Gloves in the woodshop?

[Dan Barr]

Just wanting to post a thread to find out your opinions, advice, warnings etc. on using gloves in the woodshop. (with these tools, not with these tools, etc.)

I'd imagine there are plenty of opinions and i'd like to hear the ones that have reasons behind them.

v/r

dan

[Josiah Bartlett]

I use nitrile/latex gloves a lot to avoid getting greasy finger stains on wood as I am getting ready to finish it.

I started using them when working on cars, and it has been a good habit, my hands stay much cleaner and I avoid small slivers and scrapes that way.

[Pete Clifford]

I suggest that gloves should not be worn when using powered rotary machines with sharp, finger-eating blades e.g. table saw, jointer, planer. The risk is that your glove will get caught and drag your hand into the machine, resulting in a rapid loss of body mass. The only time that I wear work gloves in the shop is if I am handling/stacking rough lumber. I do wear protective rubber gloves when using solvents, stains, etc, but this does not involve the use of power tools. My $0.02.

[Bill Wyko]

I suggest that gloves should not be worn when using powered rotary machines with sharp, finger-eating blades e.g. table saw, jointer, planer. The risk is that your glove will get caught and drag your hand into the machine, resulting in a rapid loss of body mass. The only time that I wear work gloves in the shop is if I am handling/stacking rough lumber. I do wear protective rubber gloves when using solvents, stains, etc, but this does not involve the use of power tools. My $0.02.

What Pete sait.

[Tony Zona]

I am afraid to wear gloves when machines are running. I am even reluctant to wear long sleeves.

[Mark Engel]

While I can agree that an injury may be worsened by getting a gloved hand or a long sleeved shirt engaged in a power tool blade or bit, that will only happen if you get that glove or sleeve close enough for the tool to grab it.

Those tools will be spinning/turning whether the operator is wearing gloves or not. If you get too close to the blade, you will be injured, glove or no. Keep your gloved or non-gloved fingers away from any blades or spinning tool bits and you will be fine. Use your eyes and your common sense when using power tools, that is the best safety practice. Wearing gloves in and of itself does not cause injury. If you wear gloves, just be aware of the additional clearances needed while doing so.

Or, maybe we should just shut all the power tools off completely. That may be safe enough for most of us.

[Per Swenson]

Hi Everybody,

Gloves are a very bad habit.

Per

[glenn bradley]

I suggest that gloves should not be worn when using powered rotary machines with sharp, finger-eating blades e.g. table saw, jointer, planer. The risk is that your glove will get caught and drag your hand into the machine, resulting in a rapid loss of body mass. The only time that I wear work gloves in the shop is if I am handling/stacking rough lumber. I do wear protective rubber gloves when using solvents, stains, etc, but this does not involve the use of power tools. My $0.02.

This is me also. I never wear gloves when operating tools. A friend who is a turner learned his lesson when his drill press sucked him in and sent him to the emergency room.

The same safety concern goes for any loose clothing or hair (yes beards too). I wear long sleeve shirts or a jacket when it gets cool but, the sleeves are rolled up to mid forearm. Wedding ring? Wristwatch? Apron? Not this cowboy.

[Mark Rakestraw]

Dan, The other guys are right in that it is a serious safety hazard. That said, my shop is unheated, so if I didn't wear gloves sometimes I'd not be able to woodwork. I use the high dexterity type of gloves you see at all the big box stores nowadays. The are considerably more expensive than standard "work gloves", but do allow for greater movement and are generally stocked in a variety of sizes. If you do decide to wear gloves make sure they fit well, no saggy fingertips hanging over the blade. I'm hyperalert when wearing gloves, they feel a bit "foreign" on my hands and I'm always aware that given the chance (a touch of a blade) they will pull my hand into harms way.
Mark

[Philip Giangarra]

Hi,

My hands get really stiff when it is cold, but I can't pick up anything small when I am wearing gloves, so I solved this problem by cutting off all the fingers of an old pair of gloves. This way, the bulk of my hand is warm and protected from injury, but the first inch or so of my fingers are exposed and save from getting caught in the machinery.

Phil Giangarra

[Aaron Beaver]

I wear some of those Mechanix type gloves (not sure of the kind I have) but they have extra padding in places, grippy fingers, but I mostly use them at the Miter Saw. My hands are not any where near the blade and I mostly do it when cutting rough lumber down to smaller size, just easier to handle and better grip when using the gloves I have.

[frank shic]

i wear the ones by fastcap whenever i'm working with melamine since it cuts flesh so easily!

[Bill White]

I'm with Frank on the melamine issue. That stuff will eat ya alive.
Nitrile for staining, glazing, etc.
Bill

[Joe Unni]

Like Mark, I wear the close fitting, high dexterity gloves when handling rough stock and when jointing. The rubber grips really seam to help holding and pushing stock through. That said, I'm very much aware of the risk and would never consider the cheapy gloves.

-joe

[Rod Sheridan]

After seeing someone lose three fingers in a drill press from wearing gloves, I only wear work gloves when stacking/unloading wood.

I wear nitrile gloves when applying finishing materials or turning wet wood.

regards, Rod.