Cotton and cowhide, as materials for welding gloves, each have different characteristics and advantages and disadvantages. The main differences are as follows:
1.Heat Resistance:
Cowhide: Cowhide has excellent heat resistance and fire resistance, and can withstand high temperature and sparks well. The sparks, spatters and high temperatures generated during welding require the glove material to have sufficient heat resistance, so cowhide is very suitable for this high temperature environment.
Cotton: Cotton has poor heat resistance. Although it can provide basic protection, it is easily burned or damaged when exposed to high temperature or contact with sparks for a long time. Therefore, cotton is not suitable as a welding glove material in a high temperature environment.
2.Wear Resistance:
Cowhide: Cowhide has a tough texture and good wear resistance. It can be used for a long time. It is especially suitable for jobs that require frequent contact with tools, metals and other rough objects.
Cotton: Cotton is relatively soft and not as wear-resistant as cowhide. It is easy to wear and tear under long-term use or frequent friction.
3.Flexibility:
Cowhide: Although cowhide is thicker, it can still provide relatively good flexibility after processing, especially cowhide gloves after layering (such as pigskin or sheepskin gloves), which are more suitable for work that requires better flexibility.
Cotton: Cotton is lighter and softer, and the fingers are flexible when worn, but because its protective performance is not as good as cowhide, it is often used for light work with lower protection requirements.
4.Comfort:
Cowhide: The inside of cowhide gloves may be slightly stuffy, especially during long-term welding, but usually in order to increase comfort, cowhide gloves are equipped with cotton lining inside, which can increase breathability and comfort.
Cotton: Cotton gloves have good breathability, strong moisture absorption, and are more comfortable to wear, but they are easy to accumulate heat in high temperature environments and are not suitable for long-term welding work.
5.Protective Performance:
Cowhide: Cowhide has high resistance to cutting, puncture, and spark splashing, and is suitable for use in high-risk welding scenarios. It can provide comprehensive protection for the hands.
Cotton: Cotton has limited protection and cannot provide the same fire and cut protection as cowhide gloves, so it is generally used in light work scenarios or in combination with other materials.
6.Price:
Cowhide: Due to the high production and processing costs, cowhide gloves are usually more expensive than cotton gloves.
Cotton: Cotton gloves have lower production costs and are more affordable, suitable for large-scale purchases or for light work tasks.
7.Application Scenarios:
Cowhide welding gloves: Suitable for high-risk work scenarios such as high temperature, sparks, and cutting, such as electric welding and cutting operations.
Cotton gloves: More suitable for use in work environments that do not require high temperatures, or for auxiliary work, or in combination with other materials.
In summary, cowhide gloves are more suitable for welding operations that require high protection, high temperature resistance, and wear resistance, while cotton gloves are suitable for light work and cost-sensitive occasions.