At Phillips Safety Products, crafting welding filter plates is our specialty. Reflecting on the situation at AO and drawing from years of industry insights, it appears that AO faced a significant challenge necessitating the reformulation of their base glass—a costly endeavor. Ultimately, they opted against this investment, a pragmatic business move made in 1990. This decision coincided with the rise of auto-darkening lenses introduced in 1981, gradually supplanting traditional ‘passive’ filter lenses as welders sought more efficient and safer alternatives.
As time progresses, so does technology. Consider the antiquated typewriter or the diminishing presence of standard light bulbs—examples abound of obsolete items replaced by superior, cost-effective, or safer alternatives. The landscape of dart sets for family use is another telling illustration of this evolution.
Although the Cool Blue lens is no longer in production, alternatives exist. While some may not match its quality, we pride ourselves on offering a viable substitute, if not an improvement. Our Cobalt Blue lens, tailored for furnace observation, torching, and brazing, differs from the Cool Blue but excels in its own right. However, these lenses aren’t suitable for providing adequate protection against the infrared levels typical of mainline welding, as emphasized by the AO scientist.
All our lenses boast superior optical clarity, being crafted from glass rather than plastic. Our standard green shades outperform plastic counterparts, with the addition of a Gold Mirror finish elevating visual quality comparable to the Cool Blue at a fraction of the cost.
Moreover, responding to demand, we now offer Alloweld lenses in darker shades suitable for mainline welding operations. The Alloweld surpasses the Cool Blue in performance. While the color may differ, its transformative effect lies in completely eliminating the yellow/orange arc flare. Having tested all three lenses, we can attest that the Alloweld provides unparalleled clarity, enabling welders to observe the weld puddle formation, electrode wear, and overall work progress with remarkable precision. Testimonials from welders who’ve trialed these lenses echo this sentiment—they’ve been reluctant to part with them, opting to keep them for their continued use and safety assurance, providing 100% IR and UV protection for peace of mind regarding long-term vision health.
