to optimize your work efficiency and counter the heat stress issues while welding is to invest in a welding helmet fan. Here are some prominent causes why every welder has to invest in it.
Pump Clean Air
Gasping is a common problem that welders face after a long working session, especially in hot summer weeks. It will urge you to put off your welding helmet and sniff in a relaxing breeze somewhere outside of the project place. Welding helmet fans help to overcome this issue. It pumps a soothing amount of clean air inside the helmet.
Make Dry to Face
As welding is a play of flash and fire, sweating is a common issue. If you are conscious about wiping out the trickling down sweat on your face, but you can’t do it, because your hands are full. Then invest in a welding helmet fan. It will make you feel fresh while working and help you to go anywhere just after the long working hours.
Filters out Harmful Chemicals
Cutting a metal piece or joining different metal spheres releases harmful chemicals, solids, and other substances which are not suitable for welders. To avoid all of these issues welding helmet fan acts as an exhaust fan and cleans the environment just like your exhaust fan did the job in a kitchen. It ensures that you breathe clean air. So, don’t worry about inhaling smoke and other hazardous substances while working.
Decrease the Humidity
Humidity causes fog-up in the welding helmet lens. If you install a welding helmet fan, it will surely help you to get rid of this issue. Because it helps to dry the moist air immediately after it enters into the welding helmet and helps to cut down the humidity problem.
Counterbalance the Heat
When there is a welding or cutting operation, excessive heat is a by-product. This heat directly affects your working efficiency and the accuracy of the work. Welding helmet fans counterbalance this exhausting heat and help to improve accuracy and efficiency.
Read More: How to Change Battery in Welding Helmet
Here are some welding machine fans that will help you in your work.
Klein Tools 60155 Dual Cooling Fan
Klein Tools Dual Cooling fan is a hard hat and a welding helmet, adaptable fan. Attachment and removal of the fan are easy. The strap is not required for mounting the fan to the hard hat or welding helmet. So, anyone can use it for ease and comfort while working in hot summer weeks or humid weather conditions.
The other main thing about this fan is its dual-action. It pumps cool or fresh air inside the helmet and pushes hot air out of the welding helmet. In this design, both short and long ducts are available. These ducts can be configured in sixteen distinct ways for efficient airflow.
A USB-charged detachable and rechargeable Lithium-ion battery helps to carry on the process smoothly for a long time. You just have to charge it and work in any weather situation. The dual fan helps to make the head, neck, and face. Its weight is 0.43 Pounds.
Pros
- No strip is required to mount it with the welding helmet.
- A dual fan helps to cool the neck, head, and face.
- Sixteen different ways of airflow.
- The dual fan pushes in the fresh air and pushes out the hot air.
- Lithium-ion battery present works for six hours.
- Rechargeable and detachable battery.
Cons
- Requires proper voltage for charging the battery otherwise, it will go down after 50% consumption.
Hytechtoyz Welding Helmet Cooling Fan
Hytechtoyz Helmet Cooling Fan is another product for cooling the welding helmet and avoiding fogging up to the lens. It weighs only 5 ounces. It provides a true evaporation cooling to the worker. It leads to the comfort of a welder and helps to sustain the operation for long hours. Hair guard technology makes it unmatchable as compared to the competitors. This technology does not draw the hair and debris through the blower.
It is adaptable with a welding helmet. You can mount it inside of the welding helmet. It keeps silent while operating. This thing makes it welder-friendly and helps to concentrate on work. It circulates a high volume of air inside the welding helmet. For proper operation, Only a 9V battery is required.
Pros
- A True evaporation cooling system is present.
- Hair guard Technology prevents sucking the hair through the blower.
- Can adjust inside of welding helmet.
- Quiet brushless operation while moving the air volume.
- It’s light in weight.
Cons
- You have to purchase the battery.
- The battery only lasts for 90 minutes
- Its cover is weak
Conclusion:
Working as a welder is not a simple and easy job. It requires many precautions to work as a welder. One of the primary issues with the welding helmets while working is fogging up welding helmet lenses. The usage of a fan in a welding helmet is an excellent solution to get rid of this issue.
You’ve learned about the reasons for fogging up welding helmet lenses and how welding helmet fans help to encounter these issues along with many other problems. Lastly, we’ve discussed the different types of fans that can be used with a welding helmet.
If you are looking for an excellent welding helmet fan that is hard hat adaptable and combines well with welding helmets, then Klein Tools Dual Cooling Fan 60155 is a great choice. On the other hand, if you are fond of evaporative cooling systems, then the Hytechtoyz Helmet Cooling Fan is best for you. CoolBelt Welding Helmet Cooling System is the best option if you are looking for a lightweight cooling system.
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James is a welding expert, accomplished author, and trusted guide with over 8 years of experience in the industry. With his in-depth knowledge and engaging writing style, James has become a true authority in the field, offering readers and clients invaluable expertise and insights to take their welding skills to new heights.