Welding Apparel & Blankets

Welding apparel & blankets

Welding work produces three hazards that ordinary workwear can't handle: molten metal spatter, radiant and convective heat, and UV from the arc. Welding apparel — jackets, aprons, sleeves, bibs, and spatter blankets — is purpose-built from leather, flame-retardant cotton, or Kevlar to absorb these hazards without igniting. The correct choice depends on process intensity and duty cycle.

Garment types

• Welding jackets — full upper-body coverage. Leather or FR cotton; the default for sustained welding work.
• Welding aprons / bibs — torso-and-thigh protection over standard workwear. Lighter and cooler than a full jacket; good for intermittent welding.
• Welding sleeves — forearm-to-shoulder coverage, paired with a standard short-sleeve shirt. Best for hot-climate welding.
• Welding trousers / leggings / chaps — lower-body protection, particularly for overhead and positional welding where spatter falls onto the legs.
• Spatter blankets / welding curtains — protect nearby equipment, floors, and other workers from spatter.
• Gauntlets — covered in the welding gloves range.

Material choice

• Split cowhide leather — the workhorse. Good heat resistance, affordable, mouldable. Standard for MIG and stick.
• Full-grain leather — tougher, lasts longer, more expensive. The premium option for heavy stick welding.
• Flame-retardant cotton (Proban / Pyrovatex) — lighter, cooler, cheaper. Suitable for lighter welding and spatter-adjacent roles (grinding, cutting).
• Kevlar-stitched seams — essential throughout — normal cotton or nylon stitching burns through before the leather or FR fabric fails.
• Aluminised leather — reflects radiant heat for high-amperage or heavy-section welding.

Process matching

• TIG welding — lightweight leather jacket or sleeves; dexterity matters, heat exposure is lower.
• MIG welding — medium-weight leather jacket; balance of protection and mobility.
• Stick (MMA / SMAW) — heavy split-cowhide jacket or full leather bib; maximum protection for spatter-intensive work.
• Oxy-cutting / plasma — aluminised jacket or apron for sustained radiant-heat exposure.

Spatter blankets and curtains

Not-personal-PPE, but critical for multi-worker workshops and welding near flammable surfaces. Specify fibreglass or Kevlar blankets rated for continuous contact with welding spatter (up to 550°C). For drop-curtain applications, hang from welding frames or overhead rails.

Standards & compliance

Welding apparel in this range meets AS/NZS 4501.2 (welding and allied processes protective clothing) and EN ISO 11611 where applicable. Class 1 is suitable for lighter techniques (TIG); Class 2 is required for MIG and stick with significant spatter.

Frequently asked questions

Can I wear my regular overalls for welding?

Only for the lightest intermittent welding (brief tack welds on clean material). Regular cotton or polyester workwear will ignite from welding spatter and is not compliant with AS/NZS 4501 for sustained welding. Polyester is especially dangerous — it melts into burning droplets that stick to skin.

How long does welding leather last?

Depends on process and duty cycle. A split-cowhide jacket used daily for stick welding may last 6–12 months; full-grain leather 12–24 months. Retire when stitching has burnt through, leather has become stiff and cracked, or significant holes appear.

Do I need a welding blanket under my work?

If the work is near flammable surfaces (timber floors, painted surfaces, combustible stock), yes — AS 1674.1 requires hot-work-area control. Spatter blankets are the simplest way to protect the surrounding environment.

Do you offer trade or bulk pricing?

Yes — trade accounts and fabrication workshops receive volume pricing on welding apparel. Bulk orders for workforce programs qualify for additional discounts. Apply for a trade account →