Who uses 'mechanics gloves' and why?

[bjaspud]

I am intrigued about 'mechanics gloves'. I am curious to hear when you wear them and how long they last and how much 'feel' you have with them. Are they really worth the cost?

I'm a brown jersey cloth glove user myself. When the they wear out I toss them. When they get greasy, I toss them. You can buy 6 pair for $5.00. Whats not to like. They only thing I cant do with them on start a bolt.

Whats your opinion on 'mechanics gloves' vs. cloth gloves?

Spud

 

[trbomax]

I cant do anything with gloves on,so I have callouses.I also have always had embedded dirt that cant be washed off in some places.I always figgured that was one of the differences between me and the ladies.

 

[Red Green]

I can't stand gloves. I have trouble doing anything with them on. I wear the mechanics gloves in the winter when I am working outside. I watch for them on clearance. I bought a bunch that had whatever nascar driver that changed teams and got them for like $5 a pair. they seem to hold up reasonably well. I just put them in the washing machine with my work clothes.

 

[Keep]

I wear them when I am shaping/grinding metal. Stuff gets hot pretty quick, lets me do a bit more before I have to let things cool.

I have tried wearing them while wrenching, I always end up taking them off since I cannot feel anything.

 

[dankicksass]

I only wear mechanics gloves when I'm working outside. Blue nitrile all the time otherwise.

 

[gatewaysysop]

I am intrigued about 'mechanics gloves'. I am curious to hear when you wear them and how long they last and how much 'feel' you have with them. Are they really worth the cost?

I'm a brown jersey cloth glove user myself. When the they wear out I toss them. When they get greasy, I toss them. You can buy 6 pair for $5.00. Whats not to like. They only thing I cant do with them on start a bolt.

Whats your opinion on 'mechanics gloves' vs. cloth gloves?

Spud

I have all kinds of gloves, but honestly for working on the Bronco, I prefer the mechanics gloves or similar. Lots of tactile feeling even in the most insulated parts and they at least offer some protection from the hot stuff and the sharp stuff. They're priced well enough that I can toss 'em if they turn to ****, which usually takes a while.

Permatex actually has some pretty nice ones too (found them on Amazon) as well. They're slightly cheaper but the quality is about the same (I own both).

Other than that, my favorite all-around, non-mechanics glove (especially for yard work ****) is the Well's Lamont stuff they sell in the 3-packs at Costco. They're not too thick, but they don't age well if you leave them outside. They're cheap enough though, so I buy enough that I can use them without worrying too much.

 

[blaze_125]

I use the gloves almost everytime I work on just about anything, unless it's something that can be done very quickly.

Why: It helps with vibrations, it helps when you have to grab something ubber tightly, it also absorbs the shock when your hand slips off the tool and bangs on whatever you're working on, it keeps my hand much cleaner, my hands breath better in those than they do in latex or other similar gloves... There are too many things to list...

How's the feel? Well that depends on the glove you get. Most of the pairs I have I can pick a dime off the floor or even light a bic lighter. That's how much dexterity*sp?* I still have with the gloves on.

How long they last? That depends on the useage you make of them. I'm a hobyist, so I don't work on stuff as often as a mechanic would. But they last long enough for my liking. And they go on sale every now and then anyway and you can get them fairly cheap.

I use the gloves for car work, woodwork, and just about everything else. I love them.

The gloves in the pictures, I've owned for at least 2 years and they're still decent. I have other pairs somewhere... When they get too dirty, just throw them in the washing machine and let air dry. My hands also don't feel as tired after a day of work when I wear them.

 

[thingadmin]

I started wearing them this year after I was breaking a bolt loose from a water pump. The bolt broke loose and my knuckle hit the timing cover and cut me to the bone and took a bone chip off in the process. Two stitches to repair the muscle 7 more to close it up.

I have since bought a pair of gloves that are supposed to be made with Kevlar thread cloth. I don't know if that means anything but, the feel good and let you handle parts that are a little too hot for bare skin. I am 46 and my skin is not as elastic as it once was. Things that might not have broken the skin years ago might now.
I still take them off for small parts like washers and stuff but, I have them on more than not.

 

[Scout Driver]

I wear a pair of Craftsman mechanics gloves when I'm pulling parts at junkyards. Too much broken glass, torn and ragged sheetmetal, and other hazards trying to get at the paws.

Doing actual work in the shop.......the gloves are good for "feel", but not excellent. I don't wear them unless there is immediate hazard to my hands that the gloves can ward off.

Scott

 

[GeorgiaHybrid]

I wear them when I am shaping/grinding metal. Stuff gets hot pretty quick, lets me do a bit more before I have to let things cool.

I have tried wearing them while wrenching, I always end up taking them off since I cannot feel anything.

+1 except that I use them working around sharp metal objects. I'm surprised my wife lets me have something sharp like a knife....

 

[D.J.]

Mechanics gloves are GREAT!!!! Firm beliver in these and keep your hands smoother for your honey and easier to keep all that **** out from under your fingernails also craftsman sells them also. I feel they are worth the money! would like to run into a sale for $5.00 pair would buy about four pair even if I had to write a bad check for them! They just don't hold u[p as well as I think they should. (wear out too quickly) Make sure you buy the correct size! Should size them as a second skin. IMHO
Just my $ .02
________
Video reviews

 

[blaze_125]

They just don't hold u[p as well as I think they should. (wear out too quickly)

I noticed they wear out faster when I handle hot items, such as freshly welded parts.

 

[Wanna Ride]

Here's my take on gloves...
I spent over twenty years refusing to wear gloves, for every imaginable reason under the sun. Absolutely hated them, didn't even like to wear warm gloves outside on sub-freezing days.

Then about eight years ago, someone gave me a free pair of MechanixWear Originals. I still didn't like them, but they told me to try and wear them all day to get used to them, and break them in properly. I did, and then again the next day, the next day...

Now, I will almost never work on stuff unless I'm wearing them. Gloves don't make you a sissy. Just like safety glasses, earplugs, etc... they're personal protective gear. And they protect you. When you get the right size, and they're the right ones for the job... you'll be happy with them once you get accustomed to them. And your hands will thank you for it too.

I guess you don't have to buy expensive name brand ones, but some sort of glove is better than no glove, as long as it fits properly and isn't improperly exposed to rotating tools that can pull your hands in.

And by the way... Mechanix makes a gazillion different specialty trades gloves.

Check them out: http://www.mechanix.com/

 

[blaze_125]

... and isn't improperly exposed to rotating tools that can pull your hands in.

I figured I'd make that part stand out a little more

 

[Wanna Ride]

Agreed, can't stress that one enough!

 

[e-tek]

I LOVE gloves. I'll forget to use them, but when I remeber, they are great - for all the reasons already given. I wear Mechanix, blue Nitrile, sugical and even basic cheap cloth ones for tearing down vehicles.

 

[oldgoat]

I have to admit that I don't wear gloves unless I just absolutely have to. The Blue Nitrile gloves tear too easy and the Mechanix gloves just don't give me the feel that I need. I had a father in law that on the other hand didn't do anything unless he had on the white cotton gloves. I still keep a pair of his in the shop just as a reminder of him.

 

[Rockford514]

Only glove I use is my left welding glove.
To much oil,grease,and mud

 

[Wanna Ride]

Those blue nitrile gloves are awesome for a messy job, like packing bearings.

 

[Rockford514]

Only glove I use is my left welding glove.
To much oil,grease,and mud

 

[Racecarl]

I can't wear gloves when doing mechanic work unless it is something sharp, heavy, or hot. I used to use mechanic gloves when trucking, but they just don't seem to stand up to slinging chains and boomers. I would usually wear holes in the fingers. I didn't really need the 'feel and dexterity' that mechanic gloves are known for, so I switched to gloves that the railroad uses. They are tough, heavy duty gloves and work well for what I do now.

 

[FastKat]

I really like Mechanics gloves. They save your hands from getting cut up, banged up, and burnt. Nothing worse than having your filthy greasy grimy hand getting cut open in the middle of a job. They also keep grease from getting deeply embedded in your hands and fingernails, which makes for easier cleanup when you're done.

I would say the feel is very good. I buy mine on the tight side. The feel is better when they're tight, and the stretch out a little anyway. The only thing I don't like is that I have trouble getting my hand in and out of my pocket (for keys, etc) when I have the gloves on.

Some of the gloves, I think Craftsman, have some extra grippy material on the pointer finger and thumb, which gives you better grip.

Also, can't beat them in them in the cold weather!

 

[Boyd]

The only time I wear mechanics gloves is when I'm handling something with sharp,rough edges. But I do wear black nitrile gloves when I'm wrenching. I can go through 10 pair a day, but it's well worth it to me. Washing my hands at the end of the day takes all of about 20 seconds and no grease, grime under my nails.

 

[Mustangmike]

Our shop supplies the Mechanics Brand gloves.When I'm pulling wheels and tires off,or using air hammers,i find that the vibrations are absorbed by the gloves so my hands are not sore at the end of the day, and for safety reasons, when i have a hammer in one hand and i'm swinging at a chisel/punch/ that i have in the other,it does soften the inevitable contact. I've worn out Mac, Snap-On just as quickly as Mechanics brand. The Nitrile gloves are worn when dealing with coolant repairs, deisel oil changes,bearing repacks, anything messy..

 

[A29]

I can remember to put em on just after I get a good cut or scrape

 

[Jack Olsen]

I've always been a fan of the Atlas gloves.

 

[rwhite692]

Why not get a pair, and see for yourself?

 

[tcianci]

I do find myself wearing gloves more than I used to. Ususally the brown jersey type or slightly heavier in the winter but You do lose some of the dexterity. I'm now a big fan of the HF blue nitrile gloves. I was doing some fiberglass work tonight (put a hole in the wrong place on a fender) the blue gloves are the cats pajamas for staying goop free.

 

[xcgates]

some sort of mechanics type glove is great when my hands are liable to be burned, sliced open, or even just banged to h-e-double-toothpicks if a wrench slips. Helpful also in the extreme cold, and in the really hot weather.

Blue ones for one hand for the nastiest part of an oil change.

If I'm just wrenching/working, and not putting my hands in that big of a risk of damage, I don't due to the loss of dexterity.

Though I did get a nice pair of motocycle gloves that I can grab a credit card out of my wallet, or push the buttons on my phone without taking them off. Lee Parks, if anyone cares. They were a bit expensive to expose to general work, though.

 

[Fudge0514]

I use the mechanics gloves quite frequently, and I've since also picked up the "western safety" ones from HF for 1/3 of the cost. Love using those for when I'd otherwise bust my knuckles. I usually throw on a pair of blue nitrile underneath, then my hand are nice and clean if I gotta get to my phone or something.

I'm a huge fan of the blue nitriles for when I need some good dexterity. Buy 'em cheap, stack 'em deep. (less than 1/2 cost at HF)

 

[408Chevelle]

I cant do anything with gloves on,so I have callouses.I also have always had embedded dirt that cant be washed off in some places.I always figgured that was one of the differences between me and the ladies.

I'm with this guy.

If I'm working on something and have poor lighting or when working above my head I rely on touch. I guess that's the reason I call my place "Busted Knuckle Garage."

 

[sanddrag]

I must have tried every pair of gloves I could get my hands on and eventually settled on some Dickies brand goat-skin gloves. They're very thin and extremely flexible, but also quite durable. At about $24 they weren't cheap though. I use them when working with wood and metal chips, or general dirty auto stuff. Keeps the hands nice and clean. However, in So Cal, I often find it's too hot to be wearing gloves of any sort, as I have to remove them often to wipe my face. Also, they have to come off for thin things like washers, and delicate things like springs and electrical connectors. It is nice to have the option of clean hands though at break time.

I have never been able to wear any sort of fully sealed glove (nitrile, etc) for any extended period of time.

 

[xcgates]

Right, I forgot one big advantage to carrying a pair of mechanics gloves: when certain people's vehicles break down on the side of the road, they can stay reasonably clean even wearing fairly nice clothing. Hence they stay in a certain someone's mobile tool kit. *ahem*

 

[GTVi]

Nitrile gloves when working in the engine bay, and other greasy areas, but otherwise I use barrier cream from the pharmacy, helps keep the dirt out of the finger nails, and makes clean up easier.

 

[fastbroshi]

This makes me think of a story someone told me of a ancient mechanic that had been wrenching since the 40s or so. He never wore gloves for anything. He ended up getting cancer in his hands from all the chemicals he'd absorbed into his skin over the years cleaning rusty, greasy parts. His hands were all curled up into balls, useless. Cleaners these days are a lot safer, but I wouldn't go playing in it all day.

Given I don't use my hands blue collar style for work, but I use them none the less. I suspect most of us do in one way or another.

Wish I'd been using gloves the other day when I was handling some torch wicks. They were full of fiberglass and got all over my hands and forearms.

 

[z28toz06]

I wear when ever I can. It saves the hands. When they're too rough, the Future Mrs. EX doesn't like being "handled" if you know what I mean.

Besides if you never use them because you want to feel what you are working on, after a while your fingers get so calloused you can't feel anything anyway, especially small screws etc. Try them 4 yourself, carrying wood etc, it will save you a lot of splinters and the accompanying pain from the infections afterwards.

 

[ratdoggy]

I've always been a fan of the Atlas gloves.

I use the same type. If I'm not using these it's blue nitrile to keep the paws clean.

 

[KYGTP]

I use my mechanics gloves when taking things apart in a engine bay. It seems that you bust your hands up with taking everything apart, but when I assemble, I usually use some type of nitrile gloves to try and keep thing clean.

But I love my mechanics gloves though.

 

[bluebolt]

I prefer Mechanix or Craftsman work gloves, especially for tear down, working outside on hot sunny days when the car parts will burn your skin.

When I was in the Air Force I ordered about 500 pairs of Mechanix gloves from Summit for our guys working on the flightline overseas. Did get a 10% discount for teh large order. We were on a hot sunny island but most dangerous thing there were the occasional Australian soldier on R&R who like to to just start a fight without any warning. Just come up and pop you one.

 

[49tandc]

I wait until HF puts theirs on sale and I buy a few pr at a time. I ALWAYS wear them when I work with fencing (lots of splinters in PT posts & post hole digging). I didn't used to wear any, but I like them a lot when I'm welding/grinding/handling hot metal. I look at the rips & scrapes in the gloves and think - "huh! that would have been my skin..."

49T&C