Plasma arc welding shades typically range from ______.

• A. 4 to 8
• B. 7 to 14
• C. 5 to 9
• D. 6 to 14

Answer: (D)

Shades for eye protection in plasma arc welding are tied to how bright the arc is. Plasma arcs are extremely bright, so you need a fairly high protective shade to safely block the intense light and ultraviolet/infrared radiation. The typical range used is from 6 up to 14. This broad span covers low to high current plasma setups, giving protection without making the arc nearly impossible to see at the low end or risking eye injury at the high end. Options that sit entirely below 6 or that don’t reach up to 14 don’t consistently protect across common plasma welding conditions. So, 6 to 14 is the standard, practical range.