Resanta welding helmet: Review and Features of the right choice + Video and Photo

Criterias of choice

You cannot do without a welding mask when working: it is inconvenient and dangerous to health. During welding, the master constantly encounters sparks, splashes of hot metal and UV radiation from the arc. The mask will protect against burns, prevent inflammation of the cornea and other vision problems. To choose the right one for your task, you need to understand the features and characteristics.

Shield. The simplest and most affordable type of protection. It is not attached to the head, but is held in place with a handle. This is not very convenient if you need both hands while welding. The shield completely covers the face; it can be quickly removed from the eyes to check the quality of the seam. Sometimes it is included in the package of household welders.

Glasses. Welding (gas welding) glasses cover only the eyes. They are lightweight, fit tightly to the face, and protect the cornea from sparks, splashes and UV radiation. Suitable for short-term welding in hard-to-reach places. Full face protection is not provided.

Mask. Unlike a shield, the mask is attached to the head and leaves your hands free. Simply tilt it back to evaluate the seam and return it to its place with a nod of the head. It provides good protection during operation, but the filter may impair visibility when slag-breaking or grinding. There are several types of improved welding helmets:

• With a lifting filter – thanks to the plastic shield, it protects the face even with the filter raised. It is used when you need to clearly see the work area and at the same time not expose your eyes to danger (for example, when grinding and beating off slag).
• With an air supply mechanism - useful if toxic substances are used during welding. Harmful vapors will not be allowed into the body. The design resembles a gas mask.

Chameleon mask. Chameleons are a type of mask for professional welders. The main feature is the automatic response to the arc: when it turns on, the filter darkens, when it turns off, it brightens. In some models, the response speed and degree of darkening of the light filters can be changed without removing the mask - the controls are located on the outer surface, making them convenient to turn by hand without stopping from work. Settings can be adjusted smoothly or in steps. The shade level is usually adjustable from 9 to 13 DIN, but there are chameleons with two shade ranges: lower (5-6 DIN) and upper (9-13 DIN). At lower range settings, the mask becomes lighter. This is convenient for argon-arc welding at low current. Some chameleons, in addition to the welding mode, also have a grinding mode: the light filter turns off, returning clear visibility, but the mask continues to protect the eyes from abrasive dust and other debris. Power source - solar or conventional batteries. It is better to choose the latter, because in cloudy weather or after sunset it will become difficult to work with a mask.

Light filters. The EN 379 standard has been developed for European buyers. It describes the standards of light filters for welding masks. According to the rules, they are marked as follows: x/x/x/x.

• The first number (1-3) is the optical class of the lens. Determines the quality of the review. The lower the number, the clearer the image.
• The second (1-3) is the transparency of the lens. One is the preferred indicator for work: small details are clearly visible through such masks. Masks with transparency 2 are rare and are only suitable for short-term work.
• The third (1-3) is the uniformity of application of the filter to the lens. The lower the number on the marking, the better the application and the more comfortable it is for the eyes when working.
• The fourth (1-3) characterizes the dependence of the degree of darkness on the viewing angle. The lower it is, the better: when viewed at an angle within ±15°, the degree of darkness for first class filters changes to 1DIN, for second class to 2DIN and for third class to 3DIN. Two is the most common indicator.

Filter sizes vary from mask to mask. Standard – 102x52, 110x90, 121x69 mm. The larger, the better the viewing angle, but the lower the strength. Large area filters are more fragile.

Dimensions and weight. Dimensions and weight affect ease of use. A heavy, bulky device will complicate the work and affect quality. This is especially true for weight, since during welding work a large load falls on the neck. The lighter the product, the more convenient it is to use. The only case where weight can be neglected for the sake of a low price is the rare use of welding.

Lens distortion. This parameter determines the degree of distortion of light passing through the glass. The lower the indicator, the more delicate work can be done. Indicator 1 is suitable for working with thin seams, but such a mask will be impractical when welding large pipes and other large objects.

Dimensions of the viewing slot. The size of the viewing slit directly affects the view. Standard models have a 90x40 mm window, but you can find devices with a 120x60 mm window.

Material. The cheapest means of protection are made of the simplest plastic, the more expensive ones are made of heat-resistant plastic, resistant to high temperatures and mechanical stress. In the first case, the products will not last long.

Type of light filter. The cheapest means of protection are equipped with ordinary tinted glass. The degree of darkness is indicated by numbers from 1 to 5. A higher number means more darkness. For example, No. 1 is the lightest, intended for working in a dark room; No. 5 – the darkest, designed for working outdoors during daylight hours. More expensive chameleon masks have a different gradation. They are equipped with a liquid crystal panel that can be adjusted. Here the opposite is true - a higher number means less darkness (from 5 to 15 units).

Advanced technologies are the key to success

Modern welding helmets use more advanced technology - they use an automatic light filter called “chameleon”.

Light filter for mask

It is able to independently respond to changes in the light flux and adjust modes in such a way as to protect the welder’s eyes without his intervention. Such automatic light filters are powered by lithium and solar batteries. This technology is used, for example, in Resanta welding helmets.

When choosing a chameleon mask, you should pay attention to its classification, manufacturer and quality certificate. The optical class of the light filter is of greatest importance - it must comply with the conditions and welding method - manual arc MMA, semi-automatic MIG or MAG, argon arc TIG, or a special filter for professional work. For example, ESAB welding helmets can be classified as professional.

Which brand of welding mask is best to choose?

Such accessories are produced mainly by the same companies that produce welding equipment. The list of the most reliable of them includes the following companies:

• Resanta is a brand recognizable on the Russian electrical equipment market, whose tools and products have become the standard for the ratio of high quality and optimal cost. It sells welding equipment and accessories for it, including chameleon masks.
• Fubag Ultima is a specialized German manufacturer of products for construction and renovation. His offers are interesting because of the packaging; the sets always come with additional lenses. The company's masks provide ideal protection from emitted light and are recommended for both short-term and long-term welding work.
• ESAB is a company dedicated to providing comfort, safety, convenience and efficiency when working with welding equipment. To this end, it provides chameleon masks and shields to protect the face and head. Among them there are models with a large viewing area, a folding screen, and an air supply unit. The products provide reliable protection against infrared and ultraviolet radiation.
• Zubr is a Russian manufacturer of a wide range of power tools and equipment. He has a series of masks and shields with folding glass, auto-darkening, and a fixed light filter. There are models with adjustable lightening speed and the ability to work with a welding machine in grinding mode.
• Interskol is one of the leaders of the best manufacturers of equipment and accessories for welding. They have few masks for operators, but they are versatile - they are used to protect against splashes of hot metal, bright flashes, sparks, UV and IR radiation arising from an arc or plasma.

Ideal performance package

The main components of adjusting the light filter of a welding helmet
How to understand the parameters of chameleon masks? What is the difference between Resanta welding helmets and Korund welding helmets? You should pay attention to the following parameters:

Darkness level

Must correspond to the welding mode, depending on the brightness with which the welding arc burns. On professional models, this parameter can be adjusted manually.

Sensitivity

This parameter can usually be adjusted to specific electrodes or hot metal.

Filter size

The larger the filter, the better visibility the welder will have while working.

Arc area illumination

As a rule, chameleon masks are equipped with an LED that serves as a backlight.

Power supply

Usually this is a battery or accumulator.

The best welding masks in terms of price/quality ratio

BISON EXPERT 11079

The protection element of this segment is made of a polymer of increased strength and heat resistance. Due to such a light special material, the weight of the product reaches 560 g. The light filter is adjustable from 9 to 13 DIN. It works very quickly - in 0.04 ms. Powered by sunlight or two lithium batteries. The fastening is easily adjustable, which ensures maximum wearing comfort. A small viewing window complicates the working aspects a little, but does not interfere much.

Advantages

• dual power supply
• material is resistant to high temperatures
• good dimming

Flaws

• not recommended for use in frosty weather
• overpriced design
• small viewing window

Fubag Ultima 5-13 Visor Black

An excellent option for a chameleon welding helmet in terms of price, quality, convenience and characteristics. Judge for yourself - there is a visor of a decent area (100x67 mm), and a conveniently located darkening control, which in the extreme position switches the mask to GRIND mode (turning off the automatic darkening). In this case, the “blackness” range of the visor is set inside the mask using a slider. In the first position, the darkening is adjustable in the range from 5 to 8 DIN, in the second – 9-13 DIN. Inside, on the panel there are regulators for sensitivity and brightening delay. The visor itself is a little dark when turned off (4 DIN), but this is not a serious drawback. We also note that the headband is comfortable and securely holds the size, and the weight of the mask is acceptable and does not overload the neck during long-term use. Dual power supply – solar battery and two lithium batteries. Unlike models on one battery, a mask “lives” much longer without replacing them, although replacement costs end up being the same: one needs to be changed more often, while two need to be changed less often.

Advantages

• Good field of view
• Comfortable headband
• Easily accessible adjustment

Flaws

• Hidden sensitivity adjustment inside

Aurora SUN-7

The mask looks frankly futuristic - the developers took a creative approach to the design development process. The functionality will pleasantly surprise even the most picky owner. There is a self-testing option, a grinding mode, and you can also install a protective glass or diopter lens. The settings are very flexible, and mostly the levers are located on the outside - inside there is only a button for checking the battery charge and a lever for adjusting the delay time. A good overview is provided by a window measuring 55x99 mm.

Advantages

• grinding mode
• large window
• convenient criminal
• self-test function
• possibility of installing diopter or protective glass

Flaws

• no smooth delay adjustment – ​​only three modes

ELITECH MS 500-1

A mask that is distinguished not only by a very unusual design, but also by high quality. The original coloring makes it stand out from a number of similar gray and black models, so it will be problematic to confuse them. Works great both from a solar battery and from two AA batteries, which can be easily and quickly changed without wasting extra time. The available charge indicator allows you to monitor the condition of the batteries in order to replace them with new ones in time. It’s nice that the mask weighs 470 g - experienced welders know very well that every extra hundred grams leads to faster fatigue and pain in the neck.

Advantages

• light weight
• The filter works quickly
• great choice for home use
• original design

Flaws

• Not suitable for operation in temperatures below -5 degrees Celsius

Fubag Ultima 11

The Fubag Ultima 11 welding mask took its place in the ranking due to automation. It independently switches from one dimming mode to another, which makes work more comfortable and safe. The filter in this model operates in 0.04 ms and reacts within 0.35 ms. The personal protective equipment reacts accurately and quickly to sparks, UV and IR rays, which prevents negative effects on the retina. The protective mask does not fall off the head at a critical moment and is suitable for people with a wide variety of sizes. This is made possible by an adjustable swivel mount. The basis of the product is durable plastic, but it can still be damaged under significant mechanical stress. The decent screen size of 100x49 does not interfere with the view of the work area.

Advantages

• Good sensor sensitivity to changes in light level
• Two welding arc sensors
• Suitable for use in MIG-MAG, TIG, MMA welding
• Powered by solar panel and lithium battery
• Reliably protects against small metal splashes
• Not heavy, weight 425 g
• The highest filter rating in the rating is 16 DIN

Flaws

• Possible damage to integrity upon contact with heated surfaces

Choose an option

Buyers are wondering which chameleon mask to choose for welding, home craftsmen are focusing on budget products or shields, and for professional welders - only a chameleon mask.

We present recommendations from professional welders on the choice of protection:

1. Resanta MS-4 is suitable for working in open areas.
2. To protect not only your head, but also your neck, buy Fubag Ultima 11.
3. When performing additional cleaning and sanding work, the Fubag Ultima 5-13 Panoramic Black mask will be useful.
4. When working with non-consumable electrodes, use the ESAB Sentinel A50 product.
5. Interskol MS-400 is suitable for gas welding work.
6. Garage craftsmen will be protected by the Bison Master 11072 shield.

Today, manufacturers offer a wide range of protection when performing welding, but the best of them are presented in our rating.

Adviсe

To choose the best option for yourself, you need to know the nuances:

• The reliability of eye protection is the degree of darkness of the mask screen, which is expressed in DIN and varies between 3-15 units.
• Additional work mode - after the metal has cooled, the darkening is removed, the glass for the shield becomes transparent, which allows you to continue working without removing the mask.
• The effectiveness and quality of retinal protection depends on the response speed of light filters, which is considered optimal at a value of 0.1 s. Some Chinese experts underestimate this parameter, so you need to focus on average values.
• Welders often work in poorly ventilated areas, so it is worth choosing a mask with forced ventilation to avoid breathing toxic fumes of molten metal and smoke from burning electrode coatings.
• The weight of a helmet or mask plays a big role - if the headband is adjusted correctly, the product does not put pressure on the performer’s head. Lightweight polymer models will not be able to protect the welder from the mechanical impact of a fallen part or improvised tool.

Design Features

An automatic type filter is a rather complex compound that contains many different elements. For example, it has several layers of LCD cells built into it, as well as special sensors. It also contains batteries.

A mask with an automatic light filter is combined into one device, which is manufactured in accordance with the highest achievements of science and technology. In the process of developing a device, knowledge from many fields is used: microelectronics, optoelectronics, optics.