leather welding gloves - Waylander Welding

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.

Welders take care of their welding gear and equipment. But when it comes to taking care of their welding personal protective equipment, not a lot can say they make it a priority. Some just wait for their welding jackets or welding gloves to wear out. When that happens, their solution is just to buy a new one. What if we tell you there’s a way you can extend the life span of your leather welding PPE? Here’s how.

How to Clean Leather Welding PPE

Leather is a common material used when it comes to safety gear for welding. Some are made out of cowhide leather and some deer hide. Taking care of these leather welding PPE can be tricky. If you aren’t familiar with how to do it, you could damage the material, leading to its deterioration. Here are some of the most common questions that we can answer when it comes to taking care of your leather welding PPE.

Can I wash Leather welding PPE?

In cleaning leather welding clothing, water should be avoided in general. Ideally, you just need a little bit of lukewarm water. Do not wash directly with water. The biggest factor you need to consider here is the product you are going to use with it.

You need to know that a normal detergent or fabric cleaning ruins the quality and durability of leather. So, if you have been doing this, stop. To begin cleaning, be sure you have the necessary materials: moisturizing bath soap or a mild detergent, leather conditioner, and cleaning rags.

The next thing you need to know is that leather should not be washed regularly. Instead, you should only do it once in a while or semi-regularly like twice or thrice a month.

This technique or way of cleaning works for all leather welding PPE like leather welding jackets, leather welding sleeves, and leather welding aprons.

Can I Wash a Leather welding jacket in a washing machine?

Like we said earlier, you can use a bit of water with some moisturizing soap. But can you throw it in the washing machine? No. Definitely, not. Leather welding jackets are usually made of heavier leather as compared to normal leather jackets.

For a step-by-step process, you can read our blog on “How to Clean Leather Welding Jackets.”

How to clean leather welding gloves?

There are two ways to do this. First, if your leather welding gloves are not that dirty, you can simply just dust them off using a rag cloth. But, if your gloves already have some burn marks or stain, then using water would be advisable. This doesn’t exactly mean washing them but just using a damp cloth and scrubbing them gently. Same with leather welding jackets, you could also use moisturizing soap or saddle soap.

One thing to note is that if ever you find your gloves damp, never ever squeeze them to remove the water. This will deform your gloves and ruin them altogether. Also, never use a hairdryer. Instead, just wipe them with a dry cloth or leave them out to dry.

These are just a few tips on how you can clean your leather welding PPE. If you want them to last longer and if you want to save money as well, start the habit of giving some TLC to those leather welding jackets, leather welding gloves, leather welding aprons, and other leather welding PPE you may have.

What’s the best Leather for Welding?