A lot of welders love pancake welding hoods, and there are others that are not fans of the design. If you are in the market for one, this article will help you pick the best pancake welding hood for you.
The pancake welding hood is definitely a very unique design. Once you see one it is pretty obvious where the name comes from. The front plate looks just like a pancake.
If you would like more general details on this style of hood and the benefits of it take a look at our pancake welding hood article.
Otherwise, if you already know you want to buy one then read on.
There are three main manufacturers of pancake welding hoods, Original, Sarge, and Wendy’s.
Since the best pancake welding hoods all have the same basic design there are not too many variations among the ones created by the different manufacturers.
There are a few things you should keep in mind though.
Need OSHA Certification?
If you need a pancake welding hood with OSHA certification make sure to check that the model you buy is certified.
At the time of this writing we found most manufacturers have hoods that are OSHA certified and some that are not.
One Piece vs Two Piece
The main difference you will find in the construction of pancake welding hoods from different manufacturers is a one piece vs a two piece design.
In the two piece design the front and side plates are two separate pieces, and there is a block that both pieces attach to make the hood.
In contrast, in a one piece design the front plate and side plate are made of the same piece of material that is bent 90 degrees.
Some people report the one piece is a more durable design.
Lens Holder Depth
When selecting the best pancake welding hood for you the lens holder depth is something important to take into account.
The lens holder depth will determine what kind of lenses you will be able to install into your pancake welding hood.
Generally there will be different depths for standard lenses, cheater lenses, and one for auto-darkening lenses.
Make sure the hood you select will be able to accommodate the types of lens you will be using. If you are in doubt please contact the hood manufacturer.
Flip Up Design
The classic pancake welding hood is fixed and does not flip up. This is fine if you weld for long periods, but if you go from welding to grinding or some other task frequently then you will appreciate being able to flip up your hood.
Some manufacturers offer a flip up option to better suit welders that need or prefer to be able to flip up their hood.
Conclusion
As you can see most of the best pancake welding offer the same features, but there are some important things you should be aware of when selecting be best one for you.
Due to the large number of variables and options we recommend you click the link below to search for the best pancake welding hood for you. We believe that this is the best option, and now that you are armed with the information above you are the best one to make a selection.
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