leather welding clothing - Waylander Welding

A Guide to Effectively Using Welding Clothing in Winter

December 16, 2023 by waylander_fiona

Welding in winter requires careful consideration of both safety and comfort. The right use of welding clothing in winter during colder months can make a significant difference in a welder’s ability to work efficiently and protect themselves from the harsh elements. Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to make the most of your welding clothing in winter:

How to Effectively Use Welding Clothing in Winter

Layering for Optimal Warmth:

Start with a moisture-wicking base layer to keep sweat away from the skin.

Add insulating layers for warmth, ensuring flexibility and ease of movement.

The outer layer should be a flame-resistant welding jacket and pants to protect against sparks and splatter.

Choose the Right Materials for welding clothing in winter:

Opt for flame-resistant materials to ensure protection against welding-related hazards.

Look for clothing with insulation to provide an extra barrier against the cold.

Protective Headgear:

Wear a welding helmet with a proper face shield to shield your eyes from welding arc light.

Ensure that the headgear fits snugly to prevent cold air from reaching your face and neck.

Insulated Gloves:

Invest in insulated welding gloves to keep your hands warm while maintaining dexterity.

Ensure that the gloves are flame-resistant and provide adequate protection against sparks and heat.

Warm Footwear:

Wear insulated and steel-toed boots to protect your feet from both the cold and potential hazards on the welding site.

Consider adding thermal socks for additional warmth.

Utilize Heated Clothing:

Embrace the advancements in heated welding clothing technology, including jackets, vests, and gloves with built-in heating elements.

Adjust the heat settings based on the severity of the cold, providing a customizable solution for winter welding.

Stay Dry:

Use water-resistant or waterproof outer layers to prevent moisture from penetrating and compromising the insulation.

Wet clothing can significantly reduce the effectiveness of insulation, making it crucial to stay dry.

Frequent Inspections:

Regularly inspect your welding clothing for any signs of wear, tear, or damage.

Replace or repair garments promptly to maintain their protective properties.

Ventilation Management:

While it’s essential to stay warm, proper ventilation is equally crucial to disperse welding fumes.

Balance staying warm with ensuring a well-ventilated workspace.

Take Breaks and Stay Hydrated:

Working in cold conditions can lead to fatigue and dehydration.

Schedule regular breaks to warm up, and stay hydrated to maintain energy levels.

Know Your Limits:

Understand your body’s response to cold weather and know when it’s time to take a break.

Extreme cold can affect concentration and reaction time, so listen to your body and prioritize safety.

By implementing these strategies, welders can effectively use welding clothing in winter, ensuring both protection and comfort. The right combination of layering, quality materials, and modern technologies can make winter welding a more manageable and productive experience.

What’s the best Leather for Welding?

July 7, 2022 by waylander_fiona

Leather is a natural material that has been used for centuries to make clothes, shoes, and other items. It is made from animal skin and fat and can be made from many different animals including cows, elks, pigs, goats, deer, and sheep. All these types of leather have their own unique properties which can be used to determine the best type to use in certain situations. Here we talk about the best leather for welding for the best welding protection.

Types of Leather, what’s the best leather for welding?

Before we decide on anything, it’s best to get to know the types of leather and what makes them different from each other.

Goatskin

Goatskin is suitable for jobs requiring high tensile strength and flexibility. This type of leather is thin, soft, and pliable but it provides excellent protection against cuts and abrasion. The higher lanolin levels in the skin provide a moisture barrier, and the thin nature of the material allows for excellent fingertip control.

Because of this, Goatskin leather is ideal for MIG welding. When combined with dexterity, it makes an excellent choice for TIG welding. Kidskin, very soft and lightweight leather from young goats also provides the required durability and abrasion resistance and is the highest quality leather for fingertip sensitivity.

Cowhide

The most common type of leather used for welding clothing is cowhide leather. This is because it is durable and flexible. It can withstand the heat generated by the welding process and will not melt like other types of leather would.

Its tough structure resists abrasion, sparks, and spatter, making it an excellent choice for tough jobs involving metal inert gas and stick welding. Cowhide is naturally water- and dirt-resistant, making it simple to care for. Although slightly more durable than elkskin, it is not as soft.

Cowhide, on the other hand, is preferred over other non-leather materials for comfort, allowing it to be worn for longer periods of time. Cowhide leather is an excellent choice due to its abundant supply and durability.

Deerskin

Deerskin gets its toughness from the fact that deer spend so much of their time in thorny, rough environments. Despite its toughness, deerskin leather is lightweight and pliable, making it one of the softest and warmest leathers readily accessible. It’s also one of the few types of leather that, when wet, returns to its original shape and softness. Thicker cuts of deerskin leather are ideal for MIG welding, while thinner cuts are ideal for TIG welding.

Pigskin

Pigskin is a dense leather, so it is less flexible than other leathers on the market. But because of the small pores in the skin, it allows the wearer’s skin to breathe which is great for welding gloves. Pigskin leather has a supple feel and retains its softness after being wet. Pigskin leather, though, is not recommended for use in areas where moisture levels are typically high. This type of leather is ideal for MIG and stick welders who require a high level of durability.

Elkskin

Elkskin leather is one of the softest and thickest leathers available. It’s the most heat-, flame-, and abrasion-resistant leather, and it won’t harden as quickly as other options. It remains soft even in hot and humid conditions and conforms to your hand, allowing you to move freely and comfortably. Elkskin’s heat resistance makes it ideal for stick welding.

Sheepskin

Unlike other leathers, sheepskin is tanned with the wool intact. Wool acts as an insulator and is resistant to flames and static electricity. Sheepskin is thin and elastic, allowing for flexibility and sensitivity, making it ideal for TIG welding. Its natural lanolin content helps heal sensitive and inflamed skin, and the fibers absorb perspiration.

3 Reasons Why Leather is Excellent Fabric for Welding Clothing

June 23, 2022 by waylander_fiona

It may seem obvious, but whether welding indoors or outdoors, a welder requires flame-resistant and fire-retardant PPE for protection. The immediate dangers are flames, molten metal, and sparks, which must be avoided. One of the greatest fabrics for protecting a welder from burn injuries is leather. Leather is a great material that protects against both sparks and flames as well as heat. That is why it makes an excellent fabric for welding clothing. Welding boots and gloves made of 100% leather are required safety equipment for welders.

Wearing leather welding clothing over other textiles for welding has three indisputable advantages. Let’s take a closer look.

3 Reasons why Leather is an excellent fabric for Welding Clothing

1. Leather prevents heat from burning the skin at high temperatures.

Heat, not only sparks, can burn the skin when welding because temperatures reach to dangerously high levels. That’s why it’s critical that the clothes you’re wearing not only resists fire, but also heat. Leather is impervious to heat.

One of the most compelling reasons why most experienced welders prefer to wear leather jackets while welding is because of this.

2. Leather is both puncture and abrasion-resistant.

Leather has good fire resistance. If sparks come into direct touch with it, it self-extinguishes. It is indeed proven to withstand the test of time. Leather (mainly top grain leather) may last for years without being damaged due to its resilience and abrasion resistance.

However, because pure leather is animal skin, you must use it with caution. Cleaning the leather surface will be the most important component in determining how long it will last.

3. Leather shields you from sparks and flame.

Unlike leather clothing that is flame-resistant, flaming sparks can easily penetrate clothing. This can cause burn damage to the welder.

Pure leather is extremely durable and fire-resistant. That means a single spark spattered directly on the leather surface will not leave holes. It will also not allow sparks to get into direct contact with your skin and cause burn injuries. That’s why wearing leather boots and welding jackets are highly recommended for protection against sparks and flame.

Pipeline Welding Hazards and Pipeline Welding Clothing

September 8, 2023February 18, 2022 by waylander_fiona

Pipeline welding and being in the oil and gas industry can be a very challenging but rewarding job. The truth is, whatever environment you work in as long as you weld, you expose yourself to different hazards. But being in the pipeline industry just comes with its own unique challenges. Because of that, it pays to know what kind of hazards you face on the job and what kind of pipeline welding clothing you need.

Pipeline Welding Hazards and Pipeline Welding Clothing

Electric Shock

Arc welding is done almost every day at pipelines. This exposes you to electric shock from the arc between the electrode and the base material that fuse the materials together.

As a pipeline welder, you should know better than skimp on high-quality welding PPE. Your job puts you more at risk and that means you need to invest in the right welding gear to protect you from electricity. That includes extremely spark and heat-resistant or flame-resistant welding clothing made of premium leather materials. Make sure you add high-quality welding gloves and dry gloves to that investment and make sure you wear them all the time!

Extreme Weather

Harsh weather conditions are one of the biggest enemies you encounter as a pipeline welder because much of the work is done outdoors. You can either work in a hot or humid environment or in a place where the temperature can get really low. Some work on ocean platforms while others work on rigs where they encounter strong winds.

To protect yourself from extreme weather conditions, go for warm, heat-resistant welder gear and get extreme climate FR insulated coveralls.

If you work in cold temperatures, get welding PPE for winter. But if you’re a pipeline welder working in a hot or humid environment, get welding PPE welders use in the summer.

Eye Protection

Pipeline welders like you work on or near oil rigs. Whenever pipeline repairs are done, you are exposed to flying debris, harmful sparks, and metal projectiles in dusty conditions. Other than that, you are exposed to UV rays from the welding arc and the sun.

You need the proper eye and head protection like safety glasses or goggles, a welding cap, welding hoods, helmets, and shields that auto-darkening and anti-fog features.

Welding Splatter and molten Metal

This is always a concern as long as you are a welder. The proper pipeline welding clothing you need to protect you from welding splatter or molten metal would be a proper FR welding jacket, a welding face mask, a high-quality welding apron, welding spats or show protectors, and the right welding gloves.

Sharp Objects

Working as a pipeline welder, you are exposed to extremely sharp objects and surfaces when you move parts and adjust welded objects. One wrong move and you get injured.

A way for you to protect yourself is to get cut-protection gloves. Make sure you buy the right welding gloves preferably one made with leather and Kevlar. That way, you get the flexibility and protection you need.

Risky Work Positions

Whether you are suspended in the air or you work on an ocean platform, you know you have some risky work positions and these cannot be avoided. Make sure you get crush protection gear. These are the back-of-hand protection you need as a pipe welder. All you need are a pair of impact gloves. According to the International Safety Equipment Association, there is a standard for hand protection that addresses the abrasion, cut, tear, and puncture performance of gloves.

How to care for Pipeline Welding Clothing

As a pipeline welder, you should know how to care for welding clothing. You need to learn how to clean a welder’s work clothes like how to get rid of welding dust/coal dirt, how to clean heavily soiled or heavily stained welding clothing, and how to get grease stains out of welding PPE that has been dried. You also need to learn more about how to wash FR clothing. That way you ensure that your welding clothing lasts longer.

Welding Gloves and Heat Resistance

July 27, 2021July 22, 2021 by waylander_fiona

A question you might have asked yourself would be, “Are welding gloves heat resistant?” The thing about welding gloves is that they are made of different materials. Some are made out of leather while some are out of Kevlar, carbon fiber, wool, and more. Each type would also be for the specific type of welding you do. So, to answer that question, yes. Welding gloves are heat resistant but are highly dependent on the kind or type of material they are made of.

According to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, as mentioned by the Safety and Health Magazine, more than ⅓ of the 370 welding and heating tool-related injuries which required days away from work in 2018 were related to thermal or heat burns. Are you sure your welding gloves are heat resistant?

Type of Materials that make Welding Gloves Heat Resistant

Kevlar

This synthetic fiber is extremely heat resistant. The best thing about this material is it doesn’t melt. Kevlar can withstand extreme temperatures of up to 800°F. It’s also cut-resistant.

Carbon Fiber

Carbon Fiber can withstand temperatures above 2000°F for as long as 2 minutes. Because of their high tensile strength property and high-temperature tolerance, these have been widely used in aerospace, civil engineering, and even in the military.

Leather Welding

Leather is known for its durability and ability to diminish heat. Leather can withstand 200°F before charring. Go for leather welding gloves that are either made out of cowhide or goatskin. Cowhide is resistant to abrasions while goatskin is known to be a more durable leather.

What is the best material for heat-resistant welding gloves?

The best heat-resistant welding gloves would be one that features a combination of these high-performing materials. Welding gloves made out of cowhide or goatskin leather that comes with a Kevlar liner. That way you get the durability of leather and more of the heat resistance feature of Kevlar.

Generally, welding gloves can withstand temperatures of up to 2000°F for short hold times. On the other hand, for longer hold times, welding gloves can withstand a temperature of up to 600°F.

As a welder, you are exposed to extreme heat, infrared radiation, ultraviolet rays, and electricity. That is why having the right welding protective clothing from the top of your head to the tip of your toes is important. This includes a reliable pair of welding gloves that protect your hands and arms from any serious burns while at work. Make sure you know if the pair you have now is heat resistant so you get maximum protection every day.