TIG welding in the summer- clothing?

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I got a job recently welding on stainless, doing some TIG work.I usually wear a long-sleeve Wrangler denim workshirt and Wrangler cowboy cut jeans as my welding uniform. I didn't have too many problems during school because it was all in the fall/winter.now, given the time of year, the shop doesn't seem air-controlled, so I'm sure it's probably going to get hot. But, you are not supposed to weld with just a T-shirt on... exposes too much skin to that UV radiation, right?What's some appropriate lightweight clothing that's more suited for my job? I might have to even switch my jeans out...I thought about these drifire lightweight long-sleeved shirts (click), but I don't know- does the clothing even need to be FR at this point? I don't think the shop should be that hazardous, seeing the safety protection (or rather, lack of) that people had on...Keeping it down in the hood...literally!
Reply:Jeans, a heavy weight short sleeve t-shirt, and a set of TIG sleeves.
Reply:Leather buttless chapsI wear Carhart shorts and leather welding chaps, a t-shirt and leather cape-sleeves. I'm thinking a leather kilt would be nice.200amp Air Liquide MIG, Hypertherm Plasma, Harris torches, Optrel helmet, Makita angle grinders, Pre-China Delta chop saw and belt sander, Miller leathers, shop made jigs etc, North- welders backpack.
Reply:Originally Posted by bert the welderleather buttless chapsI wear carhart shorts and leather welding chaps, a t-shirt and leather cape-sleeves. I'm thinking a leather kilt would be nice.
Reply:OK- I think I saw someone else's FR sleeves lying around. That makes sense.Why does the shirt have to be heavyweight- is it just general protection?Keeping it down in the hood...literally!
Reply:You didn't really want to go down this path did you? ... http://www.utilikilts.com/- AndySyncrowave 250 w/coolerMM 252Ancient Century 160Victor Journeyman O/A
Reply:I use surplus nomex flight suits (coveralls) that work pretty well for TIG and aren't too hot.  Having a small blower circulate some air in the helmet helps a lot too.  I use a small (~25 cfm) 12V DC blower with a plastic hose that blows air into my helmet.  http://search.digikey.com/scripts/Dk...79730&k=030619Electronics Engineer (embedded controls)Miller 200DX w/ Coolmate 3Thermal Dynamics 82 plasma cutterGrizzly G0678 8x30 millPM1440BV 14x40 latheHF 6x12 surface grinder
Reply:Originally Posted by ayglassYou didn't really want to go down this path did you? ... http://www.utilikilts.com/
Reply:Up here in the land where Utilikilts came from, you see all kinds of real workers wearing em all the time. A lot of blacksmiths up here wear em.Here I am forging in mine, at SIU in Carbondale.Normally I dont wear it in the shop- its too damn expensive to burn holes in.But I was a visiting artist there at the blacksmithing program, so I had to wave the flag.Personally, I wear jeans, and long sleeved work shirts, and sweat, when I am tig welding, no matter the weather.I drink water, take breaks, and roll up my sleeves when I am not working.I much prefer that to tig burns all the time. Been there, peeled from that. Attached Images
Reply:... Huh.Also, when I get the T-shirts, does color matter? Would wearing white be a bad idea because of possible leaking of UV radiation?Keeping it down in the hood...literally!
Reply:http://jtillman.com/products/clothing/fr-cotton/6230/As soon as I walk in the shop I put that on, its nice and cool and is great for anything but 6010.Have we all gone mad?
Reply:Originally Posted by RiesUp here in the land where Utilikilts came from, you see all kinds of real workers wearing em all the time. A lot of blacksmiths up here wear em.Here I am forging in mine, at SIU in Carbondale.Normally I dont wear it in the shop- its too damn expensive to burn holes in.But I was a visiting artist there at the blacksmithing program, so I had to wave the flag.
Reply:Sweet! I want a ultilikilt!Any way, tig welding in the summer. I'm usually situated at a bench so I wear shorts, though I keep a pair of jeans in the car incase I have to do any other work. Darker colored heavy T-shirt, or you'll burn. And a set of weldors sleeves (those ugly green ones). When ever I'm not welding I take the sleeves off. I also keep a leather apron around incase I have to do any grinding. And a few sets of gloves so you can cycle through them when they get sweaty. Salt water soaked gloves and high frequency electricity don't mix.
Reply:Well, alright!Thanks for the help everyone!Keeping it down in the hood...literally!
Reply:Originally Posted by bert the welderAre those steel-toed croc's?\
Reply:Oh, Birkenstock's!!! Now that's a West Coaster! They seem to have moved past the hippie-uniform market. I've got a pair my Mother in law sent from Germany. The rubber blue ones. Very comfy, but a size to big.200amp Air Liquide MIG, Hypertherm Plasma, Harris torches, Optrel helmet, Makita angle grinders, Pre-China Delta chop saw and belt sander, Miller leathers, shop made jigs etc, North- welders backpack.
Reply:Originally Posted by RiesCourse, I am the boss in my shop- when I actually go on jobsites, I do have a pair of steel toed boots...
Reply:Originally Posted by Drake AldanOK- I think I saw someone else's FR sleeves lying around. That makes sense.Why does the shirt have to be heavyweight- is it just general protection?
Reply:Originally Posted by chevyman_deYou may be interested in a pair of Alpro 604, they do have steel toe caps.
Reply:I wear long sleeve t-shirts, or one of those green work shirts you can buy at any welding store, I do that and keep the front open which helps with the heat.color doesn't matter too much that I've noticed, yah some light will get through but it's been sufficiently absorbed so as not to give too much issue, I wouldn't wear white t-shirts all the time, but I have and can't recall getting burned thru one.  I just goto a used clothing store and get whatever is cheap cause they get very dirty and burnt. Also don't wear synthetics like sports jerseys or whatnot, because they will melt to the skin if burned.for pants, I'll work in shorts if it's desk work, if not I get dickies work pants that are lose fitting and ligth weight, or believe it or not  get dockers dress pants as they can be really thin and breezey if pants are a must.  When I lived in japan, men don't wear shorts ever so I had to do all my work wearing pants, I became a big fan of wearing super thin dress pants that i bought on the cheap.Last edited by Metarinka; 05-13-2010 at 12:28 PM.Welding EngineerCertified Scrap Producer
Reply:Originally Posted by ayglassYou didn't really want to go down this path did you? ... http://www.utilikilts.com/
Reply:Originally Posted by Big65moparYou can dress a pig up but its still a pig and those are still skirts.