Arc Rays Arc rays can burn eyes and skin. Use welding helmet or face shield with correct shade of filter (see chart below to choose the correct shade). Wear welders cap and safety glasses with side shields. Use ear protection when cutting out of position or in confined spaces. Button collar. Wear complete body protection. Wear oil-free protective clothing such as leather gloves, heavy shirt, cuffless pants, and high boots. Operation/Process Electrode Size Arc Current Minimum Suggested* in. (mm) (Amperes) Protective Shade No. Shade (Comfort) Shielded metal arc Less than 3/32 Less than 60 7 — welding (SMAW) (2.5) 60−160 8 10 3/32−5/32 160−250 10 12 (2.5−4) 250−550 11 14 5/32−1/4 (4−6.4) More than 1/4 (6.4) Gas arc welding Less than 60 7 — (GMAW) and 60−160 10 11 flux cored arc 160−250 10 12 welding (FCAW) 250−550 10 14 Gas tungsten arc Less than 50 8 10 welding (GTAW) 50−150 8 12 150−500 10 14 Air carbon arc cutting Less than 500 10 12 (CAC−A) (Heavy) 500−1000 11 14 Plasma arc welding Less than 20 68 6 to 8 (PAW) 20−100 10 10 100−400 11 12 400−800 14 Plasma arc cutting Less than 20 4 4 (PAC) 20−40 5 5 40−60 6 6 60−80 8 8 80−300 8 9 300−400 9 12 400−800 10 14
Arc Rays Arc rays can burn eyes and skin. Use welding helmet or face shield with correct shade of filter (see chart below to choose the correct shade). Wear welders cap and safety glasses with side shields. Use ear protection when cutting out of position or in confined spaces. Button collar. Wear complete body protection. Wear oil-free protective clothing such as leather gloves, heavy shirt, cuffless pants, and high boots. Operation/Process Electrode Size in. (mm) Arc Current (Amperes) Minimum Protective Shade Suggested* Shade No. (Comfort) Shielded metal arc welding (SMAW) Less than 3/32 (2.5) 3/32−5/32 (2.5−4) 5/32−1/4 (4−6.4) More than 1/4 (6.4) Less than 60 60−160 160−250 250−550 7 8 10 11 — 10 12 14 Gas arc welding (GMAW) and flux cored arc welding (FCAW) Less than 60 60−160 160−250 250−550 7 10 10 10 — 11 12 14 Gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) Less than 50 50−150 150−500 8 8 10 10 12 14 Air carbon arc cutting (CAC−A) (Heavy) Less than 500 500−1000 10 11 12 14 Plasma arc welding (PAW) Less than 20 20−100 100−400 400−800 68 10 11 6 to 8 10 12 14 Plasma arc cutting (PAC) Less than 20 20−40 40−60 60−80 80−300 300−400 400−800 4 5 6 8 8 9 10 4 5 6 8 9 12 14