Mechanics Gloves

[Seanz0rz]

After 3 years, I am in dire need of new mechanics gloves.

i know they are all pretty good and do their job, but which ones do you like best? which fit best on your hand? etc.

i have a problem where my relatively small hands dont fill most gloves, and usually the thumbs are too long. (yea make all the jokes you want, its a damn curse i tell you, until you need to reach a bolt on the back of an engine block or something.

i know some swear by not using gloves, and there are those times where its difficult to use them and a bare hand is better. but for the times when you need em, what do you use?

so i have craftsman gloves, and they are good, but i want something better if it exists, any recommendations?

i think this should help out many people who are looking for new gloves.

[drguitarum2005]

I say go into Home Depot, lowes, pepboys, autozone, where ever, and try them all on and find what works best for you. I am fine with some cheap leather gloves that don't fit well. I take them off when precision in grabbing or unscrewing something is needed or when wedging my hand into somewhere tight.

[04 Rocko Taco]

I have a set of Mechanix brand gloves that I love, and just came by a new set of Mechanix brand Impactz (or osmething like that) gloves that are also really good, they fit your hands tight, and a re even pretty good for precision grabbing and tight spaces. The shop where I used to work the guys there always just wore disposable rubber surgeons gloves. Cheap for a whole box of them, still feel everything, and can gran and whatnot, but keep you clean and whatnot.

[amgraham]

I use the Mechanix gloves also. My local Sam's club has them now.. 2 pairs for like $25 or something for the FastFit ones. They work well for me.

I never could stand the latex gloves.. just too sweaty. I'd rather just wash my hands.

[Seanz0rz]

i use latex when doing stuff like wheel bearings or stuff in the engine with say the valve cover or the heads off.

i think ill give the mechanix gloves a try next.

[marko3xl3]

Whenever I need gloves to work on the truck, I use my construction gloves, which are very stout:

http://www.clccustomleathercraft.com/

Go to homedepot or any other large hardware store and they should have all kinds in many different sizes (the small ones are REALLY small).

Unless I work with a lot of liquid (oil etc.) I don't use latex gloves...they make my hands sweat waaaay too much.

[MTL_4runner]

I use a set of Mechanix gloves unless I'm working near grease or liquids. In that case I have a box of nitrile rubber gloves I throw on and they're disposable so I don't mind buring through them. I used to use the nitrile gloves all the time when I worked as a mechanic because if I didn't the cold weather and constant hand washing not to mention contact with all kinds of harsh fluids would wreak havoc on my hands, often leaving them severely cracked or bleeding in winter. The guys used to make fun of me because I'd always have rubber gloves (what the guys called dish gloves) on, but it saved me from exposure to alot of nasty stuff (nor did I look like I'd just been fingerprinted at the local PD like the other guys did even after washing their hands in brake cleaner.....if I didn't wear them my hands would also look perpetually dirty). For a homeowner, just a good set of mechanic gloves (something durable with good grip) and box of latex gloves for oil/coolant changes would work fine. Just keep in mind that latex gloves don't do very well when exposed to harsh chemicals (carb cleaner, brake cleaner, tranny fluid, etc) and may begin to dissolve right on your hands when used in this type of situation. Nitrile is a much better choice if you can find them.

This is a good place to get all different types of mechanic and nitrile gloves.
http://www.professionalequipment.com/work-gloves/

[slosurfer]

I usually get what fits good and isn't too expensive. I have tried some of the more expensive ones but I also use them when I install hardibacker on floors in prep for tile. The expensive ones last slightly longer, so now I just get ones that fit good and have padding on the backside of the knuckles. I also use the nitrile gloves when wrenching in the engine bay.

[waskillywabbit]

Nitrile for grease type stuff

Mechanics gloves for basic wrenching

$1.99 work gloves for fab work (buy in pairs of 10) Throw away when trashed

$7.00 welding gloves for fab work (buy in pairs of 5) Throw away when trashed

:guitar:

[Cheese]

Three years?

I am lucky to get a weekend out of a standard pair of Mechanix.

I use Shocker gloves from Poly Performance or MAC insulated, which is to say Impact when doing recovery or spotting.

Nitriles when it is dirty.

The new mesh back Mechanix look like they might be worth a damn, but at 40 a pop I am not so sure.

[Seanz0rz]

ive had mine for 3 years, but only in the last 6 months have i really started to wear through. and when i say i need new ones, i mean theres no back of the hand left and several of the finger tips are worn through.

[Euphorickaty80]

LOL I have a pair of pale green garden gloves with flowers on them that i wear when working on stuff.....They are pretty much rags now but they are the only gloves i can find that fit my hands. Darn small girl hands....... :lol:

[MTL_4runner]

LOL I have a pair of pale green garden gloves with flowers on them that i wear when working on stuff.....They are pretty much rags now but they are the only gloves i can find that fit my hands. Darn small girl hands....... :lol:


Katy, order a box of these!
http://www.professionalequipment.com/safety-zone-12-inch-green-nitrile-flock-lined-gloves-12-pairs-small-gngf-s/disposable-nitrile-gloves/

I've used them myself and they work great.

[Euphorickaty80]

dang.....i might just have to do that!

[AxleIke]

I can't get more than a few sessions out of a set. I buy the cheapest ones possible. About 19 or 20.

I too wear the nitrile when dealing in grease or oil.

I have a nice set of impact gloves for wheeling and driving.

[reggie 00]

I pretty much only wear gloves when its to hot to hold or too sharp.

Ever since i first picked up a crescent wrench to take the coaster brakes out of my bike i have just went at it bare handed.

Even in the Navy Greasing the train gear on my mounts using peanut butter grease i wouldn't even clean my hands before taking a big ol dip.
Course i don't even want to see what my insides look like but then again not may of you have survived on Navy food either.

Use to use PD680 (dry cleaning solvent for those not in the know) to clean off my hands, and then that natural citrus stuff we used in San Diego.

I have put my hand into a flex fan setting the timing on a Blazer, wrapped a rag and kept going for a half hour till i decided i bleed enough, then took an hour to get to the ER. Needed a soda and some cigarettes first. So i guess a glove might have made it so i only had to get 2 stitches instead of 5. But i still shot 3 off perfect on the M14 the next day with just two fingers on my right hand.

I have used the Mechanix gloves, felt pretty good. Just gets to hot sometimes, and just to save me from a cut is not worth it, only time a bad job job will go good is if blood is drawn. (yep i pretty superstitious, and crazy like that).

They use to advise us to use the disposable gloves in San Diego, but i would just trash them in like minutes tearing apart the gun for the CIWS system, so i wouldn't bother.
Made it way to hard to lock wire that thing with them on.

I'm all for a good soap and a nice stiff brush. If some one knows of or find a good glove that's not to hot and feels like its not there make sure you post it up.

[CJM]

Latex gloves when doing nasty stuff and the fast fit mechanics for the other stuff. Most times I wear nothing, it shows b/c my hands are covered in grease/oil alot..

[MTL_4runner]

If some one knows of or find a good glove that's not to hot and feels like its not there make sure you post it up.


Reggie, you should try a product like this if you don't like having an actual glove on:
http://www.liquidgloves.net/

Then if you need more protection, you just apply another layer, very simple.

[Jared]

I wish I had them in front of me, so I could tell you the brand, but I just went to Home Depot and tried on all the gloves. One of the cheaper brands actually felt a lot better to me than Mechanix, so I went with the cheaper set. I've been using them for 5-6 months now and love them. So although I don't have the brand, my advice is like others.. go try them all on.

[surf4runner]

no glove-no :love: (no matter how clean they 'look') :argue:

latex or nitrile (whatever i have handy) or bare hands. i tend to get too greasy for non-disposible gloves

[ElkaholicTRD]

My absolute favorite work gloves are Tillman TrueFit mechanics gloves.
Excellent for everything. I used these when I was welding, good for handling, heat, welding, grease, oil, sharp corners/edges. They are extremely comfortable. I love them.
http://www.jtillman.com/search/gloves.html

I use imact gloves at work on the plane. Ive never used them for working on a vehicle, The most I do is working with chains, winching, straps. But I really like these gloves. They are very comfortable, and very strong and are not too bulky. I dont know what they cost as they are issued to me but I would buy them personally.

They are the Impact CT gloves
http://www.southwestmotorsports.com/images/MP%20Info%20NSN.pdf
http://www.southwestmotorsports.com/products.htm

[jimbo74]

i but the harbor freight mechanics gloves when they go on sale, just like mechanics gloves, but cost $5

i like to use nitile gloves too, they are what pretty much everyone uses in the medical field now... my hands are in them a lot becuase im an emt student... i hate latex, and so do most people that wear them all the time, you can actually develop an allergy to latex by wearing them often.... im allergic to latex.. my work gloves have latex dipped palms, they work awesome but my hands get all funky because of them....

[YotaJunky]

All I wear is 8mm nitrile gloves. I tend to rip gloves too easily, especially with the 4mm ones. My skin tends to be very sweaty and seems to attract dirt and grease whenever contact is made. I find that I go through mechanix gloves too quickly and a box of thick nitriles lasts longer for me.

Troy

[xcmountain80]

My wife likes my hands clean and scar free "plenty of scars b4 I met her" so I wear an array of gloves from cheapo latex to Mechanix low to high end. The best glove for off-road apps would have to be either Mechanix HD line or http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?pid=00940249000&vertical=Sears&BV_UseBVCookie=Yes
with some sweet azz kevlar. I love them!

Aaron