Last Updated on Mar 18, 2022
`’It’s simply amazing what you can create with a welder, but while it’s certainly an art form, proper caution needs to be used, otherwise serious injuries could result. There are lots of tools and supplies available that are specifically made to increase not only welding safety, but proficiency, too. Of all the different types of welding equipment, a hood is arguably one of the most important.
Also known as a welding helmet, a hood is designed to shield your face and eyes from the high temperatures, intense light, and hot sparks that a welder generates. There are different hood styles, and the pancake welding hood is one of the most popular.
This welding hood style is round and the front is virtually as flat as a pancake; hence why it’s referred to as a “pancake welding hood”. Depending on whether you’re left- or right-handed, one side of the helmet features a shield that protects the side of the face that’s opposite the welder’s dominant hand from hot sparks and damaging UV rays.
The feature that really sets the pancake welding hood apart from other styles of protective welding helmets is a balsa wood box that functions as goggles. The balsa wood box surrounds the eyes and holds protective lenses in place; a feature that really sets this style of helmet apart from other welding hoods.
Virtually all pancake welding hoods are handmade and are designed so that the wearer can customize the balsa box. In other words, the balsa box can be shaped in a way so that it will fit the unique contours of the welder’s face.
Thanks to the smart design, the customization, and the fact that, compared to other styles of welding helmets, the pancake welding hood offers exceptional heat and glare protection, is relatively lightweight, and is easy to adjust, and is really quite comfortable.
Best Pancake Welding Helmets – Our Choosen Categories
With so many benefits, it’s easy to see why the pancake welding hood is so popular. Due to the popularity, there are lots of carbon fiber pancake welding hoods on the market. While choice is certainly a good thing, with so many options to choose from, trying to decide which one will best meet your needs can be a bit overwhelming.
To help you on your quest for finding the best pancake welding hood, we’ve taken the liberty of doing the legwork for you.
After scouring the market and comparing the features that different models offer, we’ve narrowed down the options to what we believe are the three best carbon fiber pancake welding hoods, which we’ve organized into the following categories:
- Best overall
- Best premium
- Best budget
Below, you’ll find reviews for our picks for the best pancake welding hoods, which highlight the key features each one offers, so that you can decide which one will best suit your needs.
Best Overall Pancake Welding Hood: Sarge’s Pancake Black Welding Hood Helmet
The Sarge’s Pancake Welding Hood is OSHA-approved, so you can have confidence knowing that it meets stringent safety requirements. The phenolic Formica face and side shield, combined with the balsa wood eyepiece, provides exceptional protection, yet is extremely lightweight and comfortable. The balsa wood eyepiece can accommodate either a standard lens and cheater or a Miller fixed shade electronic lens.
The hood comes complete with a hand-crafted, adjustable, 1.5 inch elastic pancake welding hood strap, so you can achieve the perfect fit, which further ensures safety and comfort. A piece of 100 cm medium-grit sandpaper comes with the hood, so you can easily customize the fit of the balsa wood.
Weighing just 12.5 ounces, this pancake welding helmet is exceptionally lightweight, so you won’t have to worry about weighing down your head or straining your neck. The 5.8 inch shield offers ample protection, and it can be slide open with ease. With so many benefits, and an affordable price tag, it’s easy to see why we chose Sarge’s as our pick for the best overall pancake welding helmet.
Best Premium Pancake Welding Helmet: Wendy’s Pancake Welding Hood
Wendy’s is one of the most trusted manufacturers of pancake welding hoods on the market. They offer a variety of models, and while all of them boast several benefits, this one is, in our opinion, the best of the best. This carbon fiber pancake welding hood is made of the highest quality materials to ensure extreme durability and optimal protection, yet it is super-lightweight, so it’s incredibly comfortable. The lightweight balsa wood eyepiece can be easily customized.
Simply use the fine-grit sandpaper that it comes with to custom-fit the eyepiece to achieve total protection and comfort. It also comes with an adjustable elastic headband, which further adds to the comfort and the safety that this carbon fiber pancake welding hood provides.
The black lens filters out all UV rays, ensuring that your vision is completely protected, and it can be easily flipped up. If you’d prefer, you can also switch out to a Miller fixed shade electronic lens.
Best Budget Pancake Welding Hood: Wendy’s Pancake Welding Hood Helmet with Strap
If you’re looking for a reliable pancake welding hood that offers reliable protection, is extremely comfortable, yet is affordably priced, the Wendy’s Pancake Welding Hood Helmet with Strap is an excellent choice.
As mentioned, Wendy’s is one of the most trusted manufacturers of pancake welding hoods (and is the manufacturer of our pick for the best premium pancake welding hood), and this model further proves why Wendy’s is so highly regarded.
It’s a right-handed pancake welding helmet, and of course, it features a lightweight balsa wood eyepiece, and comes complete with a face and side shield that covers the left side of the face. The helmet comes with a piece of fine-grit sandpaper that you can use to customize the fit of the balsa wood eyepiece, ensuring the right fit for optimal protection and comfort.
It can accommodate a standard protective lens and cheater or a Miller fixed shade electronic lens, which allows for further customization to meet your unique needs. The pocket depth of the lens holder is 5/8 of an inch and the hood comes complete with an adjustable elastic headband.
Lightweight, easy to adjust, extremely comfortable, exceptionally protective, and affordably priced; this pancake welding helmet proves you can enjoy maximum protection without breaking the bank.