15 Welding Accessories to Add to Your Arsenal – Why You Need Them

Welding is a naturally dangerous and difficult task. Just imagine subjecting yourself to intense glare and heat and getting too close to slags and spatters. This discipline is definitely not for the faint-hearted.

But if you are an avid welder or you plan on becoming one, you can keep yourself safe and enjoy welding more by completing your welding accessories arsenal. We recommend getting the following welding accessories for smooth-sailing and safe welding:

1. Welding Clamps

Welding clamps are essential in keeping your metal piece in place. This makes it easier to complete your work faster and to get the most professional-looking results, especially when working with thinner metal pieces that tend to move around a lot. There are a lot of good welding clamps out there including those from Betool, Bessey, Capri and MaxPower.

What to Look For: Choose those made from corrosion-resistant materials. Make sure they are heavy-duty enough to provide you with the benefits you are looking for. These also come in different sizes. Be sure to get them in different sizes, to accommodate the different thickness of materials you will work on.

Best Welding Clamp Reviews (2019): The Top Grips To Use In Your Shop

2. Welder Extension Cords

Welding machines need to be grounded and need a stable source of electricity. If there is a surge in electricity, it can cause your welding machine to sputter and heat up too fast, leading to inconsistent output and possible overheating. If your work area is too far from your electrical source, you would want to get an extension cord for that. But don’t just pick a regular extension cord from the market. Be sure to get the ones specifically designed for welding. Choose one that meets industry standards.

What to Look For: Check your welder first and see what its specifications are, so you can find an extension cord that will provide that need. They come in different voltage options. Also pick a good length that works for your specific preferences.

Best Welder Extension Cords (2019): Reviews Of Our Favorite Power Cables

3. Welding Chipping Hammer

Chipping hammers are used after welding to clean up unsightly slags and create smoother seams. Some come in a one-piece construction while others come in two separate pieces, with the body attached to a separate head. The former is usually more durable because of its one-piece construction.

What to Look For: Look for one made from high quality steel, so it will last for a long time. American steel and similar materials are good.

Best Welding Chipping Hammer Reviews (2019): Our Top Tools For The Money

4. MIG Welding Wire

MIG welding is easier to learn, which makes it a good discipline for beginners or hobbyists. You can’t do MIG welding without MIG welding wires. Thankfully, you won’t run out of choices with brands like Inefil, Hobart, TGB and WeldingCity coming up with their own version of a welding wire.

What to Look For: Compare the tensile strength. If you are doing multi-pass applications, go for one with a higher tensile strength. Check out how much spatter it produces. High-quality welding wires do not create as much spatter as low-quality ones.

Best MIG Welding Wire Reviews (2019): The Sizes & Brands We Prefer

5. Auto-Darkening Welding Helmet

Head safety is paramount when welding, especially when doing overhead welding tasks. But don’t just go for a basic helmet, choose an auto-darkening welding helmet that automatically darkens the lens when it is exposed to bright glare. This can protect your eyes from the intense glare when doing welding work and can also prevent eye strain and fatigue when welding outdoors for a prolonged period of time.

What to Look For: Compare the response time of these welding helmets. Choose those that are more responsive and has excellent and clear optics as well as a large viewing window.

Best Auto-Darkening Welding Helmet Reviews (2019): Our Top-Rated Hoods For The Money

6. Custom Welding Helmet

Another helmet option for welders out there are the custom welding helmets. Auto darkening helmets can be custom welding helmets as well. You can have the fit and the design customized to suit your needs. Wear a custom welding helmet to increase your productivity.

What to Look For: Choose helmets with thinner materials as they are more lightweight and easier to wear for extended periods of time. However, still make sure that the material used is high quality, so that it can last for a long time. Also have the color customized. Choose colors that can reflect heat instead of absorb it.

Best Custom Welding Helmets (2019): Reviews Of Our Favorite Headgear

7. Welding Glove

Protect your hands from spatters and slags with this accessory. Burns are some of the most common welding-related injuries and your hands are the most susceptible because they are the closest to the welding material.

What to Look For: Look for a material that will allow dexterity for the welding discipline you prefer. Thicker leather materials might have more protective quality but your fingers might not move around easily.

Best Welding Glove Reviews (2019): The Top Pairs To Buy For Your Work

8. Welding Jacket

A welding jacket provides more coverage to the upper body. Many have natural flame-resistant properties and are even incorporated with Kevlar materials for more protection against high heat and spatters.

What to Look For: Look for flame and moisture-resistant properties. It should also be able to wick away sweat, so you can wear it even during hot days.

Best Welding Jacket Reviews (2019): Our Favorites For All Seasons

9. Welding Respirator

Unless you want to inhale toxic fumes and gases that are likely to be expelled by the welding machine, you need a welding respirator. It makes it easier to breathe while working.

What to Look For: Look for those with excellent air purifying and air filtering properties to truly keep the harmful gases at bay.

Best Welding Respirator Reviews (2019): The Top Protective Gear To Use

10. Welding Sleeves

If you don’t fancy wearing a welding jacket because it is hot, you can opt for welding sleeves instead. They are just as protective. Many are flame-resistant and they contain Kevlar materials that increase protection.

What to Look For: The longer, the better. This will provide more coverage for your arms.

Best Welding Sleeves (2019): Reviews Of Our Favorite Pairs To Use

11. Welding Boot

The feet are vulnerable to injuries such as cuts and burns. You also would want to protect your feet from the possibility of electrical grounds.

What to Look For: Strike a balance between comfort and protection. Make sure these boots are made from leather material that is spatter and flame-resistant but also comfortable and cool enough to be worn the entire day.

Best Welding Boot Reviews (2019): The Top Footwear For Metalwork

12. Welding Caps

Welding caps can be worn by themselves on a hot day or worn under a welding helmet for added protection. You can find these welding caps from Lincoln, Revco and Lapco, to name a few.

What to Look For: Choose those that come with an absorbent inner liner, so you can wear it for extended periods of time without suffering from excessive sweating.

Best Welding Caps (2019): Reviews Of Cool Headgear We Love Wearing

13. Welding Shirts

Welding shirts can be worn under a welding jacket for more heat protection. Revco, Wrangler and Carhartt make some of the best welding shirts that look like they can also be worn as a regular shirt.

What to Look For: Choose a cotton material that is comfortable but still has excellent flame-resistant properties.

Best Welding Shirts (2019): Reviews Of Our Favorite Workwear To Use

14. Welding Blanket

Protect your work area that is susceptible to fires with the help of a welding blanket. These products are typically made from fire-resistant materials like fiberglass and Kevlar.

What to Look For: Choose one that is big enough to cover your work area and has a good weight, so you won’t have a hard time using it.

Best Welding Blanket Reviews (2019): Non-Fiberglass & Traditional Picks

15. Welding Apron

Welding aprons can be a good substitute to welding jackets, if you don’t fancy wearing a thick jacket when it is hot. We like those made by Waylander and Hobart.

What to Look For: Aside from heat-resistant properties, also look for those with enough pockets to store your tools and have an adjustable feature to make wearing them easier.

Best Welding Apron Reviews (2019): The Most Comfortable & Protective

Conclusion

Buy these accessories and minimize your risks of welding-related injuries. Find the best welders, welding tools, and other DIY related tools and tips when you visit our homepage.

You can also check out our reviews of the best welding carts here!

Or, explore the rest of our welding accessory buying guides: