Apart from our eyes, our hands are the most risk-prone tools that we have with us in the world of welding. Taking care of our hands is as important as taking care of our eyes. As we take care of our eyes by putting on safety glasses, it’s also essential to have proper welding gloves in our hands. But before selecting the gloves for your safety, it’s important to understand the potential hazards that can occur. In this way, we can understand what they can protect us from.
Potential hazards while welding
Our hands are prone to suffer from numerous hazards during the complete welding process. They can get crushed or smashed if get pinched or caught between two objects. We can cut our hands when exposed to sharp edges or jagged surfaces. Our hands can burn when getting in contact with red hot metal, sparks or other flying objects. In all these situations, welding gloves can protect our hands. They can also protect us from bright lights and ultraviolet radiation emitted from welding arcs.
Several cleaning agents and chemical hazards are also available in the welding world that we may come in contact with as well. Also, there is plenty of grease, dirt, dust and grim present around metal surfaces that can be harmful to our hands.
Knowing about the types of welding gloves
After knowing the potential hazards during welding, it will now be easy to select the best gloves for each application. This choice will also get influenced by the type of welding processes we use. Gas tungsten arc welding requires lighter gloves made out of thinner materials between the fingers for increased sensitivity. Although it provides the least amount of resistance against heat. Gas metal arc welding gloves provide better insulation in the fingers but not like the heavier gloves used for flux core arc welding and shielded metal arc welding.
The welding and cutting processes of flux core arc welding, shielded metal arc welding and air arc cutting are creating the highest demand for hand safety. Talking about the material, leather is considered to be the most durable and reliable for welding gloves. Leather is available in various types including sheepskin, cowhide, deerskin, pigskin and many more.
Gloves made from pigskin and cowhide are used more against sharp edges and heat. Whereas, deerskin and sheepskin are more supple and sensitive than pig and cowhide leathers. They are mostly used for manufacturing gas tungsten arc welding gloves where sensitivity is considered more important.
Being careful is important
There are some situations where gloves cannot provide you with enough protection such as if your hand ends up in the wrong place where it gets squeezed or crushed between two surfaces. This is why being careful is important, even if you are wearing the best quality gloves. It is also not uncommon to see sharp metal pieces out of some metal equipment, that can easily slice through the best of gloves.
Protection just depends on how much insulation or layers of protection exists in the gloves. But no matter how many protective layers your gloves have, always be careful while working in dangerous environments. It is also important to check the gloves for any cuts or holes thoroughly when using them against some liquid chemicals or extensive heat sources.
Wrapping It Up
Just like a good pair of shoes can make all the difference, having gloves of the right size and type will help make your job comfortable, enjoyable and less risky. It also increases the opportunity for you to make a few better welds. Mallcom is among the most trusted and reliable safety equipment manufacturers in India producing a wide range of welding gloves, suitable for multiple applications. For any other information or queries regarding gloves, please visit the website.