What shade number is heavy cutting, over 6 inches?

What shade number is heavy cutting, over 6 inches?

• A. 4
• B. 5
• C. 6
• D. 7

Answer: (B)

Shade selection for eye protection in cutting depends on the process and how bright the radiant energy is. For oxy-fuel cutting, the flame and hot metal produce a strong but manageable amount of light, so the lens doesn’t need to be extremely dark. When you’re doing heavy cutting, especially over 6 inches, a shade of 5 is used to balance protection with visibility. This shade blocks enough radiant energy to protect the eyes while still allowing you to clearly see the cut line and work area. Using a lighter shade wouldn’t provide adequate protection, while a darker shade would hinder your ability to see the work clearly and slow you down. In other processes that generate more intense glare, such as electric arc welding or plasma cutting, higher shade numbers are required, but for heavy oxy-fuel cutting over 6 inches, shade 5 is the standard recommendation.

Shade selection for eye protection in cutting depends on the process and how bright the radiant energy is. For oxy-fuel cutting, the flame and hot metal produce a strong but manageable amount of light, so the lens doesn’t need to be extremely dark. When you’re doing heavy cutting, especially over 6 inches, a shade of 5 is used to balance protection with visibility. This shade blocks enough radiant energy to protect the eyes while still allowing you to clearly see the cut line and work area. Using a lighter shade wouldn’t provide adequate protection, while a darker shade would hinder your ability to see the work clearly and slow you down. In other processes that generate more intense glare, such as electric arc welding or plasma cutting, higher shade numbers are required, but for heavy oxy-fuel cutting over 6 inches, shade 5 is the standard recommendation.