Wamsutta
Well-known member
You guys have any kind of preference? I gotta get something because sparks from my grinder keep catching my t-shirts on fire. 
Welding Aprons
- Thread starter Wamsutta
- Start date
67CarGuy
Well-known member
Nothing too fancy...
Tillman welding apron
Sometimes I find that a welding jacket is more practical, as it protects my arms too, and I can tuck the cuffs into my glove gauntlets.
Tillman welding apron
Sometimes I find that a welding jacket is more practical, as it protects my arms too, and I can tuck the cuffs into my glove gauntlets.
Had similar issue when I was taking my welding classes. Instructor was kind enough to teach me to think through where I was standing in relation what I was grinding on, what motion was I going to use with the grinder, what was the orientation of the grinder (and the guard,if installed), and where was the fire/debris zone.
It worked for me, and I've not had an issue since.
Of course, he prefaced his instruction for me with "Hey, *******, don't stand in the line of fire!"
It worked for me, and I've not had an issue since.
Of course, he prefaced his instruction for me with "Hey, *******, don't stand in the line of fire!"
scooby074
Well-known member
"Green Welding Jackets" are the answer. Or Coveralls/overalls
tominboise
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I usually wear either a leather apron from Lincoln, or a heavy canvas apron I got from a buddy. I also wear a light Lincoln welding jacket over it to cover my arms and neck. I have a full set of leathers but don't use them often. I usually am TIG welding.
danielbuck
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if sparks from your grinder are blasting you, either move your body or cut the other way. Otherwise, a leather welding jacket.
rattle_snake
Well-known member
They also have FR socks in case you weld in shorts and sandals. You know, when its 119+ outside and hotter in the shop.
Ummm, you wear socks with sandals?
To the OP, in no particular order:
- Get better at welding so you grind less
- Position yourself/the grinder better to avoid the spark shower
- Welding jackets are my preference over heavy aprons. "Sunburn" from welding *****
rlitman
Well-known member
I have a Tillman welding apron in the shop, but I mainly use it with my table saw. I'm partial to the X back style apron straps, because I just don't care for an apron hanging from my neck, but getting into that style can be like wrestling an octopus for some, so it's much less popular.
Most of my welding is GTAW, so I just wear an eBay sourced Nomex lab coat for UV coverage, and I've used that quite a bit while grinding too. It gets some browned burnt spots from grinding, but it's the FCAW that really does a number on it, so I'll pull out the leather jacket for FCAW, because my sleeves take the brunt of the damage, so an apron wouldn't do much for me.
For grinding I usually wear long sleeve 100% cotton heavy weight long sleeve tee shirt and jeans. Anything with a synthetic content will just melt.
I’ve got an inexpensive Hobart FR CLOTH jacket for most welding and wire wheel work.
You’ve really got to watch out for a bunch of frayed threads on clothing. Stuff lights up like tinder
Ron
I’ve got an inexpensive Hobart FR CLOTH jacket for most welding and wire wheel work.
You’ve really got to watch out for a bunch of frayed threads on clothing. Stuff lights up like tinder
Ron
I've used the fan of the grinder motor to blow on me to cool off.
Though annoying in winter when it's like -40 and the grinder is blowing.
No issues with cold here in Phx!
Was welding in a very used pair of Levi’s, they went up in an instant. Just flashed off the surface lint, no harm done, but very surprising!
danielbuck
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that's fantastic
WoodsTruck
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I had a pair of used coveralls when I took my welding class in college. They were even equipped with unintended vent holes, frayed, that caught fire a couple times.
Upgraded to a welding jacket a while back. Didn't want to go full leather since I do most of my fab work in the summer. Still warm but not PHX warm.
store.cyberweld.com
Upgraded to a welding jacket a while back. Didn't want to go full leather since I do most of my fab work in the summer. Still warm but not PHX warm.
Black Stallion Welding Jacket - Hybrid FR Cotton/Cowhide FRB9-30C/BS
Black Stallion® Welding Jacket - Hybrid Royal Blue FR Cotton/Split Cowhide FRB9-30C/BSThe Black Stallion® FRB9-30C/BS Hybrid Welding Jacket combines the protection of leather with lightweight royal blue FR cotton. The hybrid welding jacket has a 30 inch length and is made of 9 ounce flame...
store.cyberweld.com
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jives
Well-known member
I'm a novice and was using a heavy denim shirt until the buttons kept snagging and lost most of them. Then got this from Rasco:
https://rasco.com/products/copy-of-fr-duck-snap-shirt-brown
The shirt is thick, FR, long in waist (and arms). Snaps are much better than buttons, but I just noticed a missing snap yesterday. I paid, I think, about $40 on sale. It is pretty warm in the summer.
https://rasco.com/products/copy-of-fr-duck-snap-shirt-brown
The shirt is thick, FR, long in waist (and arms). Snaps are much better than buttons, but I just noticed a missing snap yesterday. I paid, I think, about $40 on sale. It is pretty warm in the summer.
Mine is nothing fancy, sort of like the Tillman apron linked to in the second post. Pretty much the only thing I sometimes store in the chest pocket is a soapstone or ink marker, maybe a spring punch, so pockets were not important to me though mine came with one.
The apron has held up well, I've had it for maybe 5 years now. Probably longer. I recommend a long one, at least mid thigh or even to the knee. I'm 6'4" and the extra coverage helps.
My shop is where I do wood and metal work, when grinding metal I'll often intentionally drive the sparks into the apron so they don't scatter all over the place.
The apron has held up well, I've had it for maybe 5 years now. Probably longer. I recommend a long one, at least mid thigh or even to the knee. I'm 6'4" and the extra coverage helps.
My shop is where I do wood and metal work, when grinding metal I'll often intentionally drive the sparks into the apron so they don't scatter all over the place.
rlitman
Well-known member
That's the X type back that I prefer, which is a love it or hate it feature. The sizing looks about average, and I'd be concerned that the strap might not be long enough for me. That pocket arrangement looks sweet for metal work. At my tablesaw, they'd fill with dust every time I cut a dado. It does have me seriously thinking now about sewing on D-rings to hang stuff, but my workstation layout has pencils and rulers within reach of any place I might be standing, so it's of limited use to me, but it does look like something Adam Savage would rave about.
Looking up the Fueri apron, I see they're using kevlar thread (excellent). However, they don't say what the fabric lining is made of, and in the picture I can see in an Amazon Vine review, it appears to be synthetic (polyester or nylon). That's a hard no for me for welding/grinding.
For use when welding or grinding?
Nope.
Synthetic (aka 'plastic') fabric lining, no go for welding or 'hot' metal working.
Synthetic shoulder straps (probably nylon) and shoulder strap lining, no go for welding or 'hot' metal working.
All the open pockets are just trap areas for sparks and whatnot too.
If I'm welding, I'm wearing a welding jacket. Either FR cotton or actual leather. Which covers my torso AND my arms.
And if I'm welding, I'm probably also using the angle grinders (yes, plural.
). So the welding jacket protects me there as well. From wires coming off the wire wheels trying to perform acupuncture on me as well as hot sparks from welding or grinding.That apron looks more like a general shop apron, mostly wood working. Except as @rlitman mentioned, the pockets will fill up with sawdust. And it doesn't have a tape measure pocket. Yeah, you could clip a tape measure onto one of the pocket edges, but then the tape is sticking out and bumping into everything and hanging/flapping on the edge of the pocket.
scooby074
Well-known member
Looks like something a hipster barber would wear. Perfect for The Blue Oyster.
Funny how they don't show the man bun in the ad photos
Crashlandy
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Nice
andyvh1959
Well-known member
all this talk of fire from grinding and welding, reminds me of something similar while using an Oxy/Acet torch. My 1st two weeks working in engineering at Pierce Mfg (fire trucks) had me assigned out to the shop floor working with the shop personnel. First day they had use an Oxy/Acet torch to cut apart an old assembly jig before it went into metal scrap. No problem, I can handle this, got right into it.
Few minutes into it, sniff, sniff, huh,.....I smell something burning. Turned off the torch, set it down, looked down to see the bottom edge of my frayed jeans on fire. Me, on fire! Luckily I realized it before it went full conflagration on me. Spent the rest of the day with my pants leg bottoms wrapped up in duct tape.
Though, I felt it was an excellant idea to have new engineering personnel on the shop floor for two weeks before getting into designing products the same shop personnel have to produce. Always felt any engineer should be required to actually work on their own designs.
Few minutes into it, sniff, sniff, huh,.....I smell something burning. Turned off the torch, set it down, looked down to see the bottom edge of my frayed jeans on fire. Me, on fire! Luckily I realized it before it went full conflagration on me. Spent the rest of the day with my pants leg bottoms wrapped up in duct tape.
Though, I felt it was an excellant idea to have new engineering personnel on the shop floor for two weeks before getting into designing products the same shop personnel have to produce. Always felt any engineer should be required to actually work on their own designs.
That's the X type back that I prefer, which is a love it or hate it feature. The sizing looks about average, and I'd be concerned that the strap might not be long enough for me. That pocket arrangement looks sweet for metal work. At my tablesaw, they'd fill with dust every time I cut a dado. It does have me seriously thinking now about sewing on D-rings to hang stuff, but my workstation layout has pencils and rulers within reach of any place I might be standing, so it's of limited use to me, but it does look like something Adam Savage would rave about.
Looking up the Fueri apron, I see they're using kevlar thread (excellent). However, they don't say what the fabric lining is made of, and in the picture I can see in an Amazon Vine review, it appears to be synthetic (polyester or nylon). That's a hard no for me for welding/grinding.
How did you figure out the apron I posted has a lining? That blows my mind.
rlitman
Well-known member
I searched google for Fueri apron, followed the top link to the Amazon listing that had your pictures, and went to the reviews section where users can add their own pictures which is where I found the lining picture added by an Amazon Vine reviewer. No black magic, but I can see how it might seem that way when you don't see the intermediary steps.I don't disagree with Moonrise about the synthetic straps either. I overlooked them; partly intentionally. To me, they have a relatively small surface area, and are thick enough to not rapidly burst into flames faster than you can exit the apron. They ARE a hazard, but a small one compared to the lining.