Dumb question? Gloves vs. no gloves
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WWheeler
Well-known member
This!
Toomanytools?
Well-known member
No gloves most of the time, I wear them when cutting metal, sticking my hands in an electrical panel, moving a lot of lumber and whenever I use pressure treated lumber.
dr_clyde
Well-known member
I am in the "gloves when it's appropriate" camp.
I wear gloves when using power tools. I wear gloves when using machine tools. I wear gloves when handling stock. I wear gloves when welding.
There are times when I don't. Hand polishing on a spindle, around moving chains and sprockets, checking finishes on turned parts, stuff where the risk is too much. I pay attention to what I am doing.
There isn't any reason for my hands to be near the chainsaw chain, the drill press spindle, the table saw blade, ect. If my hands are close enough to where a glove makes the difference between getting caught or not, my hand is too close.
Gloves have saved my hands more than not. I try not to use an angle grinder without gloves. In fact, the one time my hand got caught in machinery, I wasn't wearing gloves. My hands were where they shouldn't have been, and got a finger caught. I was being stupid.
I don't like wearing gloves, but I'm used to it now.
The amount of damage to your hands from general shop work is easily avoided with some simple work gloves. Not the huge, bulky leather and cotton jobs that your grandpa wore, but some nice, modern, well made gloves. I usually use a Hyflex cut resistant glove for most shop activities.
A friend of mine is a field service tech for Cat. He was on a local pipeline job, and the safety officer for the pipeline required gloves for every person on the jobsite, at all times, no matter what. They take safety very seriously. This includes the guys running grinders, and other rotary tools.
Its common sense. Don't put your finger where you wouldn't put your pecker.
I wear gloves when using power tools. I wear gloves when using machine tools. I wear gloves when handling stock. I wear gloves when welding.
There are times when I don't. Hand polishing on a spindle, around moving chains and sprockets, checking finishes on turned parts, stuff where the risk is too much. I pay attention to what I am doing.
There isn't any reason for my hands to be near the chainsaw chain, the drill press spindle, the table saw blade, ect. If my hands are close enough to where a glove makes the difference between getting caught or not, my hand is too close.
Gloves have saved my hands more than not. I try not to use an angle grinder without gloves. In fact, the one time my hand got caught in machinery, I wasn't wearing gloves. My hands were where they shouldn't have been, and got a finger caught. I was being stupid.
I don't like wearing gloves, but I'm used to it now.
The amount of damage to your hands from general shop work is easily avoided with some simple work gloves. Not the huge, bulky leather and cotton jobs that your grandpa wore, but some nice, modern, well made gloves. I usually use a Hyflex cut resistant glove for most shop activities.
A friend of mine is a field service tech for Cat. He was on a local pipeline job, and the safety officer for the pipeline required gloves for every person on the jobsite, at all times, no matter what. They take safety very seriously. This includes the guys running grinders, and other rotary tools.
Its common sense. Don't put your finger where you wouldn't put your pecker.
We use tight fitting cut resistant gloves a lot, leathers when using a grinder.
The rubber coated cut resistant gloves are nice too because they help keep a lot of the metal shavings, gunk and oils off your skin.
We do work at a few sites that are 100% glove use too, you get used to it pretty quick.
The rubber coated cut resistant gloves are nice too because they help keep a lot of the metal shavings, gunk and oils off your skin.
We do work at a few sites that are 100% glove use too, you get used to it pretty quick.
Hawke
Well-known member
Only put your hand where you would put your ****.
619DioFan
Well-known member
I have never had a piece of moving equipment grab a glove but have been to the ER twice because I was not wearing them. lesson learned so I always wear gloves
joe_padavano
Well-known member
ez-duzit
Well-known member
...gloves with cutting items like table saw, jig, circ, grinder, etc.. typically SAVE your hand because you feel it hit the glove before hitting flesh, it does not "bind" up unless you are using a rusty dull blade
Bullspit!
Extremely foolish to wear gloves while using a table saw; the blade can snag the glove. It is simply ridiculous to claim that you could feel the blade hitting the glove and so quickly remove your hand.
Don't touch a moving blade!
I often wear gloves while using an angle grinder or while buffing or shaping metal on the stationary belt/disc sander.
seems to me the wisdom here is not "wear/don't wear gloves" but "don't touch spinning blade."
Why would you have your relatively slow moving hands anywhere near the blade on a table saw, gloves or not?
the danger in a rotating assembly with knives on the edges seems to far outweigh wether or not you've got gloves on your hands.
cvairwerks
Well-known member
Too many otherwise competent people get a momentary stupid and get bit. Only takes a nanosecond of inattention or distraction for it to happen.
ez-duzit
Well-known member
That's actually a good question.
Occasionally it is necessary to place one's hands in close proximity to the blade because there is just so much you can do with push-sticks and hold-downs. And you have better control with your hands.
When ripping stock wider than about 1" I usually push the last bit through using my thumb, middle and index fingers, with the other two fingers and palm wrapped around the fence to keep everything away from the blade.
Simply never touch the spinning blade.
True, a TS will bite you before you can react in time.
Rarely wear gloves. In my 67 years every time I started a job I end up throwing them off because they impede the work at hand. Can't stand them. Yes there are exceptions like sheet metal work and welding. Still have all digits and no scars. Some of the gloves I've tried were so poorly designed as to be returned to the vendor in one day. Amazed at how much hyped junk is for sale.
Jim
Jim
rpenner54
Well-known member
As a Carpenter/Tile Guy/All around contractor I wear gloves when doing demo. Or in cold weather. My dad who is in his 60's does about the same. I do it that way just cause I like to feel the wood or whatever I am cutting. Welding I will wear them. I just am more of a keeping my hands free guy. I have worked the jobs that require them at all times and I hate those. When I am in the shop the only time I wear a glove is the latex style gloves for staining.
Around 90% of the time I am in the shop I have on gloves of some type. I am a tradesman, my hands make my living, not making an effort to protect them is best left for the old timers that have 1/2" callouses on the 7 fingers that still have some feeling in them.
Simple 6mil nitrile rubber gloves will save your hands so much wear and tear in the shop. I will not hardly touch my lathe or mill without them, so much less time picking chips out of my hands with them.
Heavy work, I'll break out my tillman drivers leather gloves, they do a great job stopping nasty cuts from drop cut steel and other random shop debris.
Also, a hand grinder is one tool in the shop I will not touch unless I have on leather gloves. I seen enough fingers mangled (including mine) to know the gloves will give you a fighting chance.
Simple 6mil nitrile rubber gloves will save your hands so much wear and tear in the shop. I will not hardly touch my lathe or mill without them, so much less time picking chips out of my hands with them.
Heavy work, I'll break out my tillman drivers leather gloves, they do a great job stopping nasty cuts from drop cut steel and other random shop debris.
Also, a hand grinder is one tool in the shop I will not touch unless I have on leather gloves. I seen enough fingers mangled (including mine) to know the gloves will give you a fighting chance.
jeepinerdeep
Well-known member
I think a lot of it is bunk. It's a good rule of thumb from back when gloves were huge and floppy, and the machines were lathes/bench grinders and drill presses.
With today's thinner and form fitting gloves, I think it applies WAY less, and doesn't make a difference on a bladed tool.
Handheld tool makes no negative difference at all.
Wear em. Just get modern ones.
With today's thinner and form fitting gloves, I think it applies WAY less, and doesn't make a difference on a bladed tool.
Handheld tool makes no negative difference at all.
Wear em. Just get modern ones.
ford33
Well-known member
I have a simple personal rule, if the tool rotates, I don't wear gloves while using that tool.
I like to wear gloves when working with wood and steel but take them off when machining with a tool that rotates.
I like to wear gloves when working with wood and steel but take them off when machining with a tool that rotates.
^^^^^^ This
Some of you guys that are set in your ways, do yourself a favor, spend $6 and try a pair of gloves like these (form fitting nylon with a nitrile covering on the front)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BPG5L2/?tag=atomicindus08-20
JR 42
Well-known member
Agreed, I wear Atlas 370's a lot, though I'm not using power tools all day. They're great for handling material, but don't provide a lot of protection. They fit my hands tightly and provide a great grip on just about everything, including power tool handles. I figure if my fingers are within 1/16" of touching the blade/ spindle/ shark teeth/ whatever I'm doing something very wrong and doomed to fail regardless of gloves.
That amazon price is very high, I'm pretty sure they cost less than that at gas stations and truck stops. I get them for about $3/ pair from a commercial marine fishing supply place.
JR
You are right, I actually buy them by the 12 pack for $32 which is around $2.67 delivered - but I used the listing for a single pair so someone would consider trying them
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0012NVRS8/?tag=atomicindus08-20
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0012NVRS8/?tag=atomicindus08-20
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myredracer
Well-known member
Been using power tools since my early teens, starting with dad's chainsaw. In my 65+ years, I rarely wear gloves whether it's woodworking, carpentry, grinding, metalworking, auto mechanics, etc., etc... I can't stand the loss of the tactile feel and the clumsiness. Except for below, I've only gotten the odd wood or metal sliver or minor cut, no big deal. There are times when I absolutely wear gloves like grinding metal that gets hot, welding, using muriatic acid (to remove plating on metal), working outside on our acreage with shovels, etc... One thing I'll never understand is why they make bandaids so hard to open, pffft.
The only times I've suffered an injury is twice when I was using the table saw and it was only because I was tired and not paying attention. The blade can cut a hand and grab a glove in a millisecond before you can do anything. Luckily I only had a shallow cut on one finger each time - a clean & sharp cut exactly 1/8" wide! Man, finger wounds like that hurt like h*ll because of all the nerve endings. Now I pay more attention than ever and use a push stick when warranted.
Common sense, being alert, paying attention and knowing the correct way of operating tools & machinery go a long way towards preventing an injury. Back in high school when I took woodworking and metalworking, there was no mention about gloves or other safety gear. Things have changed a lot since the 60s. I'm surprised other the kids didn't lose fingers!
My wife is a senior manager for our workers compensation board (WorksafeBC) and has dealt with just about every injury you can imagine. Interestingly, they state "Wearing gloves can actually create a danger when working around machinery with moving parts." WorksafeBC has a short vid here on when to and not to wear gloves:
Few days ago, I was drilling a hole in a car body panel on sawhorses and leaning over it. Somehow the bit or chuck got caught up in my T-shirt and it got wound up tight around me. Now I don't wear a T-shirt when using power tools.
The only times I've suffered an injury is twice when I was using the table saw and it was only because I was tired and not paying attention. The blade can cut a hand and grab a glove in a millisecond before you can do anything. Luckily I only had a shallow cut on one finger each time - a clean & sharp cut exactly 1/8" wide! Man, finger wounds like that hurt like h*ll because of all the nerve endings. Now I pay more attention than ever and use a push stick when warranted.
Common sense, being alert, paying attention and knowing the correct way of operating tools & machinery go a long way towards preventing an injury. Back in high school when I took woodworking and metalworking, there was no mention about gloves or other safety gear. Things have changed a lot since the 60s. I'm surprised other the kids didn't lose fingers!
My wife is a senior manager for our workers compensation board (WorksafeBC) and has dealt with just about every injury you can imagine. Interestingly, they state "Wearing gloves can actually create a danger when working around machinery with moving parts." WorksafeBC has a short vid here on when to and not to wear gloves:
Few days ago, I was drilling a hole in a car body panel on sawhorses and leaning over it. Somehow the bit or chuck got caught up in my T-shirt and it got wound up tight around me. Now I don't wear a T-shirt when using power tools.
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Been using power tools since my early teens, starting with dad's chainsaw. In my 65+ years, I rarely wear gloves whether it's woodworking, carpentry, grinding, metalworking, auto mechanics, etc., etc... I can't stand the loss of the tactile feel and the clumsiness. Except for below, I've only gotten the odd wood or metal sliver or minor cut, no big deal. There are times when I absolutely wear gloves like grinding metal that gets hot, welding, using muriatic acid (to remove plating on metal), working outside on our acreage with shovels, etc... One thing I'll never understand is why they make bandaids so hard to open, pffft.
The only times I've suffered an injury is twice when I was using the table saw and it was only because I was tired and not paying attention. The blade can cut a hand and grab a glove in a millisecond before you can do anything. Luckily I only had a shallow cut on one finger each time - a clean & sharp cut exactly 1/8" wide! Man, finger wounds like that hurt like h*ll because of all the nerve endings. Now I pay more attention than ever and use a push stick when warranted.
Common sense, being alert, paying attention and knowing the correct way of operating tools & machinery go a long way towards preventing an injury. Back in high school when I took woodworking and metalworking, there was no mention about gloves or other safety gear. Things have changed a lot since the 60s. I'm surprised other the kids didn't lose fingers!
My wife is a senior manager for our workers compensation board (WorksafeBC) and has dealt with just about every injury you can imagine. Interestingly, they state "Wearing gloves can actually create a danger when working around machinery with moving parts." WorksafeBC has a short vid here on when to and not to wear gloves:
Few days ago, I was drilling a hole in a car body panel on sawhorses and leaning over it. Somehow the bit or chuck got caught up in my T-shirt and it got wound up tight around me. Now I don't wear a T-shirt when using power tools.
hippies and women shouldn't use power tools either. both have long hair, which is much more dangerous than a t-shirt.
danielbuck
Well-known member
- Joined
- Apr 15, 2014
- Messages
- 919
No gloves for most of the stuff I do, unless it involves something extremely greasy, like working on a lock-out hub assembly, or something like that. And for welding, though often I'll tack or do small light welds without gloves.
on the lathe, If I have a button up-shirt over my t-shirt, I'll button it up and button the cuffs, or just take it off if it's not cold.
on the lathe, If I have a button up-shirt over my t-shirt, I'll button it up and button the cuffs, or just take it off if it's not cold.
ttpete
Well-known member
For machine tool work, I wear a denim apron because there's nothing sticking out to catch in rotating parts. I also roll sleeves up above the elbow or wear a short sleeve shirt.
I seldom wear gloves because they destroy my sense of touch and can be a hazard. Picture an 18" disc grinder with a 2 hp motor and think about having a gloved finger get sucked in between the disc and the table slot. Same goes for a pedestal grinder.
NEVER wear rings or jewelry in the shop. Ever. If you're worried about a wedding ring, wear it on a chain around your neck.
ez-duzit
Well-known member
Horrible idea!
doesn't sound any better this way does it? if your hand is close enough to be at risk, it's too close. glove or not.
ttpete
Well-known member
So, you'd rather lose a finger?
ez-duzit
Well-known member
You'd rather lose your head?
ttpete
Well-known member
Wear it under your shirt, FFS.
ez-duzit
Well-known member
Leave the jewelry at home or put it in your pocket.
cstmg8
Well-known member
I always wear a silicone ring at work (elevator mechanic). Last week I forgot and wore my tungsten carbide ring by mistake.
Hoistway doors closed on it and it shattered inside my glove. We're not talking a lot of pressure here.
Wasn't bad, probably could have used a stitch or two, but wasn't worth leaving work.
Hoistway doors closed on it and it shattered inside my glove. We're not talking a lot of pressure here.
Wasn't bad, probably could have used a stitch or two, but wasn't worth leaving work.
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Musicinabottle
Banned
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- Jul 24, 2016
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- 3,371
I agree. Gloves when using a grinder straight up. Also face shield. Had so many skinny wheels shatter when they bind. Regular wheels ricochet. Naw, protection is wise with grinders!
WaterBoyz
Well-known member
Heard about a hi-voltage lineman that got killed because his ring wore into his glove enough to thin the material.
As mentioned elsewhere, nothing around the neck.
I worked on mechanical machines years ago when a white shirt and CLIP-ON tie was the uniform.
Kevin54
MEMBER EMERITUS
Had a guy at work drilling a piece of sheetmetal while wearing gloves. Pulled his thumb completely off of his hand. Luckily they sewed it back on, but he was never able to use it. I've seen quite a few accidents over the years. Gloves CAN be used around some equipment, and then the other equipment is a 50/50 **** shoot. It's all in the roll of the dice.