A while back IFI member Stitch gave me a bundle of big cotton terrycloth gloves that are great for heat resistance, but not so good for flying sparks. Remembering another use for borax and boric acid, I made up a bucket of flame retardant (1 part boric acid, 7 parts borax, 100 parts water), soaked the gloves, and put them out to dry.
The first pair were great for use with tongs and tooling under the treadle hammer — until they caught a spark. I’m hoping these will be better.