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3 Powerful Tips for Welding Safety

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welding safety
  • Wear Welding Clothing and Protective Equipment
  • Hierarchy of Controls, Safety Pyramid for welders
  • Avoid the Top 4 Common Welding Safety hazards

Welding is very much a challenging yet rewarding job. It’s a craft that has been there since the Bronze age some 2000 years B.C. and will continue to be a growing field in the years to come. In fact, the U.S. will need some 372,664 welding professionals by 2026 so starting a career in welding is actually always a great idea. While welding is indeed a great career, it also comes with risks and that’s why here, we give you 3 powerful tips for welding safety. Whether you’ve been in the field for several years now or just new to the craft, these tips might just save your life. 

There isn’t any other way to stress how important safety is when it comes to welding. One can never be too careful. But just to state some facts, Liggett Law Groups states that 500,000 welders are injured in accidents per year. This number can be very concerning but just proves that safety is always a top priority in the field and that accidents can happen anytime. 

3 Power Tips for Welding Safety that can Save Your Life

Wear Welding Clothing and Protective Equipment

Welding Clothing and Protective Equipment were made for a crucial part of welding safety. Being a welder means being exposed to hazards like fumes and gases, extreme heat, electric shock, and fire and explosion. Not only that, materials and energy released in welding can cause serious burns, blindness, and respiratory damage in some cases. 

A welder must always dress for the occasion whatever the job is. This means a welder should always come to work with a welding helmet, welding gloves, welding jackets, welding boots, and respirators. For a list of protective clothing and equipment, read our blog on “Welding Clothing and Protective Equipment.” To get to know more about welding leathers for maximum protection read, “Leather Welding Clothing and Accessories every Welder Must Have.”

welding safety

Take note of the Safety Pyramid for welders, Hierarchy of Controls

There is a Safety Pyramid welders should be familiar with. If this is your first time hearing or reading about, then make sure you remember this. NIOSH has this pyramid called the Hierarchy of Controls which has a list all welders should know to minimize danger when welding or doing any manual work. This is listed in five categories. 

Elimination 

This is basically what it literally means. Elimination means removing any hazard from your workspace as briefly discussed. The important thing is to make it a habit.

Substitution 

Substitution, in this case, would mean to change whatever equipment, tool, or project you have to remove any hazard. For example, using a less reactive material for a certain job. 

Engineering Controls

This means isolating people from hazards. It’s bad enough that you have unwanted objects around. Make sure people are away from your workspace and have a safe distance all the time. 

Administrative Controls

What this means is that one should have a set of rules and should change workflow to improve safety. If a system doesn’t work, it has to change. If the rules aren’t really being followed, there has to be something done about it. 

PPE

As mentioned, Personal Protective equipment is always a must and should never be removed anytime while on the job. 

Avoid the Top 4 Common Welding Safety Hazards

While there is so much to look out for while welding, here are the top 4 common welding safety hazards and how to avoid and control them. 

Fumes and Gases

Overexposure to welding fumes and gases can cause health problems like cancer, respiratory illnesses, and some impaired speech and movement. This can be controlled by working in a place where there is adequate ventilation and exhaust to keep the fumes and gases away from the breathing zone. An approved respirator can also help. 

Physical Hazards

Physical Hazards are always present anytime on the job. These can cause cuts, burns, eye damage, or damage to the toes or fingers. With welding clothing and protective equipment, these can be avoided. 

Electric Shock

As a welder, you are always exposed to electricity and the possibility of electrocution. This can cause not only serious injury but also death. This can be minimized by inspecting your electric holder and welding equipment all the time before starting any job. A lockout and tag out procedure during repairs done by qualified repair technicians can also ensure that nothing malfunctions. 

Fire and Explosion

While electrocution can be a serious hazard, you also deal with fire and explosion. This is due to flammable materials that may be around the working area. This can be prevented by always making sure your workplace is clutter-free and that you make it a habit to remove anything around before you start working. Make sure you have a Class ABC fire extinguisher while welding and that the gauge is full. If there are flammable materials around, use a welding blanket to cover them just to make sure.  

 

Leather Welding Clothing and Accessories Every Welder Must Have

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leather welding

Every welder needs to dress for safety. No matter what the job, protection is still a top priority. This is the reason why we have welding clothing and protective equipment that are readily available in retail stores and in online shops. While there are several materials that make good welding clothing, leather is proven to be one of the best when it comes to giving maximum protection. Here we give you a list of leather gear or leather welding clothing every welder should have. 

Leather Welding Clothing and accessories, Must-Haves

Leather is the best fabric for most welding clothing. It is known for its properties like thermal and fire resistance, flexibility, and durability. With welders exposed to heat most of the time, this material is perfect to protect them from any kind of mechanical aggression or thermal contact they may encounter while on the job. 

While leather can be very heavy giving lower breathability which can be a bit uncomfortable, the advantages totally outweigh these points. The advantages include long use life, cutting resistance, as mentioned earlier, heat and fire resistance, and it being economic. Here we share a list of leather welding clothing you should start getting for yourself to get that maximum protection while at work.

Leather Welding Jacket

Leather welding jackets are designed to give full protection from the neck down to the waist and the shoulders down to the arms from sparks, heat, and weld spatter. It also provides protection from the intense UV and IR radiation from a welding arc which increases the risk of cancer. 

Leather welding jackets are best to use in cooler climates and heavy-weight weldings like MIG and TIG welding. Read our blog on how to choose the best welding jacket so you can be guided. 

Leather Welding Sleeves 

Leather welding sleeves are the ideal alternative for arm protection most especially when welding jackets become too heavy for the job. It’s also perfect for those who need more arm movement and functionality. These are also much cooler than welding jackets. 

Choose leather sleeves for welding that are made of cowhide split leather that is reinforced with protective Kevlar. Choosing the best welding sleeves can be quite tricky but a welding sleeves buying guide would definitely help. 

welding sleeves

Leather Welding Apron

Leather Welding aprons are especially useful for front body protection. They’re not only used for welding, they’re great for grinding, woodworking, grilling, and even cleaning. There are different types of welding aprons. Here are a few of them. 

Leather waist Welding Apron

This type of apron gives protection for the waist and the upper legs. This is best used for works done on a table or platform. 

leather welding waist apron

Long Welding Apron

The long welding apron goes from the upper torso until the knees. This is most convenient for most metalworking and other activities that need full frontal protection.

Leather Welding Split Leg Apron

Whenever you need to walk and kneel a lot while on the job, a long welding apron will always be in the way. This is when leather split leg aprons become convenient. It basically straps around each leg for more movement. 

leather welding split leg apron

Leather Welding Apron with Sleeves and Pockets

The leather welding apron with sleeves is basically a full-length welding apron that provides protection from the upper chest to below the knees. It already has welding sleeves to give arm protection. Basically, this rare welding clothing gives full coverage for a high degree of safety. 

Leather Welding Cape bolero

The leather welding cape or split leather welding cape with sleeves offers the ultimate protection for the neck, arms, shoulders, and chest. and flexibility. Some leather welding capes come with a detachable apron. This is very efficient if you need sleeves and an apron to make a full-on welding jacket. 

Leather Welding Gloves

Leather welding gloves are one of the most important welding accessories a welder should have. These are protective gear that allows digit articulation while protecting the hands of welders from extreme heat, electrical shocks, or ultraviolet and infrared radiation. 

Whether it’s for MIG, TIG, or stick welding, gloves made out of leather are the best choice. Those made out of Cowhide, for example, is a top choice with the outside layer made of leather goatskin which is proven to have the highest tensile strength for any welding material. If you’re having trouble choosing which gloves are best for what you do, our buying guide will be helpful. 

leather welding gloves

Leather Welding Spats

Leather welding spats are buttoned around the ankle to protect the feet, legs, and, shoes from splatter, cuts, spark, and hear while on the job. Very useful in avoiding burns when performing welding tasks where there are flying sparks and debris. 

leather welding spats

 

Leather Welding Hood

Another must-have would be a leather welding hood. This is designed to protect the head, eyes, and neck while giving welders the needed movement and flexibility they need as compared to other welding hoods. It’s ergonomic and can allow for welding in close quarters and prevent welding slag to burn the neck and face.

leather welding hood

3 Other Ways to Use Welding Blankets

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charcoal on a fiberglass welding blanket
  • Welding blankets for Grilling
  • Welding blankets for outdoor camping
  • Welding blankets for home emergencies

What are welding blankets used for? Just by the name itself, welding blankets are used for, of course, welding. But because of the materials used in manufacturing them which makes them heat resistant, welding blankets, whichever type you have – leather welding blankets, fiber welding blankets, or felt welding blankets – have been proven to be of use for different purposes by different people. Here we give you the other ways welding blankets can be used aside from welding. 

The best welding blankets are known for their protective features. It’s fire retardant making it highly effective in protecting welders and their equipment and other materials against heat, sparks, and splatters. It’s also very useful while grinding, cutting, and any other activity that creates heat. Because of these, people have found out that it can be used for other purposes at home or even outdoors. 

welding blankets
Waylander Welding Blanket/Photo AZ Do Lover on Amazon
welding blankets
Blanket turned black but no signs of melting/Photo by AZ Dog Lover on Amazon

3 Other Ways to use Welding Blankets

Below you find 3 other ways welding blankets can be used apart from its main purpose for welders. Here we see how people can get really creative when it comes to using things around them which they can find useful in different situations. 

Welding Blankets used for Grilling 

Who doesn’t love flame-grilled burgers? Families everywhere would get together in their own backyard, most especially during the 4th of July, to celebrate over grilled burgers or barbecue. 

If there’s one thing that you can’t have whenever you grill is to have undercooked or burnt meat. 

To make sure that doesn’t happen, you need a significant amount of direct and radiant heat to make sure you grill those burgers well. But what if you wanted to grill even during the cold weather or even when it’s rainy or windy? This is where welding blankets become useful. 

What you need to do is to take a welding blanket and wrap it around your cooking chamber or smoker. The blanket protects it from rain or wind and most importantly insulates the grill giving you the perfect amount of heat you need while stabilizing it longer burning less fuel or pellets. It’s efficient and it doesn’t cost that much. Make sure you have a welding blanket the next time you get the whole family for an outdoor grill soon.  

welding blankets

Welding Blankets for Outdoor camping

Aside from using welding blankets for grilling, many also use it to make bonfires when camping to protect the lawn underneath. Welding blankets are not 100% fireproof (read more about this below) but they are fire-resistant up top a certain level of heat. Choosing a welding blanket that can withstand very high temperatures will do the job. 

For outdoor camping, welding blankets can also be used in case of emergencies as a fire blanket to extinguish starting fires. Most welding blankets are made of fiberglass which makes it very heat resistant and could withstand high temperatures making it the perfect tool to put off the incipient fire. 

waylander blankets

Welding Blankets at home for safety

Next on the list is using welding blankets at home in the kitchen in case of emergencies to put off starting fires as well. It protects everyone at home, it protects goods, and it doesn’t need any maintenance at all. Just keep and store it in a place where it can be easily seen and reached by anyone at home in case of a fire. Restaurants are also encouraged to have welding blankets aside from fire extinguishers to have adequate displays to prevent and fight against fires.

Other things you need to know about Welding Blankets

Are welding blankets fireproof?

When you say fireproof, it means it is able to withstand fire or great heat. If we use this definition, then yes, welding blankets are fireproof but they also have certain limits when it comes to temperature resistance and that depends on the kind of material they’re made of. 

Fiberglass welding blankets, for example, can stand working temperatures ranging from 300-2,300 degrees Fahrenheit while Felt welding blankets can only stand working temperatures of up to 1800 degrees Fahrenheit. 

welding blankets

Are welding blankets waterproof?

Welding blankets are not 100% waterproof but they are water-resistant. Let’s not forget that welding blankets are still primarily to protect welders against heat, sparks, and splatter and not really about protection against water. 

Knowing welding blankets are useful for other things apart from welding – grilling, outdoor camping, and even at home –  it would be wise to get a welding blanket that would work for the specific use you need it for. Read our blog on How do I Choose the right Welding Blanket?

Welding Shirts: Your Complete Buying Guide

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welding shirts

Welding clothing and protection is a priority. Whatever a welder would wear on the job is always something that should contribute to safety but still would offer that kind of comfort that would not take away the precision and mobility every welder needs. Whether it be a welding mask, welding apron, welding jacket, or even welding gloves, getting high-quality welding protection is what you need.

Buying the Best Welding Shirts: A Complete Guide

If you’ve surfed the internet for different kinds of welding shirts, you’d find that there’s just too many to choose from. You might have even decided to go with buying two or three different kinds. Here’s the real deal of what you need to consider to finally get the right one. 

Flame Retardant, Welding Shirts FR

If you’ve done some research, you’d know that some welding shirts look really cool but if you go ahead and look at the description you won’t find “flame retardant” in there. What you want to do is to make sure you see that certified “FR” label. 

For a welding shirt to be certified “FR” it passes through a range of performance tests. Only when it has passed these tests could it have that stamp of approval to be called FR. Without that, you’d just be spending money on a regular shirt you buy elsewhere. 

welding shirts

Fabric, Go with Flame Retardant Cotton

Most welding shirts are made out of cotton. In this case, you need a flame retardant cotton shirt. The reason why cotton makes a perfect material for welding shirts is it’s comfortable and breathable. These are things you need to get the mobility you need when you work. Some would also use some polyester or nylon to increase to that mobility. 

Make sure you check the details of the fabric of what you’re buying so you don’t end up frustrated. 

Size, the right dimensions for you

The next thing you need to consider is getting the right size for your body type. It would be perfect if you could just have a tailor-made welding shirt but that’s not the case. Make sure you check the dimensions listed on any webshop and take time to take your measurements so you get one that fits you perfectly.

Remember to put a bit of extra room after you take your measurements so you leave a bit of space for movement. The best way to do this is to take the dimension of a shirt you’d usually wear for work. That way you’d know that what you’re getting is something that fits you perfectly well. 

Buttons or snaps

Most welding shirts have buttons but others have snaps. While this is a preference that really depends on you, snaps would work great keeping the heat out more but buttons would do the job just as well. 

Wash Limits

For a welding shirt to be fire retardant, it needs to be made of a special coating that gives it this feature. The fact of the matter is these welding shirts usually have wash limits since every wash would diminish the effectivity of this special coat. While some manufacturers would leave out this detail, some would kindly include that in the product description. What you want is one with the highest number of wash limit so you get to maximize the use of the welding shirt for a longer period of time.

Design 

There’s a range of designs for welding shirts out there that comes with different concepts. The only thing you have to remember is that you should not choose a welding shirt only for its design. There must be a balance between that, fabric, and it being FR certified which are the most important factors. It’s safety above all and design just comes after that. 

Having these six factors to consider in choosing the best welding shirts, buying one won’t be such a hassle anymore. All you need is to keep things in perspective. Make sure your welding shirt is FR certified and it is made out of fabric that gives you maximum protection. Safety first and then design. If you find one that has all these factors, you have got yourself a winner!

welding shirt FR

3 Factors To Consider in Buying the Best Welding Gloves

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3 Factors To Consider in Buying the Best Welding Gloves

welding gloves

With so many different kinds of welding gloves out there, it can be a challenge to choose the right one. Here we narrow down three factors to consider to make sure you get yourself the best welding gloves suited for you and the type of welding you do.

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, an estimated 562,000 employees are at risk or exposure to chemical and physical hazards of welding, cutting, and brazing. That’s why having the proper welding clothing and protective equipment should always be a priority. 

welding gloves

3 Factors to consider in buying the best welding gloves

Whatever the style or material you have in mind, the functional principle remains. Welding gloves are protective equipment made to allow digit articulation while protecting the hands of the welder from extreme heat, electrical shocks, or ultraviolet and infrared radiation. These also enhance grip and provide abrasion resistance. Now, before you go ahead and buy yourself a pair, consider these 3 factors. factors. apibus leo.

Type of Welding Gloves, welding glove material

The first thing you have to consider is to know the type of welding you do. This would dictate the kind of materials your welding gloves should be made of. There are those made for MIG welding, TIG welding, and Stick Welding. For each comes these three types of welding gloves. 

MIG Welding Gloves

In Metal Inert Gas or MIG welding, metal is joined together by electricity by forming an arc between the metal and the electrode. This means that there will be more sparks flying and could get a lot messy when grinding down the weld. The best MIG welding gloves then should give maximum protection while providing some dexterity. 

These can either be made of either pigskin, cowhide, or deerskin. Pigskin is a tough hide and works well in oily and wet conditions. Cowhide, on the other hand, is a well-known leather for protective clothing because of its durability. Deerskin is a supple soft hide that provides a nice dexterity perfect for MIG welding. 

Stick Welding gloves 

Stick welding is the most common type of welding which is used for the construction of heavy steel structures. It’s similar to MIG welding such that it also uses electricity creating an arc to join metals together. This type of welding job involves a lot of sparks and high heat as well and should, therefore, offer robust protection appropriate for the kind of job.

Stick welding gloves are made of either cowhide or elk hides. While both are great materials for stick welding, elk hides don’t harden as fast as cowhides when they are exposed to heat which means there is less hand fatigue making it the ideal pair for stick welding.  

TIG Welding Gloves

Tungsten Inert Gas or TIG welding is a very technical style of welding which requires a certain type of precision. TIG welding gloves are perfect for this type of welding job since it provides finger sensitivity while still giving the needed protection. 

The best TIG welding gloves are made of goatskin, horsehide, pigskin, and deerskin. Goatskin is soft and supple and offers great abrasion. Horsehide, on the other hand, is less popular than cowhide known also for its good dexterity. It’s comfortable, tough, and durable.

If you are out in the market for one that you can use not just for one particular type of welding job, you can opt for welding gloves that are uniquely crafted for TIG and MIG welders searching for a durable yet extraordinarily light design. The Waylander Welding gloves are forged to be resistant against rubbing and scraping while maintaining comfort and mobility.

welding gloves

The outside layer is made of leather goatskin, proven to have the highest tensile strength of any welding material with the addition of a suede leather cowskin cuffs. These gloves are also hemmed with Kevlar lining to provide extra strength in extreme conditions with rubber and leather reinforcements on the back and palm of the hand to increase grip and protection.

Type of Insulation 

Now that you know the type of welding gloves you need and you know the right material for it, you now move on to the type of insulation. Whatever type of welding you do, one thing is for sure, a lot of heat will be produced from the spark and heat of the torch which will then heat up your hands. The type of insulation is then necessary so you get maximum protection from your welding gloves. 

Cotton liner

Cotton liners are good insulators for moderate temperatures which are usually above 450°F. It can be bulky but is a good choice for those who aren’t looking to spend that much. 

Kevlar liner

Kevlar is well known for its resistance to heat and cuts. It doesn’t drip or melt even at temperatures reaching 800°F. Unlike cotton liners, they aren’t bulky which makes it perfect for welding jobs that require dexterity like TIG welding. 

Aluminized Backing

This type of insulation is perfect for stick welding which involves high heat. Aluminized backing helps deflect heat away from the hands which allows welders to work longer and perform better. 

Hand Movement

The last factor to consider in buying yourself the best welding gloves is hand movement. The level of dexterity you need depends on the type of welding job you do. For TIG welding, for example, you will need welding gloves that would give you a high level of dexterity since it requires a high level of precision. For MIG welding and Stick welding, you need low level of dexterity but higher heat protection. 

With so many types and designs of welding gloves in the market, it is easy to fall for ones that look nice. In the end, we regret going with style and less of the most important features and end up spending more and getting less of the quality you deserve. Keep in mind these three factors to consider in buying the best welding gloves and you end up with nothing but comfort, quality, durability and maximum hand protection. 

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Welding Sleeves: A Complete Buying Guide

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Welding Sleeves: A Complete Buying Guide

welding sleeves

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.

A MAN WEARING LEATHER WELDING SLEEVES
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?”

a man wearing welding sleeves

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.

welding sleeves
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. 

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How to Choose the right Welding Jacket

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How to Choose the right Welding Jacket

welding jacket

Choosing the right welding jacket is a skill you must have as a welder. Your work ranges from high end heavy industrial welding down to simple lightweight metal fabrication. With that comes different types of welding jackets to choose from. Here we give you a complete guide on how to choose the right welding jacket specifically for your job.

For whatever work you do, you need to have the right welding clothing and protective equipment. It’s not an option, it’s a need.

welding jacket

What are welding jackets used for?

Welding jackets are designed to give full protection from the neck down to the waist and also to the shoulder down to the arms against burns from heat, sparks, and weld splatter. It also protects your skin from the intense UV and IR radiation from a welding arc which increases the risk of skin cancer.  While welding jackets are primarily for welding, of course, it can also be used when oxy-fuel cutting or heavy grinding.

Choosing the right welding jacket for the job

What is the best type of welding jacket?

The primary features of a welding jacket are pretty basic. It needs to be durable, fire-resistant, can provide thermal insulation, electrical resistance, and heat protection. Most importantly, it needs to be made out of high-quality materials and is comfortable and easy to use.  The quality of materials used for a welding jacket directly impacts the durability and price of a welding jacket. So if you go for a cheap one, you get less durability and quality. While there are different types of welding jackets, some are better than others and it depends on the quality of the material and the kind of job you do.

Types of Welding Jackets

Welding jackets are classified according to materials used in their manufacturing. There are cotton welding jackets, leather welding jackets, and nylon/kevlar welding jackets. Take a look at how they’re different and get to know which one fits the kinds of job you do.

Cotton welding jacket

If you work in warmer climates or you want a welding jacket for summer, and you perform medium or light work, the cotton welding jacket is best for you. Cotton itself is flammable but these are altered chemically to make it fire-resistant. These are lightweight, flexible, and breathable and are the most affordable type of welding jacket in the market.

Leather welding jacket

Leather welding jackets are for those who work in cooler climates and engage in heavy-weight welding work like high-end MIG and TIG welding. Leather is the most durable material when it comes to welding jackets and is best known for its properties like thermal resistance and fire resistance. This immediately makes it the top choice welders who do heavy welding work. Leather welding jackets can either be top grain and split grain which have different tanning and cutting methods. Whichever you choose, you are sure to be free from skin irritations.

welding jacket

The best type of leather used in manufacturing welding jackets is cowhide. It is durable and strong and won’t crack easily like other leather types yet breathable and flexible. It is resistant to heat and punctures and moisture. This makes cowhide leather welding jackets a top choice.

welding jacket

Nylon/Kevlar welding jacket

Nylon is a synthetic fabric that is lightweight, stretchable yet strong. Kevlar is a heat-resistant strong synthetic fiber. The combination of both produces fine material that primarily prevents skin burns. It is suitable for all industrial and heavy-duty welding work as it is breathable and highly flexible making it a good choice for those who also work in warmer climates.

What is the best size for a welding jacket?

Choosing the right size for a welding jacket is essential. If you pick the wrong one, you end up feeling uncomfortable which would affect work performance. Before you go ahead and choose a size, make sure to measure the size of your chest by wrapping a measuring tape around the upper body. If your belly area is considerably bigger, then measure the stomach area.  It is important you don’t wrap the measuring tape too tight to your body. A little allowance is always better. A tip would be to take the measurement while you wear your regular work clothes.

Which is more important, welding jacket material or convenience and comfort?

While some would prefer welding jacket material over convenience and comfort, the fact of the matter is safety comes first. So, in choosing, you should go with the one that you’re comfortable with so you avoid the risk of danger. There are some manufacturers who give a balance to high-quality material and comfort in welding jackets and it is up to you to find one that fits your need and your want.  Welders around the world need maximum protection from head to toe since they work in a high-risk environment. Underestimating what welding jackets can do by wearing the wrong one can expose welders to unwanted injuries or accidents. So whether it’s welding, oxy-fuel cutting, or heavy grinding, it’s a must to choose the right welding jacket specific for your job.

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Welding Clothing And Protective Equipment

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welding clothing

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Welding Clothing And Protective Equipment

welding clothing

If you have decided to try your hand at welding, that’s great! Many people think that welding is dangerous and dirty work, but it can be very fulfilling and satisfying. If you’ve been doing it for years, it always pays to go back to the basics of welding protection like welding clothing and protective gear. Before you get your hands dirty, it’s important you know that welding safety and comfort comes first.

Welding protective clothing and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) protect you from the hazards you face when working. Here we give you the welding clothing and welding protective equipment you need to help you give optimum performance at work while staying safe and comfortable.

Welding Clothing and Protective Equipment

Welding Clothing

Welding Aprons

Now that you have your face, neck, lungs, and hearing protected. You now get welding protection for the front of the body which includes your torso and upper legs. This also gives protection for your clothes as well. Choosing the right welding apron is needed for a specific use. No one wants to end up having burns on the skin or holes on your shirt after you work. 

Welding Sleeves

Welding Sleeves give protection to parts of the front body that welding aprons do not cover. Your arms are very much exposed and need protection as well. To get the best protection, you can opt to choose leather welding sleeves would give the best protection. 

A MAN WEARING LEATHER WELDING SLEEVES
Welding Gloves

Welding Gloves are a must. This gives protection to the hands up to the mid wrist area which is primarily what you use to handle dangerous equipment. This also gives protection against heat. 

Welding Jackets

Welding Jackets are designed to give full protection from the neck down to the waist and also to the shoulder down to the arms. Welding jackets can be made out of leather or flame-retardant cotton.

welding jacket
Welding Chaps

These are also called leg aprons and can run until the knees or the ankles. These are considered more useful than welding aprons because it’s attached to the leg itself. If your work needs a lot of movement, welding chaps are a better choice. 

Welding Leggings

Nobody likes spat burns. Welding leggings provide protection for the shin, ankles, and feet. These are sheath type shin pads that can be made out of reflective aluminum to flame-resistant leather as well. What you want are leggings that have a plate of metal on the shins for maximum protection. This also acts as a shield against sparks and splatter falling into the shoes so as not to burn the laces. 

Welding Coveralls

Coveralls are common for those who work in shops or garages. These loose fit jumpsuits provide protection from the lower neck down to the ankles including the arms and sleeves. The downside is that it doesn’t offer that much protection from high temperatures not unless they are designed for that specifically. The ideal way to use welding coveralls is to use it with the other welding protective clothing like the apron and chaps. 

Welding Safety Boots

A welder would sometimes choose to wear their ordinary shoes but for those who are serious in their welding career should definitely have a pair of safety boots. These boots are designed to protect your feet from heat exposure and welding splatter. Most importantly, these safety boots have steel toes that protect your feet from heavy pieces. Its soles are also usually anti-slip and anti-static.   

Welding Protective Equipment

Welding Blanket

A welding blanket isn’t something you use on your body but it does give protection for your body and the material and equipment around against sparks and splatter. Welding blankets are excellent shields against heat and fire and there are ways to know how to choose the right one. 

welding blanket
Welding Helmet

Protecting your face and neck is the most important protective equipment you should have. Without it, you expose the most vulnerable parts of your face to sparks and radiation harmful to the skin and eyes. If you’re a pro or a beginner welder, auto-darkening welding helmets are best to use so you don’t flip them up and down which can minimize fatigue in the neck. 

Safety Glasses

Safety glasses are also a must most especially when grinding and cutting. While it is never worn while welding, it’s a very important protective gear that you should consider as part of your must-haves. Your eyesight is the most important tool in what you do so you can never have too much protection.

blue weld
Welding Respirators

Melting metal means the emission of fumes. Welding respirators are used in small spaces where these fumes become irritating and harmful to the lungs. And while these are not used that much since they can be quite expensive, it’s always good to have around.

Ear Muffs/Earplugs

Welding processes are naturally loud. Hearing protection is essential for welders so having the right ear muffs or even earplugs to cancel the noise while you work is a priority.  These welding clothing and welding protective equipment are the basic needs for a welder to stay safe and comfortable while at work. Whether you’re just starting out or you have been working as a professional welder for years now, welding protection must and should be the first thing on your mind even before you handle that welding machine. So now, go get the welding PPE and welding clothing you’ve had your eye on and get to work!

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