Silver vs. gold welding lens, which one lens is the best for welding?
Of course the gold lens is best because it provides best reflection of lights while welding. Moreover, silver welding lenses are not in the market anymore. So that make no sense if you demand for silver lenses.
However, you may find some welding helmet brands who are still making them on demand. But before you place an order for a bunch of welding lenses, let’s find out what is so special about these two welding lenses.
What is Silver Welding Lens?
Generally, a silver welding lens has been used in telescope mirrors before got replaced by aluminum. The reason is that the silver lens is quite soft and stains easily. It also allows the precise application of thin films.
Why Use Silver Welding Lens?
A silver welding lens protects eyes from harmful UV rays, debris, and bad radiation. In the meantime, it keeps the lens filters cool while tackling unnecessary radiation. It also shows the welder what is going on in a 6010/6011 root.
It is known to produce a neutral color during the welding process. Which is clear image. You can find different lens shades, ranging from darker to lighter.
The darker shade is capable of reflecting more radiation and harmful rays, and protect the visibility of the welder.
On the other hand, the lighter shades reflect less than darker one.
Benefits
- It is a special lens to protect your face and eyes from harmful radiation and debris.
- It can be glass or plastic.
- It meets the ANSI Z87.1 safety standards for worker’s protection.
- You can choose from shades 8 to 14 depending on the type of welding.
Drawbacks
- Eye protection is not 100% accurate.
- Since the silver welding lenses are traditional, they are no longer available everywhere.
In Which Welding Methods are Silver Welding Lens Used?
Crystal clear view and true color palette visibility make silver welding lens a popular choice in Metal Active Gas (MAG), Metal Inert Gas (MIG), Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG), argon arc, electrode, plasma grinding, and cutting.
What is Gold Welding Lens?
Welders need to wear protective glasses when conducting tasks that involve exposing to ultraviolet radiation, flying sparks, and scattered materials, This is where the gold welding lens comes in to rescue. These lenses protect the welders eye from unwanted pollutants in the air during task performance.
Gold welding lenses are known to reflect light, so no backlights get into your eye when you wear them. As the light can’t pass through these lenses, you can see weld puddle of materials in their true colors while welding.
Furthermore, these lenses are capable of reflecting 90% of infrared radiation reducing the chance of eye strain. Therefore, the welder is protected while he works on his welding projects.
Why Use Gold Welding Lens?
The main reason for using a gold welding lens is that it provides 99.9% protection from detrimental UV light and objects in the air. You can see the color of the puddle and true flame arc wearing it while welding. It provides optical clarity, that helps the welder to concentrate on weld pool.
The golden lens safeguards the welder from heat and eye fatigue throughout the long hours of welding. Besides, it fulfills the ANSI Z87.1 safety standards, ensuring the workers utmost safety during the welding process.
In a way, the gold welding lens is better than the outdated silver welding lens because it reflects more light away preventing the harmful rays to enter the eyes of welders.
Benefits
- Gold welding lenses reflect light to protect your face and eyes from damage. Since no visible light passes through the lens, you can see the real color palette.
- They are scratch-resistant, dimensionally stable, and optically of top quality.
- The gold tint can enhance visibility in low-light conditions. This can be particularly useful when welding in environments with poor lighting or when working in areas with dimly lit spaces.
- Gold lenses can provide a soothing effect on the eyes by reducing glare and minimizing eye strain.
- Some welders prefer gold lenses because they believe it provides better color recognition compared to traditional green lenses.
- The gold tint can enhance the contrast between the welding arc and the surrounding environment.
Drawbacks
- It may not be suitable for everyday use.
- The market price of the product may be expensive.
Which Welding Methods are Good For Gold Lens?
Gold welding lens can found between shade 8 and 14. The shades at the lowest range are normally used for lower amperage Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) welding or Gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW).
On the other hand, the shades from the higher range are recommended for higher-amp welding like stick and Metal Inert Gas (MIG) welding.
Also Check Out Pancake Welding Hoods
What Shade of Lens To Use on a Welding Helmet?
The different shade numbers on a welding lens signify the strength of radiation frequency that can penetrate the lens you wear. The higher the shade number, the gloomier the filters are. This results in less light getting through the lens.
On the contrary, the lower the shade number, the lighter the filters are in color. Here more light can pass through the lens of the welding helmet.
Final Thoughts
The silver welding lens is going to give a very dramatic contrast compared to the gold coated lens. In fact, they both are suitable for welders who suffer from color blindness. These lenses give them the opportunity to see exactly what they are welding.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What color lens is best for welding?
For arc welding processes like SMAW, GMAW & GTAW, a shade of14 lens is preferable. For MIG and TIG welding, where the light intensity is generally lower than in arc welding, a lighter shade between 10 and 13 is often recommended.
And when using plasma cutting processes, a lighter shade, such as 3 or 5, is typically suitable.
2. Is shade 10 good for welding?
Shade 10 is dark enough to protect the welder’s eyes from the intense light produced during welding processes. Shade 10 provides adequate protection against the harmful effects of ultraviolet (UV) and infrared (IR) radiation too.