Get the Best Welding Supplies

Thankfully, there really aren't too many supplies outside of the actual welder that you will need. Yet the things that you will require are infinitely important; most notably for safety reasons. These include a welding helmet or safety goggles, work clothes and gloves, a welder respirator, and a fire extinguisher. These will protect you from the intense heat of the torch and shield you from any subsequent sparks or flare ups.

When it comes to finding the perfect welding helmet for you, you want to consider: the kind of lens, a fixed shade versus a variable one, and the reaction time of the lens. Welding helmets that are more standard or basic are going to come with a glass lens that will be coated with either infrared or ultraviolet with a shade rating around #10. The disadvantage of these lenses is that every time you are going to light up you will need to flip the lens down, and then lift it up again when your welder is off and you are then inspecting your work. This can be a hassle, but also tricky to keep a steady hand on the welder while you adjust your lens. Thus, auto-darkening lenses are generally best for not only beginners but preferred by the pros because they will automatically increase from a shade rating of about #3 (light enough for you to see clearly through) to then anywhere between #9 or #13 when you start the arc. You will then save the strain on your neck and be able to focus on the welding at hand.

Secondly, when it comes to a fixed or variable shade for your welding helmet, it is often best to go with the latter. This will be much better at protecting your eyes because you can then adjust the settings on the outside of the helmet should you be working with different materials that will have varying welding amperages. Finally, the higher end welding helmets with auto-darkening lenses will have faster reaction times, which means they will darken quicker when the flame turns on and then protect your eyes all the more. The difference between 1/3,600 of a second and 1/16,000 of a second may not seem like much, but in terms of the amount of strain on your eyes it is immense. The quicker the reaction time, the longer you will be able to work before you eyes are begging for mercy. Safety goggles are also made in a host of different models, similar to those of welding helmets, but they won't protect the rest of your face. These are better should you have other people in the same area wearing them, but they are situated far enough from the arc to not be met with flying sparks.

Alright, so you've got the helmet, now you need the gloves. Welding gloves will come in different materials capable of handling different levels of heat, certain chemicals, and then offer you varying amounts of flexibility. When looking for a pair of gloves you want to keep in mind what kind of welding you will be doing the most. Gloves made out of cowhide will be the most durable and stiff, limiting flexibility, but will be great for handling the widest range of kinds of welding. Gloves that will still be durable but have a bit more padding, may be made of leather instead. Kidskin and goatskin gloves are still going to protect your hands, but are much thinner and offer you the greatest range of motion. This could be ideal for those doing TIG welding, but not thick enough for MIG welding. There are further high heat gloves that will be targeted to those specifically working with sweltering temperatures.

When it comes to work wear, you want to be thinking along the same lines as your gloves: thick, durable and dependable. Anything that is going to be near the arc needs to be able to withstand heat and protect you from any sparks. You can choose to go with bottoms from a leading brand specializing in rugged wear or a bib that will offer you further protection up around your chest. When shopping for working clothes you also want to factor in comfort; pick something that offers you free range of motion, and isn't restrictive. Finally, should you be out on a working zone or out at night, you may want some visibility wear such as a reflective vest for your safety.

The same goes for boots: pick something that is comfortable to stand on for hours but also is made out of a thick material. You could go for a classic pair of rubber boots that will be tall enough to then be covered by your work pants and thus protect your ankles better than standard boots. Many of these boots may not be the best in terms of breathability, and so it is always a good option to have insoles that come out and are then able to be washed; no one likes a stinky footed welder! Also, look for work boots that will have an anti-skid soles.

With the basic gear and safety supplies in arow, you can then look to some other tools that will be used in accordance with your welder. As previously noted, you may only need a few things outside of the welder depending on your niche welding job, but you may want to have a hammer/wire brush, ball-peen hammer, tap-and-die set, and a hacksaw frame and blades. There are also cold chisels, drill bits, punches, meta-scribers, and marker tools that can come in handy. These are pretty general items you would be using for virtually any other metal hobby, and you may already have many of them in your tool box or work station. Anything you don't have, you can easily find at Baker's Gas, so that you can be fully set and ready to meet any challenge a particular welding project throws your way. It's always better to be over prepared, rather than reaching for something that isn't there in the moment of need!

With your face and body protected down to your boots, you may also want to consider a pair of ear plugs. Welding itself may not be all that loud, but many of these metal related tools are, and especially if you are working in a shop around others who are in turn working on various pursuits you may be met with decibel levels that could cause ear damage if not protected. Respirators are also going to be worth having to protect you from vapors released from different materials as well as any debris. You don't want to be inhaling your work as your lungs may not be as enthusiastic about welding as you are!

With all your bases covered, you can then get down to the learning, or perfecting, the basics of welding. With your welder in hand and the drive to hone your skills you could one day end up underwater, atop the building reaching skyward, off in a foreign country, or simply enjoying the work in your garage. Wherever your welding journey takes you, Baker's Gas is right there for any of your welding supplies and needs.