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Item 58058
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Shade Guide chart
Guide for Shade Numbers
Shade numbers are given as a guide only and may be varied to suit individual needs.
prOceSS
eLectrODe SiZe
arc cUrrent
(amperes)
MiniMUM
prOtectiVe
SHaDe
SUGGeSteD
a
SHaDe nO.
(comfort)
Shielded Metal Arc
Welding (SMAW)
Less than 3/32" (2.4 mm)
Less than 60
7
—
3/32 – 5/32" (2.4 – 4.0 mm)
60 –160
8
10
5/32 – 1/4" (4.0 – 6.4 mm)
160 – 250
10
12
More than 1/4" (6.4 mm)
250 – 550
11
14
Gas Metal Arc Welding
(GMAW) and Flux-Cored
Arc Welding (FCAW)
Less than 60
7
—
60 –160
10
11
160 – 250
10
12
250 – 550
10
14
Gas Tungsten Arc
Welding (GTAW)
Less than 50
8
10
50 –150
8
12
150 – 500
10
14
Air Carbon Arc
Cutting (CAC-A)
LiGHt
:
Less than 500
10
12
HeaVy
:
500 –1000
11
14
Plasma Arc Welding (PAW)
Less than 20
6
6 to 8
20 –100
8
10
100 – 400
10
12
400 – 800
11
14
Plasma Arc Cutting (PAC)
Less than 20
4
4
20 – 40
5
5
40 – 60
6
6
60 – 80
8
8
80 – 300
8
9
300 – 400
9
12
400 – 800
10
14
Torch Brazing (TB)
—
—
3 or 4
Torch Soldering (TS)
—
—
2
Carbon Arc Welding (CAW)
—
—
14
pLate tHicKneSS
prOceSS
in
MM
SUGGeSteD SHaDe nO.
a
(comfort)
Oxyfuel Gas Welding (OFW)
Light
Medium
Heavy
Under 1/8"
1/8 to 1/2"
Over 1/2"
Under 3 mm
3 to 13 mm
Over 13 mm
4 or 5
5 or 6
6 or 8
Oxygen Cutting (OC)
Light
Medium
Heavy
Under 1"
1 to 6"
Over 6"
Under 25 mm
25 to 150 mm
Over 150 mm
3 or 4
4 or 5
5 or 6
a
As a rule of thumb, start with a shade that is too dark to see the weld zone. Then go to a lighter shade which
gives sufficient view of the weld zone without going below the minimum. In oxyfuel gas welding, cutting, or
brazing where the torch and/or the flux produces a high yellow light, it is desirable to use a filter lens that
absorbs the yellow or sodium line of the visible light spectrum.
Data from ANSI Z49.1 : 2012
