Best Welding Sleeves of 2023

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The Tillman 9215 Goatskin/FR Leather Welded Sleeve is a combination design with goatskin and flame retardant forearm and 100% cotton Westex FR7A for excellent protection on the upper arm. The combined design makes the sleeves very light, breathable and well protected. They use a wide 2-1/4″ wide elastic band to ensure secure and comfortable hold of the sleeves.

These welded sleeves are inexpensive and look great, but the stitching quality of the Tillman 9215 welded sleeves has caused some complaints from users. Some mentioned the seam where the leather split, others mentioned that the elastic part of the sleeve lost its grip. Several owners mentioned the “skin fit” of these sleeves, meaning welders with thick arms found the elastic too tight. The tightness on the upper arm is likely to be partially responsible for the frayed elastic.

The Tillman 9215 Goatskin/Cotton Welded Sleeve is thoughtfully designed to provide lightweight, breathable protection and function. They have good quality for the price range, offering leather protection and the light breathing of a fabric construction in a set of welded sleeves.

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The Lincoln Electric Black Welding Sleeve is a generic name but high quality product made of 9 oz, 100% flame retardant cotton that will do a good job of protecting your arms from light sparks and splashes. They are a good choice for low current TIG welding. Cotton fabrics are not up to the task of hard core welding such as high current electrodes and flux cored welding, especially in the overhead position where lots of sparks and spatter are generated.

These sleeves measure 21 inches long, which is plenty of length for all but the tallest users. Lincoln Electric Black Welded Sleeves feature loose elasticated straps at each end of the sleeve to ensure a secure yet comfortable grip on the arm. If you just want to do a quick weld, do some sanding, or if it’s really hot and you need to take a break from your leather jacket, these sleeves will provide lightweight and breathable protection. Many users commented that these sleeves are too skinny for people with thick arms.

Many welders say these Lincoln Electric Black Welding Sleeves are very durable for fabric construction and quite durable for cotton sleeves.

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The Revco Black Stallion BSX BX-KK is made of woven Kevlar for cut protection as well as heat, spark and splash protection. The sleeves are breathable thanks to the open weave construction, but the double layer design helps prevent sparks and spatter that can sometimes pass through this type of sleeve.

Revco designed a thumb hole in the sleeves of the Black Stallion BSX to help secure them to the arm. They meet ANSI Level 4 cut resistance standards and are 18 inches long, which is a bit short when you consider that they cover the palm and back of the hand down. For most people, the upper end will end at or below the elbow. The thumbhole feature and the fact that they cover most of the hand make them comfortable to wear for long periods of time.

Some users have complained that the Revco Black Stallion BSX BX-KK sleeves can loosen and become baggy. ANSI Grade 4 cut resistance is actually minimal. These sleeves have two layers and do add significant protection, but they only save you once.

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The West Chester Ironcat 7000 Welded Cape Sleeve is made from stretchy suede that has been tanned for heat resistance. It has a cape style and sleeves that cover the entire arm. These are great for overhead welding as they will protect you from the sparks and spatter that land on your shoulders and arms during this particular job. They’ll keep you cooler than with a full jacket, and they’re designed to be used with the Ironcat Welding Apron.

The corners and scuff points of the West Chester Ironcat 7000 are reinforced with black oxide polished rivets for extra strength. Some users have complained that buttons break and leather tanning can leave stains on clothing.

These sleeves offer adjustable wrists and a stand-up adjustable collar to fine-tune the fit and keep sparks and spatter out of your neck or into your sleeves. The West Chester Ironcat 7000 Welding Cape Sleeves also have a pocket on each sleeve for slippery stones or scribes and leather patches on the scuff points for reinforcement.

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Miller 231096 Combo Welding Sleeves have pigskin leather for the lower half and Indura FR cotton fabric for the upper third or so. The pigskin used on these sleeves is one of the most protective materials used in welding armor. That part of those welded sleeves is less likely to burn through without a direct hit from a molten metal mass.

The flame retardant Indura 9 oz cotton fabric does a good job of protecting your upper arms, however they stay farther from the bead. Miller 231096 Combo Sleeves don’t offer the same level of protection as full coverage leather welded jackets, but they do allow for use in cooler working conditions. There have been some complaints about the seams splitting at the cuffs, but this is not prevalent among most welders who use these sleeves.

The Miller 231096 Combo Sleeves are 21 inches long and will fit most, but if you’re tall they probably won’t go past your elbows. The elastic is very wide, comfortable, and holds the sleeves in place well while you work.

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The Hobart 770570 FR Cotton Welding Sleeve is made of lightweight, breathable 9 oz FR cotton. They’re 19 inches long, so unless you’re tall, they’ll cover your arms well. These sleeves are pretty basic, but they’re also cheap, which means you can buy four pairs for the same price as a pair of expensive full leather sleeves, even though they won’t last. Hobart is known for quality, thoughtful welding equipment.

They’ll protect you well for any small welding chores you might have to deal with, but the Hobart 770570 Welding Sleeve is definitely designed for low current processes like TIG. While they are often praised by users for their durability, the truth is that these bushings were never designed for high amperage flux core or stick welding where a lot of spatter would be generated.

Hobart 770570 Flame Retardant Cotton Weld Sleeves are not lined. They usually get high marks for keeping their arms well. They will stop sparks from grinding or low current processes, but they won’t stop a drop of molten metal for more than a second or two.