Protective Gear for TIG Welding

For starters, April is National Welding Month.  PIP USA appreciates all the hard-working welders of America.

For those familiar with welding, the terms heliarc welding, tungsten inert gas welding or gas tungsten arc welding are not uncommon. For those less familiar, these are terms used for what is commonly referred to as TIG welding. We won't go into the process too much, but we'll cover some relevant aspects of TIG welding and how proper protection comes into play – mainly involving hand protection.

General Overview of TIG Welding 

A couple of things that make TIG welding unique, compared to MIG and Stick welding, are the need to use both hands and the use of the foot. When using both hands, one holds the TIG torch with a small tungsten rod acting as the electrode, while the other manually feeds a thin filler metal rod into the weld pool. Meanwhile, the foot controls a pedal to adjust the amperage – more amps equate to more heat produced. The ability to vary the amperage is instrumental at the start and stop of a weld.

Of the different types of welding, TIG welding is the most difficult to learn and master. As you can see, a lot is happening with the hands and feet. In metal inert gas (MIG) welding, also known as gas metal arc welding (GMAW), there is no foot pedal to master, and the filler metal automatically feeds through the welding gun. Not to make it sound easy because it's not, but when compared to TIG welding, MIG welding is not as difficult – once you pull the trigger of the MIG gun, off you go. Compared to the other welding types, TIG welding radiates the least heat onto the welder. If the metal being welded is clean, there are no sparks, spatter, smoke or fumes.   

Another thing to understand about TIG welding is the slower-paced speed compared to the other welding types, which is preferred when weld aesthetics are valued, for example, when surfaces need to be painted afterward. Overall, of all the types of welding, TIG welding requires the most precision.

Standard PPE Used During TIG Welding     

So, now that we have a general idea of TIG welding, let's look at the PPE most commonly used. For starters, a welding helmet is required just like any other type of welding. Welding helmets/hoods have evolved since their creation in the 1930s during the Industrial Revolution. In the 1980s, the breakthrough safety feature known as "auto-darkening" had the most significant impact by far. This feature automatically detects an arc and darkens the lens to protect the eyes from harmful infrared and ultraviolet light. Welding helmets provide not only IR and UV protection but thermal and electrical insulation that is self-extinguishing or noncombustible in design.

The next most common PPE used is gloves. As previously mentioned, compared to other types of welding, TIG emits low to moderate heat and requires a high level of skill and precision. Given this, the usual TIG welding gloves tend to be thin, flexible and have little to no insulation. TIG welding gloves don't need to provide much heat protection; the priority is the need for dexterity, tactile sensitivity and comfort. Keep in mind the filler metal rod is quite thin. 

To handle it with precision requires a high degree of "feel" – not achievable with a thick or bulky pair of gloves. Each TIG welder uses a certain technique – there are a few – to feed the filler metal rod into the weld pool precisely. For welders to master these techniques, the TIG gloves must work with, not against, slight movements of the hand holding the filler rod. Does it sound complex? It should since it is. Think of TIG welders as quasi-surgeons. They work with precision and skill, and just like a surgeon, they require hand protection to fit close to the skin, which poses little resistance to movements and motion. It's not uncommon for TIG welders to downsize their gloves to ensure a nice snug/tight fit. 

The most common material used for TIG welding gloves is leather, goat grain leather, to be specific. 

The reason being, it's thin, pliable yet resilient nature – thin but tough! Yes, there are other types of leather, such as kidskin (hides from young goats), deer split, sheep grain and even cow grain leather in some cases, that possess similar natural characteristics of goat grain leather, but more than 90% of the TIG gloves found on the market are made of goat grain leather.  

Before we move on to the typical welding garments, let's talk briefly about how TIG welding gloves have evolved in recent years. Here's an example of a traditional style (photo to the right): the Ironcat® 6141. It's completely unlined, and the glove is made of Top Grain Kidskin leather and sewn with Kevlar® thread. It's a great glove, and similar TIG gloves can be found among most brands. In recent years, we've seen TIG gloves feature a thin cut resistant liner, like the Ironcat® 6144 – ANSI Cut Level A4. For the most part, ANSI Cut Level A2 to A5 is what you'll find for cut resistant TIG welding gloves. For clarity, the welding process doesn't pose any cut or laceration hazards per se, but the tasks performed prior to and after welding where these hazards can be found, the general handling of raw materials like sheet metal.

Furthermore, other features have emerged, such as 3-Dimensional patterns that provide an ergonomic fit. This unique type of construction ensures a proper anatomic fit that enhances comfort, dexterity and tactile sensitivity. Also, adding patches along the side of the gloves provides added durability for when the welder drags their hand along the metal surface, a common practice while TIG welding. And in rare cases, this side seam has been redesigned and moved away from the high-wear area altogether to ensure seam integrity. The Caiman® 1541 utilizes 3-Dimensional patterns, and an A5 cut resistant liner and strategically placed seams.

Welding gloves, in general, have evolved. The advantages and benefits reaped are quite valuable to these craftsmen – far better tools to help them perform their job. Learn more about these high-performance welding gloves in my previous blog, What Are Multi-Task Welding Gloves?  

When it comes to garments, in most cases, it's rare to see a TIG welder wearing a typical leather welding jacket. Due to the lack of heat, sparks and spatter, a heavy welding jacket is overkill and poses a hindrance. Most welders don some sort of flame resistant (FR) cotton jacket. You've most likely seen the traditional green 9oz FR cotton jacket. While adequate, newer styles provide better comfort through certain design features and softer fabrics. A good example is the Caiman® 3000. Also, it's not uncommon to see TIG welders using some sort of FR long-sleeve shirt or hoodie.

Wrap Up

TIG welding is challenging; it requires a lot of skill and precision, and the weld must often be visually pleasing. These artisans and craftsmen need their gloves and garments to perform at a high level, just like they do, not make their jobs more difficult. There's a wide variety of PPE on the market. Some provide adequate protection while delivering a low level of performance and comfort. Then, there are some that truly assist the welder with features that enhance safety, comfort and fit. Again, just like any other tool, some barely get the job done and some make the job much easier.  

To learn about other welding protection, check out PIP® Caiman® and Ironcat® styles.