Metal welding is one of the production operations that require strict adherence to safety precautions and the use of special clothing that protects the worker from high temperatures, mechanical stress and other negative factors that arise during the work process.
And, above all, it is necessary to provide high-quality and reliable protection for hands that are in direct contact with the welding machine and the sparks emanating from it. For this purpose, a special type of workwear is used - welder's split-leaf gaiters, which are a type of work gloves for performing welding and installation work.
Purpose, purpose, application in production
The main purpose of using split leather gaiters is to protect the hands of workers in the area of the hands and forearms from splashes of hot metal and sparks , as well as to protect against burns when touching surfaces heated to high temperatures.
In addition, this type of mittens can be used when performing installation work associated with increased loads.
That is, split leather gaiters (gloves) are a necessary element of equipment for representatives of the following professions :
- Welders;
- Steelworkers;
- Kuznetsov;
- Specialists of other professions working at elevated temperatures.
Some useful tips
In conclusion, a couple of recommendations from experts:
- Before purchasing gloves, be sure to try them on so that the user can ensure free movement of the hands and fingers;
- pay attention to the quality and material of the seam; Kevlar or Mylar thread is preferred;
- work under the ceiling requires strengthening of the lower sections of the products;
- for winter, gloves with an extended edge are suitable - they are convenient to put on over clothing;
- It’s better to have two pairs of leggings on hand - short (cover the hand) and long (reach the elbow); the choice is determined by the specifics of the work.
Gaiters are a necessary attribute for a welder. The quality of the gloves must be at a high level so that the work does not cause a burn or other injury. If you have experience using products from specific companies, leave your feedback about them in the comments to the article.
Materials, production technology
Protective gaiters for welders are made from split leather - a layer of natural leather from kids or calves, obtained in the tanning industry by lamination (shearing), after separating the front part. During this operation, the skin is divided into several layers, the number of which can be from 3 to 5, depending on its thickness.
A distinctive feature of this material is its increased ductility, which makes gloves made from it comfortable to work with . They do not hinder movements and do not deprive the fingers of sensitivity.
At the same time, it has increased strength , is very resistant to cuts and punctures and is little susceptible to temperature effects.
In the absence of fire-retardant impregnation, split wood can be used in temperatures ranging from +45 to -10 degrees , and after treatment with special compounds, its fire resistance increases significantly, making it very resistant to sparks and splashes of hot metal. Moreover, the limit of its temperature sensitivity is +100 degrees.
The production of gaiters for welders is carried out from split wood, having a thickness of 1.0 to 1.6 mm, which has undergone anti-rot treatment, according to the standards specified in GOST 12.4.010-75.
For stitching the seams, kevral thread is used, which belongs to the materials of the para-aramid group, which has an increased strength margin and very high fire resistance. In cases where lavsan thread is used instead of kevral thread, the seams are additionally reinforced with narrow leather inserts.
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Characteristics
Leggings 350 mm long, made of gray or red split wood, are considered a certain standard in production. Gray gloves are most often made without any lining, and therefore are thinner and more convenient to work with small parts.
Red gloves are made from sanded and dyed split calfskin with a thickness of 1.2 mm. They are distinguished by a more rigid cuff, and the length is 15 cm. It is also important to add that this type of gaiter can use a non-woven lining, which adds a certain comfort to this model, and also allows a person to perform work in lower temperatures.
Types, differences and photos
Depending on the design features, split leather leggings are divided into several types:
- Five-fingered welder's split leather leggings (photo below). They are among the universal models used for various types of welding and installation work. They do not reduce the mobility of the fingers, therefore they are highly comfortable to wear. They have reinforced inserts made of genuine leather. The interior is made of breathable cotton fabric or fleece. Length – 35 cm.
- Two-fingered split leather leggings. During use, they reduce the load on the welder’s hand, with the exception of his thumb and index finger. They protect well from high temperatures, but can be damaged by punctures. Used for electrode welding.
- Three-toed . Their design and specifics of use are similar to the previous type.
- Insulated . The length of such products can be from 35 cm and above. Thanks to the presence of an extended bell, they can be easily removed if necessary. They use faux fur, fleece or high-density cotton fabric as a lining layer.
- Combined . Models of this type have textile inserts on the back side and reinforced areas on the palm area. The inner lining is made of cotton fabric. Double split wood or tarpaulin can be used as a reinforcing layer.
Basic information
It should be noted that welder's gloves are not ordinary gloves used in household chores, but durable and reliable products that can protect the skin of the hands from burns and harmful radiation. There is even a separate GOST 28846-90, which outlines the requirements for mittens and gloves for welding. The main ones include:
- fire resistance;
- moisture resistance;
- high-quality seam processing;
- wear resistance;
- ensuring a confident grip during operation.
A prerequisite is that the leggings must be quickly and easily removed from the hands at any time, especially if there is a risk of injury to the limbs. This is exactly what the name says - the word “gaiter” literally means boot, bell.
Features of choice
When choosing split-leaf gaiters for a welder, it is necessary to take into account the nature of their future use. If it is assumed that this element of work equipment will be used in conditions of elevated temperatures, preference should be given to models made entirely of split wood with fire-resistant impregnation .
It will be convenient to work in them both in the lower and vertical directions, without the risk of burns from sparks and hot iron.
Also, when purchasing, you should pay special attention to the seams , which are the most unprotected area of these gloves. They must have sufficient density and be made of special threads with increased strength and heat resistance.
To perform more delicate work, it is better to use five-fingered type models , choosing from them varieties of suitable length. When putting on, the gaiter should fit snugly on the hand, without restricting movement or squeezing the fingers, but under no circumstances should it slip off. For work in winter, special insulated leggings with an additional layer of faux fur are suitable.
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Properties of split leather leggings
Next point. One of the most important properties of split-leaf gloves is that their abrasive resistance is two or three times greater than that of similar models made from canvas. Additional impregnation of these models is needed only in order to further increase their upper limit of the operating temperature range. If it is missing, the gauntlets are still considered to be sufficiently fire-resistant and impervious to charring during welding.
However, it is important to note here that there are both good and bad reviews about this item of clothing. Almost everyone considers the advantages of five-fingered gloves made of split leather to be that they are thick enough to protect not only from welding, but also, for example, from an angle grinder. However, there are also disadvantages that some buyers have noted. One of the owners claims that one pair of gloves was made of different materials. In addition, they came apart at the seam after 3 days of work. A person worked 3-4 hours a day.
Care and cleaning
Despite their strength and high wear resistance, split leather leggings, like other genuine leather products, are subject to wear and contamination . Therefore, to increase their service life, they need to be looked after accordingly.
Products of this type cannot be washed in the usual way. To clean them from dirt, dry cleaning is allowed. To do this, after each use, they must be dried thoroughly, and then, using a dry soft brush or cloth, remove any heavy dirt on them. The average period of use is 2 years .
Despite their apparent roughness and massiveness, split-leaf welding gaiters are made from high-quality materials of natural origin, and therefore do not cause discomfort or inconvenience when worn. The hand feels completely free in them, which allows them to perform work involving fairly high mechanical precision.
But the main advantage of this element of work clothing is its high fire resistance and strength, thanks to which the welder’s gaiters guarantee effective protection of hands when working at high temperatures and prevent injuries as a result of hot metal splashes and sparks hitting the welder’s hands and forearms.
How to care?
To keep welding gloves made from this material in good condition, there are some important care guidelines to follow. So, remember that it is recommended to regularly treat them with special water-repellent compounds.
You can also apply special aerosol solutions to them, which help prevent contamination of the material. Before cleaning the mittens, if necessary, it is better to dry them completely at room temperature.
The material itself can be cleaned using a rubber brush.
You can learn how to extend the service life of welding gauntlets from the video below.
What do leggings look like and what is their main purpose?
Leggings are overhead tops for boots, as well as long bells for gloves. Bells are extensions at the end of an object in the form of a funnel. In this case, we are talking about both bells used without gloves and gloves with bells at the end.
photo from mobipukka.ru
Gauntlets are also called fingerless gloves used by motorcyclists, leather over-the-shoulder boots for jockeys, and protective gloves for hockey players. In addition to the above, representatives of such professions as welders, beekeepers, animal trainers, and archery athletes cannot do without leggings.
Simply put, gauntlets are any long gloves that cover the hand and the boot, secured to the leg with straps.
photo from the site otvet.mail.ru
The main reason they are used is to protect the hands and feet.
Motorcyclists are protected from wind and dust. Jockeys - from sweaty horses. Riders use them instead of boots, attaching them to the boots with a zipper or strap. Gaiters help welders minimize contact with sparks. Trainers need to protect themselves from animal bites. They protect archery athletes from being hit by a bowstring.
This is interesting
There are decorative leggings. They have no protective function and are used for decoration.
From the history of the emergence of leggings: appearance in Russia
Leggings trace their history back to the details of Maximilian armor (Germany, 16th century). Additional parts for boots with fasteners in the form of overhead tops and additional parts in the form of bells for gloves.
Linguists are still arguing about the origin of the very name of this accessory. The first version says that the word originated in the 16th century from the Dutch “kragg”, which meant a wide collar. The second option is associated with Scandinavian origin, namely directly with Sweden. In this country, the word “krag” meant leather gaiters, that is, a piece of clothing covering the leg from the foot to the knee.
photo from the site annales.info
The times when leggings were used by knights are long gone, but their significance even exceeds the merits of the past. Now modern man needs protection no less, but even more than the medieval Lancelots.
In Russia, hand guards first appeared only in the first half of the 19th century. As for leg guards, they appeared in the Russian Empire only with the beginning of the First World War.
Mentions of these clothing details can be found in the novel by L.N. Tolstoy’s “Anna Karenina” and in the work of V.V. Nabokov "Other Shores". There is a lot of talk about this accessory in literature related to the Civil War.
photo from regiment.ru
The traditional colors of leggings in Tsarist Russia were black and brown, but it was also possible to come across leggings in bright yellow and orange colors.
The leggings had to accurately record the bend of the leg and therefore they were usually made to order. Which is still recommended. You won’t find leggings that suit you perfectly in any store, so it’s better to turn to a specialist to make them.
Where did work gloves come from?
Ordinary gloves originated during the times of Ancient Egypt. Then this part of clothing served mainly not to protect the hands, but to decorate them and emphasize their status in society. Leggings complemented the image of high-ranking officials and served as a decorative element in clothing.
This is interesting
Egyptian women smeared the inside of their leggings with various oils and herbs and wore them to rejuvenate the skin of their hands. The Romans wore leggings while eating so as not to burn their hands.
Gloves for rough work have existed in various forms since time immemorial. As now, then they were intended to protect against dirt, burns, and cuts. At the beginning of the 19th century, a resident of England named J. Winter patented work gloves as a way to protect against injuries during construction work, and since then they have been used in many industries around the world.
