Choosing the best welding clothes material can be quite tricky. They need to be strong enough for protection and good enough for comfort. Welding jackets, welding aprons, and other welding clothing are items for personal protective equipment (PPE) that should definitely be something a welder should invest in. But what is the best material for welding clothing? Let’s get to know each of them and then decide.
Welding Clothes Material
Most, if not all, items of welding clothing are designed to be durable and should offer a degree of resistance to electricity. That is why we have flame-retardant or FR welding clothing.
The most common material used for welding clothing is leather. Some would use a combination of two kinds of fabric like leather and cotton. Let’s get to know each type.
Leather
Leather is very durable. This is created by the tanning of animal hides of either cows or pigs or also some from deer or elk. It has good thermal and burn-resistance properties. This is why most welding jackets and other clothing out there are made out of leather. The only downside is that it dries considerably over time.
Cotton
This probably isn’t the best way to start this but cotton is flammable. But, if chemically altered it becomes fire resistant as well. The advantage of using cotton for welding clothing is that it’s more flexible than leather but it is not as durable. You can also go for Sateen – a derivative of cotton. It has a softer feel but the same flame resistance. In welding clothing, cotton is usually paired or mixed with nylon fibers.
Aramid/Ryon
If you need a tight-fitting design that is resistant to splatter, a combination of Aramid and Ryon, two synthetic fibers are what you want for your welding clothing. Aramids are usually used as an alternative for asbestos. Rayon fabrics, on the other hand, are comfortable and durable but non-insulating. It’s the aramid that gives that protection.
Carbon Fiber
Carbon fibers are well known for their resistance to high temperatures when combined with graphite. Welding clothing made out of this material goes through certain processes to make the garment softer or less stiff.
Denim
Denim is not exactly the best choice when it comes to welding clothes material. But if the kind of welding job you do is low in volume and intensity, it is thick enough to give you that protection you need.
Rubber
Rubber is also used in welding clothing like welding jackets or welding aprons but it’s usually used for welding chaps, welding boots, or boot covers.
These are the types of welding clothes material. To answer the question “What’s best?,” it boils down to the type of welding job you do and how exposed you are to welding spatter and other hazards. If you’re looking for protection with the comfort of movement, you can use leather and cotton welding clothing. If it’s just welding a small piece of metal at home, you can use denim. The important thing is you know the type of welding clothes material and what type of protection they provide. So the next time you buy that next welding clothing, you are wiser and smarter!