new guy question about using gloves

[blacksmithtech]

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[HWooldridge]

I never wear a glove on my hammer hand but if I'm handling something that gets inordinately hot or is spattering me with scale, then I feel no shame in putting a light glove on my tong hand. I'm past my macho stage in life and have enough scars. :wink:

I think Jim would have agreed that protection comes first - however, you will probably be more comfortable not using gloves in most instances.

[JimG]

Worst burns I've ever received have been when I'm wearing gloves. Usualy from something getting in the back of the glove. I will on occassion wear a glove when holding a punch or something close to the hot metal. One reason given for avoiding wearing gloves is that it gets you in the habit of not checking if the iron is cold before you handle it. Rule number 1 in a blacksmiths shop? All iron is hot. How are you getting slag on your hammer hand? short handled hammer? I've had to remember to change my grip when holding tongs and forgewelding or I get a palm full of flux.

[bruce wilcock]

if you use gloves you will get burns and scalds frow damp gloves .we still use leather palms.made out if old welding coats and aprons,when we handle tongs that heat a run up when on largish jobs ,we have managed to convince the health and safty that they are unable to trap scale and dross against your skin ,and we olso use peices of leather just held on to warm bars to handle them

[Woody]

I personally wear gloves, loose fitting ones with big wide cuffs that I can flip off easily. Just remember that any kind of personal protective equipment is no substitute for common sense. Sometimes I only wear a glove on my right hand as I am left handed. They do help to protect you from the dragons breath of a gas forge. The worst burn I ever got was on the back of my right hand when a big piece of scale went into a pair of tight fitting gloves and instead of sticking my hand into the slack tub, I pulled the glove off. The scale stuck to the glove and gave me a heck of a burn about half inch wide and2 1/2 inches long.

Woody

[blacksmithtech]

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[Glenn]

I usually forge barehanded. When the metal gets too hot to hold, I turn it loose! :lol:

Gloves can be dangerous but can also be very useful. If the glove gets hot, turning loose of the hot metal will do no good as the heat is still coming through the leather toward your hand. You must remove the glove to remove the heat. Gloves can trap and contain hot slag, welding sputter balls, etc. Wet gloves can give you steam burns when they contact hot metal. On the other hand (pun intended), gloves are very helpful when protecting the hands from abrasion, cuts, UV from welding etc.

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I usually remove the cuffs from "work gloves". The glove still protects from abrasion, cuts, etc. but if the glove gets snagged, it can quickly be removed from the hand and with little effort.


Bruce,
Please post photos of leather palms made out if old welding coats or aprons, and the peices of leather just held on to warm bars to handle them.

[Marc]

I've been using some Kevlar gloves I bought from Enco for about $5. These aren't the big Kevlar gloves from Centaur. They look like terry cloth. but I found that they protect about the same as leather, except when you grab something too hot, just letting go is enough to get cold again. Leather seems to hold onto the heat as it starts burning and you need to shake the glove off as soon as you notice they're not protecting enough.

Also, these gloves have a knit cuff that can't trap scale. And they're flexible enough for TIG welding.

[Brian C.]

I do not wear gloves either as a rule. I tried a leather glove on my hammer hand one time and as it became worn and slicker, at one point the hammer came out of my hand & flew across the shop (could have been just bad beginner technique ops: ). Like JimG, I often use a big weldors glove on my tong hand when holding a punch or chisel.

This is just my preference, your mileage may vary. 8)

[HWooldridge]

I forgot to mention that the gloves I use occasionally are cotton mill gloves, which are designed for hot work and won't shrink on your hand like leather can. You can also soak them in water if you need some extra cooling. The only disadvantage I've found is that they will catch fire easily if they get a little oil soaked so I don't use them for general use.