It doesn’t matter what kind of welding you do. What matters is, how you protect yourself while you’re going about your business. Welding may be your job or even your passion, but that doesn’t discount all the danger that it poses to anyone who holds that welding gun.
Many are already aware of how important your hands are, but are you sure those gloves are providing enough protection, especially dealing with such heat?
The one that is most important, and very close to the work that a welder does is the heat. Arc welding is known to produce temperatures of over 10,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
But that’s not all, there are also a variety of sparks and sputters that are thrown off the welding area that has been known to cause severe burns.
It’s because of this, that Personal Protective Equipment is very important in this line of work. The single most important part of the PPE is the safety features of the gloves. What kind of gloves are they? Will they protect you from the dangers? How long will they last?
The best welding gloves for MIG, TIG, and Stick welding are typically made from leather or a flame-resistance fabric that will offer you long lasting protection; all while being comfortable and tough.
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Top MIG, TIG, STICK Hand Protection in 2023
1. Lincoln Electric Traditional MIG/Stick Welding Gloves
There are various forms of welding out there. Some can only be attempted in a professional environment; others will draw amateur enthusiasts who just can’t shake away the DIY infection that they’ve contracted. For all the stick welders though, the Lincoln Electric Traditional Stick Welding Gloves has got your back.
Lincoln Electric is known for producing a wide range of welding equipment and consumables, all of the highest quality. This latest addition to their personal protective equipment features a sock lining to increase comfort while it’s in use. It is held together by Kevlar stitching to complement the welted seams. The protection is topped off by a cuff to hold the gloves in place while you work.
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2. Better Grip Leather Welding Gloves
Here is a pair of gloves that have been made to match the brand name of the manufacturer. It utilizes shoulder split leather to provide excellent gripping strength for your tools. The shoulder split leather is also made to be heat resistant.
Probably one of the better-designed gloves on the market at the moment, the Better Grip Leather Gloves utilizes a side thumb to increase flexibility, and ensure comfortableness while it’s in use. The palm area does not have any seams running through it, making for a comfortable glove.
To increase protection, this glove is held together by Kevlar stitching. This not only reinforces the leather but also improves on protection from heat.
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3. Miller Electric 263339 Welding Gloves
Who said to be a welder means you have to put on PPE that looks like it was cut from a single piece of material? Here, Miller challenges convention by coming up with gloves that look like they were meant for the engineering and mechanical departments of the Starfleet.
The Miller Arc Armor 263339 gloves are a perfect melding of black and blue, with the palm being blue and bleeding into the knuckles, then black taking over for the outside of the gloves. All this color doesn’t detract from its protection credentials though. The gloves are made from cowhide and then reinforced with pig leather on the palm area and the top side.
The design is completed by a 100 percent wool lining that gives flame-resistant insulation. The wing thumb and pre-curved fingers make this pair a comfortable option to have.
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4. John Tullman and Co 50L Leather MIG Gloves
John Tullman & Co was founded with the express purpose of providing industry workers with personal protective equipment. They have been at it since 1928 and therefore have a lot of experience when it comes to manufacturing welding gloves. And their knowledge shows with this pair.
The John Tullman and Co 50L is a pair of gloves that use top-grain leather as a base. The palms and the back are then reinforced with split leather and the lining is 100 percent fleece for flame resistance. The forefinger is seamless and it has an elastic back to hold the glove in place while you make the world a better place, one weld at a time.
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5. Steiner 21923-L Welding Gloves
Steiner another company that has taken its time to grow and provide excellent solutions to those who would need personal protective equipment. And this shows the amount of thought that has gone into this product.
The Steiner 21923-L recognizes that everyone has their own individual tastes. For that, they came up with these gloves that provide protection that goes beyond the forearm, specifically, over the elbow. They made all this length from high-grade split leather.
For added protection, they included a 100 percent cotton lining to provide insulation from heat. The back is insulated by foam and the thumbs are reinforced by the use of straps.
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6. Caiman 1878-5 Welding Glove
The Caiman 1878-5 looks like it was designed to be a true multipurpose pair of gloves. They look like they could be used by the welders of great architectural structures, but still be at home helping Robin Hood take down the Sheriff of Nottingham and Prince John. All that aside though, these are gloves that are purposely designed for overhead welding, stick welding, and plasma welding as well.
It is 21 inches in length, enough to cover your forearm and is still able to provide excellent protection thanks to the deerskin leather construction. There also is a leather strip added on top of the palm area for extra protection. All of this is held together by Kevlar stitching.
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7. US Forge 400 Welding Gloves
Have you always been a fan of the Smurfs, or probably wanted to fight for Smurfette’s affections while you were at it? The US Forge 400 is a pair of gloves that will help you prove to her what kind of a technician you are with your beautiful welding… well, if she was real.
As the design principle suggests, the form should always follow function, and that’s what dictates how good these gloves are. These are one of the most comfortable gloves on the market as a result of the excellent cotton lining. They are also made to be durable by utilizing lock stitching.
The top grain leather has been dyed a bright blue, but this does not take away from the fact that it is a high-quality leather that offers excellent protection.
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8. Handing Workshop Welding Gloves
Some of the gloves out there look like they were meant for people with drab taste. The colors are too pedestrian and there are no eye-catching designs on them. Not this one though. It looks like something that was copied straight from The Elder Scrolls Skyrim Mages College.
The blue and gold meld perfectly with the functional features of the glove. Split leather for protection from the intense heat is complemented by the sweat-absorbing cotton lining. They are also skid resistant to minimize handling accidents while you work.
The palm has also been reinforced to add protection when handling heavy stuff, that may also be hot.
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Buying Guide For Welding Gloves
Safety always comes first when it comes to welding. This is a process that can quickly become dangerous, even for the most experienced welders. It’s important that you have the right safety equipment on hand for when it comes time to complete a welding job. Gloves are just as important as the helmet that you have.
Welding gloves can come in all different sizes and materials. The type of product that you end up choosing has a lot to do with your budget as well as the type of job you’re going to be doing. At the end of the day, it’s important that you don’t cheap out on the type of gloves that you buy. You could end up really hurting yourself.
Material
There can be different materials used for the construction of welding gloves. The exterior is typically made from something strong like leather. This will help protect your hands, and you will also end up with a professional look.
The palms of the gloves may have extra padding constructed into them to make working more comfortable.
The interior of the gloves is typically made with cotton so your hands remain dry and comfortable during the process of welding.
Heat and Flame Resistance
It’s pretty likely that your welding gloves are going to come into contact with heat and flames at one point or another. How they hold up to that scenario is important. Gloves that will catch fire easily aren’t the best option.
You could end up with some pretty nasty burns on your hands, you could ruin your gloves and you could even end up starting a bigger shop fire. You also want to make sure that heat is not being felt through the gloves.
Warranty
Welding gloves see a lot of wear and tear because of how frequently they’re being used. They’re also being subjected to heat and such.
There are high quality brands of gloves that will come with a lifetime warranty. While they might cost a little bit more, you may never have to invest in a pair of welding gloves again. It’s worth spending more money to get exceptional customer service.
Frequently Asked Questions About Welding Gloves
Q: Do you need different welding gloves for different types of welding?
The three main types of welding gloves include MIG, TIG and stick welding gloves. The differences between them have a lot to do with the amount of heat they can resist, as well as the flexibility that you have while wearing the gloves.
You can use these gloves for other types of welders, but these three varieties are your main options.
Q: Can I use MIG gloves for stick welding?
While there are gloves that are designed for stick welding, don’t feel like you can’t use your tried and true pair of MIG gloves. Just be sure that you’ve worn them before so you know that they’re going to perform properly.
Q: Do I need to try on a pair of welding gloves?
It’s preferred that you purchase a pair of welding gloves in person. That way, you can try them on before making a final decision. Just because a pair of welding gloves is high quality doesn’t mean that they’re going to fit you properly. Be cautious if you’re going to shop online sight unseen.
Conclusion
Welding is a very satisfying profession to venture into. However, it is fraught with its own dangers. The high temperatures from the arc can cause severe problems when the operator is left unprotected. This is why gloves are important.
However, it's going to be difficult to find the best welding gloves without trying them all on. For most out there though, the Caiman 1878-5 may be the best option for you. The all-round protection and comfort it gives to a number of enthusiasts is unparalleled even by some of the gloves in this very list.
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