Lincoln Electric Starlite IR Shade 5 Welding Safety Glasses β ANSI Z87.1+ (K2967)
EDITORIAL REVIEW: 4.2/5 β WC Safety Review of the Lincoln Electric Starlite, shade 5 welding safety glasses for gas cutting and brazing. Editorial assessment by Steven Eaton, WC Safety editor, based on the published...
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Editorial assessment by Steven Eaton, WC Safety editor, based on the published Lincoln Electric specifications and category fit. We did not laboratory-test this product.
The Lincoln Electric Starlite IR Shade 5 is a dual-duty lens: an ANSI Z87.1+ impact-rated polycarbonate base with a built-in Shade 5.0 infrared filter, made for oxy-acetylene cutting, brazing, and medium gas welding. It blocks the bright, IR-rich light of gas processes while shielding against sparks and slag β and at under an ounce, it's light enough to live under a helmet as secondary protection (model K2967-1).
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Why shade 5 welding safety glasses do a job a plain lens can't
Gas cutting and brazing throw two hazards at your eyes at once: bright, infrared-rich light and physical spatter. A plain shaded lens handles the first; a plain impact lens handles the second. The Starlite does both β Shade 5.0 IR filtering on an ANSI Z87.1+ polycarbonate base β which is why it's the natural eye layer for oxy-fuel work and the transition moments around it. Our full Starlite review rates it 4.2/5, and the can-safety-glasses-be-used-for-welding guide explains exactly where a shaded glass fits and where it doesn't.
Safety first: Shade 5 is for lower-radiation gas work only β it is not a substitute for a welding helmet during arc welding (MIG/TIG/stick), which produces intense UV and requires a much darker shade; using Shade 5 for arc work risks serious eye injury. And like any safety glass, it is not a seal against a chemical splash hazard or fine airborne particulate β those need sealed goggles or a face shield. Match the shade to your process and amperage with a shade-selection chart, and pair with respiratory protection where welding fumes are present.
What the listing documents
From the published specs: ANSI/ISEA Z87.1+ high-impact rating; a Shade 5.0 IR/welding filter on a polycarbonate lens; designed for oxy-acetylene cutting, brazing, and medium gas welding; weighs less than one ounce with a snug fit and large viewing area; model K2967; UPC 015082850290. As ir filter safety glasses the lincoln electric starlite pairs shade with impact, and these shade 5 welding glasses are built to double as under-helmet secondary protection.
Where the Starlite fits in a welder's kit
Shaded glasses are one layer of eye and face protection, not the whole stack. Arc welders still need a helmet β the welding helmets complete guide and auto-darkening helmet guide cover that layer, and the helmet collection stocks it. For heavier spatter or multi-angle debris, sealed cutting goggles from the welding goggles collection add coverage, and a face shield layers over the top. The safety glasses for welders guide ranks the shaded-glass options.
Comparing shaded eyewear
The Starlite competes with other shade-5 eyewear like the Sellstrom flip-up shade 5, which trades the fixed lens for a lift-up shade. Both live in the tinted safety glasses and welding safety glasses collections. For non-welding tinted needs β outdoor glare, low light β the general safety glasses collection and best safety glasses 2026 roundup cover clear and standard-tint frames.
Ownership: lens care, fume protection, and crew orders
Protect the coating: rinse grit before wiping, use a lens-safe cloth, and retire the lens once scratches cross your sightline. Store the glasses where hot slag can't pit them. Welding fumes are a separate hazard β pair the Starlite with respiratory protection from the welding respirators collection and fume-respirator guide where required, plus hand protection from the welding gloves collection and the welding gloves guide. New to the trade? The beginner helmet guide covers the primary eye protection every arc welder needs first. For shop or crew orders, quantity purchasing runs through a free Amazon Business account β volume pricing, PO numbers at checkout, and tax-exempt eligibility for qualifying organizations, with the walkthrough linked in our footer.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Lincoln Electric Starlite IR Shade 5?
An ANSI Z87.1+ welding safety glass (model K2967-1) with a built-in Shade 5.0 infrared filter, for oxy-acetylene cutting, brazing, and medium gas welding. The shaded lens blocks gas-process light and IR; the polycarbonate base is impact-rated against sparks and debris. It weighs under an ounce.
What is Shade 5.0 for?
Shade 5 is a filter darkness level suited to lower-radiation gas work - oxy-fuel cutting, brazing, and medium gas welding. It's calibrated to block the visible glare and infrared of those processes without being so dark you can't see the work.
Can I arc weld (MIG/TIG/stick) in these?
No. Shade 5 is far too light for arc welding, which produces intense UV and much brighter light requiring a helmet with a much darker shade (typically 10-13). Using Shade 5 glasses for arc welding risks serious eye injury - these are gas-process and secondary protection only.
Why would a welder wear these under a helmet?
As secondary eye protection: when the hood is flipped up for grinding, positioning, or inspection, the glasses keep IR, glare, and impact protection on your eyes. Many welders run them under the helmet full-time for exactly that transition safety.
Do they protect against impact too?
Yes - the polycarbonate base carries the ANSI Z87.1+ high-impact rating, so they shield against sparks, slag, and flying debris in addition to filtering IR. That dual role is the point of an IR safety glass versus a plain shaded lens.
Are they good for oxy-acetylene cutting and brazing?
That's the core use case: gas cutting and brazing throw bright, IR-rich light that Shade 5 is designed to filter, while the impact base handles the spatter. The listing names cutting, brazing, and medium gas welding specifically.
Do they replace cutting goggles?
For many gas tasks they're a lighter alternative, but they don't seal around the eye the way goggles do. Where slag, sparks, or fine debris come from multiple angles, sealed shaded goggles or a face shield add coverage - see our welding/cutting goggle guide.
How dark is too dark - do I need a different shade?
Shade requirements scale with the process and amperage. Heavier gas welding or brighter work may call for a darker shade; consult a shade-selection chart for your specific operation and amperage rather than assuming Shade 5 covers everything.
Are they comfortable for all-day wear?
They weigh under an ounce with a snug, slip-minimizing fit and a large viewing area, so they're built for extended wear - which matters when they're your under-helmet layer through a full shift.
Do they block UV?
Polycarbonate inherently blocks UV, and the shaded IR filter adds infrared protection for gas processes. Note that arc-welding UV is a different intensity entirely and still requires a helmet.
How do I care for the lens?
Rinse grit before wiping, use a microfiber or lens-safe cloth, and retire the lens once scratches enter your sightline - a scratched welding lens both distracts and compromises protection. Store them where slag can't pit the coating.
How do I order for a shop or crew?
Quantity purchasing runs through a free Amazon Business account - volume pricing, PO numbers at checkout, and tax-exempt eligibility for qualifying organizations. The bulk-ordering walkthrough is linked in our site footer.
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