Welding shirt/jacket suggestions

I'm looking for a welding shirt or jacket that is durable enough to last yet won't turn my welding practice into a heat stroke risk.

I bought a welding shirt a couple weeks ago for 20ish dollars but am already feeling the spatter get through to my arms.. it's not often just yet, but I know it's only going to get worse and this particular shirt isn't going to last. I've been thinking of getting some sleeves and sewing them permanently on top of the existing ones for a double layer.

Edit... I see they have some with a 9oz cotton torso (what my current shirt is) but with leather sleeves... Then there's also a shirt similar to mine but made with heavier 12oz treated cotton.

thanks,
Ian

Hi, Ian-
How about just leather sleeves? If your shirt is heavy enough to protect from sparks and radiation, then sleeves may do the trick.

http://store.cyberweld.com/tilesl18in.html

There is no substitute for leather, you can buy a leather welding jacket, or you can dig through your wardrobe and designate an old leather jacket/coat for the job, or find a nice loose one at some sale, rip the lining out so you have just the leather shell and you have a welding jacket at a cheap price. Old coats can have the sleeves used for a home made sleeve coat, (good project for the wife/girlfriend).

I have some tilman sheep (goat?) skin leather and cotton welding sleeves. They work great. But the standard attire for a welder is heavy denim. Its a little warm, but not as binding and not as hot as leather. It doesn't have the same burn through protection, but that's a welder's life: getting burned. If you can't take the proverbial heat, stay out of the proverbial kitchen. lol. You always remember the good burns that you kept welding through, never flinching or breaking an arc. I have some old Dickies cotton work shorts that I use (not the poly/cotton blends). If you look for the "classic" ones with styling the same as from the 50's you'll find they'll be all cotton, work and look great to boot.

Does nomex work very well?

Thurmond

I use a demin jacket like Mark mentioned. It is still warm, but for me, leather is just too hot. My sons use jackets from a LWS, they are an ugly sea foam green, but not expensive and work probably as well and demin. I would go to the LWS and take a look at them for the price. I have leather sleeves, but never use them on the arms. :)

I bought a tillman onyx cotton jacket a few weeks ago, it's nice. I think I paid $23 for it. it's in the 90s here in texas, so it doesn't really matter what you wear, it's hot. I guess, if you were outside, it'd be a bad choice because it's black, but the arc doesn't put off a whole lot of IR. no burn-through issues yet. I have a floor pan to put in soon(close overhead MIG welding), I'll post back after that's done.

there are a nice pair of snaps on the sleeves that make them easier to fit into gloves, too. dunno if all welding coats have those, but it's a nice feature.

This is the jacket I wear.
http://www.ramweldingsupply.com/prod...ew.mcic?s=3593

I also wear an undershirt and a regular work shirt when I weld. I know it sounds crazy to weld in two shirts, but it will keep you cooler. The undershirt soaks up all the sweat while the work shirt stays dry. It traps air along with the sweat keeps you cooler.

That BSX shirt is made of the same material mine is and it's letting the hot stuff through on a regular basis now. I think I'll just augment it with sleeves. The LWS has some miller sleeves I think I'll get in a couple weeks.

Ian

I have always used a leather jacket and gloves. Not only protects when welding but also when grinding, cutting, etc.. I have never really thought much about the comfort part, I always lean towards safety first. Short of a leather moon suit there will always be some errant "ember" that finds a way in! Like Mark said, you can always jump around after the welds done.

As a suggestion, by some welding sleeves. They come in the same material as the green welding jackets or you can also order the Kevlar sleeves also. You can also spray on some clothes starch you buy in the spray can that retards the burn through from spatter. I have sleeves I use so I don't fry in the heat.

I have been having a lot of "fun" lately with powered wire wheels shedding wires. Found them stuck in shoes, pants, gloves and jacket. It has sure taught me the value of full body protection head to toe. It has only been 105 to 110 in my shop lately.

Thurmond

Time to buy a new one.... :)

I use the sleeves and a T-shirt and haven't had much trouble with burns on my torso. Sure is alot cooler than welding with a jacket. Thinking about leather pants though after that piece of slag droped down my britches last week, besides they make me feel sexy!