For oxyacetylene or gasoline fueled cutting operations what shade rating should the eye protection be?

• A. 2.0
• B. 4.0
• C. 3.0
• D. 5.0

Answer: (C)

Shade level describes how dark the eye protection filter is. In oxyfuel cutting with either acetylene or gasoline, you’re shielding your eyes from the flame’s UV and IR, but you don’t encounter an electric arc like in welding. That means you don’t need the darkest filters. A filter rating of three strikes the right balance: it blocks enough radiation to protect your eyes while keeping the flame and the cut line clearly visible so you can guide the work accurately. A lighter filter, like two, wouldn’t provide enough protection from the flame’s UV/IR, while darker filters, such as four or five, would make it harder to see the cut line and controls without giving additional benefit for cutting. So, three is the appropriate shade for these cutting operations.