5 Best Welding Blanket Reviews and Buying Guides 2022

There are two things that are of utmost importance when it to processes like welding; Human resources as in the health and safety of the worker and it safety of the equipment as you invested a lot of financial capital in the provision of these instruments. So, it becomes important for the employers to keep in check the safety requirements of the workers and the maintenance of the equipment.

The process of welding requires a lot of intensive work and therefore things like welding blankets are provided to prevent any accident from happening. Welding blankets are basically there to absorb all the excess heat and particles that are coming out as a result of welding process. In this article we’ll provide you with the details of the 5 best welding blankets available in the markets and a step by step guide to buying the blanket that suits your needs.

Reviews of the Best Welding Blankets 2021

Let’s look at our first item in the list that is the heavy duty fiberglass welding blanket that is made by Neiko. Some of the important features of this blanket are;

Temperature Range: Avery important feature as to what extent this material can tolerate the temperature. You can do welding process that has a maximum temperature range of 1000°F or 537°C.

Material: It is made up of heavy duty fiber glass material. The quantity of fiber glass material used is 19.8 oz per square yard of the cloth that makes it a heavy duty material. This property also makes it for several usages. It also has Brass grommets embedded into it after every 11 feet for making it easy hang able.

Flame Retardant: The material that is used in the making this blanket is the fiber glass. Fiber glass is a reliable material that can help in the safety of the worker and the apparatus during welding operations. It absorbs the heat, sparks and splatter coming out of the operation and prevents property damage.

Weaving Pattern: To increase the durability of the product manufacturers have chosen to make it 30 x 30 per inch. This is the number of the fibers woven into each other.

Hiwowsport is known for having multiple product lines and produces durable and efficient products. Let’s look at the product in hand.

Temperature Range: This product has a very high temperature resistance. So, if you work in a place where there is a lot of heat production and splatter production during the welding operation. This is your type of blanket. It can tolerate the temperature range of 1800°F or 1000°C. Welding operations usually remain under this range of temperature so it can be a reliable source of heat protection.

Material: it is made up of carbon fiber material. It is a very unique material as it does not tarnish easily making it durable for a longer period of time. Also, it can be used for multiple time usage. This material also does not cause itching. The thickness of this material is 6 mm. The concentration of carbon fiber in the material is 21 oz. per square yard.

Flame Retardant: Its efficiency in absorbing heat is better than the other blankets. It can be used for both heating and cooling purposes. It heats as easily as it gets cool after the operation. It can also be used to drape off the working surface or floor surfaces. This can also be hanged for vertical protection from sparks or splatter.

Lenco is also considered in one of the wanted brands for welding sheets. Some of its specifications are;

Temperature Range: Avery important feature as to what extent this material can tolerate the temperature. This features determines the function of health and safety of the worker during the operation. You can do welding process that has a maximum temperature range of 1000°F or 537°C with this welding blanket.

Material: It is made up of fiber glass material with Kevlar stitching. It is a pliable material what this means is that it can be bent and folded repeatedly and still does not tarnish and last for a long time. Precautions needs to be taken as in wear gloves because the fiberglass can be itchy for some people so it better to take precautions like wearing gloves. Also, the material can shed easily making it less useful for the purpose it is made up of. Grommets are available at a distance of approximately 24 inches from each other.

Flame Retardant: It is a heavy duty blanket so it can efficiently absorb the heat coming from the welding operation. This welding blanket was designed to be used for excellent welding facilities. Fiber glass is a reliable material that can help in the safety of the worker and the apparatus during welding operations. It absorbs the heat, sparks and splatter coming out of the operation and prevents property damage.

Hansway is famous in making products that are resistant and durable. Now, let’s look at the specifications of this particular product;

Temperature Range: Temperature range is very important for any welding blanket the operation efficiency and worker’s health safety can depend on the range of temperature tolerated by the welding blanket.It can tolerate the temperature in the range of 1800°F or 1000°C. Welding operations usually remain under this range of temperature so it can be a reliable source of heat protection.

Material: This product is also made up of carbon fiber. It is a very unique material as it does not tarnish easily making it durable for a longer period of time. Also, it can be used for multiple time usage. This material also does not causes itching. The thickness of this material is 6 mm. The concentration of carbon fiber in the material is 21 oz. per square yard.

Flame Retardant: Its efficiency in absorbing heat is better than the other blankets. It can be used for both heating and cooling purposes. It heats as easily as it gets cool after the operation. It can also be used to drape off the working surface or floor surfaces. This can also be hanged for vertical protection from sparks or splatter.

How To Choose The Best Welding Blanket?

After reading all that information about the different welding blankets and their specifications now you might be having a lot of questions in your mind. As to which welding blanket should I buy now? Or which welding blanket will best suit my purpose for welding? No need to worry, we have got you covered. All these questions will be addressed in this section. We’ll provide you with the step by step guide to select the best welding blanket for you.

Material

There are certain types of materials that can only be the ones welding blankets will be made up of. These material are used because of their high resistance to the heat and molten splatters that are released during the welding process. In the past, fiber was used that used to release toxic substances that are harmful for the workers health. Now, usually three types of materials are used for making welding blankets;

• Leather
• Fiber glass
• Carbon fiber

The most durable and the most temperature resistant material among these three is the carbon fiber. So, if you are working in the industry where most the day you are exposed to these sparks and splatters then this is the right product for you. The fiberglass material is also durable and can be used for multiple uses but it can tarnish easily and can cause itching in some cases when you are using it by placing it below your instrumentation, having direct contact with it. The use of leather during the past years have very much reduced and you won’t see many blankets that are made up of leather.

Temperature Resistance

 The temperature resistance quality very much depends upon the nature of the process you’re involved in doing. The process that creates high heat and splatters you would need a blanket with high quality material that can resist that temperature. Usually, carbon fiber material is the most temperature resistant material which tolerate the heat of 1000°C. Making it ideal for the people who exposed to high temperatures at their workplace. The next material that come in is the fiber glass material having the temperature tolerance range in 537°C.

Function

 The main function that the blankets provide us is the protection and prevention of the fire from heat and splatter production the process of welding. There are certain things that need to be considered while wanting to attain that function or things to look for while buying a heat resistant welding blanket:

• Their durability is of utmost importance because in industrial processes how long the thing is going to keep performing the function is important. So, you need to look for that too when you are buying the welding blanket.
• The second thing you need to see is how reliable a material is in performing its function. The function of reliability depends upon how resistance the welding blanket is of tarnishing or tearing apart.
• The third important thing is that eyelets should be present at the sides of the blanket to make its use more efficient.

So these were three of the most important things you need to look for while buying a welding blanket. Then of course comes the price that is an objective scale of what can you afford.

5 Washing Tips for The Welding Blanket

When you need to wash the welding blanket, don’t mix it with other non-heat or heat-resistant clothing. It means you will have to clean the welding blanket separately. When you load the blanket separately in the washing machine, it prevents contamination of non-heat resistant materials and chemical with the welding blanket.

Also, you must use specific detergent to keep the protective layer of the blanket intact. The entire washing steps include-

1. You should set the water temperature at 104°F or less. We understand that most people believe that washing blankets over 104°F are the best for destroying debris and stains from the fabric. But it is not the case with the welding blanket. Also, don’t set the washing machine at its hottest temperature settings. We recommend you to check the welding blanket user manual to find the right temperature setting.
2. You must not use soap to wash the welding blanket. It is suggested that you always use bleach-free detergent to clean the blanket. Bleach will destroy the integrity of the vermiculite or carbon fiber of the blanket. So, it might lose its heat-resistant facility. Also, you are free to choose any bleach-free detergent for it, since there’s no specific brand recommendation from the experts. Also, check the detergent label to ensure that it is bleach-free.
3. When you choose the washing detergent, prefer the liquid and bleach-free detergents. Soaps and fabric softeners are strictly discouraged from washing the welding blanket. Regular washing soaps and fabric softeners will leave a flammable coating over the blanket. It will destroy the heat-protective layer of the welding blanket.
4. Set the washing cycle, as suggested in the manual book for the welding blanket. Also, ensure that the welding blanket doesn’t soak more than the preferred washing cycle. When you soak the blanket for welding with both detergent and water, it will damage the heat-resistant protective layer of it. If you clean the blanket with hands, simply dampen it for a few minutes, ideally not more than five minutes. Don’t soak the welding blanket.
5. After washing the blanket, dry it in average temperature. You don’t have to do anything special to dry the welding blanket.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the uses of a welding blanket?

As you might guess from the welding blanket name, its purpose is to safeguard the welder and welding equipment from any unwanted hazards during the welding time. A welding blanket is manufactured using multiple layers of protective materials such as vermiculite and inorganic fibrous material. The vermiculate is nonexpendable, and the inorganic fibrous material is heat-resistant. So, the blankets offer the utmost safety to the welder and related equipment from electrical and fire hazards mostly.

2. Are welding blankets indeed waterproof?

Truly speaking, most welding blankets are water-resistant. But, mostly these welding blankets are not 100% waterproof. So, the welding blanket might withstand light splashes of water but won’t safeguard the welding equipment from raindrops and substantial water flow. You might use a tarp or waterproofing material to waterproof the welding blankets. Yet, it is not a practical idea according to the most welders.

3. Can I clean a welding blanket?

Yes, you can wash a welding blanket, but it needs special care and washing technique. Firstly, you must clean the welding blanket separately. Secondly, ensure to prevent contamination of non-heating materials from keeping the welding blanket intact. (We have prepared a different section for washing welding blankets in the article).

4. Will a fire or welding blanket expire?

Here’s a piece of good news for the welder, especially those who look for welding blankets. These blankets don’t have any expiration. Also, welding blankets need the least care and maintenance. All you have to do to reuse the welding blanket is to wash, roll and restock it.

5. How much heat can a fire and welding blanket withstand?

Although the heat-resistance capacity of welding and blanket might vary from brands to brands and materials, it has a standard too. At present, most welding and fire blanket will successfully withstand up to 1000°F heat for 1 minute. Some blankets will withstand around 750°F temperature for three to five minutes.

Conclusion

To conclude this article, we’d like to emphasize the importance of the worker’s health and safety at the workplace and also the safety of the welding machine and equipment due to the investment of human capital. Both of these things are important and necessary practices should be done to ensure that no harm is done to the workers or the equipment during the operation. The right type of welding blanket can help you protect these precious resources. We tried our best to provide you with all the information necessary for buying the perfect welding blanket that suits your scale of process.  We hope you enjoyed reading this article and found it useful.