Apron, Smock/Jacket, or ??

[John K Jordan]

... he preferred boots (as in cowboy boots) because you can slip them off pretty fast.......

Unfortunately some of us can’t wear cowboy boots because of instep shape. I’ve tried and could never get a cowboy boot on my foot unless it was way too big. I always wore good work boots and made sure my jeans covered the tops. So far i’ve never had a blob of hot steel in my shoe (crossing fingers, or should it be toes?)

[Patty Hann]

Unfortunately some of us can’t wear cowboy boots because of instep shape. I’ve tried and could never get a cowboy boot on my foot unless it was way too big. I always wore good work boots and made sure my jeans covered the tops. So far i’ve never had a blob of hot steel in my shoe (crossing fingers, or should it be toes?)

I don't wear them for anything but welding (when I DID welding), but I still have them.
I don't like wearing Cowboy boots, or really any boots...generally they are too heavy, (tho' my instep is fine with boots.)
If I start welding again (actually it would be brazing) I'll probably wear them.

Guy in class had his denim shirt catch fire.
He didn't even notice that the sparks were hitting it, and then it just started burning.

[George Yetka]

If your not stick welding 100% cotten or denim are fine. Definitely boots a hot spark will go right though sneakers and socks(doesn't feel great) Mig/tig put off a lot of uv but not a lot of sparks compared to stick so long sleeves. So leather jacket/stick gloves arent completely necessary and may be offered by the instructor. When I learned stick welding it was all at eye level around pipe so leather was necessary

100% cotton, poly melts/burns

[John K Jordan]

…Mig/tig put off a lot of uv but not a lot of sparks compared to stick so long sleeves. So leather jacket/stick gloves arent completely necessary and may be offered by the instructor. When I learned stick welding it was all at eye level around pipe so leather was necessary

When our friend attended welding school last year they started with stick, the usual flat then vertical, horiz welds around pipe, then quickly added overhead stick. I don’t like overhead! Apparently a lot of students had trouble. I got an old truck brake drum and a length of angle iron so she could rig up a stand to practice overhead stick in my little weld shop. This let me watch too and offer a couple of suggestions (and be fire patrol!). Overhead stick showers EVERYTHING with hot sparks.

A lot of people have wire/mig welders and use special flux core wire instead of gas shielding. For anyone not familiar, this simplifies the set up and is more portable and less expensive (there’s no cylinder/regulator/hose to lug/cart around) but it spatters like crazy! The smaller machines use 110v only and can be relatively cheap. Decades ago I paid a little over $100 for my first little wire welder, (lincoln weld pak 100) and it’s still in use in the family. The welds do need more cleanup to be pretty but flux core might be a good way for some to get into welding - SO handy around the shop and home (and farm!)

[andrew whicker]

as a very NON-pro welder, I obviously just wear whatever I am wearing. I did buy one of the blue long sleeve button up shirts and one of those silly looking caps for under the welding helmet. Those caps are a LIFE SAVER. When I was around pro welders, I think I remember them having leather tongues that flopped over their laces of their leather boots.

Honestly, as an on and off welder I don't worry about my foot wear too much other than they need to be a pair that can take some abuse. You can also be smart with where you are relative to the sparks. The grinder is where the majority of my clothes abuse comes from. When I'm actually thinking , I wear my heavy canvas apron. Sapphire wrist watch faces DON'T protect against sparks, btw. Ask me how I know.

TIG welding is the way to go if you have the time. So much more enjoyable.