welding leather - Waylander Welding

Since burns are one of the most common injuries among welders, welding aprons are a must for pros in the welding profession. A welding apron protects you and your clothing from slag and hot metal that turns up while welding, grinding, or when using a cutting torch. The quality of welding aprons depends on the material used in their construction. Here are important things to know about how to choose the best welding apron for any welding project.

How to Choose the Best Welding Apron

The best welding aprons use thick genuine cowhide or pigskin leather

Thick genuine cowhide or pigskin leather is extremely durable and provides a high level of protection. The thicker the material is, the better protection you get. Welding aprons made of thick leather provide you with natural protection against splatters from melting electrodes and sparks from hot metal. Whether these be designed as half aprons or full aprons, what’s important is the material checks out. But since leather can be heavy, check that the leather apron you choose is lightweight.

If for example, you are looking for more affordable choices compared to the leather-type welding aprons, try looking for high-quality aprons that are made out of flame-retardant cotton that protects you from open flames or very high heat. Just remember that you should never use anything besides cotton, leather, or heavy denim. Do not ever use polyester or plastic-type materials since these can melt into your skin.

Make sure the welding apron you choose is comfortable

You won’t go wrong if the welding apron you choose combines comfort and safety. Be sure that the apron fits you well because, like any other piece of clothing, wearing something uncomfortable makes you vulnerable to injuries. Aside from that, check the straps. It is ideal to have straps you can adjust easily to your liking. These should be thick enough to hold the leather material firmly while distributing the weight evenly. Cross straps are the best type of straps for weight distribution.

As to style, there are welding aprons that clip, wrap, or tie at the waist. These provide protection from the waist down. Half-cut aprons offer more mobility and comfort but offer lower protection. If not, you may choose a full welding apron that is much like a chef’s apron for more protection and coverage. Since welders have their own size and build, various apron lengths are available. Just be sure to pick the right cut and style that fits perfectly.

Add some protective gear to that welding apron

When it comes to welding, the welder’s tools produce intense heat leading to splatters landing on either work clothes or burning through the skin. This is why it is important to use welding gears along with your welding apron for added protection. Use welding gloves for your hands and welding sleeves for your arms to protect you from hazardous materials.

Waylander Welding Apron

Looking at the factors to consider in buying yourself the best welding apron, Waylander Welding prides itself with different kinds of welding aprons for specific welding jobs guaranteed made out of only the highest quality of cowhide leather.

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.

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.

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 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 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 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.