June 7, 2023
Safety is definitely of foremost importance when welding, and to achieve a high level of safety while welding, you would surely need a welding blanket. Welding blanket is a protective covering that is generally used by welders to protect the surrounding structures from spatters or droplets of molten metals while welding. The welding blanket, as the name implies, is like a blanket or safety equipment that is designed to prevent spatters or droplets from hitting you and your equipment while welding. It can be a layer of highly flexible protective material that contains inorganic or unexpanded vermiculite that is heat resistant. Since this blanket is heat resistant, it can protect the welder and surrounding areas from being hit and damaged by spatter and droplets of molten metal.
Contemporary welding blankets are usually made of fiberglass that are flame retardant, meaning they inhibit the effect of flame. They can withstand temperatures that range from 300 degrees Fahrenheit to 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit. Earlier welding blankets were made of asbestos. However, since asbestos has been found to cause some health hazards, the use of asbestos for has quickly become unpopular.
Best Welding Blankets
Here are the most highly recommended welding blankets on the market today:
1) HiwowSport 48 x 72inches High Temp Carbon Fiber Welding Protective Blanket
It is a welding blanket that is made of tear-resistant Carbon Fiber material. This welding blanket is designed to withstand up to 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit. Its dimensions are 48 by 72 inches and 21oz/square yard.
The HiwowSport Welding Protective Blanket is efficient against heat and is definitely of high quality. You can drape it over your floor surfaces or as the cover for equipment and machineries to protect them from sparks and spatters. You can also use it as a wall or vertical shield against spatters and sparks too. It weighs around 3.7 pounds and comes with no folding.
2) Lenco 08820 Welding Blanket
The Lenco 08820 Welding Blanket is a non-coated welding blanket that features Kevlar stitched of 100% fiberglass. It is designed for heavy-duty usage and comes with excellent quality. It has a finely finished edge and is highly durable.
It weighs around 1.6 ounce and measures around 18 x 14 inches with a thickness of 1.5 inches. It has grommets every 12 inches. It permits proper ventilation. It offers maximum protection, being a heat-treated blanket.
3) Neiko 10909A Heavy Duty Fiberglass Welding Blanket and Cover with Brass Grommets
The Neiko 10909A Fiberglass Welding Blanket and Cover is made of 100% flame retardant materials. It is durable and usable for general purposes. Using it, you can protect your properties from damages due to spatters and sparks. It is heavy duty and consists of 19.8 oz/sq.yd fiberglass. Thus, it is capable of providing excellent thermal protection.
This blanket features a premium weaving pattern measuring 30 x 30 per square inch for extra durability. This welding blanket is designed for long-term use. Its working temperature is up to 1000 degrees Fahrenheit or 537 degrees Celsius. It also features reinforced hem of 3/8 I.D. brass grommets every 11 inches for easy and secure hanging.
4) Hobart Heat-treated Fiberglass Blanket
The Hobart heat-treated fiberglass blanket is an 18-ounce fiberglass welding blanket. It provides awesome protection for surfaces and areas that are exposed to welding sparks and spatters. It is extra soft and is pliable enough being made of brass grommets. This welding blanket is heat-treated and is 100% asbestos-free. It can withstand temperatures up to 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
The Hobart heat-treated fiberglass blanket comes with a reusable storage bag. The package also includes some important safety tips on how to use and store this product. Its dimensions are 4 by 6 feet.
5) Steiner 316-18X18 Velvet Shield 16-Ounce Black Carbonized Fiber Welding Blanket
The Steiner Black Carbonized Fiber Welding Blanket is a heavy-duty welding blanket that can protect your equipment and other surfaces from sparks, spatter, and light slag. It is made of 16 Oz. of carbonized fiber that provides soft but tough welding protection. It can surely withstand an incredible amount of heat. Its temperature rating is 1,800 Fahrenheit. It also weighs around 16oz per square yard. The Steiner Black Carbonized Fiber Welding Blanket is less expensive than the abovementioned welding blankets.
6) Tillman Welding Blanket
The Tillman Welding Blanket consists of a fireproof fabric sewn together using fiberglass thread that is proven to be fireproof. It exhibits a high melting temp, and for this reason, it can resist heat pretty well. Its melting point is 1,000°F. Hence, using this welding blanket ensures that you are protected from heat and flame when engaged in welding.
The Tillman Welding blanket also features hemmed borders. It is also wrought in Kevlar leather. Hence, it is pretty durable and lasts longer in use. You can also use this welding blanket for other applications, proving its excellent versatility. Besides, it is very much portable, weighing only 1.6oz.
Pros:
- It is easy to fold for easy storage and packing.
- It provides sufficient protection against heat and flame.
- It is durable.
Cons:
- It is a bit coarse, and if you have sensitive skin, you may not like its texture.
7) Fiberglass (4′ x 6′) Welding Blanket
The Fiberglass Welding Blanket features a 100% flame-retardant material and capability. When using it, you can ensure that you are well protected from injuries due to accidental touching or hitting of flame, spatter, and sparks. It is wrought in 19.8oz of fiberglass with a working temperature of 1000F.
You can also utilize this welding blanket for other usages and applications like protecting your wood railings, furniture, flooring, and other equipment. Besides, it can indeed save you from injuries due to embers, heat, sparks, and molten metal. It is durable, being made of top-notch fiberglass. Moreover, its hem is reinforced, so you don’t need to worry about loose ends while welding.
Pros:
- It offers excellent protection from heat.
- It’s versatile and can be used for different applications.
- It is pretty durable.
Cons:
- It can be a bit rough to the skin because it sheds tiny pieces of fiberglass.
8) Waylander Welding Blanket
The Waylander Welding Blanket is a durable welding blanket designed to protect you from heat and flame. It features fiberglass materials that are laced with vermiculate. Thus, it can resist any damage due to sparks and splatter when welding and grinding. It comes with three-ply Kevlar hems. Therefore, it belongs to the sturdiest class of welding blankets.
It has a melting point of 1400F. It is also thick at .75mm. Moreover, it is pretty heavy compared to other welding blankets at 2.5kg. Yet, it is still portable enough to carry around to your workstation.
Pros:
- It provides you sufficient protection against heat.
- It is pretty durable.
- It is portable and easy to fold.
Cons:
- It is more expensive than other options.
9) Neiko 10908A Fiberglass Blanket
If you are looking for a one-hundred percent flame-retardant welding blanket, you should check out the Neiko 10908A. It is a certified durable welding blanket that you can use for various applications. It can prevent injuries and damages brought about by heat from spatter and sparks, being made of fiberglass materials.
If you inspect its hems, you will get surprised by the fray-resistant materials used for the hem. It also doesn’t shed off extra fibers. Moreover, it is a 19.8oz fiberglass welding blanket that sports an excellent weaving pattern. Its working temp is 1000°F.
Pros:
- It can protect you from sparks and spatters.
- It doesn’t shed any fiber.
- It is easy to maintain.
Cons:
- It is not fit for use in heavy cutting tasks using plasma cutting.
- It isn’t easy to fold.
10) HANSWAY Carbon Fiber Welding Blankets
With the HANSWAY Welding Blankets, you got three different size options. The one with the smallest size measures around 18″ x 24″. Given these many-size options, you are in a better position to choose the one that fits your needs well.
The HANSWAY Welding Blanket differs from the other welding blankets because it is made of carbon fiber materials. Well, we all know that carbon fiber belongs to one of the most durable materials on this planet. It is resistant to high temperatures with a maximum heat resistance of 1,800°F. It also resists wear and tear and quickly cools down.
You can use this for covering your equipment to protect them from damages. You can also use this as a vertical shield against damaging and highly injurious spatter, slag, and sparks.
Pros:
- It is perfect for draping equipment and vertical usage.
- It has excellent thermal properties and cooling properties.
- It is durable and resistant to wear and tear.
Cons:
- Some users complain of sparks burning holes onto the blanket. But these are isolated cases.
Different Types of Welding Blankets
If you are going to buy a welding blanket, it would be advantageous for you to be cognizant of the different types that you can choose from.
1) Medium-duty Welding Blanket
This is a very flexible welding blanket that you can use with ease and flexibility. This blanket is ideal for industrial use, and every industry that engages in welding should have this type of blanket. This blanket is not susceptible of burns and can withstand heat of up to 290 degrees Celsius. It is likewise not easily damaged by the continuous effects of vapors, oil, grease, or liquids. This blanket is also available in various sizes and has brass eyelets.
2) Neoprene Welding Blanket
It is likewise not as flexible as the medium-duty blankets. One advantage, however, it is configured for vertical usage. Using the brass eyelets, you can readily drape the neoprene welding blanket around the area you would like to protect. You can use it to protect window frames, walls, and even bookshelves while welding, and it functions as a protective curtain.
3) Heavy-duty Welding Blanket
This is a very strong and heavy-duty blanket that can resist up heat of up to 1,000 degrees Celsius. It also has superior tensile strength than that of the asbestos. Moreover, this type of blanket has passed the standard UK fire testing and adhered to the welding specification of BS476 Pt 20. This blanket is available in three different sizes. Lastly, this blanket has brass eyelets that allow its user to fix it in one area.
Types of Welding Blanket Materials
As you shop around for a welding blanket, you will discover that welding blankets come in different types of materials. Hence, when selecting a blanket for your welding works, it will be best to be familiar with these different types of materials used in making welding blankets:
Black Slag
The black slag welding blankets are wrought in specially coated fabrics. These fabrics are engineered for more challenging welding jobs. They are designed to resist molten splatters with a maximum temperature of 3000°F. They are also abrasion-resistant, and thus, you can assure yourself and furniture and stuff covered will not get burned or wounded by slugs when using this type of blanket material.
Vermiculite-coated Materials
The vermiculite-coated welding blanket comes with a ceramic-woven cloth base and is fashioned out by reinforcing it with SS wire and fiberglass yarn. Thus, this material type offers excellent properties that are fit for a welding blanket. It is lightweight with low thermal conductivity. And capable of handling temperatures up to 2000 degrees Fahrenheit.
It also features excellent chemical stability capable of resisting attacks even from the most corrosive chemicals. Moreover, it has incredible heat-insulating properties. It can also collect liquid slag with ease. Therefore, it is an excellent alternative to asbestos-focused fabrics and can offer poor thermal conductivity and higher dielectric strength.
Aluminum fiberglass
The aluminum fiberglass bears a reflective property that can withstand abrasions. It can handle a maximum temperature of 1000°F. When welding without the need to reflect heat, the use of welding blankets with a side made of aluminum foil.
Silica
Another material commonly used in making welding blankets is silica. It is best for protecting the space where you work from damages due to molten splatters and slags. It has a melting point of 2,300°F. Hence, it is reliable enough when engaged in heavy-duty welding.
Acrylic
Acrylic may be the least type of material you would like to use in your welding blanket. It is not a heavy-duty material but will suffice if you are engaged in welding light materials. It also has a fire-retardant property, and it is effective when you use it vertically. You can use it as a workable barrier when engaged in a welding task.
Factors to Consider When Buying a Welding Blanket
There are several factors that you must bear in mind when purchasing a welding blanket and some of these factors include the following.
Material
There are many material choices when it comes to welding blankets which include glass fibers, silica, vinyl, Nomex/Kevlar woven fabric, or aramid fiber. Moreover, a flexible protective material like a welding blanket should consist of various layers. The outermost layer should be made of inorganic and heat resistant fibrous material. This fibrous material should comprise 10 to 70 percent of the said layer. It can be a ceramic type of material, especially, if you are going to use the welding blanket in extreme conditions. It can also be made of cheaper fibers with lower melting point such as those of fiberglass or mineral wool. These cheaper fibers can be used for less severe conditions. Sometimes, welding blankets may also consist of a combination of various fibrous materials that are found to be reliable and good enough for use in ordinary welding situations.
Temperature Resistance
When it comes to the reliability of a welding blanket, you need to consider its temperature resistance. The working temperature of the blanket will dictate its ability to withstand more challenging welding tasks. It also determines whether the welding blanket is heavy-duty or not.
The Composition of the Welding Blanket
You will find blankets made of materials that contain harmful chemicals and substances like asbestos. Of course, asbestos is one of the best materials for insulation. But it is known to be hazardous to human beings.
You should also be wary of using blankets with materials like polyurethane, silicate, clay, granite, or vermiculate, for such materials may also compromise your safety and health while welding. So, you must know what makes up a welding blanket before paying for one.
Level of Comfort Provided
You will find that welding blankets come with different textures. Some are coarse and rough to your skin; some are even hard enough when they brush on your skin. So, if you don’t want a coarse welding blanket that irritates your skin, it will be best to choose a welding blanket with softer textures. Moreover, softer materials allow you to easily fold the welding blanket when it is not in use.
Grommet
A welding blanket with grommets may be a more practical choice if you want to easily hang your welding blanket when you are not using it. It may not be an essential feature, but grommets will be very convenient to have in a welding blanket for easy hanging of the blanket.
Flame Retardant Properties
The primary purpose of a welding blanket is to protect you from injury brought about by heat and flames that could accidentally hit your skin. So, it is crucial that you know the materials used in a welding blanket to figure out if your welding blanket can do the job of protecting you from flame and heat. Thus, it will help to ensure that you have a welding blanket that features flame-retardant properties.
Thickness
Welding blankets vary, not only according to the materials out of which it is made, but also according to their thickness. The thickness of the materials usually plays a critical role in intense heat resistant. The thickness usually ranges from .10 cm to around .40 of an inch.
Size
The size of the welding blankets likewise plays a critical role in their capacity to serve as protective materials. Always remember that the larger the blanket is, the greater the area it can protect. Hence, if you are not burdened with budget constraint, you should always opt for a wider blanket.
Conclusion
Among the abovementioned brands of welding jackets, I think the Steiner appears to be the most excellent in my opinion. It inevitably resists damage from sparks and spatters and does excellent protection underneath. On the downside, it is expensive as compared to other welding blankets. You will surely save more in the long run if you buy this brand because it is durable and lasts longer than other brands.
Why Welding Industry Needs Welding Blanket?
It is a fact that the welding process produces spatters or droplets of molten metal. These spatters of molten metal usually have the high temperature of up to 3,000 degrees centigrade. Upon hitting the adjacent surface, the spatter globules have temperature of up to 1,800 degrees centigrade which is enough to cause damage to anything they come in contact with. Thus, during the welding process, it is imperative to have protective coverings that could be easily spread over the adjacent areas and surfaces during the welding process.
It is used for the purpose of protecting the adjacent areas during welding, and it should comply with the international standards. The U.S. Government and ISO, for example, set standards on the quality of a welding blanket, and it would surely be good to purchase the one that is compliant with both the national and international standards.
The act of welding is fraught with various risks. These risks when not minimized may lead to injuries. These injuries include an unexpected electric shock, inhaling poisonous fumes, and accidental explosions. There are also injuries due to insufficient protective equipment. These injuries are the most common injuries when welding. So, to prevent injuries like these, welders should practice extra precautions by wearing appropriate protective gears.
One equipment that can protect you from injuries is that of the welding blanket. Welding blanket not only prevents injuries. It also protects your equipment and properties from damages. Sparks and spatters may accidentally hit your equipment or other properties. Thus, you need to protect your properties by using a welding blanket.