Dressing for Portable Welding

It is only in the modern era, with its exceptionally powerful tools, deadly chemicals, and other contemporary work devices, that armor has been developed for workers as well as for soldiers. The closest approximation to these many and varied protective suits are the beekeeping suits that were used as far back as the medieval period, when heavy clothing tied at the wrists and ankles, and finely woven basket masks were worn to keep the angry insects at bay while honey and wax were being extracted from their hives.

Good welding gloves are of course a necessity, and although these are tough and heat resistant, they should never be used to actually pick up or handle heated metal directly, since this will quickly ruin them. welding gloves should always be leather, never synthetics, since the various synthetic cloths can all melt and bond themselves to your skin, leading to the need for skin grafts to repair your body after treatment. Leather will burn eventually, but it will not fuse to your skin – a huge advantage.

Thin welding gloves allow plenty of dexterity, but may not survive the more intense uses of welders, while thicker gloves impair your manual skill but will resist far more heat. Since you need to balance the fact that your hands are closest to the welding point and the molten metal there, against the fact that you may need to do more fine manipulation of objects and welding torch in the less-controlled circumstances of portable welding than in your workshop, medium-weight, medium-protection gloves are probably the best compromise.

Clothing is another matter you should pay close attention to, as one again, synthetics are both vulnerable to combustion and will adhere to your skin agonizingly if they catch on fire. Denim or leather are the best choices for clothing, preferably with no breast pockets, rolled cuffs, or the like – places where sparks can collect, heat, and set your clothing on fire while you are wearing it. Flame-resistant jackets are available, and these can be worn for heavier welding jobs.

Do not wear footwear that leaves any part of your foot or ankle exposed, since both sparks and stray molten metal tend to drop downwards. Slip-on leather boots without laces are ideal – if you wear laced boots, keep spare laces on hand, since they may catch on fire and burn off without penetrating the thick, flame-defying leather of the boots. Some welders also wear a leather apron, and this may be crucial if you are welding in a sitting position – as you may well be doing while wielding a portable welder. Eschew the use of an apron, however, if you are welding near working machinery which could snag the apron and drag you in.