What is Grind Mode on a Welding Helmet?

The term of “grinding mode” is a function available in welding helmets. When the mode is activated, the user will quickly press an external control (switch or button) in order to create a specific position in the grinding mode.

This function is to ease the transitions between welding to grinding. It offers the opportunity for a welder to activate grind mode without removing the helmet, and aids in consolidating time because it improves safety and efficiency for the entire operation.

How Does It Work?

Some welding helmets have modernized their designs to allow the user to flip up the auto darkening lens, while leaving the main visor shield in place.

Beneath the auto la mode lens, the original clear grind shield swings toward the end of the helmet, which allows the welder to view the work area clearly both when inspecting a surface or getting ready to begin application.

The use of the clear shield during grinding work is significant because it will allow the user to see more issue(s) in the work area but the capacity of the protective equipment to provide users safety against potential hazards while achieving their work objectives.

It is always important to specify that the use of a clear shield does not remove the inherent obligations to wear safety glasses under the helmet for additional eye protection.

Auto darkening welding helmets are typically designed with either fixed or variable shade. Fixed shade helmets darken to one shade at the predetermined level.

It is often preferred when welders will be completing the same work over and over for a long period of time because it is simple and predictable.

All other auto darkening welding helmets are typically variable shade options and are often offering a grind mode, which allows the user to specify the level of darkness for varying shades of work. This flexibility is particularly useful if users change between welding and other operations.

The auto darkening helmets that are on the market, as well as the most recent models of welding helmets have a grind mode feature and perform outstandingly in all tasks and applications.

An important thing to inquire about when selecting a welding helmet for mostly grinding workspace is if the helmet has the ANSI Z87.1+ certification. The “plus” enables 3rd party testing for high impact based standards and promotes welder safety and efficacy.

What Is the Best Grind Mode Feature?

While both push button and switch controls are available for grind mode, it is usually better to be using a welding helmet that allows you to turn the grind mode lens on and off.

This still allows practical use of your helmet, while changing the configuration of that helmet makes it much less likely that after forgetting about a disabled auto darkening filter (ADF), you might accidentally flip the switch to start welding.

However, the best option is to invest in an auto-darkening helmet that responds to the light produced during welding, even when left in grind mode. This gives you even greater protection, and it may make a difference given how busy many welding shops or situations are.

In practice, the intense light from the welding flash is generally enough of a warning that you left it on grind mode to remind you to turn on the ADF.

While UV protection is generally always present with most modern helmets from the time they are switched off until powered back on, protecting your eyes from the intense visible light generated while it is in grind mode may not be present.

Regardless of the model of ADF helmet you choose, establishing a habit of double checking your settings, by flipping a switch or turning a knob, is worthwhile to ensure that your personal protective equipment is indeed protecting you as intended.

If you want something that will deliver reliable performance, choose a helmet that has a darkening speed of 1/20,000th of a second. This is usually a good gauge to provide you with a consistent level of eye protection.

What If My Helmet Has a Cutting Mode?

While most marketing materials will lump together the terms “cutting” and “grinding,” they actually refer to different functions on a welding helmet.

Helmets with grind mode usually switch to shade 3, making them appropriate for grinding purposes. If your helmet is or has cutting mode, your helmet has shades 5-8.

Shade 5 is often ok for oxyfuel cutting with appropriate eye and face protection. With plasma cutting, a mode available on most of the popular welding machines that are 3-in-1, a helmet with shade 8 is better for safety.

Other helmets have an X mode. This function only activates when the helmet senses the electromagnetic field associated with welding, which adds some protection from accidentally getting flashed.

One positive of grind mode is that can easily flip back and forth between welding and grinding without too much interruption.

Just make sure you reset the helmet properly when you go back to welding. Given the advantages of the modes, if you are going to invest in a helmet, you can significantly influence your productivity and safety.

When Should One Use Grind Mode?

With a welding helmet with a grind mode the lens usually sits at shade 3. Some helmets feature more shades which allows them to used for cutting these generally allow shades of between 5 and 8. The grind mode itself is designed for convenience.

The welder can switch it on or off quickly and flip the mode back to weld mode by either flipping a switch or pushing a button.

Most welders who have done this for a while have learned to usually use the grind mode and always for grinding, so that when they flipped the helmet back to normal it would give the clarity they wanted, thus safety.

When the welding task is complete, it is equally as easy to switch the helmet into welding mode. You can use however you activated it in grind mode, and you do not even have to take the helmet off.

So although newer helmets almost automatically do it all, welders should correctly switch grind modes, just to make sure the whole time they are suited to their work.

Importantly, the model of auto darkening filter (ADF) helmet does not really matter. The key is to verify all helmet settings before starting, as a ‘just in case.’

There are other auto darkening helmets on the market that can sense whether there is a welding arc present and change the settings, even though in grind mode. These types of helmets will automatically switch to the correct lens, welding, or grinding, to try to reduce accidental exposures.

Different Types of Grind Mode

1. Flip-Up Mode

Some of the helmets available are designed to allow you to flip up the auto darkening lens and work with just the grinding lens, that is when you flip up the darkening lens it exposes a clear face shield, in the case of the helmets I have seen, they have a clear face shield under the darkening shade, allowing you to see without distortion, and therefore good filtering of your working area/surroundings.

This trend works great with grinding. You get to see a clear picture, and the act of flipping the lens up is a trigger that says your in grind mode, not to mention it’s unlikely you can accidental strike an arc without your head, and your eyes fully protected from UV.

Just remember, that even though your using a clear grinding visor, essentially what is left when you flipp the welding lens out of the way, you still need to wear safety glasses underneath. The visor alone does not provide full eye protection, do not forget the extra layer of safety.

2. External Grind Control

In my opinion, this feature is the second most useful grind “mode” feature. Although using grind mode does not offer the same clarity of lens as “clear” may provide, it does have a fixed shade that is, usually, DIN 3, and quite clear for most grinding applications.

Some models may have DIN 4 and/or DIN 5 as an option which allows for a bit more versatility depending on the task desired.

The highlight of having a grind mode is having the external grind mode button. This is an excellent feature; no one likes to remove their helmet and put it back on multiple times when working.

For many welders, the grinder is in use as often, and in many cases, more than the welder, so the need to not lift the hood every time cannot be understated.

For example, Lincoln Electric hoods generally come with this external grind mode switch which is just a little feature but makes a world of difference.

However, there is a potential downside. If you leave your helmet in grind “mode” by accident, when you begin to weld you may be exposed to an arc flash, which is an uncomfortable and harmful experience.

The majority of auto darkening helmets are designed to prevent you from exposure to ultraviolet (UV) and infrared (IR) rays, even when the auto-darkening filter is in the OFF position.

So there is a risk for exposure to visible light. Most good helmets come with an internal flashing light to remind you that the helmet is still in grind mode.

Generally, the set up is what it is described; an external grind mode control for easy access. In the end, it comes down to developing good habits and being aware every time you go into grind mode.

3. Internal Mode

In some welding helmets, the control button is located on the inside of the helmet, which can be user-unfriendly especially for the full-time or frequent welder.

This requires you to reach awkwardly under the helmet to the button or lift the whole hood up to gain access to grind mode.

If either of these options works seamlessly at that moment, you have to completely take the helmet off in order to switch modes, and then put it back on before welding away again.

This procedure is entirely unnecessary. Some helmets certainly do a better job of this design, but for most situations having the grind mode control on the exterior of the helmet is just more functional.

A switch on the exterior provides much less interruption and creates a smoother workflow, which will be greatly appreciated by anyone who spends regular time welding.

Advantages of Grind Mode on a Welding Helmet

Auto darkening welding helmets have a unique position in the market due to dedicated features like grind mode. The grind mode has its own advantages that can be useful to the user. Below are some of the important benefits of having a grind mode on your welding helmet:

• Grinding mode provides welders with uninterrupted, expansive protection during their projects.
• Activating and deactivating the grinding mode is simple, requiring briefly flipping the switch or pressing the button.
• There are multiple features in the grind mode to help welders; they function seamlessly.
• It is nearly impossible to forget whether grinding mode is on, the helmet takes on a very distinct shape to let you know you are in grinding mode.
• The grinding mode does not require welders to take off their helmets to switch between functions; only the action of flipping a switch or pressing a button is needed.
• The type of technology we are subject to for grinding mode has found several cutting edge developments from what we are used to.
• The switch between the modes variable is significantly below three seconds,” as given the need welders can need to change task quickly or often.

Disadvantages of Grind Mode on a Helmet

As the expression “grind mode” continues to increase in popularity, it is important to at least be somewhat aware that this approach has disadvantages too.

If it is valuable to enter grind mode or to consciously choose to enter grind mode (which is an effort-related state), there are a large number of rather significant disadvantages.

• Over time, the grind mode buttons can become stuck, leaving welders at risk of relief from hazards of the grinding operations.
• Since the helmet is electronic, the grind mode will not work without a battery or solar power, which means the grind function depends on a stable amount of energy.

FAQs