Suggestions for saw/metal proof gloves?

[Welshie]

Hi All,

I'm very angry with myself. I was trying to drill a hole in a steel plate last night and because I don't have a vice as yet (just moved in to my first house with garage) I had it set on a block of wood and held with pliers. Of course as the drill bit it spun the plate around a sliced the top of my left thumb open. So after getting 3 stitches I have firstly vowed never to work with metal that isn't securely clamped in a vice again but I have also been looking into cut proof gloves because I feel that while I may have still been injured, I think cut proof gloves would have saved me the stitches!

So I want to get a pair, to work with as a precaution now ANY time I'm working with metal but I'm not sure what to get. You can get metal mesh gloves like this:

https://www.amazon.com/Luckystone-Ambidextrous-Cut-Resistant-Gloves/dp/B00DW7WHKY

But then I've also seen good review for HexArmor products that seem to give more flexibility:

Does anyone have any suggestions? This is just for light hobby work, I don't work in a metal fab shop or anything.

Thanks.

 

[aircommuter]

Perhaps the stainless steel mesh that are used for kitchen work.

 

[6768rogues]

Not picking nits, but the spelling of vice caught my eye so I checked it out. In the US, a clamping tool is typically called a vise but the rest of the world calls it a vice. In the US, a vice is something immoral or an undesirable habit. I guess holding stuff you are drilling with pliers is an undesirable habit.
When I have something that does not fit in the vise I c-clamp it to the welding table.

 

[Welshie]

No I agree, my work method was not adequate, I;m the first to admit it which is why I'm angry with myself. Rest assured I wont be working with metal I don't have securely clamped ever again. I know that's the root cause but I just want gloves to add an extra layer of protection. I think I'm just going to go with the stainless mesh gloves that are available.

Thanks.

 

[altersaddle]

I have a faint scar on my left hand from exactly this situation.

I don't bother with gloves. I use clamps, vise-grips, a vise, a piece of wood, bolts, screws, anything except my hands now.

Hands stay OUT of the cutting area. Let the tool do the work. If you must purchase something to wear, maybe a leather apron in case the work tries to shank you.

 

[JackAndy]

The metal gloves are to protect you from knicks from sharp knives like a sushi knife etc. I think a saw blade or chunk of metal would cut right through those. They'll rust and a nail would poke right through. My suggestion would be to get a pair of welding gloves from harbor freight. They have thick leather which is going to protect you from jagged metal, stray nails, flapper wheels, wire brushes etc. Obviously a sushi knife would cut right through those gloves but they would probably give you the most protection for the money. I think mine were $20.

 

[Welshie]

Thanks Andy.

 

[matt_i]

Imo you are creating a larger problem. Using gloves around bandsaws or any kind of rotating machinery, to include things like drill bits, power socket tools, lathes, etc, is a bigger danger due to the larger chance of the glove getting caught and then being strong enough to entrain your entire hand. I've seen finger fractures on innocuous looking M8 fastener tools because a glove got caught in a socket. I got my own cotton glove caught driving T25 screws with an impact driver in the winter and it was painful.

The only time I wear gloves is if I'm outside and cold, or if there's something masonry/stone/cementious which has to be handled multiple times and is going to wear away my skin in short order.

If you are going to handle sheetmetal, then kevlar gloves made by Golden Needles would be my choice.

 

[ard]

You learned a very cheap lesson.

Gloves are fine FOR SOME TASKS, get a pair of leather gloves to reduce the odds.

HOWEVER, a much better plan is to understand safe work practices. I'm not gonna go all OSHA on you, but you know how to do it. I will also say that I bet there was a little voice in your head that was saying 'this is a bad idea', but you overruled it becuase you were in a rush, wanted to get this done, whatever. Many 'accidents' have this kind of story leading into it....so listen.

I have a brother in law that 15 years ago was cutting crown molding on a chopsaw- gloves, heavy flannel shirt. Just needed to cut one final piece, didn't switch hands, was crossed up with holding it....wind from the saw caught the sleeve. He still doenst have full range of motion in that hand.

3 stitches? Very cheap lesson

 

[Welshie]

You learned a very cheap lesson.

Gloves are fine, get a pair of leather gloves to reduce the odds.

HOWEVER, a much better plan is to understand safe work practices. I'm not gonna go all OSHA on you, but you know how to do it. I will also say that I bet there was a little voice in your head that was saying 'this is a bad idea', but you overruled it becuase you were in a rush, wanted to get this done, whatever. Many 'accidents' have this kind of story leading into it....so listen.

3 stitches? Very cheap lesson

And don't I know it. As I say, lesson is well and truly learned. I actually misjudged how much torque the new DeWalt cordless drill my FIL bought for me had, man that thing with tear your wrist off compared to my old one!

I will say though, than in 20 odd years of garage work, this is the first 'serious' injury I've had, so my wife says that's not a bad track record.

 

[PAToyota]

Imo you are creating a larger problem. Using gloves around bandsaws or any kind of rotating machinery, to include things like drill bits, power socket tools, lathes, etc, is a bigger danger due to the larger chance of the glove getting caught and then being strong enough to entrain your entire hand.

This. Here is a picture of my cousin’s son’s hand - a year after “the incident.” He had gloves on because he was loading/unloading pieces into the drill press. He wiped across the table to clear the swarf and the bit grabbed his glove - smashed bones, pulled tendons, and broken wrist. He had a halo and pins for two months and then half a year of PT. Fortunately, he regained the use of his hand over time.

 

[tinmanwpk]

I agree with matt i.

Don't wear gloves. Not one man in my custom metal fabrication shop wears gloves around machinery.

 

[rlitman]

The metal gloves are to protect you from knicks from sharp knives like a sushi knife etc. I think a saw blade or chunk of metal would cut right through those. They'll rust and a nail would poke right through. My suggestion would be to get a pair of welding gloves from harbor freight. They have thick leather which is going to protect you from jagged metal, stray nails, flapper wheels, wire brushes etc. Obviously a sushi knife would cut right through those gloves but they would probably give you the most protection for the money. I think mine were $20.

+1 If you're doing whittling with a knife, a kevlar knit glove will give you plenty of slash protection, while a metal chainmail glove will give you additional protection, but at a high price of both money, and loss of dexterity and grip (they're great when butchering meat though, as they can be dishwashed, and it is much easier to clean between the rings than between the fibers).

Imo you are creating a larger problem. Using gloves around bandsaws or any kind of rotating machinery, to include things like drill bits, power socket tools, lathes, etc, is a bigger danger due to the larger chance of the glove getting caught and then being strong enough to entrain your entire hand. I've seen finger fractures on innocuous looking M8 fastener tools because a glove got caught in a socket. I got my own cotton glove caught driving T25 screws with an impact driver in the winter and it was painful.

The only time I wear gloves is if I'm outside and cold, or if there's something masonry/stone/cementious which has to be handled multiple times and is going to wear away my skin in short order.

If you are going to handle sheetmetal, then kevlar gloves made by Golden Needles would be my choice.

+1000! Seriously! DO NOT WEAR GLOVES AROUND MACHINERY THAT CAN PULL YOU IN! I cannot stress this enough.

A simple laceration on a drill press will be compounded many times over if a glove ***** your hand into the tool. Not only do you have the new risk of twisting a finger off, crushing fractures, etc., you also increase the cut risk, as you will not be able to pull your hand away after the first slice.

I'll use gloves to protect my knuckles when wrenching, and I have Hexarmor gloves that I use when pruning the roses, but gloves don't go on when using power tools, except perhaps an old pair of TIG welding gloves for spark protection when using the angle grinder.

 

[Kaizen]

I went through this quandary after slicing through my glove and nicking my finger with a cut off wheel in a grinder. Still have no idea how I did it. I had on mechanic type gloves with rubber protective pads. Sliced right through it and embedded the black rubber into my skin like a tattoo.
My research said because of the repetitive cutting those metal gloves and all others are not going to do anything. And as said above could actually cause a problem from loss of dexterity and the material getting sucked into something. I'm a lot more careful now and take more efforts to make sure i'm using it safe. This includes as you have said setting up the environment so you can do the task at hand. good luck with your new garage.

 

[Merch1]

I wholeheartedly agree with ard. I am a Fabricator with 40 yrs under my belt, and the last 15 running my own shop. I wear leather gloves religiously. We don't have a lathe or mill but we have a shear and a brake and an ironworker.
In all that time, only a few cuts. Possibly more from a sharp edge burr than anything else. I second what has already been said.... take your time, clamp it and clamp it well, plan ahead,take your time, use a sharp drill bit. There is a lot of info out there, use it.
I appreciate that there are a lot of DIYs out there. That's great, but one can't expect to do or pick up overnight what a tradesman spent decades learning. Not giving the OP **** just sending my .02 worth.

 

[PAToyota]

+1000! Seriously! DO NOT WEAR GLOVES AROUND MACHINERY THAT CAN PULL YOU IN! I cannot stress this enough.

A simple laceration on a drill press will be compounded many times over if a glove ***** your hand into the tool.

If you want a real wake-up call about the dangers of gloves, loose clothing, or loose hair, just plug “lathe accident” into Google images…

 

[rsanter]

Those are not really what you want.
I have some gloves that are made for the shop that are cut resistant. I bought them for use when grinding and handling metal and so far the gloves have gotten nicked several times but my hands have been fine.
Look for some industrial/shop gloves for grinding and such

Bob

 

[OneOfEm]

Many years ago I was needing to enlarge the holes in a couple angle brackets. I grabbed a scrap 2x4, placed the first bracket on it, holding it in place with my thumb, then proceeded to drill the hole.

When the bit caught, the bracket spun and the other leg of the bracket went through the web between my hand and thumb. I turned to my then-young son and calmly said, "this isn't good." I went inside and grabbed the super glue and did it up before the blood started flowing.

He still points to that moment as an example of me being cool under pressure. I still remember it every time I use a drill (or drill press).

No gloves. No hands as clamps/vises.

 

[glentre]

Several years ago a competitor of mine in the woodworking business had a saw operator who lost fingers on a table saw. An OSHA inspector insisted anyone cutting fiberglass must wear goggles, a mask and gloves because the fibers are harmful. Glove touched the blade and pulled his hand in. With no gloves, he would likely have had a nasty chunk of skin lost on a finger but with gloves, it was much more serious.

BTW, there are table saws now on the market that will immediately stop if a finger touches the spinning blade. I saw a demo video using a hot dog touching a blade and it stopped after just touching the dog. It throws a stop directly into the teeth and immediately ruins the blade but it sure beats the alternative.

Glen

 

[Doug Arthurs]

No gloves around rotating machine tools

 

[crewchief888]

No gloves around rotating machine tools

^^^ this

 

[SRBOND]

I use Hexarmor for vehicle extrication and they have worked well

 

[Ign]

Was the OP using a drill press? Did he state this?

Anyway I just wear inexpensive driver's gloves for 99% of my metal fab.

I do break the rules and wear gloves with the Bridgeport IF I'm repeatedly and quickly loading rusty/sharp/not-yet-deburred pcs.

 

[Hubscrub66]

If you want a real wake-up call about the dangers of gloves, loose clothing, or loose hair, just plug “lathe accident” into Google images…

Oh my I was thinking I worked with them in high school for 3 years wow, never gave it alot of thought but I was careful. Somebody did hit me with a chuck tool they left in (on purpose) and started the machine.

 

[Firebrick43]

I agree with no gloves around rotating machinery. Coworker had his hand pulled into a small hardinge toolroom lathe. Messed it up pretty good.

However cut proof gloves are great handling sharp metal just off the shear/ grinding/ deburring. I use terminators made of dynema. Much better dexterity/cut resistance/and protection than leather gloves. Decent grip even if oily, and good breath ability in hot weather. Work good as mechanics glove as well. Look expensive at first but are washable and hold up for a long time. Ironically in cold weather they don't help at all
https://www.arksafety.com/products/banom%C2%AE-terminator%C2%AE-maxply%C2%AE-dyneema%C2%AE-gloves

Used to use Kevlar gloves but the black coating was slippery when oily, and they were hot and itched slightly.