Welding coats

[Netpackrat]

I was wondering about the so called "TIG gloves" that appear to be thinner and more form fitting. All the classroom gloves are the large heavy leather type, and I could feel the heat through them on longer welds; the comments I saw on the TIG type implied they had less insulation against radiant heat and a few said they were not suitable for MIG or stick welding as a result. And what do I know? Never done TIG so I don't know how the 'radiant heat' part of things compares.

I like the TIG gloves a lot. Whether they are enough for stick or mig depends on what you are doing in terms of amps and length of weld. For the kind of stuff that most welding school students are training to do (pipe, heavy structural welding, etc.), not so much. For the sort of welding I usually do (short duration welding on light metal) they are usually fine.

[Old Grafton]

Never wear any welding glove you can't sling off with the flick of your wrist. I usually don't wear any gloves when GTAW welding on small items ( and yes I sometimes get bitten by the hi-freq as a result, and it stings!) because I need the dexterity on itty-bitty stuff at 0-25 amps. when I go to the higher amp ranges I wear regular heavy welder's insulated leather gloves. You can fling 'em off in a hurry if something gets too warm and pop a burned finger into yer mouth in a hurry. Such is welding life.