Fiberglass welding blankets?

[slackdaddy1]

Wanting to project my pretty new "Legacy epoxy floor" from welding sparks.
I had assumed "welding blankets" were leather.
I saw that HF as well as Amazon has welding blankets that are predominately fiberglass.

Anyone have experience with fiberglass welding blankets laid on the floor? where the sparks will LAY on them, not hung vertically where the sparks will bounce off.

Thanks,
Slack

 

[Moe_Hushlin]

I have put my oxy/acet torch to one and nada. Had huge split system AC units to run large refrigerant lines in a wood structure attic, we became believers in those blankets.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-T377A using Tapatalk

 

[blake101]

Have a HF one but have never used it.

 

[xela456]

I have not used the Hf version but we use these all the time at work and they are good as a spark catcher. But I wouldn't count on them to catch molten chunks of metal. Like if you were doing some torching directly onto the blanket, it will melt through, but should be fine for welding.

 

[zmotorsports]

I don't have the HF one, but I have a couple that I purchased from my local Norco welding supply several years ago. I use them when I want to protect something from either grinding sparks or weld but not generally my floor as it is merely sealed concrete. They work well for intended purposes but are a bit cumbersome and hard to get to conform to oddly shaped items at times.

I also use some 3M welding paper on when welding on vehicles and want to protect the paint. It merely sticks to the vehicle by way of a mild adhesive backing. I wouldn't go through the expense of that on a floor however, the welding blanket would be more cost beneficial and appropriate for floor protection.

 

[bcradio]

I use a HF one everytime I weld on my garage floor. It keeps the floor from looking like a black trashy mess. I really like it so far and it makes cleanup much easier as well... I simply fold up the blanket with the little metal bits in it and take it outside to shake off. The blanket does look like garbage now, but still works fine.

 

[Oldbear]

I use two a shields for in between my motorbike and my welding area. Often I will drape the blankets over top of the motorcycle cover. I have hung them from the mezzanine when I had welding and wood working projects going on at the same time.

Mine are from Princess Auto - but (other than the coupons) it is the same deal as Harbor Freight.

 

[Stooge]

I have a few of the HF ones around the shop, even a sacrificial one that I cut up and jammed underneath the dash of a gto im working on as not to burn the car to the ground while fixing the cowl. I haven't had any issues with the ones I've had, and the seem to work well but its still not an area to become complacent with and you still need to pay attention to where sparks and embers may be flying. The newer ones, or atleast the smaller ones, seem to be slightly different than the old ones, not as thick and cumbersome, but seem to work the same.

 

[tarmy]

Do yourself a favor and get a good one. The good ones will be rated to 3000 degrees. They do not protect against direct heat burn under the blanket...like if you welded on wood and the heat would transfer thru. But they are great for stopping the burning on the workbench or floor. The cheap ones won't prevent burns if you get a molten chunk that drips off...the good ones should.

 

[Lelandwelds]

Wanting to project my pretty new "Legacy epoxy floor" from welding sparks.
I had assumed "welding blankets" were leather.
I saw that HF as well as Amazon has welding blankets that are predominately fiberglass.

Anyone have experience with fiberglass welding blankets laid on the floor? where the sparks will LAY on them, not hung vertically where the sparks will bounce off.

Thanks,
Slack

I have used them all and sold many. All work pretty good for mig BBs. The silicone covered F G are pretty durable. None are perfect for oxygen fuel cutting.

All work better with metal piece to catch the bulk.

 

[GaryM909]

I use them quite often. Good for sparks but not good for hot slag or molten metal. Probably better off using plywood.

 

[slackdaddy1]

Thanks for the reviews
Not really for molten slag, 99% will be mig welding.
Sounds like the HF ones will do what I want.

Slack

 

[scubadoober]

HF doesn't specify, but make sure it is coated fiberglass. If you have any desire to grab , lay, or rest on this blanket you don't want a raw fiberglass blanket. Most of the cheapest of the cheap are not coated, and I would assume the HF is not coated. Tillman, Steiner, even any of the private label stuff is better.

 

[Jeepermike]

Harbor freight ones are not coated. Laid on one to weld a cage in a Jeep and that was a big mistake.

 

[slackdaddy1]

OK, good to know.