Posted: 11/23/2025 12:16:01 PM EDT
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I haven’t welded in 25 years. All my PPE needs replacement and I’m at the point of buying some shirts. I’ve got some projects here on my ranch that require some welding and my daughter has also asked to learn. I’ve got the gear and since I’m retired I’ve got the time to get back into it. Thanks! |
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Feb 2022
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1794
EE: 100% (13)
MO, USA
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In to hear what's good. Not a frequent welder, so I've just got a couple of old 100% cotton flannels and a denim jacket that do well but something better would be nice when I've got to be under the work. |
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| The answer is of course pearl snaps. I used to buy them when I was in the trades. Basically a 100% cotton long sleeve button down shirt. These have kind of faded away. Basically any natural fiber long sleeve shirt will work for at home stuff. I usually wear a FR rated welding jacket (green) if I have a lot to do, or running high amperage mig. |
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Originally Posted By Chida66: I haven’t welded in 25 years. All my PPE needs replacement and I’m at the point of buying some shirts. I’ve got some projects here on my ranch that require some welding and my daughter has also asked to learn. I’ve got the gear and since I’m retired I’ve got the time to get back into it. Thanks! MIG....Flux core or gas welding ?? TIG welding ?? OXY-Acetylene torch welding ?? Stick welding ?? TIG and Oxy-acetylene gas welding you can use a long sleeve FR shirt, and light weight kid skin gloves. Both require dipping rod, and don't make much in the way of sparks. Mig-gas you'll want a heavier jacket or use heavy duty welding sleeves over the lightweight shirt, and I would add an FR apron, and leather MIG gloves. Flux-core MIG and Stick welding you'll want a heavy duty welding jacket, FR apron, and heavy duty leather welding gloves. A FR welding cap will keep you from burning hair on your head if weld sparks are flying or when you're welding something that is overhead. This is also a good time to look at using different helmets for different welding types. Tig welding can use a lightweight helmet, and the lens shields will last a long time since they don't receive sparks. Mig gas/ Mig flux core and Stick will throw sparks, so a heavier duty helmet and a good supply of replaceable lens shields will be the way to go. Also look into a helmet neck guard to keep sparks going down your shirt/hitting your neck. Oxy-acetylene welding will require a pair of glasses or googles in the appropriate shade. FR means Flame Retardant. Cyber weld or other similar online stores (Amazon) has this stuff, check for black Friday sales. |
Occid Vel Occisus Est !!
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Originally Posted By IdahoPCCinc: MIG....Flux core or gas welding ?? TIG welding ?? OXY-Acetylene torch welding ?? Stick welding ?? TIG and Oxy-acetylene gas welding you can use a long sleeve FR shirt, and light weight kid skin gloves. Both require dipping rod, and don't make much in the way of sparks. Mig-gas you'll want a heavier jacket or use heavy duty welding sleeves over the lightweight shirt, and I would add an FR apron, and leather MIG gloves. Flux-core MIG and Stick welding you'll want a heavy duty welding jacket, FR apron, and heavy duty leather welding gloves. A FR welding cap will keep you from burning hair on your head if weld sparks are flying or when you're welding something that is overhead. This is also a good time to look at using different helmets for different welding types. Tig welding can use a lightweight helmet, and the lens shields will last a long time since they don't receive sparks. Mig gas/ Mig flux core and Stick will throw sparks, so a heavier duty helmet and a good supply of replaceable lens shields will be the way to go. Also look into a helmet neck guard to keep sparks going down your shirt/hitting your neck. Oxy-acetylene welding will require a pair of glasses or googles in the appropriate shade. FR means Flame Retardant. Cyber weld or other similar online stores (Amazon) has this stuff, check for black Friday sales. Thanks for the detailed reply! I have the gear to do Arc, TIG, and MIG. Arc and TIG are running off a Miller Bobcat and the MIG is a smaller Miller machine. I’ve never used the MIG but my dad has. For PPE, I got a FR shirt that has a high collar, FR welding cap, welding gauntlets. Picked up a couple of Miller auto darkening hoods, some shade 5 goggles for any torch cutting, spare lenses, and some 6013 rod at the local supply shop. Figured the 6013 would be good practice with and then move on to the 7018. I’ve made a hog trap using the stick welder years ago and few tall candle holders for my wife using the TIG. But as I said in my first post I’m way out of practice. Thanks again for the response! |
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When mig welding i generally wear one of these radnor shirts with and extra set of sleeves - my arms are too long for the jacket, the sleeves help. Radnor Jacket  
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Joined:
Jun 2025
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936
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AZ, USA
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whatever non synthetic shirt I'm wearing at the time, been doing fabrication for 45 years, financed my former trucking co. going up to Alaska every year doing line repair never bought any dedicated welding shirts. If doing alot of overhead I might toss on the leather cape if its not 115* at the time if its 115* just use what I'm wearing rather than risk heat stroke.... I use every process including laser, your bigger concern is a good quality mask and a spare for daughter not some TCS or harbor freight auto etc.. for teaching others I have a Speedglas G5-03 E Welding Helmet with G5NC ADF lens for myself I've used a Speedglas G5-02 Welding Helmets with Curved ADF or Speedglas G5-03 Pro-Air Welding Helmet with Adflo PAPR Assembly & VC ADF with forced ventilation especially running stick as thats some very toxic smoke/dust being given off as the rod burns... I have ALOT of friends who have seriously compromised vision or cancer issues in their later years after a career welding as a result of crappy hoods.... I had malignant malonoma in 1986 as a result of a hood that left my head exposed at my hairline doing alot of over head building large steel tanks.... |