Skip to content
Let’s drop a hard truth: In the welding world, an experienced welder is worth more than 20 beginner welders. This is often directly reflected in the pay for welders. Some highly skilled welders can basically name their price, while on the other hand, some apprentices struggle just to make a living. You really don’t get the full benefit of a welding career unless you stick with it.
The issue is that welding isn’t easy work. You’re often dealing with uncomfortable and somewhat dangerous environments. No matter how tough you are, if you’re not careful, it can take a toll on your body.
Based on all that, your #1 goal as a welder should ultimately be to protect yourself so you can continue to improve your welding skillset and reach a higher level. And that is why investing in a high-quality PAPR system (or asking your employer to invest in one) can be the smartest thing you’ll ever do. Today, we’ll review the Miller T94i-R Helmet and PAPR system to help you understand if it’s the right gear to protect you.
How Does it Work?
The T94i-R has an air hose that connects the helmet to an air intake, which straps around your waist. Air is pulled through the intake, cleaned by several filters and then blown up and around your face.
The helmet itself isn’t air-tight, so you won’t feel like you’re welding in one of those big, yellow hazmat suits.
“But if the helmet isn’t airtight, how does it prevent fumes from reaching your face?” we hear you ask.
Miller’s PAPR system uses a positive pressure technique. Essentially, the blower is constantly feeding fresh air into your helmet. That means there is more air pressure inside your helmet than outside, so fumes cannot enter. Think of it basically like a room so full of people, no one else can fit inside. It’s the exact same methodology behind how shielding gas protects your weld pool from contaminants.
One of the benefits of this system is that it protects you from harmful fumes and debris, but doesn’t make you feel hot and stuffy like airtight masks do. Since welders using PAPR systems often weld for long periods of the day, Miller knew that the T94i-R helmet had to be incredibly comfortable to wear.
Total Protection
If you’re going to invest in a PAPR system, you deserve something that gives you comprehensive protection. That’s ultimately what separates PAPR systems from other options like face masks.
The T94i-R PAPR system uses 3 different filters. Air is first pulled through a screen filter, which grabs all metal bits out of the air. This makes Miller’s PAPR system ideal for even the nastiest environments, such as when welding stainless or galvanized steel.
Once the air passes through the screen, it then moves through a prefilter. The prefilter removes any larger debris, thus extending the life of your HEPA filter. It’s a smart design decision by Miller to reduce the cost of replacing filters for your PAPR system.
Finally, the air goes through a HEPA filter, which removes the final pollutants. The newly cleaned air is then pulled up through the hose and into the helmet. These 3 filters provide you with significant protection from hazardous particles, metal fumes and mists.
User-Friendly Focus
With other PAPR systems, brands will sometimes focus so much on the safety aspect that they forgo many of the user-friendly benefits you should expect from your gear. With Miller and the T94i-R, you aren’t sacrificing a thing.
One helpful feature on Miller’s PAPR system is the “air flow blockage” alarm. It might seem like a small benefit, but it’s incredibly important. As we mentioned, the PAPR system keeps fumes away from your face using positive air pressure. If the intake is blocked, you’re no longer as well protected from hazardous materials as you should be. The blockage alarm ensures that’s never an issue.
The T94i-R helmet also has a flippable visor to switch between grinding and welding. When you finish welding, just flip up the visor, and you’ve got a clear 9-square-inch view for grinding. The welding lens includes Miller’s ClearLight 2.0 technology, which allows you to see colors and contrasts much more clearly. For more information about ClearLight 2.0, check out our in-depth article here.
Miller’s PAPR system also includes two rechargeable batteries. While each battery can be used for hours (up to 8 hours on low and up to 6 hours on high), they take about 3 hours to fully recharge. With the two included batteries, you can weld continuously throughout the day.
Finally, Miller has put a ton of effort into improving the comfort aspect of the T94i-R helmet and PAPR harness. Everything has been carefully balanced to eliminate any undue strain on your head or back.
If you’re welding in hazardous environments, you cannot find a better option to protect your health while ensuring all-day comfort than the T94i-R Helmet with Miller’s PAPR system. To see all the details for yourself, check out Welding Supplies from IOC for the best customer service, fast shipping and great prices.
