Thinking of getting into welding? With the right guidance and equipment, it can be a great skill to have and can be a lucrative career. We understand that it can be challenging to think about since it entails working with heat and high-intensity situations.

Worry not because we at nexAir have put together a list of must-have supplies for new welders. With these tools and equipment, you can identify the basic welding supplies you’ll need to explore a career in welding.

Let’s dive in. 

 

Welding Gloves

Welding gloves are different from other gloves. They have several layers of insulation and are built with tougher materials that can withstand high pressure and heat. They help protect you from injuries and burns from sparks. 

 

Welding Magnets

Magnets are a very important tool for welders to have. The more you use them and as you develop in skill, the more uses you’ll have for them. Welding magnets can be used to hold two pieces of metal together in ways and angles that clamps might not be able to. Magnets allow you to maneuver metals with ease as well. 

 

MIG (Metal Inert Gas) Pliers

Another essential tool, pliers are also used to hold two pieces of metal together as you go about the welding process. They help you remove the nozzle from the MIG gun, remove welding splatter, and fine-tune your piece. You can also use them to tighten or loosen the contact tip. 

 

Welding Boots

Welding boots are one of the most important tools when it comes to safety in the workplace. Foot injuries are incredibly common among welders since proper welding boots often get overlooked. 

Materials falling to the floor, hot metal, sharp shavings, and sparks can land on your foot. If your feet are unprotected, welding incidents can result in serious harm. Get good boots with tough leather and steel-reinforced toes.

 

Welding Clamps

Welding clamps, especially C clamps, will give you loads of precision over the metals that you fuse together. They allow you to hold them at various angles during welding. C clamps also help you achieve a stronger grip on the metal sheets or objects you are working on.

 

Welding Cart

A sturdy and durable welding cart is a must-have. Welding requires a lot of heavy equipment such as gas tanks, air tanks, MIG/ TIG, and more. A welding cart allows you to move them around safely without endangering your back from all the weight.

You can store your fans, tools, tanks, and more in them and move them around your workspace more easily.

 

Safety Goggles

Safety goggles are a no-brainer! Wear them at all times to protect your eyes from heat, ultraviolet rays, infrared rays, and stray sparks that fly around as you weld. Working without safety goggles can result in permanent damage to your eyes.

 

Chipping Hammer

An extremely handy tool, a chipping hammer can be used when you want to shape or polish a piece of welded metal. The slag condensation that happens after metal melts will need to be chipped off as well. 

Use the pointed or flat side of the hammer to precisely remove any slag or odd bits. 

 

nexAir: Welding Experts Who Can Help You Forge Forward

The nexAir team is always ready to help our customers with any welding questions they may have — whether they’re about welding equipment or processes. We have the drive and the commitment to help them Forge Forward with the right tools, knowledge, and state-of-the-art technology.