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Does Lightweight Welding Gear Compromise Protection?

March 29, 2024 by waylander_fiona

a welder wearing lightweight welding clothing

Professional welders spend long hours on the job. So, whatever makes them comfortable and efficient counts. Traditional welding gear can sometimes be bulky and can cause unnecessary fatigue. That’s why lightweight welding gear can be a big advantage offering the relief a welder needs without compromising protection.

Weld with Ease: The Advantages of Lightweight Welding Gear

Weld with Flexibility:

The most important advantage of lightweight welding gear is you get the flexibility you need. Lighter jackets, helmets, and pants give you a wider range when it comes to motion which is important in reaching tight spaces or even working on overhead welds. This means you get less strain and fatigue, which gives you more accuracy and productivity.

Comfort from Lightweight Welding Gear

The lighter it is, the more comfort you get. Since lightweight welding gear is less bulky, that means you get better airflow. This is especially important during the summer or when working in confined spaces. It keeps you cool and prevents overheating. Added comfort improves focus and the overall well-being of the welder throughout the workday.

Lightweight welding gear, FR welding shirt — Waylandwer Welding FR Cotton Welding Shirt, Breathable design

Easy to Transport

Lightweight means easy to transport. For welders who are always on the go, you need your gear wherever you go. Whether you carry it to and from any job site or just work around the workshop, portability means a lot. It means you get to save time and effort, allowing you to focus more on your welding tasks.

Keeping up with Innovation

Ligthwelding welding clothing is an advancement in material science, and as a welder, you need to be updated to take advantage of what technology provides you. These Flame Retardant treated fabrics, however light they are, do not sacrifice safety standards, and they offer durability and heat resistance. When in doubt, do more research as to how to choose the best lightweight welding gear.

Remember, Lightweight Welding Gear doesn’t Mean Compromise

The usual thinking is light means it isn’t durable. But when you choose quality lightweight welding gear that meets industry standards, then you know for sure that your safety isn’t compromised.

With lightweight welding gear, you get a combination of comfort, mobility, and protection. By taking advantage of these advancements in design and materials, welders could improve their working conditions without compromising safety. So, whenever you need it, embrace the freedom of comfort and flexibility of lightweight welding clothing whenever you can.

The Ultimate Guide to Caring for Pigskin Leather Welding Clothing

March 13, 2024 by waylander_fiona

a man wearing a pigskin leather welding clothing

Safety is always the most important thing when it comes to welding. The proper welding attire not only protects the welder from sparks and burns but also provides the necessary mobility and comfort needed for the job, most especially for the long hours of work it requires. And when it comes to choosing the best kind of leather welding clothing for welding PPE, pigskin leather is a popular choice because of its durability and heat resistance features. Here’s how to take care of pigskin leather welding clothing to make sure you prolong its lifespan and maintain its effectiveness.

How to Care for Pigskin Leather Welding Clothing

Brush Off Loose Debris

Before cleaning, it’s important to remove any loose debris or dirt from the garment’s surface. This can be done using a soft-bristled brush, which helps to prevent scratching or damaging the leather.

Avoid Harsh Chemicals

Pigskin leather is sensitive to harsh chemicals and solvents, which can strip away its natural oils and cause damage. Instead, use mild soap or a leather cleaner specifically formulated for pigskin leather.

Use Mild Soap or Leather Cleaner

When cleaning the garment, use a mild soap or leather cleaner that is suitable for pigskin leather. Avoid saturating the leather with water, as excessive moisture can lead to damage.

Wipe Down with a Damp Cloth

After applying the soap or cleaner, wipe down the garment with a damp cloth. Be cautious not to oversaturate the leather, which can cause water stains or damage.

Air-Dry the Pigskin Leather Welding Clothing

Allow the garment to air dry naturally in a well-ventilated area. Avoid using direct heat or sunlight to dry the leather, as this can cause it to stiffen or crack over time.

Condition Regularly

After cleaning, it’s essential to condition the pigskin leather to maintain its softness and durability. Apply a suitable leather conditioner and allow it to penetrate the leather for a few minutes before wiping off any excess with a dry cloth.

Store in Cool, Dry Place

When not in use, store the pigskin leather welding clothing in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and moisture. This helps to prevent damage and maintain the integrity of the leather.

Hang the Clothing

Avoid creasing or folding the garment when storing it, as this can cause permanent damage to the leather. Instead, hang the clothing on a sturdy hanger to maintain its shape and integrity.

Inspect for Damage

Regularly inspect the garment for any signs of damage or wear, paying particular attention to high-stress areas such as pockets and seams. Address any issues promptly to prevent further damage and ensure the garment’s continued protection.

Check High-Stress Areas

High-stress areas, such as pockets and seams, are more prone to damage and wear. Regularly check these areas for signs of stress and reinforce or repair them as needed to prolong the garment’s lifespan.

With these techniques, you can maximize the use of your garment and prolong the lifespan of your pigskin leather welding clothing. If there’s one thing you should invest in, it’s the time you put into properly caring for your welding protective clothing.

Welding in a T-Shirt: What You Should Know

November 25, 2022November 11, 2022 by waylander_fiona

Some folks spend a lot of money getting a booth tan after work. You can get a tan while working as a welder. A great deal, indeed! At least until you have third-degree sunburns or skin cancer. Using bare skin while welding will help you prevent those unattractive tan lines (ouch).

In actuality, sunburns from welding are nothing to joke about. The majority of us are aware of the risks that UV radiation and our eyes pose. Additionally, since eye-related injuries are among the most frequent accidents, it is unquestionably a crucial topic. But frequently, we just discuss how those rays influence our eyes, omitting to mention how they also affect the rest of our body.

So, can you really weld in a T-shirt? Let’s talk about it.

Welding in a T-Shirt, What you Should Know

When welding, we almost never consider how powerful the UV rays are. This is so because most safety gear is built to withstand more ultraviolet light than the average welder could possibly expose it to. However, each light wave has a strength, or more precisely, a range of wavelengths. Essentially the shorter the wavelength, the more that type of light will mess you up.

The majority of the time when welding, heat causes the light waves to shorten. It gets quite hot when you start welding when you strike an arc. Wavelengths become shorter as temperatures rise. Technically, you could burn hot enough to emit x-rays in addition to UV rays (but you’d need a very strong welder for this).

Obviously, by that time, you would have already burned to death before the x-rays could do any harm. So why is this important? It truly doesn’t for welding protection equipment. As we’ve already mentioned, the majority of equipment is UV-protective enough. What if we’re not referring to safety equipment? Would you consider anything like, say, a t-shirt?

Can you really weld in just a T-Shirt? No. Here’s Why.

Sunburns

If you don’t have the proper safety equipment, there are several dangers during welding that are worse than sunburns. But there are a lot of different viewpoints on UV protection. Some welders will claim that wearing a t-shirt to work every day for the past three decades hasn’t caused them any problems. Some welders will also tell you about a person who used a t-shirt to weld just once and passed away two months later.

Factors that can produce a Sunburn

Instensity of the beam

Let’s examine what actually produces a sunburn to resolve this debate. The intensity of the beams comes first, as we have covered. This basically refers to how hot you are welding and how near your arc you are.

Duration of Exposure

The duration of your exposure to the UV light source is another factor. Except when exposed to an atomic blast, most sunburns don’t develop right away. Sunburn develops over time as a result of your body’s ongoing exposure to UV rays reacting with an increasing number of its atoms.

UV rays must pass through your t-shirt for a long enough period of time to inflict enough damage for you to recognize it as a sunburn. Therefore, you might avoid being burnt if you just weld for a short time or use procedures that create less powerful UV radiation.

This explains in part why some welders can “get away” with wearing only a t-shirt while others suffer from excruciating sunburns (or even worse).

Thickness of T-Shirt and Color

Other elements include the thickness of the t-shirt and even its color. One of those paper-thin t-shirts you get for free at concerts is not the same as a hefty synthetic-fiber t-shirt. Finally, some individuals simply have skin that burns more quickly.

A t-shirt provides some protection, but it doesn’t offer much coverage. Your neckline and the exposed portions of your arms will still suffer sunburns.

Even worse than death can be skin cancer. Protective apparel is far less expensive than medical expenses.

Protective apparel, as we mentioned at the beginning, blocks more than just UV rays. Additionally, it protects against sparks and hot slag, which a t-shirt can’t withstand.

Welding Clothing Tips: How to Minimize Stains on Welding Clothes While at Work

May 29, 2022 by waylander_fiona

Yes, staying clean while welding is impossible. Welders like you have the job in mind and keeping your clothes clean isn’t something you really think about. Your focus stays on welding and staying safe. But, if you don’t want to have to deal with having to wash away too much stains from your work clothes, here are some welding clothing tips.

Welding Clothing Tips: Minimize Stains on Welding Clothes

Oil is your number one enemy when it comes to stains. That and of course dirt and dust. Whether you’re working in a workshop or a factory, there’s grease and dust all around and it could be hard to really avoid it. What can you do to minimize the stains on your work clothes?

Do not touch welding clothes as much

It does sound basic but if you make yourself aware and practice it for some time, it becomes a habit. Next thing you know, you find less amount of stains on your work clothes because of this habit. So, the next time you work, be more aware of the many times you touch your welding pants or welding shirt.

Keep a rag/handkerchief in your pocket all the time

Make sure that you have a rag or handkerchief in your pocket all the time. Never leave your home without it. Or better yet, have a several in your workshop or workplace so you won’t have a problem having one whenever you work. That way, before you touch any of your work clothes or any item at all, you make it a habit to wipe your hands with that rag.

Starch your welding clothes

The starching process of welding clothing has been around for a long time and it’s done by both professional and amateur welders. This is done to prolong the usability of welding clothes by preventing dirt and dust from accumulating on the clothing. It also makes a piece of garment oil resistant. This then prevents too much stains on the work clothes making it easier to wash them.

Just remember you can only start 100% denim or cotton welding clothing.

two welders working — Photo via unsplash.com

Get Coveralls, Have Work Clothes that are meant for just working

If you really want to minimize the stains you get on your welding clothing while at work, get coveralls and use that over your welding clothing. They last long and you won’t have to worry as much. Also, apart from your leather welding clothing or welding jackets, only use work clothes that are meant for just working. Meaning if you use them and they get stained, you wouldn’t mind as much.

As a welder, dealing with stains, dust, and dirt is something you need to live with. It is impossible to be super clean at the end of the day. But if there are ways for you to minimize the stains you need to deal with, then why not? So, the next time you weld, keep these things in mind and save yourself the headache of having to deal with too much stubborn stains on your welding clothing.

Summer Welding Clothing

September 8, 2023June 17, 2021 by waylander_fiona

Summer is here! That means making sure that you have your summer welding apparel ready. Comfort is a top priority when it comes to welding in the heat. You need the right fabric and the right kind of welding clothing to make sure you get maximum protection while keeping yourself cool at the same time. Here, we give you a list of summer welding clothing that you must have to get the comfort and protection you need in this season.

Summer Welding Clothing

Light Weight Clothing

With the heat, it will be harder to move because of the discomfort one can feel. Wearing lightweight clothing under welding PPE helps you change that. This also gives you the opportunity to take in cooler air whenever the wind blows while you work. Lightweight khaki pants and khaki shirts are what you should be wearing while welding during this season.

Light-Colored Clothing

In terms of the color of clothing, go with white colors. As known to many, light-colored clothing reflects light while dark-colored clothing absorbs it. White welding shirts and white welding caps are great to have.

Wear a Pancake Hood

A pancake hood is potentially cooler than a shirt hood or a flip hood. Mainly, this is because air can pass through easily to the head as opposed to a hood that hinders or traps the air from getting in.

FR Welding Shirt

A breathable and lightweight flame retardant welding shirt is definitely a must-have. Working in the summer months doesn’t mean you compromise safety for comfort. With a high-quality FR welding shirt, you get maximum protection while being able to move freely. Get a consistent airflow to keep you cool in the hear while getting protection from sparks. Some even come in khaki color which all the more makes it better.

Welding Sleeves

A good pair of welding sleeves are also good to have in the summer months. If you need protection but can’t have a full-on leather welding jacket, leather welding sleeves can give you the protection you need for your arms. It also allows for more movement.

FR Cotton Welding Jacket

A leather welding jacket is definitely a must-have. But when you talk about working under the heat of the sun during the summer, you need an FR cotton welding jacket instead. It’s flame retardant so you get protection, it’s lightweight as compared to a leather welding jacket which allows a consistent flow of air to circulate and cool your body.

Hybrid FR Leather Welding Jacket

A hybrid FR leather welding jacket might just be what you need exactly when welding in the summer. You get the protection you need from leather welding sleeves but have the comfort of an FR cotton welding jacket. It’s having two pieces of welding protection in just one piece of clothing. This gives you the mobility you need while getting superior protection for your skin and the comfort of a lightweight cotton fabric that allows a consistent airflow. Perfect for the welder in the summer!

Welding Shirts: Your Complete Buying Guide

September 11, 2020 by waylander_fiona

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.

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!