Gloves are an important part of your welding PPE that ensures your safety and keeps your hand safe from a lot of hazards. Your hands are important to you and it only makes sense to safeguard them because they are an essential part of your day to day life.
Welding is often considered to be a dangerous job, as flame, flying sparks and immense heat may badly burn your hands.
You cannot use any regular gloves for welding as you need gloves that are especially equipped to handle welding heat and hazards and keep your hands protected. And not only for safety reasons, wearing gloves also improves your efficiency at work.
Why Should You Use Gloves Specialised For Welding?
The reason why there are gloves especially made for welding is because welding is a hazardous industry where there are a lot of risks involved.
And here we give you reasons why you cannot use any regular gloves while welding:
1.) Insulation- As we know welding entails a lot of heat, whether by conduction or radiation. And the insulation of welding gloves will help you to tolerate the heat for a longer period of time and lets you work comfortably without having to worry about heat.
2.) Composition of the material- Wearing non-synthetic fabric such as cotton, wool, and leather while welding is always a good idea while welding. Because non-synthetics burn rather than melt, so you may prefer to have your garments burn off than melt onto your skin.
The majority of welding gloves include very little synthetic material.
Different Categories of Welding Gloves
There are various types of welding gloves used for various welding techniques-
1.) MIG Welding- You need gloves that are medium in thickness and give the flexibility required for the work for MIG welding. These gloves can be manufactured from a variety of leathers.
2.) TIG Welding- You need gloves that are the thinnest, allowing you maximum flexibility on the work for TIG welding. They are composed of several types of leather and fit snugly.
3.) Stick Welding- For stick welding, you need gloves that are made of thicker leather to provide more protection.
4.) Adjustable Gloves- These gloves are custom-built to fit your hand and may be produced from any material depending on the type of work and environment.
Whenever you decide to purchase Welding Gloves, you have to keep in mind a few things-
1.) Appropriate material for the type of Welding you are employing.
Welding gloves are typically constructed of leather as it is a long-lasting, flexible substance that doesn’t carry heat or electricity.
However, selecting the proper sort of leather is critical, because different varieties of leather are better suited to different types of welding.
In general, you’ll discover thick gloves made of cowhide, pigskin, or deerskin are recommended for MIG welding.
And because welding generates a lot of heat and spatter, you’ll also want to ensure the glove has a heat-resistant liner.
Working in extreme cold temperatures or in a high-humidity climate may need the use of an inner glove made of wool or cotton.
2.) Make sure you have Gloves that are of the right fit.
The importance of proper fit cannot be stressed enough.
You must try the gloves on before you use them. Flex your hands, fingers, and wrists and observe how they feel and move. The better gloves will provide you a wider range of motion.
Because all welding needs some dexterity, having gloves that fit well and enable your hands to move freely is essential.
Gloves that are too wide and thick might make it difficult to get the bead precisely right, while gloves that are too tiny can damage your hands.
3.) Comfort and Convenience
Welding is referred to as hot labour for a reason. Since welding is a dangerous task, your gloves must protect you from the immense heat.
Always consider the duration of heat exposure.
4.) Choose the proper design elements.
Welding gloves are multi-functional personal protective equipment (PPE) since welding is a multi-functional job. Aside from the actual welding period, welding entails a variety of responsibilities.
To satisfy the demands of those operations, gloves with a good non-slip grip and a strengthened flexible palm are required for safe usage.
These gloves are suitable for both rough, heavy labour and precise finger work. You’ll be able to perform both without having to remove your gloves.
Also, there are both right and left-handed people in the world, glove supports and pads must be provided in either direction or tailored to be used by either hand.
5.) Maintenance of your Glove is absolutely necessary.
Taking proper care of your gloves can undoubtedly save you money by extending their lives. However, it can also keep you safe by ensuring that the gloves retain their protective properties.
Welding gloves will ultimately wear out, even with proper maintenance. Working with gloves with holes, cuts, or other damage might endanger your hands.
The same is true for gloves that have seen a lot of use. It is essential to properly inspect your gloves before you use them.
FAQs-
Welding Gloves- How Long Do They Last?
Welding gloves have a shelf life that is determined by their quality and frequency of usage. They have a longer lifespan if they are treated to low heat and fewer working hours than those who are regularly subjected to high heat and a lot of effort.
In general, if a good pair of gloves is well-maintained, it should last you a few months, say, two months.
Can you weld while wearing Rubber Gloves?
Yes you can use rubber gloves while welding as it provides protection against electric shocks and provides an excellent grip which is beneficial in weld work.
Can Kevlar Gloves be used for welding?
You cannot use kevlar material for gloves, however, it can be used to stitch or as an inner lining in welding gloves.
What is the most common material Welding Gloves are made from?
The most common material used in the making of welding gloves is leather and its various types- cowhide, elkskin, pigskin, deerskin, goatskin.
Conclusion
Welding is a dangerous work, therefore it’s critical to be knowledgeable about welding safety equipments like protective gloves. Welding gloves of high quality must be long-lasting and functional.
You cannot just use any regular gloves for welding because you require gloves that provide safety against welding hazards. The best welding gloves should protect you from UV rays, fit well, and be comfortable.
