3M Speedglas 9100 Air (respiratory), FX (flip-up) and FX Air welding shields

3M has released three Speedglas welding shields: the 9100 Air (respiratory) welding shield, the 9100 FX (flip-up) welding shield and the 9100 FX Air (flip-up/respiratory) welding shield.

The flip-up versions feature a clear 17 x 10 cm protective visor which is large and also curved. The visor’s size and curvature allow for a wide, clear field of view in all directions: up, down and 170° side to side.

The clear visor is suitable for grinding or precision weld preparation under low light conditions and provides high-impact and optional powered or supplied air respiratory protection.

The shields are compatible with the Speedglas 9100 auto-darkening welding lenses, including the 9100XX, which is 85% larger than a standard-sized Speedglas 9100 welding lens.

In addition, all welding shields within the Speedglas 9100 range are compliant with AS/NZS 1337.1 for high impact. The series welding lenses have good optical quality and feature variable dark shades 5, 8, 9-13, a grind mode and a tack mode. The lenses can be used on virtually all arc welding processes, including low-amperage TIG and on settings as low as 1 A.

When used with either the company’s Adflo powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR) or Fresh-air C supplied air regulator (SAR), the Air and FX air welding shields provide good levels of respiratory protection from welding particulate matter, fumes and gases. Workers can have complete face, eye and respiratory protection, whether they are grinding, welding or simply walking through a work zone. With the FX Air shield, the manner by which airflow is delivered to the welder is claimed to result in improved protection and comfort.