Oxy-fuel welding shades typically range from ______.

• A. 4 to 8
• B. 6 to 14
• C. 7 to 14
• D. 8 to 12

Answer: (A)

When you’re protecting your eyes during oxy‑fuel welding, the shade you choose must balance filtering harmful radiation with still being able to see the weld puddle and flame clearly. The oxy‑fuel flame isn’t as bright as an electric arc, so you don’t need the darkest lenses. A typical range for gas welding shades is four to eight. Lighter shades in this range protect you from UV and IR while keeping visibility good for lighter flames and lower heat. As flame size or heat increases, you may use the higher end (toward eight) for more protection. Going higher than eight makes it hard to see the weld, while going below four may not give enough protection. The other ranges listed are more suited to electric arc welding, which is brighter and requires darker lenses.