TIG Gauntlets FAQs
Straight answers to the questions people ask most when choosing and looking after TIG welding gloves and gauntlets.
What leather is used for TIG gloves?
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.
Can I use TIG gloves for MIG or stick welding?
It is not a good idea. MIG and stick welding produce spatter and much more radiant heat, and a thin TIG glove gives much less protection than a heavy welding glove. You could get burns, and the glove would wear out quickly.
Use a heavier glove for those processes and keep your TIG gloves for TIG work. If you do a mix of processes, many welders keep a pair of each so that they always have the right glove to hand.
Should TIG gloves be lined or unlined?
Unlined gloves give the best feel, and are the usual choice where control is vital and the heat is modest. Lined gloves add insulation and comfort, and are better when you handle hot parts or weld at higher currents, though the lining adds some bulk.
Some gloves are partly lined, with insulation on the back of the hand or the palm only. Consider how hot the work gets and how much feel you need before you decide.
My fingers get hot holding the filler rod. What can I do?
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.