Welding Hood

[john in la]

While we can debate different welding lenses (auto darken; fixed; mirror front; shade strength; color; why some cost under $20 and others cost $120) I am more interested in hearing about the hood itself.

If you look at hobby or in shop welders you will most likely see they are using the standard flip down welding hood.
It may or may not have the flip up lens window.

But if you look at the guys that need perfect tested welds every time (pipeline welders) you may notice that a lot of them use what is called a "pancake welding hood".

Why is that?????

I would imagine it has to do something with always welding outside in awkward positions.
But that brings up the question...
Why are they not popular with farmers that are always welding outside in awkward positions???

So lets hear your points about the pancake hood.

For those of you that have no idea what I am talking about here is a picture of a pancake hood.

 

[Mutt and Jeff]

Properly fitted it blocks all extraneous light that might distract or influence you weld quality.

It may be fitted with automatic, or set shade number tints in standard or gold.

 

[Mutt and Jeff]

And that being balsa wood it can be very light weight.

 

[SVcummins]

So how much does it cost

 

[john in la]

Cost is irrelevant when you want the best.

But about $100 which is inline with other hoods.

 

[SVcummins]

I don?t need the best i only weld about an hour a month

 

[Dusty MI]

I figure that the pancake hoods are cooler when you are out welding in the summer sun.

 

[SVcummins]

There are times that thing would be nice if a guy already didn?t have a hood

 

[T.R.K.]

The part someone said about blocking all extra light spoke to me. I work in a shop that happened to be built with a drop-in tile ceiling-Like you see in schools and offices. The reflected light makes it impossible to see through the lens. My solution is to tape a shop towel to the top of the shield that drops over the back of my head to block all that extra flash. It also helps a lot if I have to weld outside.

 

[johnlobb]

I always used a gold lens while heliarc welding in the nuclear powerhouses...

 

[dr sportster]

Been in a lot of welding supply houses and never have seen that one .

 

[DoubleO7]

(quoted from post at 18:08:46 07/20/19) Properly fitted it blocks all extraneous light that might distract or influence you weld quality.

Looks like something made in 1923.

Blocking extra light is good.
But how well does it deflect fumes away from being inhaled?
Or how well does it prevent splatter from hitting your neck and running down the inside of your shirt?

 

[Logan in SE Texas]

I have never welded, except in Ag class in HS, didn't like it. I have worked as a pipe fitter in the local refineries for about 5 years in the late 80's/early 90's. On one job my welder was an out of work pipe liner. He used a pancake hood as pictured. The reason that allows them to be used on pipelines is the welds are made "downhill." All welds in a refinery have to be made "uphill." I don't remember why. This style hood doesn't offer a lot of protection going uphill.

 

[circus]

Just speculating but if anything like sandblasting outside, breath fogs up the lens. Better ventilation keeps it clear.

 

[Little Ed]

+1 on the gold plated lens. While I was learning Tig, eyestrain was a problem until an older welder gave me one of his Golden Globe lenses. Sore eyes were a thing of the past.

 

[Little Ed]

To keep it on topic, I passed up a flexible leather welding hood at an auction about 20 years ago. Would have been great to get into tight spaces. About once a year I wish that I had bought it.

 

[Mule Meat]

You see those type of shields on just about every pipe line welding truck around here.

Ask a Nephew about the side shield. He said it was more for protecting your eyes from another welders arcs when team welding a large line than anything.