Welding Jackets and Blankets

[89Vette]

I need to buy a welding jacket and was wondering what everyone likes. I am leaning towards the Miller Combo jacket that has strategically placed leather patches in high wear areas. I would probably get the Bib too. Some of the cheaper ones I read where they melted, tore or just plain wore out quickly.

Also, is there any difference in welding blankets? I have an overstuffed pole barn and will be welding on a project car within 5-6 feet of my 56 Bel Air and I want to protect it. I was leaning towards the Tillman Gold blankets.

Thanks.

 

[Buckgnarly]

For the jacket, I use full leather...decided that after a few scars convinced me leather is best! I really like Tillman stuff, use their MIG and TIG gloves, so probably can't go wrong with their blankets.

 

[Professur]

Depends entirely on what type of welding. You have to remember that you're protecting yourself against 3 different things: Hot metal splatter, heat from accidental contact with the metal, and UV burns. Good heavy leather addresses them all, but can be too heavy for comfort and restricting for fine work. The green work shirt style ...more comfort, but not really up to protecting you against heavy stick splatter.

 

[Bobhdus]

I like heavy protection on the top of the arm sleeves especially the top elbow area, and also the belly area for when grinding or using cutoff wheels or plasma cutter. Lincoln has a nice welding jacket...

 

[Fifelaker]

When I started school I bought one of the green jackets, it lasted almost a semester. I then bought the Lincoln Shadow split leather jackets. I have had it now for 3 years. It is getting ratty where the grinder gets it but the sleeves are still good. I like the black as it does not reflect light up under the hood like lighter materials.

 

[PCO6]

I have a couple of Lincoln welding jackets. One has a fairly heavy leather front and sleeves but a cloth back which helps to keep you cool.
http://www.kmstools.com/lincoln-electric-heavy-duty-leather-welding-jacket-lge-13751

The other is totally cloth and is much lighter duty. I also have some Lincoln sleeves made out of the same material.
http://www.princessauto.com/pal/en/...lame-Retardant-Cloth-Welding-Jacket/8464794.p

It's important to get a good fit. As with all thing welding ... you have to be comfortable!

 

[Hammer1963]

Depends on what type of welding you are doing. I use a HEAVY cotton shirt sprayed with Scotchguard for mig and tig welding. Split leather for stick.

 

[dr_clyde]

For TIG welding I have long sleeve work shirts that are my standard uniform in the shop. I'm always wearing one, even in the summer. I will also use these for benchtop MIG welding. Every now and then I'll get a hot spark down my sleeve, but I'm kind of used to it by now. I know guys that wear the seafoam green jackets for light welding and are very happy with them. I'm just too tall and the sleeves tend to not be long enough.

For overhead and awkward position stick and mig ill use full leathers. Having a puddle of slag go down your collar isn't fun. I usually buy Tillman and Black Stallion stuff, although there are other good companies. Weldas, caiman, Lincoln and Miller all come to mind, although you'll pay more for Miller and Lincoln stuff. It is nice though.

Don't spend too much time and money on jackets. They are consumables, and you'll want to replace them when they get grody anyway.

For blankets, I like Black Velvet brand. I don't care for the woven fiberglass ones. They can and will fail when it matters most. DO NOT use a harbor freight one. They just melt through as though they weren't there. Cost me a custom seat in a customers car that had to be there for roll bar fitup. Ended up costing way more than a good blanket from the beginning.

 

[Zeke]

You can't beat split leather. I had an old out of style Members Only suede jacket that I used for years. It finally just wore out everywhere but the slag was not the killer. I used to lay under cars and weld all the time. I use a Miller jacket now.

AFA Tillman they are tops but there are some very nice less costly gloves that look just like them out there.

 

[Tinner]

Black Stallion and others make the green jackets in heavier fabric than the 9oz cotton you normally find. 12-14oz cotton is much more durable and offers better protection. If you don't need leather, that may be the way to go.

Most dealers don't stock them, they only cost a few bucks more and last twice as long. Look online.

 

[RedneckWelder]

Black Stallion makes some great gear, I primarily look to them when purchasing my jackets and gloves.

For my heavier welding, I prefer full leather. ***** in the heat but protects like nothing else.

For lighter welding I go with a long sleeved denim workshirt

As a compromise I'd look at one of the hybrid jackets, where the sleeves are leather and the torso is thick textile.

 

[Professur]

There is one exception to all this. No matter what process you use, overhead welding always gets full leathers, fully buttoned up. You won't make that mistake twice ... so don't make it once.

 

[89Vette]

Thanks everyone for the tips! The Black Velvet blankets seem pricey, but are probably worth it, Summitt Racing seemed to have the best price so far at $85.97. At least for now I will just be MIG welding, not sure if I want a full leather jacket or not, but will check out the prices.

 

[tarbellb]

I really like this site for welding supplies, nothing but excellent service and prices.

This is the jacket I got, heavy cotton with retardant. It works pretty well, yes you may get some splatter through the sleeves?

http://www.weldingsuppliesfromioc.c...onyx-light-duty-flame-retardant-cotton-jacket

Its showing its age, but for $26 its a deal.

For gloves I alternate between Tillmans, and full leather work gloves from Costco.

 

[malibu101]

For blankets, I like Black Velvet brand. I don't care for the woven fiberglass ones. They can and will fail when it matters most. DO NOT use a harbor freight one. They just melt through as though they weren't there. Cost me a custom seat in a customers car that had to be there for roll bar fitup. Ended up costing way more than a good blanket from the beginning.

Yep.
I bought a big HF welding blanket to cover the inside of my BIL's truck when I replaced the rockers and cab corners this spring.
Just the relatively small sparks from MIG welding sheetmetal left some very heavy scorch marks on it.
To think that a HF blanket would protect from heavy sparks and molten metal drips is wrong. It will not.

This is NOT me on a HF bash. Just my experience.

 

[Stooge]

i was planning on buying one of the Tillman jackets last year but charmed my way into getting a free one from Miller (i work for another ITW owned company). i like it, i just dont use it alot, and wouldnt pay the msrp of $140 for it for how much use it does get. depending on the temperature, its usually either a dickies long or short sleeve or a cheap cotton sweatshirt. the miller i have is some kind of cloth, pretty lightweight, alot easier to manuever around in than an all leather one. looks like the Miller cloth/leather combo one is around $80 on cyberweld http://store.cyberweld.com/miwejacoja.html
and the one i have is $130ish http://store.cyberweld.com/miwejawecafa.html

The HF weld blankets are junk...

 

[kf4zht]

I have this jacket: http://www.brweldingsupplies.com/tillman-welding-jacket-black-onyx-cotton-w-leather-sleeves-9260/

Works great for 99% of stuff. I can weld under cars and don't get slag burns on chest or back. Only 2 real issues
- Neck needs to have a better coverage, a flip up velcroable collar would be nice
- Wrists depend on long cuff MIG gloves to work. I often wear short cuff for TIG or when MIG welding around a car, if you are not careful you can get a gap


I need some good welding blankets if someone has a good, value option

 

[LS3]

if I'm just doing a little bit of Mig welding on a car i will generally wear a thing green jacket like this. They are cheap and will protect you from 95% of what you will run in to mig welding on some exhaust, body panels, a roll cage etc.
http://www.globalindustrial.com/p/s...gclid=CKDNtpDYicECFYZzMgod2DMAPg&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[theknurl]

under something/overhead, wear leather....

big stick/MIG.....same thing

gauntlet gloves, and leather sleeves over a leather jacket


ever have splatter in your ear????

or burn a hole in the white of your eye????

I have.......

I don't recommend either


it ***** big time

 

[sberry]

When I started I burned up a few cloths and then one day an old timer said,,, you don't have to put yourself in the way. A simple shirt works for me. Aint put on a leather in 25 years.