FAQ — Frequently Asked Questions
Welding Hood Questions
What lens comes with your welding hoods?
Our Tiger welding hoods come equipped with the SLW Shade 11 Auto Lens — engineered for MIG, TIG, Stick, and AC/DC welding across both high and low amperage applications. Sugar Scoops are available with either a fixed Shade 11 lens or the Shade 11 auto-darkening lens. Carbon fiber pancake hoods come with an elastic strap and sandpaper, but the lens is sold separately — grab our Shade 11 Auto-Darkening Welding Lens to pair with it.
Can I get a custom design on my hood?
Absolutely — custom work is what we do. Send us an email or use the contact page with what you have in mind.
Why does my camo or pinstriped hood look a little different from the photos?
Because every one is custom painted by hand, one at a time. No two camo patterns are identical, and hand-laid pinstriping will vary slightly from hood to hood — that's the point. You're getting a one-of-a-kind piece.
Heat, Sparks & Fire
Can a leather welding hood catch fire?
Yes — and so can your gloves, your jacket, and your boots. Leather is a natural material. It's heat- and spark-resistant, not fireproof. Sparks, spatter, and the radiant heat coming off a normal weld won't hurt it; that's exactly what leather is good at. But hold it in a torch flame or park it against red-hot metal long enough and it will scorch, char, and eventually burn.
Leather doesn't just combust on its own. It takes a lot of direct heat, and usually somebody not paying attention, to actually set one on fire.
What about sparks, spatter, and grinding?
That's normal use, and leather handles it better than paint or vinyl ever will. Spatter beads bounce off or brush off. You may pick up small marks over time — that's patina, not damage. Grinding sparks are no problem either. Every hood we build is meant to live in a shop.
How close is too close?
Your hood isn't a heat shield for the workpiece. If the leather is close enough to scorch, the shell under it is getting cooked too — and that's true of any hood on the market, wrapped or not. Rule of thumb: if you can feel heat coming through the hood, back off.
The situations that actually burn hoods:
- Torch cutting, gouging, or brazing with the hood down low and close to the flame.
- Preheating, or working on metal that's already glowing.
- Overhead or tight-quarters work where the hood rides against hot metal.
- Setting the hood down on a fresh weld or a hot workpiece between passes. This is a common one.
- Leaning in to get a better look.
Will the plastic shell melt?
It can, same as it could before we wrapped it. The shell under the leather is the same shell it always was — plastic on most hoods, carbon fiber on the pancakes — and the leather doesn't raise its heat rating. If the hood gets hot enough to scorch leather, it's hot enough to soften or warp the shell, blister paint, or damage the lens holder and headgear.
Treat the leather as a warning light: if it's browning, you're already too hot.
My hood got scorched. Now what?
Get it away from the heat and let it cool. Then look it over.
- Surface scorching or darkening, leather still supple: cosmetic. Keep welding.
- Charred, brittle, or cracked-through leather; a shell that's warped or gone soft; a lens holder that no longer seats the lens: stop using it. A hood that isn't sealing out light or holding the lens right isn't protecting your eyes and face, no matter how it looks.
Either way, if you want us to look at it, email southernleatherworks1@gmail.com with your order number and a few clear photos of the damage.
Is heat damage covered?
Straight answer: heat damage from getting too close to the work isn't a defect, any more than a burned-through glove is. It isn't covered as a warranty issue. But we review every incident case by case, because we'd rather fix a hood than see you throw it away.
- If it turns out to be a build problem on our end — the leather lifting or separating on its own, a workmanship issue — we take care of it at no charge.
- If it's heat damage, we'll usually offer to re-wrap or repair the hood at a reduced cost, so you're not buying a whole new one.
- If it's beyond saving, we'll tell you straight and quote you a replacement.
Full details are in our Heat, Sparks & Fire Policy.
Can I return a hood that got scorched?
No. A scorched hood is a used hood, and returns are only accepted on unused hoods in their original packaging (see our Refund Policy). The case-by-case review above is the route for heat damage.
Any tips for keeping it out of trouble?
- Don't set it on the workpiece or a fresh weld. Hang it up or set it on the bench.
- Flip it up between passes when you're torch cutting or gouging.
- Don't leave it baking on the dash of the truck all summer.
- Give it a wipe when spatter beads build up.
DIY Leather Kit Questions
Will a DIY leather kit fit my hood?
We offer leather refurb kits for just about every welding hood out there. Our standard kits fit sugar scoops, proliners, pipeliners, and tiger hoods. Not sure about yours? Message us before purchasing and we'll get you squared away.
What's included in a DIY kit?
Each kit includes the leather and rivets to put together one whole hood. Kits do not come with holes punched — by popular demand — so you can fit the leather exactly to your hood.
Headgear & Accessories
Which hoods do your elastic headgear replacements fit?
We have setups for Fibre-Metal, Jackson, Tefuawe, Techniweld, and Welder Magician hoods. No plastic hardware — and the elastic swaps out in about 30 seconds when it wears, so you never throw away good hardware.
Are your belts guaranteed?
Our work/dress belts are custom made in the USA from heavy-duty 12–13 oz American leather and carry a lifetime warranty.
Ordering & Shipping
How long until my hood ships?
Every hood is built to order, one at a time. Please allow 8–12 days from your order date for it to ship. You'll get a tracking number by email the moment it's on its way. Shipping is free anywhere in the US; international orders ship for a flat $30.
Can I cancel or change my order?
You can cancel within 24 hours of placing your order for a full refund. After that, your hood is in the build queue and a cancellation is treated as a return — the 25% restocking fee applies. Custom-built and custom-painted hoods can't be cancelled once the build has started. Need to change a lens option or shipping address? Email us right away and we'll do our best to catch it.
What if I entered the wrong shipping address?
Please double-check your address at checkout — it's the one thing we can't fix after the box leaves. If a package comes back to us or goes missing because the address you entered was wrong or incomplete, reshipping it is at your expense. If you'd rather not reship and want a refund instead, the 25% restocking fee applies.
How do I get in touch?
Use the contact page — whether it's a fitment question, a custom design, or anything else, we're happy to help.
Returns & Refunds
What is your return policy?
You have 14 days from the day your order arrives to request a return. All returns are subject to a 25% restocking fee, and the customer covers return shipping. Every hood is built to order, one at a time, so a returned hood is a hood we can't easily resell — the fee covers that. Items must be unused and in their original packaging.
Are there any items that can't be returned?
Custom-built and custom-painted hoods, or any hood built to your specifications, are final sale.
What if my order arrives damaged, defective, or wrong?
That's on us, and we'll make it right — no restocking fee, no return shipping cost. Email us at southernleatherworks1@gmail.com as soon as it arrives with a photo of the issue.
How do I start a return?
Email southernleatherworks1@gmail.com with your order number before shipping anything back. Once approved, refunds (less the restocking fee) go back to your original payment method within 10 business days. Full details are in our Refund Policy.