Welding is a skilled trade that requires significant investment when it comes to safety gear. Personal Protective Equipment is important when it comes to protection, but let’s face it: buying new gear is expensive. So, how do you maintain your welding PPE without breaking the bank?

Safety on a Budget: Maintaining Your Welding PPE Without Breaking the Bank

Prevention is Key in Maintaining Welding PPE

The best way to save money on welding PPE is to take extra care of it. Here’s how:

Establish a Cleaning Routine: Establish for yourself a cleaning routine that works for you and your schedule.
Proper Storage: Make sure you take extra precautions when it comes to storing your welding PPE. The way you store your leather welding clothing or FR welding clothing is a big factor in extending the life of your welding gear. Having a well-protected, well-ventilated, and dry location is always ideal.
Inspect Regularly: Before each use, take a closer look at your welding PPE and look for signs of wear and tear. By doing this, you can fix minor damages.

Smart Repairs

If you’ve got minor damages, it doesn’t mean you need to replace your entire gear. You can consider these easy fixes:

Replace worn out parts: If you inspect regularly, you are able to replace worn out parts before they become a bigger problem. This could mean replacing a button or two
Sew it up: As simple as this sounds, patching up small holes or sewing a few things in your welding clothing can help extend the life of your welding PPE.
DIY Cleaning Solutions: There are a lot of DIY cleaning solutions that would work for the type of welding clothing you have. Just make sure you get advice from legitimate and reliable sources.

Know When to Replace Your Welding PPE

When you’ve done all you can to maintain your welding PPE, there comes a time when you definitely need to replace them. Read the full blog on 5 Signs to Know When it’s Time to Get New FR Clothing.

Just remember there are 2 reasons why you should get rid of old FR clothing. One, your garment can no longer be repaired, or two, it’s too soiled with flammable contaminants that it’s impossible to remove by cleaning solutions or through the laundry.

These are just a few welding clothing tips you need to know to make sure you maintain and extend the life of your welding PPE. But if you need new gear, visit our webshop and shop now!

Must-Have Welding PPE: Checklist

September 13, 2023April 22, 2023 by waylander_fiona

Welding plays an important role in the building sector. This is because every building project depends on the welding sector to frame it. No matter how big or little the construction is, you’ll need welders to come in and fuse every metal component. Construction of bridges, agricultural and farming facilities, as well as structures also need welding. Moreover, it is used in pipelines for natural gas and petroleum.

Also, it’s crucial to build iron structures close to bodies of water. Because conventional fasteners like nuts and bolts cannot be used to join two pieces of metal, these constructions may corrode. In this situation, welding is the best method for joining the metals together. Welders, like other professions, must prioritize their safety and put on the proper protective gear.

Checklist for Must-Have Welding PPE

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Standards of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), all employees or individuals directly involved in welding or cutting operations shall be provided with goggles, helmets, or head shields fitted with appropriate filter lenses, hand shields, and appropriate aprons.

Besides that, gloves, goggles, or any other essential protective apparel must be provided to anyone immediately helping with welding or cutting operations.

By providing approved respiratory protective equipment, a local exhaust system, and a general ventilation system to keep fumes, gases, and dust within permitted concentrations or threshold limit values, the DOLE also requires that people welding or cutting in confined spaces be protected from inhaling any fumes, gases, or dust.

Whether you want to use your newly acquired skills for DIY projects or pursue welding as a career, you need the right tools and equipment. Let’s dig deeper into your welding PPE checklist!

1. Welding Goggles

While welding or cutting, the welder’s eyes are momentarily protected by welding goggles. This safety gear is meant to shield the eyes from sparks from flying welding debris as well as heat and visible radiation.

The welding process always generates strong ultraviolet and infrared waves as visible light waves. Yet, UV and infrared radiation can also harm the eyes of welders when it is received indirectly.

Be aware that welding goggles are available with a range of lens numbers to suit your particular needs. Arc welding cannot be done with filters made for gas welding. because deeper lens colors must be used while arc welding.

2. Welding Helmets

A welding helmet, commonly referred to as a “hood,” is one of the most important pieces of personal protection equipment a welder must wear. The perfect helmet protects the eyes and skin not just from sparks but also from ultraviolet light, which can impair eyesight, and infrared rays generated by the arc.

Welding helmets are now offered in a selection of eye-catching hues and designs. Yet, this aesthetic aspect is combined with an utilitarian aspect that calls for a lightweight helmet that can be worn comfortably for an entire day of work. The ideal helmet weighs about 20 oz less to reduce the chance of neck soreness or fatigue after wearing it all day.

3. Welding Hats

The next item of welding safety gear is welding headgear, which protects the welder’s head and hair.

This piece of equipment’s main function is to increase safety while reducing the discomfort associated with a welding helmet. To lessen the chance of a flame, cotton and cotton thread are frequently used in the stitching of welding helmets.

4. Welding Gloves Welding PPE

Welding Gloves are advised to protect the hands of welders. They include greater welder grip and protection from electric shock, extreme heat, UV, and infrared radiation.

For a welding technique involving high temperatures, leather welding gloves are a great option. Based on how durable they are, these gloves are separated into three groups. To begin with, TIG welding gloves are made of goat, cow, or pork skin. Conversely, MIG welding gloves are made of pig, cow, or deerskin. Use leather welding gloves made from deer or cow leather as a last step.

5. Welding Apron

The best welding aprons should be made from sturdy materials like cowhide or pig skin. A plastic or polyester apron should never be used or worn when welding since it could melt into the welder’s skin. A flame-resistant apron is the best choice when the welder’s job necessitates regular exposure to high heat or open flames.

The two most popular types of welding aprons are the half apron, which covers the waist down, and the full apron, which covers the entire front side of the welder and resembles a chef’s apron. The main materials for aprons were heavy denim and cotton.

6. Welding Jacket

When making a choice, the welder must examine the advantages and disadvantages of each type of welding attire.

When working in an environment where extreme heat, strong sparks, and the threat of molten metal are present all the time, you must wear a fire-resistant jacket. Among the most popular materials for apparel are leather and flame-resistant cotton.

Cotton coats can offer the perfect balance of ease, affordability, and protection. The drawback of this type of jacket is that not all welding operations can be adequately protected by it. Due to its great fire resistance and capacity to keep welders safe, leather jackets have long been considered essential for welding.

7. Welding Boots

For welding work, a pair of shoes that can withstand sparks and heavy objects landing on a welder’s feet is essential. At first glance, welding boots resemble conventional boots, but the leather that covers the laces and the top distinguishes them.

A good pair of welding boots should serve two main goals. It’s important to remember that leather welding boots are heat- and water-resistant. First of all, when the welder is working, welding boots prevent the foot from aching or going numb for extended periods of time. As a result, the welder is able to weld effortlessly under the best circumstances.

8. Hearing Protection/Earplugs

By nature, welding is a noisy process. Ear muffs or earplugs are required as part of your hearing protection as a welder in order to drown out noise while you work.

The three most popular varieties of hearing protection are earplugs, semi-insert earplugs, and earmuffs. Noise level is one consideration while choosing hearing protection. The most important aspect, however, is that the welder must feel comfortable wearing the hearing protection and that it must keep noise out of his or her ears.

9. Welding Respirator

Metal oxide particles, which form a residue after the welding process, are incredibly minute and dense in welding gases. The amount of weld fumes depends on a number of variables, including the type of metal used and the welding procedure.

The greatest solution for protection is a welding respirator. The right welding respirator must be chosen by all welders, novice and expert alike.

There are numerous designs that can be employed right now to limit the amount of smoke in the office. They include provided air respirators, powered water purifying respirators, and half-mask respirators. By using a breathing mask, a welder can reduce their risk of developing serious health issues such metal fume fever, bronchial asthma, pulmonary fibrosis, and lung cancer.

Welding in Summer: How to Avoid the Risks

July 22, 2022 by waylander_fiona

Welding in itself is already a challenge. Welding in extreme weather conditions adds to that challenge. And if you’re welding in summer, there are some risks and you need to avoid them and take extra precautions. Here we talk about the risks and how you, as a welder, could avoid them.

Welding in the Summer: The Risks

According to CDC, 285 construction workers died from heat-related causes between 1992 and 2016, more than a third of all U.S. occupational deaths from heat exposure. While many of the risks of welding in hot weather are universal to all jobs, some are specific to welding.

Sweat

The first is sweat. Even if it isn’t summer, sweating is normal while on the job. You are dealing with molten steel after all. But during summer, the amount of sweat you produce doubles and that poses a threat. Sweat can drip into your eyes and it can affect your performance. It can also affect your ability to grip objects. The biggest threat, though, is electrocution. If your clothes or welding gloves get saturated with sweat, a single touch can shock you.

Heat Stroke/Heat Exhaustion

The most serious heat-related sickness is heat stroke. It happens when the body loses the ability to regulate its temperature, causing the body’s temperature to increase quickly, the sweating system to malfunction, and the body to be unable to cool down. Within 10 to 15 minutes after the onset of heat stroke, the body temperature can reach 106°F or more.

Heat exhaustion, on the other hand, is when the body reacts to an excessive loss of water and salt because of excessive sweating. This then produces heat exhaustion.

It’s normal for you to do work with fire and heat. But if you have the heat of the sun competing with that, working becomes more difficult. You lose energy easily and you get disoriented. You start to get blurry vision and you experience shortness of breath. The worst thing that can happen is you pass out while on the job and that is never good.

Distractions

If you feel hot, you get distracted. You lose concentration because of discomfort. Sweat dripping from a welder’s face can easily distract one from the welding job at hand. Getting distracted at any point while working can pose a threat not just to the welder himself/herself, but to other people around as well.

What can welders do to avoid the risks?

There are a few things a welder can do in order to avoid the risks of welding in the summer.

Drink a lot of water. Stay hydrated.

When dealing with heat, staying hydrated is always key. A welder battles the sun in addition to having white-hot flame inches from his body. Everything is fighting against him and it sucks the water from the body. Don’t rely on any one symptom to determine when to stop and get some water because heat exhaustion can happen even if you aren’t sweating. Recognize your boundaries and lean on the side of caution – drink a lot of water.

Use Sweat Absorption Clothing

Wearing the appropriate summer welding clothing is very important. You need lightweight, light-colored, and flame-retardant welding clothing that protects you and helps you keep cool while at work. This would reduce the risks of sweating and heat stroke.

Use Cooling Bands

Welders frequently use cooling bands to prevent heat fatigue. Use lightweight commercial cooling bands and cooling belts to direct cool air to the head and core to keep the body cool. Many of these devices are designed specifically for the welding profession, which means that they offer priceless heat protection without restricting the welder’s range of motion or ability to do the task safely.

These are just some of the things that you can do as a welder to avoid the risks while welding in the summer. So, the next time you start work, remember to always bring a water bottle with you and take a break to stay hydrated.

Welding Spats and Why You Need Them

September 8, 2023June 25, 2021 by waylander_fiona

Welding safety starts with having the proper protective gear from top to bottom. Although more attention is given to protecting the welder’s head and body, it’s the legs that are being taken for granted. However, even your lower limbs need protection, without a doubt. So, to protect your legs while welding, you’ll need good quality welding spats that keep spatter and slag out of your shoes. This article will tell you more about welding spats and why you need them in any welding job you do.

What are welding spats and what are they for?

Welding spats are shoe covers that protect your legs from sparks, spatter, and extreme heat associated with the welding process. They’re strapped around your pant legs and boot tops to protect sparks from bouncing in the top of your boots. At the same time, they protect you from sparks that may fall on your feet. Remember, though, even if you’re using spats, it is still a good idea to make sure you have durable shoes under them to offer another layer of protection.

Some spats wrap entirely around your boot with special hooks that keep them in place. Others go up to your leg with coverings over the top of your toe. Whichever you choose, just make sure that they fit nicely over the shoes you are wearing to ensure full protection.

What to look for in welding spats

First things first, choose premium leather welding spats. You’ll want to go for cowhide split leather for this because it is lightweight and allows flexibility. It is also oil-resistant, moisture-proof, and is more durable. Since this protective equipment is used for all sorts of welding applications, including grinding, construction, torch, cutting, metal fabrication, and more, you’ll need spats that provide flexibility and durability with good heat and abrasion resistance.

Since welding spats are designed to protect, the stitching is equally important. Check that the welding spats are stitched with fire-resistant thread like super-strong Kevlar thread because this provides an extra spark and abrasion resistance. Another essential thing to be particular with is the length. Finally, be sure that the spats give the most coverage for your welding boots. It is also better if your footwear is covered on both sides and from your toe to your leg.

Welding spats should also feel comfortable when wearing them. The rear of the legging should have adjustable hook-and-loop closures for superior fit. It is also ideal to have straps underneath that ensure that the shoe cover stays in place while maintaining coverage. But, again, it’s the little things that matter when it comes to safety.

Welding spats are essential for protection during the harshest conditions on the job. Using and wearing welding safety equipment is important because the job is hazardous. At any time, welders are exposed to metal fumes, UV radiation, cuts, shocks, abrasions, and burns. This is why it is important always to wear work gear that complies with set safety standards. You will also need to choose only the highest grade materials for protecting the most important part of the job — You.

3 Powerful Tips for Welding Safety

November 2, 2020 by waylander_fiona

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.”

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.

Welding Sleeves: A Complete Buying Guide

September 20, 2020August 7, 2020 by waylander_fiona

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Welding Sleeves: A Complete Buying Guide

August 7, 2020

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.

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?”

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.

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

September 20, 2020July 29, 2020 by waylander_fiona

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How to Choose the right Welding Jacket

July 29, 2020

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.

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.

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.

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

September 8, 2023July 23, 2020 by waylander_fiona

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Welding Clothing And Protective Equipment

July 23, 2020

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.

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 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 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.

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!

Top Welding Sleeves Questions Answered

What is a welding sleeve?

What are welding sleeves used for?

How do you use welding sleeves?

Can I wash welding sleeves?

Are welding sleeves flame-resistant?

Are Kevlar sleeves good for welding?

Are welding sleeves worth it?

How do I choose the right size welding sleeves?

How much do welding sleeves cost?

Where can I buy welding sleeves?

Top Welding Sleeves Questions Answered

Safety on a Budget: Maintaining Your Welding PPE Without Breaking the Bank

Prevention is Key in Maintaining Welding PPE

Smart Repairs

Know When to Replace Your Welding PPE

Checklist for Must-Have Welding PPE

1. Welding Goggles

2. Welding Helmets

3. Welding Hats

4. Welding Gloves Welding PPE

5. Welding Apron

6. Welding Jacket

7. Welding Boots

8. Hearing Protection/Earplugs

9. Welding Respirator

Welding in the Summer: The Risks

Sweat

Heat Stroke/Heat Exhaustion

Distractions

What can welders do to avoid the risks?

Drink a lot of water. Stay hydrated.

Use Sweat Absorption Clothing

Use Cooling Bands

What are welding spats and what are they for?

What to look for in welding spats

3 Power Tips for Welding Safety that can Save Your Life

Wear Welding Clothing and Protective Equipment

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

Elimination

Substitution

Engineering Controls

Administrative Controls

PPE

Avoid the Top 4 Common Welding Safety Hazards

Fumes and Gases

Physical Hazards

Electric Shock

Fire and Explosion

Welding Sleeves: A Complete Buying Guide

Why use welding sleeves?

How to Choose the Best Welding Sleeves

Welding Sleeves length

Level of Heat Protection and quality of material

Types of welding sleeves

Kevlar welding sleeves

Leather welding sleeves

Get this Waylander Welding sleeves and the welding apron seen on this photo on Amazon.

Cotton welding sleeves

Welding sleeves style and comfort

Get the Waylander Welding sleeves seen on this photo on Amazon

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How to Choose the right Welding Jacket

What are welding jackets used for?

Choosing the right welding jacket for the job

What is the best type of welding jacket?

Types of Welding Jackets

Cotton welding jacket

Leather welding jacket

Nylon/Kevlar welding jacket

What is the best size for a welding jacket?

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

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