I don't get too many scale burns. In fact, I don't remember any. I just got through with a week long demo, and only burned myself once. Tong handles got a bit warm. Not really hot enough to sizzle water or make my skin red, but enough to make me go: "wow, that's a little too hot!" A glove on the tong hand helps a lot. Also, wire brushing *away* from you. Also, keeping your hands away from the twist. Finally, don't put silica sand in your forge welding flux. The borax and boric acid sparks are much mellower. I have one nasty scar on my tong hand caused by not knowing how to control a coke fire. It turned to vesuvius and sprayed a whole bunch of people with molten clinker. Somehow, coal does not do that. The other scale burn-like scars were caused by grinder sparks. I had a nasty allergic reaction to the binder in an old wheel that I bought at a garage sale. Got real sick. These scars never heal, and they reopen whenever I eat overripe fruit or get a pollen allergy. Kind of like permanent hives. Now, I only use name brand wheels that I buy new. Another reason not to cut corners on the grinding wheels. Also, just in case, I wear a welding glove with a long cuff anytime there is a chance that grinding sparks will hit me. BTW, grinder sparks are much more risky for starting fires than flying scale.
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