Best Pipeline Welding Helmet (2023) – Reviews & Buying Guide

The best pipeline welding helmet should be able to provide you with sufficient protection against pipe welding because it is one of the most difficult welding processes. Jointing curved metal pieces is probably one of the most difficult welding processes, and pipe welding involves metals of various thicknesses and shapes.

While welding the pipeline’s bottom side, the welder must protect themselves from welding spatters. By wearing a welding mask, you will ensure that your face, hair, throat, and ears will be completely protected. It is necessary for the pipeline welder to travel in precarious places across the pipeline while in the course of his work.

Welding pipelines require glare-free visibility, and the sun is directly behind the welder. This system seals out the sunlight that naturally colors the shading lens, as the Balsa jar acts as a gap. Select pipeline helmets that automatically dim to prevent intrusions.

If you choose to work in pipe welding, you will find out that you are going to use one of the three welding methods: Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW), Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW or MIG) and Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW or TIG).

Welding on pipes is considered to be one of the most difficult welding tasks, because welders must work in extremely tricky positions when joining cylindrical metal pieces (tubes), often of extremely large sizes.

The following article introduces five of the best welding helmets to consider when working on piping. This provides welders with excellent protection and visibility in tough conditions.

Best Pipeline Welding Helmets Reviews

A pipeline welder must wear an approved welding helmet at all times so that they can work safely and remain protected. Listed below are some of the best pipeline welding helmets available in the market, with a brief description of each:

1. Pyramex Safety Leadhead Auto Darkening Welding Helmet

Pyramex Safety WHAM3030GB Leadhead Auto Darkening Welding Helmet is one of the best welding helmets on the market if you want quality, durability, comfort, and convenience. For the toughest job out there, this model was created.

This helmet was designed specifically for the welding of pipe, but it is effective for a range of welding applications. This product is built to last, offers a comfortable working environment, and is constructed to last.

1/30,000 of a second is the response time of the magnifying lens. Detailed operations can be performed with this. The helmet has four separate arc sensors for arc detection that produce relatively superior results.

While talking about the best pipeline welding helmets,Solar and battery power make this helmet suitable for use both on and off-grid. Because of this, it is ideally suited for welding operations and tasks with a long duration.

The welder doesn’t need to worry about a breakdown of electricity, as the helmet will continue to protect him during a breakdown. From a design perspective, the helmet has a high-quality nylon cover that provides full protection for the head and neck.

2. Lincoln Electric Viking Auto Darkening Welding Helmet

In fact, this is a helmet specifically designed for pipeline welders even though it comes in second place on the list. Regardless of the type of environment or working conditions, it can be used.

While this helmet is cheaper than other Lincoln eclectic models, it still offers the necessary protection that welders need. Furthermore, it offers the same specs and the same speed required as other models; it is very similar to them.

Safety and security standards for the helmet are based on ANSI Z87.1-2010 and CSA Z94.3. With this automatic darkening filter, you will be able to block UV/IR light, emission radiation, and sparks.

Made of high-quality material, the helmet has the capability to provide wider protection from unexpected arc sparks to the welder during the pipeline welding. As a result of its optical clarity of 1/1/1/1, the helmet provides good field of view. Although the helmet does not have side windows, it is still able to provide clear vision.

3. Fibre-Metal Pipeliner Fiberglass Welding Helmet

A suitable model that you should consider listing is the Fiber-Metal Pipeliner Fiberglass Welding Helmet with Rubber Headband, which is designed specifically for pipe welding. The compact design of this helmet means it can fit easily in any enclosed area as opposed to other helmets that can’t.

It is constructed of top-of-the-line SuperGlas Plus material, so the helmet is tough and can deflect any radiation or sparks easily. The material is also incredibly tough and impermeable, resistant to any form of force that could cause it to crack.

While discussing about the best pipeline welding helmets, it is appropriate for a wide range of working environments. Hard working conditions don’t pose a problem for the helmet. Additionally, the helmet provides an extremely quick response time which is needed to ensure maximum protection. Welding projects require a top-notch helmet, and this one is the best.

Design wise, it is relatively lightweight and very convenient and comfortable to wear for long hours. A rubber headband provides the welder with the ability to adjust it to his or her preference.

Further, the shade 10 lens gives a wide and clear view of the wedding operation for an ultimate wedding experience. With the filter, the radiation from ultraviolet (UV) and infrared (IR) light can be effectively blocked.

4. Fibre-Metal Tigerhood

Fibre-Metal has introduced this welding helmet that offers amazing clarity that will enhance a welder’s visibility. It is the only solution I would recommend for pipeline welders who work in low-light environments.

According to the manufacturer, it is covered with a great thermoplastic material that works well under extremely high temperatures. Moreover, the helmet is a fairly lightweight model that fits comfortably on the head.

As well as offering very clear vision, it comes with a telescopic lead and a shade 10 lens. With this hard hat adapter, you can also wear a hard hat on your head, and it is very easy to adjust due to the comfortable design. An excellent choice for welding pipes, in my opinion.

5. Lincoln Electric VIKING Red Welding Helmet

Featuring a beautiful dark red color, the Lincoln Electric VIKING 3350 Code Red Welding Helmet will set you apart from others. Beginners and professionals alike will benefit from this helmet.

One of the lightest models you can find is this one, which weighs no more than 3 pounds. The helmet’s long-duration capability makes it perfect for long-term use in operations that require helmets.

While chatting about the best pipeline welding helmets, Welding will be easier than ever thanks to the lightweight construction. If you are considering purchasing this version, be sure to check your size before purchasing.

In addition to the auto darkening feature, the helmet reacts much faster than you think; probably within 80 microseconds. A large area of observation is covered by four sensors in the helmet.

Both indoor and outdoor use is possible with this helmet. Both solar and battery power can be used to power the helmet. Rather than worrying about power supply, the helmet uses the sunlight to power all of its adjustable features.

Furthermore, the temperature can be controlled and adjusted based on the working location.

 

Best Pipeline Welding Helmets – Buying Guide

Pipe Welding Precautions:

A person responsible for the operations of such an industry can be exposed to a variety of injuries and health risks. During a welding operation, it is impossible to avoid the bright lights and flames produced by the equipment.

In fact, sparks produced by the induced heating can damage an eye or any part of the upper shoulder. Furthermore, once inhaled, the fumes produced could adversely affect the respiratory system.

When the welding worker wears the right gear, he or she can reduce the risk of developing health problems.

What is the process?

To stay protected, all welders must simply follow the safety measures and procedures. Welding helmets and gloves with temperature-resistance are among the safety equipment. Helmets used for welding pipes usually come with lenses included.

No matter how well equipped you are with the helmet, you should still avoid excessive welding fumes and gases.

 By introducing toxics and fumes into the air, they can deplete the oxygen in your area, preventing you from breathing comfortably.

Pros Of The Pipeliner Helmet

More Affordability

Pipeliner has consistently been priced under $100 since it was introduced. That is hard to beat as far as modern helmets are concerned. Rather than using the fancy technology other companies use, Honeywell removed all of that.

The headgear, buttons, and side windows are all absent. As a welding hood, this one is purely functional. For workforce welders, dependable and affordable hoods are important.

Rugged Construction

The Fiber Metal, as Honeywell refers to their special fiber glass, makes this hood extremely difficult to break.

This material doesn’t crack when dropped, abused, or abraded. The durability of your gear is a huge plus if you are tough on it. It is not a good experience to have a $400 hood destroyed by a welding shop. Because of the Pipeliner, you don’t have to worry about consequences when throwing it around.

Full Wrap Design

A major curvature on one side and an oval shape on the other guarantee complete protection. In addition, your entire face is protected from sparks and spatter while you are welding overhead and in an out-of-position .

Many hoods lack sufficient surface area to keep sparks from landing, posing a potential burn hazard to the welder. Whatever welding project you’re working on, you can be sure that the Pipeliner will deflect the sparks.

Simple Headgear

With this helmet, there isn’t much great headgear included. The back strap is made of rubber and is rather difficult to use.

It is possible to purchase a 3C headgear which offers infinite adjustment through a knob on the back. Almost any size head can wear this headgear. There are no extra bells and whistles on this heavy-duty tool. The only thing you need is a band that fits securely on anyone’s head – what else do you need?

The ratchet headgear is better than the standard headgear – some folks really prefer it, but we really prefer our upgrade.

More Lens Options

Simple passive shade lenses such as those used for decades sit in the 2″ x 4.25″ lens slot. It’s difficult to view from a distance. Your weld should be just big enough to see comfortably.

The majority of welders prefer helmets with bigger lenses since this is more comfortable for them. You have to see the area that you are welding when it comes down to it. The 2*4 field of view is ideal for this mentality.

Also available in a size of 2*4 are auto darkening lenses. When they detect a welding arc, the light color of these switches to a dark one. These are especially good for beginners since they are very easy to use.

Due to the fact that passive lenses always remain dark, many welders find them difficult to use. A work piece that cannot be seen until you begin welding poses a challenge.

The “main lens” must also be protected with clear lenses along with the welding lens itself. In more expensive welding helmets, these clear filters are very expensive.

Depending on the model, clear lenses can cost $5 a pop for Millers and Lincolns. The cost of replacing filters can really add up considering how easily they can be scratched. It is important to replace them if they are too scratched.

A Pipeliner clear lens can be purchased for a very reasonable price. Keeping these pens clean and sanitary is virtually painless, as they cost only 20 cents each. One clear lens is placed in front of the shaded lens, and the other in the back of the Pipeliner.

You can keep welding while protecting your shaded lens for roughly 40 cents. The filters won’t be damaged if you scratch them.

Cons Of the Pipeliner Helmet

Cheap Hardware

There are some problems with the fasteners holding the headgear in place. Plastic is used for making them. Tightening them tends to result in them cracking or stripping with time.

So, the hood stays up and does not flop around, it is necessary for your headgear to have some tension. In the absence of tension, the hood falls into the welding position when it is attempted to be kept on top of the head.

Fortunately, there are special headgear fasteners that can be CNC machined. It allows maximum tension, and they are of excellent quality. Specifically for Pipeliner hoods, these screws are made out of aluminum. These have been working great for me for over 2 years now.

Stock Headgear

In addition to the rubber strapped headgear that comes with the hood, there are some problems with it. Since the rubber is so floppy, it makes it difficult to get a secure fit. You don’t have to worry about this as long as you are willing to upgrade to the 3C headgear.

In contrast, some folks may be annoyed with the stock headgear if they aren’t looking to spend the money. Rubber head straps have not been appreciated by any welder we’ve met. Considering the hood, it is important to keep this aspect in mind. If the Pipeliner helmet is equipped with fasteners (above) and a nice headgear (below), the overall cost will increase.

White Paint Job

This hood gets really dirty and looks worn out because the white paint gets really dirty. Black keeps mine looking better, so I painted it black. This can be a non-issue if you don’t mind getting spatter on your white paint. Be aware that, despite using the hood for several months, it looks old. A heavy-duty process such as flux core MIG – makes this even more necessary.

Lack Of Features

Some welders may find this hood to be a disadvantage due to its simplicity. It is important that you choose which lens shade to install. The darker shade you need (shades 11, 12) must be purchased and installed.

The majority of hoods now come with the option of changing the lens shade with the touch of a button. Choosing a hood with a nicer lining may be better if you change your shades often.

Small Viewing Area

The smaller viewing area may be difficult for some welders to adjust to. A wider field of vision is possible with larger lenses, which the Pipeliner does not have. Even so, there are still some of the world’s finest welders who use this hood.

Some of the toughest tests are passed with this hood by master TIG welders. The Pipeliner is not the right tool for you if you care about being able to see around the welding area.

Needed Upgrades

If you want the best performance, this hood will require some upgrades. Ahead of the upcoming holiday season, we will be upgrading the headgear, fasteners, and auto darkening lens. Despite this, other welders do not upgrade their equipment. It’s mostly a matter of personal preference whether you want them or not.

The auto-darkening lens is by far the most expensive upgrade. Auto darkeners start around $75, while passive shade lenses run between $5 and $10. A passive shade does not last as long as these lenses, but they do provide a lot more benefits.

The ability to view the weld area prior to striking an arc is extremely helpful. On the other hand, passive shade lenses save you some cash over the long run if you enjoy using them.

Performance vs Longevity

You can have the best helmet you can imagine – until it breaks. In recent years, helmets have become more fragile. In the event that they break, the chips inside could be damaged, resulting in a costly repair.

In the worst-case scenario, the entire hood may need to be replaced. This problem has been avoided by limiting the features of Pipeliner. “Less is more” is the motto here.

In order for hoods to be durable, manufacturers cannot cram all the features into them. It is more likely that a repair will have to be made when there are more electronics installed. Certainly, this is a matter of personal preference.

That is why hoods like Pipeliners provide a nice contrast to Millers and Lincolns with their cleaner lines.

Why Auto Darkening?

It is possible for the Ultraviolet and Infrared rays produced by the welding operation to cause eye damage. It is therefore imperative to secure yourself from potential debris with an auto-darkening filter and good lens covers.

Quickly switching from the bright light shade to the dark shade is made possible by this filter. The sensitivity and delay of welding helmets can often be adjusted. Depending on your preferences, you can easily control these features.

As part of the welding helmet package, a retainer lens could also be included. Auto-darkening filter lenses are protected by this feature from arc rays. Plastic is usually used to construct them and they are light in weight.

A light-darkening helmet can offer a wide range of benefits, including durability, reliability, and optimal protection. In addition to being highly practical, these helmets are also extremely convenient.

Although there is a wide range of welding helmets for pipe welding available, they all have the same primary objective: to keep their users protected.

These are the five best welding helmets for pipe welding that we have compiled and reviewed in this article. Every single one of them offers a variety of features designed to cater to different tastes and needs.

While most are designed for professional use only, we find a few that may suit those beginning their welding journey. In this article you will find all the specifications of each model. Be sure to check them out and choose the one that best suits our working conditions.

Pipe Welding Basics

Welding pipes is not considered an easy job. It requires working in some very uncomfortable positions, as the work area is often limited or difficult to approach. That said, one can understand that this is not a beginner friendly soldering job and requires experience and knowledge.

• If you are a beginner, we recommend that you start with simpler welding methods and focus on learning the basics of welding before getting into pipe welding. This gives you a better insight into how welding works, so that you can develop as a welder later on.
• The best known and most widely used welding process is open root welding. This process, which is considered very difficult and mainly used by experienced welders, does not require the welder to use a fixed backing plate. This means that the welder is literally working over an empty space.
• When it comes to welding pipes, it is extremely necessary for welders to know their best hand. As a pipe welder, you must learn to use both hands to reach the other side of the welding pipe.
• Pipes to be welded sometimes have very large surfaces. Such surfaces tend to limit your line of sight and your range potential when it comes to using the flashlight or arc gun. It is inevitable to work in strange and challenging positions, especially when welding on the lower size of the pipe.
• To get stronger welds, start each welding process by aligning all the metal pieces to make sure they stay in place. This way you have plenty of time to wipe or trim your nails to avoid damaging your weld and minimize the risk of destroying the entire project.

Pipe welding procedure:

Starting to weld the pipes, you need to know some basic steps related to the procedure. First, when you start or stop welding pipes, it is important to start with the sidewall. If you start with the gap, you could jeopardize the entire project.

• Calm and gentle movements are a necessity. Hit the arc and take your time to shape the weld pool. The first move to do is start at the open root and move to the opposite point of the weld area.
• Position changes should be made with caution. It is necessary to operate the arc by making zigzag movements, starting from the first part of the pipe closest to you, and then very slowly to the open base to fix the weld.
• To make sure you work correctly on the pipe, you need to divide it into sections and work on each section individually. Take the time to work carefully on each section until you are sure the weld is stable. You can then proceed to the next section using the same procedure.
• It is recommended to do a few passes to make sure that the nails are firm and fixed properly so as to avoid revisiting the same nails later. Doing a good job in advance guarantees positive results at the end of the project.
• When welding pipelines, several types of materials of different sizes are used. Most of these materials are heavy and thick and are used for large projects using pipes. Penetration can be difficult to achieve and the reason is the open roots.
• Poor quality penetrations can cause severe damage to the pipe weld. This is a particularly important note to keep in mind if you plan to work as a pipe welder on large industrial projects.

How to fix a wrong pipe weld?

Pipe welding is quite forgiving when it comes to revisiting the weld for further repairs. This is especially useful to know if you don’t have a lot of experience in pipe welding, as it takes a lot of stress out.

If the pipe weld was unsuccessful, you can repair the failed part by revisiting the open root weld and focusing on grinding only the damaged area instead of the entire pipe. It is a very simple task and it limits the amount of work needed.

What you need to do is grind the area and resize it so that it looks like the rest of the pipe. To achieve this, the root must be reopened. After finishing the work, start closing the root again by welding the specific area to its original shape.

What is the role of a pipe welder?

Pipe welders are also known as pipe welders. Their role is to repair or join pipes and tubes and other tubular metal pieces used to construct buildings, large structures or pipelines for commercial use.

Pipe welders use different welding methods to work on their projects. They can work with different types of equipment, as well as with different workplaces and locations. Pipe welding is usually an outdoor activity.

Welders working in the pipe welding industry need to be well trained and experienced to work on difficult projects and perform challenging tasks. This is due to the difficult shape of the pipes which require difficult positions and a lot of work.

The challenging nature of pipe welding makes it one of the most dangerous and difficult professions in the world. This is why pipe welders are considered highly skilled workers and their salaries are generally higher than the average worker.

Conclusion

Pipe welding is considered to be one of the most difficult jobs in the welding industry. A welder requires many hours of work, experience and knowledge to start pipeline projects. Therefore, it is not recommended for beginners.

In this article, we have reviewed and reviewed 5 of the best pipe welding helmets that offer protection and high optical clarity for the best possible results. Now it’s your turn. Do your research and choose the welding helmet that’s right for you. Keep welding!