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Straight answers to the questions people ask most when choosing and looking after TIG welding gloves and gauntlets.
TIG welding makes little spatter, but it demands fine control of the torch and the filler rod. TIG gloves are therefore thinner, softer and more flexible than the heavy gloves used for MIG and stick welding, and they are usually made from supple leather with few bulky seams.The cuff or gauntlet part is often shorter or lighter than on heavy gloves, though it still covers the wrist. The result is a glove that lets you feel what you are doing while still giving useful protection against heat and arc radiation.
TIG gloves are usually made from thin, soft leather so that you can feel the torch and filler rod. Different leathers vary in softness, thickness and toughness, and makers choose them to balance feel against heat protection and wear.Softer, thinner leather gives the best feel but gives less protection and wears faster. Thicker leather protects better and lasts longer but is less sensitive. Choose by the thickness of the work and the heat involved, and check the glove's markings and the maker's description for the protection it gives.
Measure around your dominant hand just below the knuckles and use the maker's size chart, because sizing varies between makers. The glove should be snug, with no loose material at the fingertips, but not so tight that it restricts blood flow or tires your hand.Too large and you lose feel and may find the fingers catching on the filler rod; too small and the leather is stretched thin and wears out fast. Try the glove while holding a torch and rod if you can.
The hand that holds the filler rod is often close to the heat, and long rods carry heat along their length. A heat shield for the finger, made from heat-resistant material, can protect the finger that takes the heat. Using a longer rod, or a glove with a bit more insulation on that hand, can also help.Take care that any extra layer or shield does not make the rod harder to control. Stop and let the hand cool if it gets too hot, and replace worn or thin gloves.