Face shield: Bionix vs CSUSA bubble shield - a review PLUS a bonus

[Eric Gourieux]

Well, I received both the Bionix face shield (with anti-fog coating) and the CSUSA bubble shield last week and gave them a go. Here are my observations:


Bionix: I purchased on Amazon for $35.14 + tax. It feels sturdy, has an adjustable headband , and the visor will adjust easily with several "stops" that allow it to be raised out of the way. The headband is reasonable comfortable, although I had to make some alterations to fit my pea-sized head. I attached a few bike helmet pads with velcro to make the fit "just right". The headband is adjusted by pushing in on the knob on the back and twisting, making adjustments very easy. It seems to provide full face and neck protection, and vision through the shield is unobstructed. The face shield feels fairly thin and flimsy as compared to the bubble visor and has a listed ANSI rating of Z87+. With the added support provided by the frame around the shield, I am comfortable with the protection it seems to provide. I liked it a lot.

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Bionix

Bubble Visor from CSUSA: I purchased from Craft Supplies for $44.75 + tax. It feels sturdy, as well. The visor feels particularly sturdy compared to the Bionix and PROBABLY provides superior protection from flying objects. The ANSI rating is Z87.1 . There is not a frame surrounding the shield, but the shield seems to provide excellent protection. I found that the bubble shape of the shield caused a lot of reflection or glare with the lighting in my shop. This was not a deal-buster, and I may have become accustomed to it in time. The headband was not as nice as the Bionix. Whereas the headband adjustment knob on the Bionix, when depressed, allows a smooth, infinite adjustment, the knob on the Bubble Shield was a ratcheting adjustment and was much more difficult to adjust. I felt like I was going to twist the head band off of my head when trying to tighten the knob. The visor lifts up out of the way, but there are no "stops", as on the Bionix. I didn't see this as a problem, as the shield stayed up and out of the way. However, the shield had no "stop" in the downward position, and, in theory, could push down far enough to hit the neck. I felt like it provided full face and neck protection. If I were to keep the Bubble Visor, I would have to make similar adjustments to make a comfortable fit (pea-head). One additional observation is that the headband had an extra latch on each side, as if it were made for a different visor. Just an observation - not a performance issue.

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Bubble Shield

Overall, I felt like both face shields would provide excellent protection for typical lathe use. As for protection from large objects, who knows? Although the visor on the Bubble Shield felt more sturdy, that was it's only potential advantage. The headband, in my opinion, is far inferior and is a deal-breaker for me. Both headbands were too round for my head. My head is not a sphere. So, in order to snug the sides of the headband against the sides of my head, I would have to tighten both until they were uncomfortable and would apply too much pressure on the front and back of my head. Since I will be keeping the Bionix, I added the cushions as previously mentioned.

Bonus review: The face shield that I have been using is from HF and made by SAS. The visor needs to be replaced because of a build-up of gunk over the past year or so. That is what led me to look at the other options. It has a visor that feels more sturdy than the Bionix - more like the Bubble Shield. Now that I have tried the others, I have come to realize how comfortable the old one was. The headband adjustment is similar to the Bionix, which I like. It is not round like the others but is head-shaped and much more comfortable. The visor has a rating of Z87.1, as does the Bubble. The visor adjustment does not have the "stops" like the Bionix does, but it stays up out of the way and has one "stop" when the visor is lowered, so it will not hit the neck. One additional benefit of the HF face shield is that it cost $14.

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Harbor freight face shield

If you are in the market for a face shield, my recommendation would be to purchase the HF shield. Coming in second in line would be the Bionix. I would not recommend the Bubble Shield simply because of the inferior and uncomfortable head band.

[Brian Kent]

I appreciate this review. Did you have any comparison of how easily they fogged up?

[Eric Gourieux]

Brian, I should have mentioned that. My shop is heated, so it is approx 68 degrees. None of the shields fogged up.

[Jim Underwood]

After buying four different face shields with varying degrees of satisfaction/dissatisfaction, I have been thinking we should band together and design our own...

[Michael Gibson]

Is it possible just to buy a replacement visor for the HF one?

[Eric Gourieux]

Michael,

According to the reviews for the HF face shield, replacements are hard to come by. One person posted that he found one online for $6 or $8. But, for $14 for the visor and headband together, there isn't much difference. At least that is the case for me, since we have a HF in town.

[John Thorson]

I have a Bionix on the shelf and now wear a Craft Supplies bubble shield. The Bionix cracked after a bark hit while at the lathe, not a bit chunk of bark and lathe was not over 600 rpm. This is where quoting Z87.1 or other standard testing is a bit misleading, the standard covers a lot of ground and is used for eye protectors from safety glasses to face shields to welding helmets, etc. I do wear a hat (bill backwards) under the bubble shield and agree that it is not as comfortable but I firmly believe it offers better protection.

The Bionix passed the following Z87.1 tests and yet cracked so easily in real-world use that would not damage the CS bubble shield. Go with your gut on the safety issue not the standards rating unless the face protection is not certified at all.

The current edition of the standard is Z87.1-2010. In the standard, eye protectors are either non-impact or impact rated devices. Impact rated protectors must meet the established high mass and high velocity tests, and defined, continuous lateral coverage. The following “high” impact tests apply to lenses, as well as to the frames or product housing:



A lens retention test is conducted via a “high mass” impact. A pointed 500 gm (1.1 lb) projectile is dropped 50 inches onto the complete protector mounted on a headform. No pieces can break free from the inside of the protector, the lens cannot fracture, and the lens must remain in the frame or product housing. This test is a good measure of the product’s strength, simulating a blow such as from a tool that slips from the work surface or when the lens collides with stationary objects.

A high velocity test is conducted, at 6 specified impact points, where the projectile is a ¼ inch steel ball traveling at specific speeds depending upon the type of protector. For spectacles, the velocity is 150 ft/sec or 102 mph. The pass/fail criteria are the same as for the high mass test, plus no contact with the eye of the headform is permitted through deflection of the lens. This is meant to simulate particles that would be encountered in grinding, chipping, machining or other such operations.

[phil harold]

I think some one needs to volunteer to wear them
and
Let another person strike the shield with a 16 oz hammer


I volunteer to do the swinging of the hammer
;o)

[Jon Shank]

I have that same HF face shield and I've been pleasantly surprised.

1- It really is comfortable, had it fit and comfy in about 20 seconds from getting it out of the box. 2- It's lightweight, which means I actually do wear it all the time. 3- I have had a couple of minor incidents, bark flying off, 1 very small bowl (think tea light size) that whacked it right in the middle of where my eyes would have been, albeit fairly slow moving(still about messed my drawers) and of course a million chips, shavings, etc. Not a scratch on it, and even with the biggest impact it didn't move, ie. collapse against my face, hit my neck, whatever. It can fog up a little on occasion, but it's never really caused a vision issue, more just down in front of my mouth and pretty minor.

Not the best of the best obviously, but for the price I sure can't complain any.

Jon

[Michael Mills]

Thanks for doing that comparison.
The new ratings are:

Z87+ will continue to indicate an Impact protectorZ87 will now mean a Non-Impact protector.

If if has the Non-Impact rating it must only pass the "Drop Ball" test.
If rated for Impact it must pass the High Mass Imact and High Velocity Impact
John gave the basic data for the + rating. If it has a + rating the + must be embossed in the shield.

If you go here and scroll down about half way to the Criteria Face Shield Requirements

http://www.elvex.com/facts-what-changes-in-ansi-z87.1-2010.htm

At one time Amazon sold both Z87+ and Z87. I'm a bit surprise that the + would break from bark hitting it. Did is have the + embossed? You have probably trashed it by now. Bark could well exceed the impact of a one inch steel ball dropped 50 inches which is the standard without the +.

[John Thorson]

Uvex Bionic is listed as Z87.1 or Z87.1+ on various websites under the same model number S8500 or S8510 for anti-fog. Impact on my shield cracked at one of the attachment points. True that this isn't a penetration that will damage your face. Flexing to take the energy out of the strike is probably a good thing in many cases. It does probably mean paying for a new replacement lens more often, which I have yet to do. I don't doubt the testing I just have decided I would like a more robust face shield.

[Dale Bonertz]

John,

I wonder if your face shield was faulty to begin with. I rough turn around 1500 to 2000 bowl blanks a year and have been hit with flying bark many times (I stand out of the line of fire for those that are wondering). My Bionic is holding up very well. Just something to consider.

Dale

[Mike Cruz]

I've had pieces (bark and otherwise) hit my Bionic shield without it cracking. Makes a heck of a noise that will make your heart skip a beat, but no cracks. I'm also thinking that, as Dale mentions, maybe it is supposed to give and crack...kinda like crumple zones in a car. Absorb the impact, deflect, and replace... Replacement shields for the Bionic aren't very expensive and install quite easily.

BTW, thanks, Eric, for doing the review!

[Harry Robinette]

My Bionic has been hit with a few LARGE pieces of bark and they just bounce off, I really like the face shield.
Thanks for the review I appreciate all the work.

[Dan Forman]

I have the Bionic shield, generally wear a 3M half mask respirator along with it, which provides an extra layer of cushioning in case something big comes at me. So far nothing has, but I do feel it provides protection from more than just dust. I also wear bifocal safety glasses with the shield.

Dan

[Bob Bergstrom]

The reviewer state that he has a relatively small head. I have a fairly large head and have found the some visors too short to protect the neck. I own a Bionic and have bounced a piece of hard maple off the lens. Knocked the lens out of the frame but didn't scratch or dent my pretty face. It seems to be a bend but don't break type of system.

[Geoff Whaling]

Eric,

Great thread. To add to your database and very good review –

Face Shields will minimize injury, however preventing injury is your task.

"Armadillo" Face Shield.

I have worn an "Armadillo" brand face shield for well over a decade. "Certified to AS/NZS 1337.1:2010 – High impact protection, hot solids and splash resistance" available from "Protector Alsafe" in Australia at around $40 AUD approx $30 US. The Armadillo’s target market is the industrial workplace and has a polycarbonate visor. It has very good visibility, very low visual distortion, excellent brow protection, good scratch resistance, is comfortable in use and permits wearing conventional ear protection. The headband is robust and of a standard equivalent to most quality safety helmets. I can’t comment on fogging as I live in the tropics. It does occasionally suffer from static attraction when turning dry woods, though this is easily overcome. My rating – currently the best face shield option for turners in the Australian market and my first choice for all turning tasks (not sanding).

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Trend / Purelite “Airshield”
I have worn an “Airshield,” on my second in fact, for longer than the Armadillo, not as robust protection due to the visor material but combines impact and respiratory protection in a very practical product. Visual clarity is good though some replacement visors are of dubious origin. Expensive but it is my first preference when sanding.

Safety spectacles, I wear a range of Uvex “Pheos” and “Pheos Guard” style products, in clear, tinted, and sunglasses and wear them all the time on my motorcycle. I also require prescription spectacles for some tasks but I am yet to find the “perfect solution” when I must wear them.

Some useful info I complied in my article research,

Our Australian Standards AS1337.1 2010 have ratings for Low, Medium, High and Extra High Impact Resistance. It is important to wear appropriate personal protective equipment rated to the hazards for your projects, to have a range of options and to wear them all the time you are near operating machinery.

Small spindle work & bowls under 6” or 150 mm may seem low risk but they can still do significant eye damage.

University research re minimizing eye injuries in the Australian motor vehicle industry highly recommended that workers wear face shields and safety spectacles in combination.

Most turners don't realize that the impact testing standards of ANSI Z87.1, ANSI Z87+, CSA - Z94.3, AS/NZS 1337.1:2010, CE EN166 etc do not offer the impact protection levels required to prevent injury from the types of hazards that cause very concerning injuries and the deaths of wood turners. Ballistic or Riot Helmets are an expensive option that may offer higher levels of protection however a severe impact is quite likely to cause other injuries (neck, back etc). The turners who have shared their injury experiences with me have all reported some level of injury but in the cases requiring emergency treatment their medical staff all have basically the same response "the face shield saved you from far more serious injury."

One very important factor Canadian & US turners should consider is how the materials used in the face shield construction will perform in extremely cold temperatures.

Polycarbonate (Lexan® etc) - Strong lightweight material for impact resistance, can be coated for scratch resistance, offers chemical splash protection, holds up well in extremely cold temperatures, may have inbuilt UV radiation protection. It is a thermoplastic, which means that it can be formed by heating, melting or injection into a mold.

Trivex – lightweight, more impact resistant than CR39 plastic, less impact resistant than polycarbonate also has UV radiation absorption properties.

Hard Resin or Plastic (CR39) – lighter than glass, resistant to solvents and pitting, can be coated and tinted, less chromatic aberration than polycarbonate. A thermosetting plastic meaning it cannot be molded or bent when heated.

Propionate – better impact protection than acetate, offering chemical splash protection, lower price point than both acetate and polycarbonate.

Acetate - provides the best clarity of all the visor materials and tends to be more scratch resistant. It also offers chemical splash resistance and may be rated impact protection.

PETG - offers chemical splash protection and may provide impact protection, the most economical option for face shield choices.

[Fitzhugh Freeman]

This is fantastic information all around. Is like to ask if any of the shields are in even the slightest way a bother in terms of off center weight front to back. A neck injury means if you notice it I probably can't tolerate it. I only have the super cheap HF shield, think it must be a (big) step down since I can't imagine it offers the sense of protection described... but I didn't expect to get into turning when I got it. Now I'm looking at a proper one thanks to these posts.

[Dave Fritz]

What about covers on any face shield to keep them from being coated? http://www.safetyproductsoutlet.com/3mtm-face-shield-cover-for-h-series-hoods-package-of-10.html
Dave Fritz

[Dale Bonertz]

I have neck issues from the old football years. I cannot wear the trend air shield. In a short time my neck aches terribly. Mine look good hanging on the wall unused for that reason until I sold it. My bionic I can wear for hours and not notice neck pain. I use a unpowered respirator when sanding and that works quite well. 3m and others make them just make sure you get one fitted properly and use the correct filters.

[Geoff Whaling]

Is like to ask if any of the shields are in even the slightest way a bother in terms of off center weight front to back. A neck injury means if you notice it I probably can't tolerate it.

The current Airshields would probably aggravate your pre-existing injury as the new versions are 1 kg or a little over 2 lbs. With the older models that I have the battery/s could be easily relocated - note the spiral power lead running over my left shoulder. I'm not sure of the weight of the Armadillo perhaps a few hundred grams or 0.5 lb. Balancing the risk from hazards creating a new injury vs aggravating an existing injury is always a value judgement with a balanced approach to risk.


What about covers on any face shield to keep them from being coated? http://www.safetyproductsoutlet.com/3mtm-face-shield-cover-for-h-series-hoods-package-of-10.html
Dave Fritz

If you green turn maybe they are well worth it. Fitting face shield covers to face shields with compound curve profiles is difficult. Any face shield with a simple curved visor component and no chin frame is unlikely to meet high impact protection standards.

I found the covers for the Airshield annoying with visual acuity & distortion issues. The replacement visors for the Armadillo are reasonably priced so not worth the mucking about with covers really. One thing to keep in mind is that the harness component of a face shield with a high impact rating is like that of a safety helmet and plays a significant part in distributing force from an impact. Most manufacturers and safety specialists recommend replacing safety helmets at least every 3 to 5 years to avoid problems through helmet or harness material deterioration. The same would be recommended for face shields worn for high impact protection. So you should be replacing them regularly and after a significant hit anyway.

[hu lowery]

Uvex Bionic is listed as Z87.1 or Z87.1+ on various websites under the same model number S8500 or S8510 for anti-fog. Impact on my shield cracked at one of the attachment points. True that this isn't a penetration that will damage your face. Flexing to take the energy out of the strike is probably a good thing in many cases. It does probably mean paying for a new replacement lens more often, which I have yet to do. I don't doubt the testing I just have decided I would like a more robust face shield.


I bought the S8510 about a year ago. I looked all over it and checked all the packaging. There was nowhere that it claimed the "+" rating at the time. Mine has survived one pretty solid bark hit. Moderate RPM, six hundred or so, about a four to six ounce piece of bark hit it squarely enough that the bark fell at my feet. I was standing well into the safe zone at the time at roughly a forty-five degree angle to where I was cutting. I had tested the bark before starting turning and verified it felt very tight. It was tight but not firmly attached everywhere!

Good faceshield but not for more than fairly light impacts. Even the best face shields aren't going to protect from more than moderate impacts. The mounting harness is designed to fail under a certain load which actually increases protection. Ultimately, what the shield and harness is attached to isn't that strong and if a pound or two of wood makes a direct impact major injury is likely. The smallish piece of bark that hit me was enough to ring my bell a bit.

Hu

[Geoff Whaling]

Hu is correct the harness or “retention system” on a face shield is designed to perform like a "suspension system" which will absorb some impacts but ultimately fail under severe loading. Interestingly in the AS1337.1 “personal eye protection” there is little mention of the construction and design requirements for the "harness / retention system” component. AS/NZS 1801:1997. "Occupational protective helmets" specifies those details.

The standards impact testing requirements do not mandate testing to the maximum impact levels likely to occur at a wood lathe. Quality face shields rated as “High Impact” or “Extra High Impact” will protect turners from the very common impacts likely to cause eye damage and mitigate damage from larger flying objects.

[Fitzhugh Freeman]

Thank you Dale and Geoff for that information. It's hard enough not being able to look down. I have to be realistic, is it isn't comfortable or will hang on my wall like yours did. I haven't looked into provisions for clean air enough either time for me to do some reading.