Question to all Northern Welders.

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I have a contract coming up that will have me working out side all winter.  I HATE the cold.  So I need to know what you guys wear to keep warm.  I already know about the insulated bibs/overalls.  But I need to know about warm steel toe boots and gloves I can wear under my welding gloves.  Any info would be great.ThanksDarryl
Reply:I like welding gloves that have only a thumb, an index finger and then the rest are together in a mitt.  My hands and fingers stay warmer in these.For boots I am at a loss.  My feet get cold no matter WHAT I wear.  Had better luck with steel-toed Sorells than anything else because of the felt liner but even with a nice pair of Nipigon Nylons (wool work socks) on, your feet get cold . . . brrrr.Used to take the torch and warm up the toes on my workbooksGordie -- "I believe you understand what you think I said, but I'm not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant."
Reply:Get the felt lined boots, put on a pair of heavy wool socks, then slip an empty bread sack over the socks before putting on the boots. This keeps the moisture from your feet from wicking in to the felt liners. As for hands and fingers the only sure cure I found was to keep the torch close by.                                 MikeOl' Stonebreaker  "Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes"Hobart G-213 portableMiller 175 migMiller thunderbolt ac/dc stick Victor O/A setupMakita chop saw
Reply:Dress in layers, undershirt/t shirt/sweatshirt/sweater/jacket on top....add or remove as needed. Would be my best advise.If you don't want to stand behind our Troops, feel free to stand in front of them.
Reply:The felt lined boots are great.  The key to keeping your feet warm though, is keeping them dry.  If you're going to be inside a warm area for more than a few minutes, the boots should come off, along with the heavy clothing to keep you and your feet from sweating.  If you can, carry an extra pair of felts and a dry pair of socks in case your feet do get wet, either from sweat or whatever.  Also, it's important to take the liners out of the boots each night to air them out and allow the boots and liners to dry properly.  Just remember, sweaty feet are wet feet, and wet feet are cold feet.  Good luck!Work HARDER, not smarter! ------------------------ Miller Bobcat 250Millermatic 251Lincoln Precision TIG 185Hypertherm PM 600Hobart 135 HandlerOxweld 400 FlameMaster
Reply:I looked for "electric sox" on Google and got over 2 million hits. I once went hunting in Alaska with a guy owning some and he swore his feet stayed warm while I froze.  I also see some battery powered gloves, perhaps welding gloves could be altered to get those fingers inside. Seems a lot of effort-but if you are going to be outside a lot-----
Reply:Been there, done that. It sucks.My feet stay warmer with just one pair of thin socks. Go figure.The other thing that people often do not realize is that staying hydrated in the winter is very important to maintain good circulation... which keeps you warm. Drink lots of water.
Reply:I work in all kinds of weather year round and I usually wear those winter rubber boots that go over your shoes and I rarely get very cold even when I've been out in below zero weather,since my feet stay nice and dry. As long as you keep all your extremities bundled up and your feet dry,you should be able to tolerate any weather that blows your way.Drink a Guinness Draught....Millermatic 140Do you still rememberDecember's foggy freeze --when the ice thatclings on to your beard isscreaming agony.
Reply:don't wear too tight of gloves or boots.  cut's down on circulation.My name's not Jim....
Reply:I had boots with felt liners about 3/8" thick when I was in a colder climate. Wool socks sometimes with sock liners are good for me now. The more wool in a wool blend sock the better. When going to thicker socks or multiple layer make sure your boots are big enough. If your boots fit tight with thick socks your feet will still be cold because of the lack of blood circulation in your feet.Keep extra socks in the truck ,maybe even extra boots. If your feet get feeling moist change socks. Sock liners really help with this. If your boots soak through you'll be cold until you change boots and socks.Tough as nails and damn near as smart
Reply:Originally Posted by Boostinjdmdon't wear too tight of gloves or boots.  cut's down on circulation.
Reply:A servivalist motto "Cotton kills". When it gets moist with sweat it's very cold. Polypropalene under layers and and wool outersare a great combo though I can't remember ever going to work without wearing jeans. Some days they were wool lined jeans.Tough as nails and damn near as smart
Reply:Thermatex long johns, Carhart insulated bibs, Carhart parka, Sorel boots over wool socks and a pair of Polypropylene fishing gloves under a pair of over sized welding gloves!And if the wind isn't clicking along, but its cold and your working at ground level, a nice Salamander running off the gen to throw some heat your way and help to warm up the steel you are about to weld!"Even if the wind is blowing, and you can set the Salamander up wind of you, it will still throw a lot of heat at you"#1. If you don't like what I wrote, or if it offends you, then don't read it!#2. I am living life the way I see fit, if you don't like the way I'M living, tough sh**!
Reply:Thanks for info. Seems many ways to keep warm.  But they all seem to focus on one thing.  Keep dry....LOL.  Well I am going to start getting stuff, and I like Ken's list.  Just have to find the stuff now.
Reply:When it gets cold around here I just put on long pantsEd Conleyhttp://www.screamingbroccoli.com/MM252MM211 (Sold)Passport Plus & Spool gunLincoln SP135 Plus- (Gone to a good home)Klutch 120v Plasma cutterSO 2020 benderBeer in the fridge
Reply:Originally Posted by Broccoli1When it gets cold around here I just put on long pants
Reply:I dont know how cold it is where you are, but I have found the Carhartt Artic Insulated items work well for me when it is down to about 10-20 degrees. When I have to go work up in North Dakota a couple of times a year, I have some company issued clothes that keep it tolerable when it is -30 or so, but I dont recall the brand. I hate it up there, a Texas lifer that is used to 105* summers and 35-40 degree winters does not fare well up there..............................."Look Good Doing It"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Reply:Pair of wool socks in my goretex lined  composite toe workboots, i find these are warmer(using this term loosely) on the toes in winter and an extra pair of wool socks in my jacket,change at lunch if you go in out of the cold.good luck and you may find you like the cold so much you will want to stay up northFelonCaution lurker lives here" hmmm That is serious,pass the ganja and pick up a  24 of MGD"
Reply:Originally Posted by Broccoli1When it gets cold around here I just put on long pants
Reply:Originally Posted by Bill S.I used to drive a truck from CA to NY (produce)... I remember one Christmas I got stuck in the L.A. area... 85 degrees.  I was wondering... what do you call COLD?  70 degrees?Stay warm...Bill
Reply:I'm not a weldor by trade, but I do live in Minnesota and work in Alaska periodically. I currently wear Timberland titanium safety toe boots with Thinsulate insulation. They aren't particularly waterproof, but when I wear Smartwool socks underneath my feet stay warm even when wet. The heat transfer through the titanium toe or plastic toe boots I think is a little less than traditional steel.
Reply:I know this is going to sound stupid.  But do you wear regular jeans under the bib's or just thermals??
Reply:Usually both. Its easy to unzip for a bit if you get too hot.I like the one pc. insulated coveralls for the coldest work. I get them big enough to wear over all my other clothing, and get them with zipper legs so you can put them on over boots. Much easier to only put the monkey suit on while working. Not so comfy while riding in the truck.Last edited by daddy; 09-24-2009 at 06:28 PM.
Reply:I agree with almost all of these. Wool socks, usually in multiple layers if its super cold ( wool retains 60% of its insulating value even when soaked) often over polypropylene socks to wick moisture away from my feet. Given a choice Gortex boots to keep the water out, if they aren't an option due to work requirements then well water proofed leather.On the boots, I always buy the boots over sized. I take all the socks that I plan on wearing in when I go to try on a pair so they are not too tight.In the winter I always keep at least a spare pair of boots on the truck as well as a full change of socks. If I can keep my feet warm, I tend to stay warm even with lighter outer clothes personally.Pants, the felt lined Carharts if its super cold. The wool/poly long johns like Duofold long johns. They are thin yet very warm even when wet. I also get my cover alls that fit over the regular clothes, but generally prefer bibs that I can use as an over layer if I need to move around alot. As said earlier layers are the key. Both in pants and shirts/jackets.I tend to hate heavy gloves any ti,e. I usually use wool glove liners if it gets super cold. I like the army surplus ones, cheap and 100% wool. Same with some of the socks I wear. The army wool ones are thinner than many commercial pairs, so I can wear them even in my usuall work boots. One thing not mentioned so far is head wear. A good warm wool or synthetic hat is a must. A neck scarf or baklava is also nice at times. I have a set of cold weather liners for the hard hat also.I try to avoid the synthetics in all clothes if I have to cut or weld, as they melt and are no fun at that point. I've seen too many guys light themselves up in the winter because they can't tell that the slag has set them on fire..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:As a  has-been heavy equipment mechanic (think IR-DM45E). I used to work nights, in the winter, on the tops of the Blue Ridge mountains. The wind never stopped ,maybe 15/25 MPH all night long at a ground temp of 20 degrees.. I also had to climb the towers allot to weld broken drill steel sheered off at the drill head so they could pull the steel out of the ground. I wore standard t shirt, long sleeve t shirt, flannel shirt  , with a hooded sweatshirt. On the bottom I wore thermals ,lined  ll bean blue jeans and regular carhartt bibs. For shoes, I  wore Carhartt water proof boots (one size over) with a pair of 17.00 hi tech, winter mountain climbing socks (the best I had found). And yes my leathers (sleeves and upper wrap around bib).  OK so I sound like Kenny from South Park, was not to bad, but it was what I needed to keep warm  40 feet in the air on a greasy tower, with out moving much when I was welding for 4 hours at a clip.. All in all ,wasn't to bad for agility once the clothes settled into place after moving around. The battery powered heated ear muffs were neat also under the welding  hood and skull cap.   Now welding the belly pan of  Cat D11r after they just shut it off  after 8 hours of use, was  treat, pretty warm and out of the wind.... The best advice I can give you, is DO NOT try  all this stuff on and say it is too much, you have to move around to get the clothes to settle in place, then make your decision. Are you going to be standing still? Going to be climbing? In and out of  warm environment?  The folks on this forum have mostly done it all, so  you can pretty much take  what you have read to the bank (with your own additions of course). Good luck and stay warm,   Wrench.I'll second the t-shirt, long sleeved shirt, sweatshirt (maybe two), carhart  getup.  And yes, you do have to move around to get the clothes settled.  Usually it took me an hour or so of waddling around before the clothes started to settle in.  Kinda like new gloves, they are stiff to begin with, but once they form to fit you, they are fine.My name's not Jim....
Reply:I hate being cold, but I snowmobiled for 25 years. Some things I learned:Remember that your body will shut down circulation to your extremities, to keep your core and brain temperatures normal. If your fingers are cold, put on a hat. Sorel boots kept my feet warm snowmobiling at 12,000ft plus. I don't know if they're available with steel toes. Thermax and Duofold are two wicking underwear names. Get any first layer of wicking underwear at the local ski shop. (wicking means absorb the moisture off your skin and wick it away to the outer, non-contact layers of clothing).I've never been able to keep my gloves dry, too much digging and grabbing wet handlebars. I tore my last pair of gloves and had to use a pair of those 'rag wool' gloves, They got soaked quickly with balled snow and my hands pruned up like a long bath. But my fingers never got cold because my core temp was up and blood flowed freely to my fingers.If you start to overheat, unzip something, vent. Sweat will freeze you and wicking can only do so much.Maybe one of those full cover leather helmets with the flip up lens, would keep your head warm, if you're welding for long stretches.Last edited by Craig in Denver; 09-25-2009 at 10:58 PM.9-11-2001......We Will Never ForgetRetired desk jockey. Hobby weldor with a little training. Craftsman O/A---Flat, Vert, Ovhd, Horz. Miller Syncrowave 250
Reply:when you say North , How far? CT to ME can be big temp change. On days that it's ambient 20-30 deg. with good sun and little wind you would be surprised at how warm you stay just moving around. On a cold windy day you will curse the day you ever chose to work outside. remember in the field you can always get cooler, but not warmer if you aint got enough extra skin. On the coldest of days I find 2 pair of socks in Sorrell type boots, a Carhart or similar full coverall suit 1 piece with a hooded sweat shirt under for a hat. Also you can get so bundled up you can't move so I always like a pair of comfortable sweat pants underneath. Gloves are always rough. I like a large ,large pair of welding gloves over a very thing cotton work glove. If the gloves are too tight your fingers will freeze. What kind of work and where might you be from?  A good 1 piece goofy suit can run 100 bucks plus with a full zipper leg for entrance and exit, worth every penny on those cold winter days. Also be wary of teaking break or lunch in a real warm place, only makes it harder to go back out there, truck with no heat and sunny day feels right. good luck. If your anywhere near CT give me a email I'll tell your where to shop. good luck."Si Vis Pacem Para Bellum"Lincoln Idealarc 250 AC/DCMillermatic 251   Syncrowave 300   30A spoolgunLincoln MP210Hypertherm 45(2) LN 25(2) Lincoln Weldanpower 225 CV(4) SA200   1 short hood    SA250    SAM 400