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Welding Sleeves: A Complete Buying Guide

August 7, 2020

Welding Sleeves are the ideal alternative for arm protection especially when welding jackets become too heavy for the job. Flame resistant cotton welding sleeves or even leather welding sleeves are on the list of things to have for welders everywhere. They’re not that expensive and they’re easy to use. The question is, how do you choose the best welding sleeves, and what works best for what you do?

According to a 2019 study by Arnold and Itkin, there are over half a million American welders and 1 in 250 construction workers die from a welding injury. So, whether you’re a professional welder or not, welding clothing like welding aprons, jackets, sleeves, and protective equipment should be your top priority.

Why use welding sleeves?

Welding jackets have long been the standard for safety and protection while on a job. While it gives optimum protection, there are some that require more arm movement and functionality. And for that, you need welding sleeves – the ideal alternative that protects against heat, flame, and sparks, all while maintaining mobility and comfort.

Welding sleeves are also much cooler than welding jackets. This is why it’s used often most especially for those who work in warmer climates. On top of that, these sleeves aren’t just useful for welding, these are also used for gardening, grinding, woodcutting, or other jobs that need arm protection.

How to Choose the Best Welding Sleeves

Welding sleeves come in different styles, materials, lengths, and colors. It is basically up to you to choose what’s most comfortable for you. But in making that decision, you need to consider these factors.

Welding Sleeves length

Ideally, welding sleeves are worn from the wrist to mid-bicep. That way, the shoulders are free to move and function. For the average male who’s arm length measures 25 inches, an 18-inch sleeve would work. But for those who have longer arms, 23-25 inch welding sleeves would be a better choice.

A quick tip is to measure the length from your wrist to your regular short-sleeved shirt. That way, you get an accurate comfortable length specific for your body.

Level of Heat Protection and quality of material

The quality of the materials used for your welding sleeves directly affects the level of heat protection. To know what kind of material would work best, think of the kind of job you do most of the time.

Assess how exposed you are to heat and how long you work in that condition. Also, think about the amount of slag and spatter you are subjected to while on the job. Once you know that, you can now choose the material that would best fit you. There are different types of fire retardant fabrics and each has its distinct property and use. For welding sleeves, materials used could either be Kevlar, leather, or cotton. Let’s take a look at these three up close.

Types of welding sleeves

Kevlar welding sleeves

For maximum heat protection, go for Kevlar welding sleeves. Kevlar is a strong synthetic fiber that is used to protect workers from abrasions, cuts, and heat. These are lightweight, flexible, and overall comfortable.

Unlike cotton, Kevlar fiber doesn’t shrink when exposed to heat and can be machine washed. Dry cleaning wouldn’t be a problem for normal cleaning.

Leather welding sleeves

Leather fabric is well-known for its flexibility and resistance to heat, fire, and cutting. It’s economic and can be reused for a longer period of time. While it isn’t as machine wash friendly as Kevlar and cotton welding sleeves, cleaning leather is fairly easy, similar to how you clean leather welding jackets. Read more about how to choose the best welding jacket on our blog.

Get this Waylander Welding sleeves and the welding apron seen on this photo on Amazon.

While leather welding sleeves are readily available in the market, there are those that are made of cowhide split leather reinforced with protective Kevlar which could be a better choice. Check out this type of welding sleeves on Amazon. The combination of the two fire-retardant fabrics gives you the functions and properties of both which makes it a reliable means of protection.

Cotton welding sleeves

Cotton sleeves which are considered to be the most comfortable since it is the lightest. It’s thinner and breathable but they’re also the least heat-resistant as compared to Kevlar and leather. It offers protection from sudden flame exposure and light-duty welding sparks. Like Kevlar, these are also machine-wash friendly.

Welding sleeves style and comfort

Most of the time people buy welding sleeves for style and how good it would look on them. Style comes after you get to know the right measurement and the right material for what you do.

In choosing, you need to consider comfort and functionality. This would mean answering a few questions like, “Would the style get in the way of how I work?,” “Is this easy to wear?,” or “Would this fall off while I work?”

Welding sleeves come in a wide array of styles. There are those that are just worn and secured by adjustable elastic, those that have a thumb cutout that covers the hand partially, those that fit like compression sleeves and some that are adjustable by cuffs and snaps. There are also welding sleeves that have a cooling design that keeps your arms cool and dry so you can work longer and harder.

Get the Waylander Welding sleeves seen on this photo on Amazon

Whatever style you choose, you need to make sure it all works together to give maximum comfort, functionality, and protection.

These three factors to consider in choosing the best welding sleeves serves as a complete buying guide for those who are out in the market to buy one for themselves. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced welder, having a pair of welding sleeves is a great addition to your list of protective clothing knowing that you have that alternative means of protection anytime. Make sure you read more on welding clothing and protective equipment.