The Weldas SOFTouch™ line offers optimal protection and comfort when TIG welding.
TIG welding does not produce spatter like MIG/MAG welding. Nevertheless, proper protection for the welder is still essential during TIG welding operations. However, there are some differences in protective clothing, such as welding gloves. Because TIG welders feed the welding wire themselves, it’s important for them to feel what they’re doing. Therefore, leather TIG welding gloves are often unlined. As a specialist in welding protection, Weldas offers an extensive range of gloves for TIG welding that provide comfort and flexibility.
What is TIG welding?
TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas) welding is a technique where a welding arc is used to join two metal parts. To start a special welding torch with a non-melting tungsten electrode is held. The electrode is struck across the workpiece to ignite the arc. The tungsten electrode connects with the workpiece, creating a weld pool. A welding rod is added to the weld pool with the other hand. The droplets that melt off from this due to the heat form the weld joint together with the material to be welded. During welding, the torch and the filler material are moved very slowly and consistently along the edge of the metal. TIG welding requires a high level of skill from the welder, but produces high-quality, solid and aesthetically pleasing welds. TIG welding produces minimal weld spatter that could land on the workpiece.
SOFTouch™ TIG welding gloves
Every TIG welder has different requirements for a welding glove, which is why the range of SOFTouch™ TIG gloves is diverse. These leather gloves are unlined to maintain the sensitivity of the fingers. Made from soft and supple leather, they often have a close-fitting design that doesn’t hinder the welder’s movements. According to EN 420 standards, Weldas welding gloves have a minimum length of 31 cm for size S. The long cuff offers extra protection for the wrist and forearm against contact heat during the TIG welding process, allowing the welder to rest their forearm against the workpiece while performing precision welding.
Flexible yet strong gloves for TIG welding
TIG welding gloves are made of different types of leather, such as goatskin, pigskin, and deerskin. Each type of leather has its own characteristics, e.g. pigskin is oil-resistant and water-repellent, goatskin has a high abrasion resistance and deerskin tig welding gloves are very soft and supple.
Additionally, Weldas SOFTouch™ welding gloves are sewn with 3-thread or 4-thread DuPont KEVLAR®. This thread is extremely strong, UV- and abrasion resistant, ensuring a longer lifespan for the welding gloves. This very powerful thread makes the TIG gloves very sturdy, but at the same time, thanks to the leather used, they remain flexible enough to wear comfortably while welding.
DuPont and KEVLAR® are trademarks or registered trademarks of E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company.
Comfort and precision: characteristics of TIG welding gloves lashandschoenen
Leather TIG welding gloves must not only be flexible and sturdy, but also have certain features crucial for good weld quality.
One of the most important features is the “seamless” index finger, which is essential for feeding the welding rods. In this design, the seam of the fingertip is folded over, providing better control over the small diameter of the welding rods and TIG torches.
A snug fit is also crucial for TIG weld gloves. The welder must operate the buttons on the welding machine and feed the welding rod themselves. To ensure optimal freedom of movement, the gloves for tig welding should fit like a second skin. The Weldas SOFTouch™ TIG gloves range is available in different sizes, ranging from M to XXL, with some models even available in size S.
Some TIG welding gloves are also sewn with a reinforced thumb strap. This is necessary to provide protection against wear and tear, as the welding torch and filler material are held between the thumb and index finger. This additional reinforcement makes the glove last longer and increases cut resistance.
TIG welding gloves for high temperature
Many TIG gloves are unlined to maintain high finger sensitivity. Consequently, they may not always withstand the heat generated during TIG welding. However within the Weldas SOFTouch™ line there are also welding gloves that are heat-resistant. These leather gloves for TIG welding offer an optimal balance between protection and comfort.
The SOFTouch™ 10-1007 glove has goat leather on the inside and cow-split leather on the back. Cowhide is thicker than goatskin, providing more heat resistance. The SOFTouch™ 10-2304 is also suitable for welding at high temperatures. Due to the use of deerskin the welding glove is very flexible, but slightly thicker to meet the cut resistance in the EN12477 certification. This ensures that the deerskin TIG welding glove can withstand high heat.
Tig finger as an aid
An aid to TIG welding is the so-called TIG finger. Many materials become very hot during TIG welding. For extra stability, the welder often leans on the workpiece. As TIG welding gloves are unlined, a TIG finger is then often used as a support to create a stable hand on hot surfaces. The TIG finger is also used in electrode welding to rest the melting electrode on.
European certified
Almost all SOFTouch™ welding gloves are certified according to the European standard EN12477, type B. This indicates that the leather TIG weld gloves have a high fingertip sensitivity. In addition, the standard requires specific performance requirements for cut resistance. By choosing TIG welding gloves that meet these standards, welders can be assured of good hand and finger protection, while maintaining the sensitivity needed for precise work.
In addition to welding gloves, welding accessories
In addition to the wide range of gloves for TIG welding, Weldas also offers other welding clothing and a number of welding accessories, providing welders with even more safety and comfort. These include welding helmets, electrode holders, and welding aprons. For example, the 10-1004 welding glove can be paired with the Arc Knight® welding clothing in the same color scheme.
Questions about leather TIG welding gloves?
Do you have questions about the welding gloves for TIG welding, product certifications or our other personal protective equipment for welding? Then please contact us and we will be happy to help you.
