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A welding glove has a harder job than almost any other work glove: it must stop spatter, radiant heat and hot metal, and at the same time let the welder control the torch or filler rod. That is why the European standard for welding gloves, EN 12477, splits them into two types.
Type A vs Type B at a glance
| Type A | Type B | |
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Higher — more heat and spatter resistance | Lower, but still tested for welding |
| Dexterity | Lower — thicker leather, often lined | Higher — thin, soft leather |
| Typical processes | MIG/MAG, stick (MMA), flux-cored, gouging, heavy fabrication | TIG, fine work, thin sheet |
| Typical material | Split cowhide, long cuff, cotton or fleece lining | Goatskin or thin grain leather, Kevlar stitching |
The rule of thumb is simple: the more spatter and heat the process produces, the more you need Type A. TIG welding produces little spatter but needs fine finger control, so Type B is the normal choice.
EN 407: the heat rating
Welding gloves also carry an EN 407 flame pictogram with six digits for burning behaviour, contact heat, convective heat, radiant heat, small splashes and large splashes of molten metal (0–4 each, X if not tested). For welding, the most important digits are contact heat (holding hot workpieces) and small splashes (spatter). A contact-heat level 1 means protection at 100 °C for at least 15 seconds; level 2 means 250 °C.
Leather types
- Split cowhide: thick, heat-resistant and affordable — the classic MIG and stick welding glove.
- Grain cowhide: smoother and more durable, a little more dexterous.
- Goatskin: thin, strong and soft — the standard for TIG gloves.
- Kevlar thread: stitching that does not burn through when hit by spatter, so the glove lasts longer.
How to choose
- Site welding of rebar, steel structures and pipes (MIG/MAG, stick): Type A, split leather, long cuff of at least 15 cm, Kevlar stitching.
- TIG on stainless and aluminium: Type B goatskin glove — you need to feel the filler rod.
- Grinding and cutting next to welding: a leather work glove with good EN 388 cut and abrasion values. Our EN 388 guide explains the code.
- Outdoor welding in winter: a lined Type A glove keeps hands warm and protected at the same time.
When to replace welding gloves
Replace them when the leather becomes hard and shiny from heat, when seams open, or when there are holes from spatter. Gloves soaked in oil or grease must be replaced — they can catch fire. Wet leather conducts electricity, so never weld with wet gloves.
Welding gloves at TrustGear
Our welding and leather gloves include Type A gloves for MIG/MAG and stick welding, Type B TIG gloves and heavy-duty leather work gloves, with the EN 12477 type and EN 407 values listed on every product page. Ordering for a workshop or a site team? Ask us for a bulk quote, or add gloves to a full kit with the kit builder. Companies with an EU VAT number can buy without VAT and receive an invoice.