Grinding can be quite dangerous so it’s important to protect yourself, especially your face!
Safety glasses alone are not enough protection for your face when grinding.
This is why an impact-resistant, full-face shield must be worn over your safety glasses to protect your entire face from hot metal sparks and flying debris.
When selecting a face shield to use for grinding, you should consider it’s durability, coverage, and comfort in your decision process.
Safety equipment is one area where you should always make your product selections with extra care.
And buying a face shield for grinding is certainly no exception to this rule!
So which face shield should you buy to protect your face from that shower of metal sparks flying away from your grinder?
I’ve shared below some helpful product reviews and a brief buying guide to help you make a great choice.
Well, let’s get to it!
7 Best Face Shields for Grinding Reviews
1. Uvex S8560 Bionic Face Shield - Best Comfortable With Quality
Specifications
Ratings
Item Weight
1.3 pounds
Product Dimensions
9.65 x 8.86 x 11.42 inches
Color
Black Matte
Material
Polycarbonate
Style
Anti-Fog/Anti-Scratch
Uvex is the first face shield on my list because of its quality and comfort. With the dual option feature, you can customize it to fit your face comfortably.
THE GOOD -
Thick Polycarbonate Visor is durable and shatterproof with good scratch resistance.
Light-Weight Design is 100% metal-free and highly adjustable for comfort.
Anti-Fog Coating helps keeps the visor clear while working for improved visibility.
THE BAD -
High Price Tag might put this product outside of some budgets.
Flip-Up Feels Flimsy due to the all-plastic hinges and product’s very lightweight.
Limited coverage from this shield might leave your neck more vulnerable than others.
If you’re searching for a comfortable and durable face shield that doesn’t easily fog up and can withstand heavy-duty use, the Uvex Bionic Face Shield could be your best choice!
2. 3M Ratchet Headgear Polycarbonate Face Shield - Best For Long Time Uses
Specifications
Ratings
Item Weight
8.0 ounces
Product Dimensions
10 x 9 x 5.5 inches
Color
Blue
Material
Polycarbonate
The second-best face shield on my list for grinding is 3M’s Ratchet Headgear with Clear Polycarbonate. 3M is a trusted brand in safety equipment and this product’s thick polycarbonate visor is extremely tough.
THE GOOD -
Thick Polycarbonate Visor is durable and shatterproof with good scratch resistance.
Replaceable Visor means you can get many years of use out of the quality headgear.
Highly Adjustable crown strap and ratchets for better comfort and all-day use.
THE BAD -
No Anti-Fog Coating on the visor means it may fog up more easily.
Somewhat High Price Tag might still put this face shield outside of some budgets.
Not as Much Coverage of chin and sides of face as some other shields.
Offering comparable safety and comfort at a slightly lower price point, the Ratchet Headgear with Clear Polycarbonate faceshield from 3M comes in at a close 2nd on my list.
3. Sellstrom Face Shield Advantage Series - Best Budget
Specifications
Ratings
Item Weight
9.7 ounces
Product Dimensions
16.38 x 10.43 x 4.88 inches
Color
Grey
Material
Polycarbonate
Sellstrom’s Advantage Series All-Purpose Face Shield earns the 3 spot with a polycarbonate visor and a very competitive price. This is a great choice for someone doing lighter work that still wants good quality and durability.
THE GOOD-
Polycarbonate Visor is shatterproof and has good scratch resistance.
Easy-To-Replace Visor adds convenience when replacing a scratched or cracked shield.
Low Price Point for a polycarbonate offering that performs well with good coverage.
THE BAD -
No Anti-Fog Coating on the visor means it may fog up more easily.
Shield May Be Too Large for smaller persons, children, or work in confined spaces.
A Lighter-Duty Visor that will not endure heavy work as well as some thicker shields.
With a polycarbonate visor and an affordable price, the Advantage Series All-Purpose Face Shield from Sellstrom is an excellent choice for light to medium-duty work.
4. US Forge 99111 Full Face Grinding Shield - Best Value
Specifications
Ratings
Item Weight
8 ounces
Product Dimensions
4 x 9 x 13 inches
Material
poly-type molded plastic
Warranty
90 days
Another great choice for lighter duty use by US Forge. This product also provides for easy visor replacement with light-weight flip-up headgear and a competitive price, making it my no four choice.
THE GOOD -
Polycarbonate Visor is shatterproof and has good scratch resistance.
Easy-To-Replace Visor adds convenience when replacing a scratched or cracked shield.
Low Price Point for a capable grinding face shield offering the essential features.
THE BAD -
Not as Durable as products with thicker visors so it may need replacement more often.
Not As Comfortable for all-day use as the higher-quality products reviewed above.
No Anti-Fog Coating on the visor means it may fog up more easily.
US Forge’s Full Face Grinding Shield is the perfect middle-of-the-road selection for lighter- duty grinding work on a budget. The replacement shields are also very affordable.
5. Safety Works Faceshield with Adjustable Headgear - Lightweight
Specifications
Ratings
Item Weight
6.2 ounces
Product Dimensions
8 x 5.3 x 12.3 inches
Color
Assorted
Material
Plastic
The Adjustable Headgear with Faceshield from Safety Works well-rounded and fairly priced face shield for grinding. It offers flip-up ratcheting headgear and excellent face and neck coverage.
THE GOOD -
Flip-Up Ratcheting Head Gear with sweatband offers decent comfort and adjustment.
Excellent coverage of the face and neck provided by the very large visor.
Low Price Point means it should fit most budgets while still providing adequate protection.
THE BAD -
Thin visor material is best-suited for lighter duty applications.
Visor May Be Too Large for smaller persons, children, or work in confined spaces.
No Anti-Fog Coating on the visor means it may fog up more easily.
This Adjustable Headgear with Faceshield from Safety Works is a good choice for light-duty work on a budget, especially if some additional neck coverage is needed.
6. ATD Tools Full Face Grinding Shield
Specifications
Ratings
Item Weight
8 ounces
Product Dimensions
16.8 x 8.8 x 3.8 inches
Color
Black
Material
polycarbonate
This product earned a spot on my list because it comes with two visors, one clear and one tinted!
THE GOOD -
Polycarbonate Visors are shatterproof and have good scratch resistance.
Extra Tinted Visor included which is especially useful when grinding titanium.
Very Affordable considering you get two polycarbonate visors with the headgear.
THE BAD -
Not as durable as the top 2 shields on my list, but still polycarbonate.
Not comfortable for all-day use and better suited for occasional work.
Weaker Construction of this product’s headgear.With two polycarbonate visors and adjustable headgear, the Full Face Grinding Shield from ATD Tools is a good choice for anyone seeking a versatile face shield for infrequent use.
How to choose face shield for grinding? (Buying guide)
Be sure to ask yourself these simple questions before purchasing your next face shield. It could end up saving you time, money, or even personal injury!
Heavy-duty use or light-duty use?
If you plan on taking heavy impacts or intense grinding sparks to the face area on a regular basis, you will want a thicker polycarbonate visor like my 1 and 2 picks. For lighter-duty needs, you could save some money by selecting a more affordable product.
All-day use or infrequent use?
If you need a visor that will be comfortable to wear all day long, you will want to choose one of my top three selections. For infrequent use, you might consider a cheaper option.
How much do the replacement visors cost, if applicable?
This is very important if you plan to use the face shield a great deal. Some visors are more durable than others, but they are typically more expensive, as well. Finding a good balance between cost and durability will surely benefit your checkbook over time.
Do you even plan on replacing the visor?
Some face shields are used so infrequently that they are treated as disposable, especially in industrial settings. It may not be worth the added labor cost to fuss with replacing visors.
Are there specific ANSI / ISEA / OSHA safety standards that must be met?
All of these face shields on my list meet general safety standards for impact such as ANSI Z87.1-2010. However, if there is a specific standard your face shield must meet, be sure to verify that before purchase.
Conclusion:
There are many face shields out there to choose from, and it’s a decision you should not take too lightly. Protecting your face from hot metal sparks and flying debris is very important!
With this helpful information of the best face shields for grinding now at your disposal, you can make a more educated decision about which face shield will be the best fit for you!
Thanks for reading, and remember to always work safely and plan ahead!