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PPE lens and helmet support

Welding Lens Shade Support

Pick a practical starting shade by process and amperage, then jump to the helmet brand or lens page for cover lenses, cartridges, headgear, batteries, and related parts.

Common shades Full chart Helmet parts Cover lenses

Start Here

Choose the shortest path based on what the customer is trying to do.

PPE

Pick a shade range

Use the common process cards first, then open the full chart only when the job needs a closer match.

Common shades Full chart
PPE

Troubleshoot first

If the complaint is flicker, no darkening, or hard-to-see puddle, check the troubleshooting path before replacing the cartridge.

Helmet flickering Not darkening

Common Starting Points

These ranges are a practical starting point. Treat minimum shade values as the floor and go darker if the arc is uncomfortable or too bright.

Gas welding and cutting Shade 3-8 Start lighter for soldering/brazing and darker as material thickness increases.
Stick / SMAW Shade 7-14 Most 60-160 A stick work starts around shade 10.
MIG / FCAW Shade 7-14 Use current range and arc brightness; flux-core can feel brighter.
TIG / GTAW Shade 8-14 Low-amp TIG often needs visibility; increase shade as amperage rises.
Plasma and carbon arc Shade 6-14 Match current and arc intensity; carbon arc gouging usually needs dark protection.
Safety check: Verify final lens setting against the helmet manual, worksite safety program, WPS, and actual arc brightness.

Full Shade Chart

Use this when process and amperage are known. On mobile, the chart scrolls sideways.

Process Range Shade
Torch solderingGeneral soldering2
Torch brazingGeneral brazing3-4
Gas weldingLight, up to 1/8 in.4-5
Gas weldingMedium, 1/8 to 1/2 in.5-6
Gas weldingHeavy, over 1/2 in.6-8
Oxygen cuttingLight, up to 1 in.3-4
Oxygen cuttingMedium, 1 to 6 in.4-5
Oxygen cuttingHeavy, over 6 in.5-6
Stick / SMAWLess than 60 A7
Stick / SMAW60-160 A8-10
Stick / SMAW160-250 A10-12
Stick / SMAW250-550 A12-14
MIG / GMAWLess than 60 A7
MIG / GMAW60-160 A10-11
MIG / GMAW160-250 A12
MIG / GMAW250-500 A14
Flux-core / FCAWUse matching MIG current range7-14
TIG / GTAWLess than 50 A8-9
TIG / GTAW50-150 A10-12
TIG / GTAW150-500 A12-14
Plasma arc weldingLess than 20 A6-8
Plasma arc welding20-100 A8-12
Plasma arc welding100-400 A10-12
Plasma arc welding400-800 A11-14
Plasma cuttingLess than 300 A8-9
Plasma cutting300-400 A9-12
Plasma cutting400-800 A10-14
Carbon arc gouging / cuttingLight10-12
Carbon arc gouging / cuttingHeavy11-14
Carbon arc weldingGeneral14

Reference-style starting points based on OSHA 1926.102 eye and face protection shade guidance and common welding shade charts. This page is a lookup aid, not a replacement for jobsite safety requirements.

Helmet And Lens Paths

After choosing a shade range, open the helmet or lens page to match the actual part.

All Helmet Brands Start with the helmet brand or family before ordering lenses, headgear, batteries, or cartridges. Helmet Lenses Find cover lenses, inside lenses, and replacement lens paths. Miller Helmets Digital Elite, Classic, Infinity, Performance, T94, Titanium, and Weld-Mask paths. Lincoln Viking Helmets Viking Passive, 1840, 2450, 2450D, 3250D FGS, and 3350 support. ESAB Helmets Sentinel A50, Sentinel A60, Savage A40, and Savage A40 PAPR paths. Hobart Helmets Creator, Pillar, Inventor, and Impact helmet support pages. Weld-Cote / ArcOne Weld-Cote Klear View, Kwik View, Ultra View, and ArcOne lens paths. Miller Cover Lenses Direct path for common Miller outside and inside cover lenses.
Need More Help?Troubleshooting, Miller lens shortcuts, PPE home, and the older shade page.
Helmet Flickering Helmet Not Darkening Miller Helmet Accessories PPE Support Home Legacy Shade Page