Welding jacket/apron

[steveG]

Looking at getting a welding apron or jacket - both for a bit of protection when welding and also to stop burning large holes in my shirts with the angle grinder
I'm mainly welding/grinding at the bench so not so concerned so much about protection from overhead, and thinking that either a jacket or apron would be OK for the occasional lying under a car welding an exhaust.

What are the pros/cons of each, and are there any particular things to look for or to avoid?

Steve

[Vern]

What's wrong with just thongs and shorts?

[steveG]

What's wrong with just thongs and shorts?

Yeah, I'm getting soft

Done the workboots, t-shirt and shorts welding up a buggy frame when I was much younger. Ever had sunburnt inner thighs from an afternoon's welding while squatting down??

Mate of mine did one better. Shorts, commando, and burned a few rods at floor level. Walked into work very tenderly next morning and the apprentice inquired as to the injury. Apparently he declined the offer of a viewing

Steve

[Toxic_Avenger]

Apron / jacket pros vs cons...
Umm Sleeves?

If you weld with gauntlets, you will alleviate a lot of the issues, but still get burns on the upper arms.

If you want to protect your shirts, get a jacket. Get a leather one if you want to go all out, get a proban cotton one if you are concerned with heat, but want to sacrifice longevity.

There's a number of options out there, a quality brand name welding jacket can be in the hundreds, a cheapie will be considerably less.

[p38arover]

I use a leather apron. I like it because I do only small jobs and I can take it off and refit it quickly between welds.

Edit: I also use gauntlets (and steel capped boots)

[Roverlord off road spares]

Why not weld in style.... get your self some leather motor cycle riders pants and jacket
You'll look the coolest welder on the block.

[steveG]

Apron / jacket pros vs cons...
Umm Sleeves?

If you weld with gauntlets, you will alleviate a lot of the issues, but still get burns on the upper arms.

If you want to protect your shirts, get a jacket. Get a leather one if you want to go all out, get a proban cotton one if you are concerned with heat, but want to sacrifice longevity.

There's a number of options out there, a quality brand name welding jacket can be in the hundreds, a cheapie will be considerably less.

Upper arm burn I'm very aware of. In summer when I'm in short sleeves I usually throw some overalls on if I'm doing anything more than a few tacks. My overalls seem to have shrunk over the years though, so a bit of a hassle to get on/off when hot and sweaty.

Looks like there are sleeved aprons available too which I wasn't aware of. Might try a cheapie one of those over the summer and see how it goes. Can always cut the sleeves off if they give me the irrits.

Steve

[steveG]

Why not weld in style.... get your self some leather motor cycle riders pants and jacket
You'll look the coolest welder on the block.

I think the days of me being seen in leather pants have passed......

Steve

[Toxic_Avenger]

You can get a proban (fire retardant) cotton jacket with leather sleeves, which is a good mix.
Youn can also buy the strap-on sleeves and use this with an apron, if you need the extra protection.

[Tank]

Looking at getting a welding apron or jacket - both for a bit of protection when welding and also to stop burning large holes in my shirts with the angle grinder
I'm mainly welding/grinding at the bench so not so concerned so much about protection from overhead, and thinking that either a jacket or apron would be OK for the occasional lying under a car welding an exhaust.

What are the pros/cons of each, and are there any particular things to look for or to avoid?

Steve

Apron tends to catch a lot of sparks, whereas a jacket will bounce them onto the floor, the jacket also is more versatile esp. if you have to weld underneath something or crawl around under the vehicle.
Tip: NEVER weld if you have a plastic cigarette lighter in your pocket, any pocket, seen some ghastly results of doing so in a few induction films, Regards Frank.