Last Updated on May 17, 2022
It’s no secret that welding is a task with many hazards. This means that it is imperative for anyone who wants to practice welding to take the proper safety measures. Such measures involve changing into an attire that protects the welder against any hazards related to clothes like catching fire easily, not covering up the body properly, not providing insulation against electric shocks, etc.
This is the sole reason why welding pants are such an imperative part of the safety equation for welders, and it is why you should stick to reading this article if you’re relatively new to welding and want to specifically learn about the kinds of welding pants that ensure the safety of welders.
Are Jeans Safe for Welding
A common question that arises in this discussion is whether or not jeans are safe for welding. While the answer to this question largely depends on whether or not your welding jeans are made from fire-resistant material, yes, jeans are pretty safe for welding. Those made from sturdy cotton, leather, canvas, and twill are considered great for welding purposes.
The top-of-the-line welding pants used in welding are made from one hundred percent cotton denim which has undergone special treatment using flame-resistant (FR) agents that make it immune to catching fire and conducting electric shocks.
Why do Welders Wear Special Welding Pants?
Before we get into the specifics of what kinds of welding pants are best suited to protect one from welding hazards, let’s consider what different forms of benefits welding pants offer people who wear them.
Burn- protection
Jeans can offer burn protection to welders because they’re made from very sturdy cotton called denim. It is important to understand that burn protection does not mean that it’s impossible to set these pants on fire- it simply means that it will take more than just a couple of sparks to set these jeans on fire. In contrast, welding pants made of polyester and other synthetic materials will easily burn up, so it’s far better to go for cotton-based welding pants.
Radiation-safety
Welders often burn tough metals at temperatures that reach up to 10 -15 thousand °C. Such high levels of heat are known to release harmful UV rays, which can easily harm your skin. For such working conditions, wearing Jeans that properly cover your skin up and offer a strong coating of protection to your skin becomes extremely important.
Durability
Welding jeans are pretty durable. This means that they can last long periods of time and keep offering you the protection that they offer across the different hazards of welding. Be wary, though; while these jeans are durable, it is not uncommon for them to occasionally get holes poked into them. These holes can expose a part of your skin to welding hazards, so you must patch them up as soon as you spot them.
Budget friendliness
Compared to other fire-resistant pants, welding jeans are pretty cheap. The best part is that you don’t even have to compromise on a lot of protective features – welding jeans offer pretty much the same protection as fire-resistant pants, although, technically speaking, fire-resistant pants do offer slightly better protection.
What are Welding Pants Made of
As we mentioned earlier, the best welding pants are made of one-hundred percent cotton denim which is processed using different flame-resistant chemicals to offer protection against fire. Whatever you do, you must always avoid pants made of synthetic materials like polyester while welding- it takes no more than a couple of sparks to set these pants on fire.
What Qualities Should I look for When Buying FR Welding Pants?
Safety Codes
On the label or tag of the pair of jeans, there should be a safety designation that reads FR, which signifies that the pants are Flame Retardant/ Resistant. These pants earn such designations after undergoing chemical treatment and being tested for their FR properties.
However, it would be best if you exercise caution while wearing welding pants since it is still possible for your welding jeans to catch fire. FR designations imply that it will reduce the chance of being burned by extinguishing any sparks that may exist.
Certification of safety
Welding jeans must be certified for the safety that they offer against fires. Knowing how marketers often like to over-exaggerate the features of their products, it is not uncommon for people to question whether a certain product will deliver on its promises. Certified welding pants offer an additional layer of credibility to products since it ensures that the product that they’re about to buy has been tested for the properties it claims to have, i.e., fire resistance.
Durability
When getting welding pants, durability should always be on the top of the list of things you should look for when making a final choice. To really get a good value for money, your welding pants should last for long amounts of time. Durable welding pants are durable because of their good quality. This means that in addition to lasting you a long time, these pants will also offer a lot more protection than a low-quality, non-durable pair of pants.
Construction
Other than this important safety and qualitative properties, it would be best if you also looked at how your pants are constructed and what additional convenience features are set in place. A good thing to look for in welding pants is double stitching around the pockets, so they’re better reinforced. Also, ensure that the material your pants are made of is durable and fire-resistant.
Heaviness
This point may be lower on the priority list compared to others, but it is still an important consideration since welding usually takes up hours and hours of non-stop work. Given that this is the case, you would want to stick to welding pants that offer good protection and are also not heavy to wear or carry.
Price
Price, of course, is always an important consideration in all buying decisions. Shopping for welding pants is no exception to this rule. Always think about how much value you’re getting for your money but never compromise on quality. Safety is above everything else.
Pockets
Having a pocket or two in your welding pants will help you carry stuff around with ease. Such convenience features are always a plus when you’re looking for your ideal welding pants.
Comfort
Comfort should perhaps be the lowest on the priority list, but it is still, nevertheless, an important thing to consider while purchasing these pants. Comfortable pants will ensure that you’re not agitated or unnecessarily distracted during welding.
Welding pants offer protection against many of the hazards that welders are exposed to while welding. This includes things like Heat protection and UV protection. The best material for welding pants would be chemically processed, fire-resistant cotton denim. So, you should always ensure that your welding pants are made of this material.
If you’re confused about which welding pants to buy, look out for the following features to make your choice easier:
- Safety code
- Certification of safety
- Construction
- Durability
- Heaviness
- More pockets
- Comfort
- Price
Just pay attention to these features and prioritize function over form, and you should be able to pick the welding pants that suit you best.