Choosing the Right Welding Helmet for You!

Lincoln Viking 2450 Auto Darkening Shade 9 - 13 Welding Helmet

The type of welding you do determines which welding helmet is right for you, and factors such as working environment, welding applications, materials, and the amount of time spent welding all need to be considered. 

In terms of PPE, a welding helmet is one of the most essential pieces of kit a welder must invest in. It protects the wearers eyes and face from visible and invisible hazards such as ultraviolet/infrared rays and sparks, and there are numerous options available in today's market to meet individual needs, budget, and personal preference.

 3M Adflo Welding Helmet

Things to take into account when choosing a welding helmet:

Safety First: Before shopping up, make sure your chosen helmet complies with the necessary industry and regulatory standards. Check the product guide or operators manual and look for EU standards and CE marking.

Type of welding: The type of welding application you do may mean you require higher shade levels or lower shade levels, or even the ability to change between the two - as provided by many auto darkening helmets.

Length of time spent welding: Welder fatigue is dangerous and non-productive. Consider lightweight alternatives to increase comfort and safety, as well as a preventative measure against neck strain.

Weld, grind and plasma cut all with one helmet - Save Phace is a popular choice with our customers.

Get the look: For the fashion conscious welder, there some stylish themes, colours and graphics to choose from, with some brands offering the option of personalisation.

Budget: There is a wide range of welding helmets with numerous options to fit all pockets without compromising on safety.

The market today is fairly extensive, so you should be able to find something to meet your requirements. Rapid stocks a broad range of welding helmets - Kemppi, Lincoln Electric, 3M, Save Phace, to name but a few popular brands, along with helmet spares and replacement parts such as lenses, head gear and sweatbands. Why not take a look online, or discuss your needs with our product specialist, Andy on (0)23 92 214 214.

Happy Shopping fellow welders! 

Welcome To The Rapid Experience

Your FAQ's Answered! EU VAT Rules & How They Apply

One of the regularly asked questions we receive at Rapid is, ‘what are the rules for European VAT and how does it work between borders?’

VAT may need to be charged on the supply or transfer of goods out of the UK to an individual or company in another country. Goods supplied to another EU country are called ‘dispatches’ or ‘removals’, unlike ‘exports’, which is the term referring to sales outside the EU.

Generally speaking, the following rules of purchase will apply:

·         If you are outside the UK but in another European Union Country, you will pay VAT if you are a private individual or a company without a registered VAT number.

·         If you are registered for VAT in another EU country, VAT will not be charged (or will be zero-rated) so long as the registration number is inserted into the appropriate box during the online checkout process.

·         You will not pay import duty or VAT on your purchase when it arrives in your country.

·         If you are outside of the UK and European Union you will not pay VAT.

·                       If you are in the UK you will pay VAT regardless of your status.

For our online customers, Rapid’s checkout process offers a number of prompts to make sure the correct information is obtained, including your billing country and VAT number, so that the VAT can be updated before payment is made.

Rapid terms and conditions are also accessible from this page.

For more detailed advice and guidance, visit: http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/vat/managing/international/exports/goods.htm

Or visit Rapid at:

 http://www.rapidwelding.com/pages/FAQ.aspx