Welding Gloves and Shirts

I am some what new to welding. What have all of you found that works well in the way of shirts/jackets and gloves for MIG Welding

HF and Northern Tool sell that stuff. I usually just use gloves and an apron.

I also find it is useful to wear a welder's cap or do-rag under the helmet. I don't know how sparks find the top of my head, but they do.

I recommend a bag for the helmet to keep it clean, too.

pirate wrote: I am some what new to welding. What have all of you found that works well in the way of shirts/jackets and gloves for MIG Welding

Get a leather cape and sleeves. Anything else that is spark proof is too hot to want to wear. Oddly, the cape is not in back like a cape, but in front. It let's your back breathe and makes like a billion times better.

Dad always wore a cap, I never do, though there have been a few times I wished I had. With MIG a decent pair of leather gloves is sufficient, I like the unlined buck skinned gloves TSC carries. I don't break out the heavy welding gloves unless stick welding, or grilling. I like my gloves snug/stretch-to-fit, so I usually buy medium or even ladies gloves, I'm a cross dresser. I've got a heavy long sleeve duck cloth/denim pearl snap shirt I weld/grind in if I'm going to be doing a lot of it. Denim pants are usually fine, unless they're frayed at all, if they're frayed and you weld long enough you WILL set them on fire.

I've ruined plenty of clothes, tennis shoes, fleece pull over, all things I shouldn't have been welding in, but it was, "just a quick tack or two," then you're wearing a pull over with melted spots all over it.

I could see welding sleeves being handy, but never used them. If you go with the apron/cape I recommend against anything with a front pocket, I wore one with a front pocket and got a big piece of slag in it, by the time I realized it, I was too late, nice whelp on my belly.

Boots with a fully attached tongue is a good idea, I had some slag I was chipping make its way past the tongue of my Doc Martins and in between my pinky toe and the one that didn't have any roast beef, I said something similar to "wee, wee, wee," and could not get my boot off quick enough.

MIG solves most of the slag issues though.

• Lee

I usually wear whatever I have on at the moment. Sometimes a pair of gloves, but not even those usually. I've been known to weld in shorts and flip flops, but not for long.

leather gloves (HF for me, happy with them) are all you really need, unless you're welding over head, then you may need more. The gloves are just as useful for heat protection as sparks.

I just use some HF welding gloves and a long-sleeve military-spec BDU top from back in the day (which is rated fireproof). skull cap under helmet is a good idea. For extra cred, make it something very "80s"...

I never used to wear a welding cap, but sharing the same hood with 5 other sweaty Maintenance Mechanics solved that issue. I now feel nekkid without one.

Beyond that (for home use), it's the ubiquitous HF hood, some Hobart gloves from Amazon, and whatever long-sleeve shirt that happens to be handy that I wouldn't mind losing to a small scale personal fire.

Hobart amazon gloves, the welding cap that came with my mask, a really doofy looking leather jacket that a friend gave to me (turned backwards). I've burned through several pairs of jeans leaving my legs unprotected, so an apron is probably up next

hobart gloves are superior to harbor freight gloves in every way. they protect from heat better, give better finger movement, and resist melting much better.

Check with your local welding supply, they should have a selection of clothing and gloves. I have one of those green cloth welding jackets and it works fine for me - it's a lot cooler and a lot cheaper than leather, too.

I usually wear some gloves but not always welding gloves, often just leather work gloves and a long sleeve shirt if I have one. I would prefer to have real leather sleeves or jacket for over head but haven't bought any yet. I do recommend a cap of some kind like others have said. I use and old baseball cap worn backwards under my hood.

Toyman01 wrote: I usually wear whatever I have on at the moment. Sometimes a pair of gloves, but not even those usually. I've been known to weld in shorts and flip flops, but not for long.

I'm guilty of that too.

I have a real army camo jacket I got from the surplus shop. I use that when I have big welding jobs to do. Works great.

Tillman xl kidskin TIG gloves, hood and a long sleeve shirt. I very rarely MIG anymore unless I am doing patch work underneath a body. I use the synchrowave TIG for most everything. When I do break out a MIG I keep an old lab coat around and constantly wish I remembered to pick up a beanie. If I am using it I am usually welding overhead

I prefer the professional welding gauntlet gloves with an extra heat reflective pad thing over the back of the fingers/hand on my left glove. I get all that at a real welding supply shop. I use a milsurp BDU shirt for most welding.

Don't forget a welding blanket. Another cheap item from HF that will keep you from setting something on fire.

Usually wear long sleeve poly/ cotton coveralls whenever I'm working/ welding, only a few small holes outta many pairs but I just bench weld most of the time anymore. Wear these for TIG also, zip up and roll the collar up to prevent that instant sunburn. Been the T-shirt/ shorts/ tennis shoe route, they all have multiple holes and was doing that little dance... but mostly from welding old body metal.

For overhead, the green cotton jacket, about $25 at the welding store. Cap for overhead too. As long as I have long sleeves a comfortable pair of medium weight leather work gloves works fine for MIG. I'd only go for a leather jacket w/ stick welding, MIG shouldn't be an issue.

Don't like anything denim. Oh, and don't use fabric softener on your welding clothes.

This with a set of TIG gloves are what I use most of the time. TIG gloves are thinner and more comfortable than most other welding gloves. http://www.revcoindustries.com/catalog/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=sleeves&sort=3a&page=2