If you’re new to welding, you might wonder why welders wear jeans while working. Does it offer any protection to them, or is it merely for aesthetic purposes? Because denim is a tightly woven cotton fabric that does not burn easily, many welders wear welder jeans. It also lasts a very long time, offers better UV and IR radiation protection, and is less expensive than wearing fire-retardant clothes. Here are 4 reasons why welders wear jeans for welding work pants.
4 Reasons to Wear Welder Jeans
Welders are aware of how crucial it is to dress in clothing that can withstand the demanding conditions of welding. It’s important that you understand how to protect yourself against all welding risks if you’ve never done it before.
1. Burn Through
Denim, a durable cotton fabric, is used to make jeans. Cotton is naturally resistant to burning. This is not to say that it won’t burn, but it takes more than a few sparks to set it on fire.
Sparks can come from your weld as you work. These sparks will melt through exposed skin or plastic-type fabrics like polyester and burn you.
The slag, though, is the worst aspect of wearing the incorrect pair of pants. When you are welding, small metal fragments can occasionally fall and land on your pants.
Most of the time, this slag will likely burn directly through polyester clothing, but it will take much longer to burn through denim.
2. Protection from Radiation
Between 10,000 and 15,000 degrees, welders burn and melt metal. Jeans are excellent at preventing radiation burns on your legs from welding.
The welder emits ultraviolet and infrared light as a result, which can cause sunburn. This has happened to me several times, and it is not pleasant.
The unfortunate aspect is that most people’s legs, especially your upper legs, don’t receive much sunlight. Your legs will burn if any exposed area is present.
Jeans, on the other hand, do a fantastic job of shielding your legs from this powerful radiation. A recent employee of mine discovered this the hard way when his pants had a hole in them.
3. Welder Jeans Durability
Jeans are made of sturdy, long-lasting cloth. They will therefore be durable for a long time compared to other options, such as 100% cotton pants, which you might use when welding.
100% cotton pants are thin and do not offer the same level of protection as jeans. People who wear 100% cotton pants while welding typically have a 2 to 1 advantage over welders who wear jeans.
A drawback we can think of with jeans is that they can rip very easily if they catch on something. Before you begin welding, you should patch any holes in your jeans that may have occurred.
4. Cheaper
You should consider how much your clothing costs. Be prepared to invest some money if you plan to wear fire-retardant clothing, as these outfits may get pretty pricey.
You should expect to pay between $50 and $200 for a good pair of fire-resistant pants. You can imagine how expensive this may get if you work five days a week and require at least five to six pairs of pants. So, if price is a factor for you, jeans are a great choice.