William,

I agree about the p. jelly & baby oil; just trying to "brain-storm" and stimulate thought and comments. Thanks.

It's important to get gloves big enough; others I had tried to use a little bit previously were way too small. These I have now are proper size, slip on and off fairly easily and fit all the way to tips of fingers to allow for good, fine feel for small items.

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Wilton Strickland
Goldsboro, NC
91 350 SDL. 81 300D

Just a thought -- has anyone tried "glove liners" under the latex gloves (the things you wear under your ski gloves)? Or maybe the cotton gloves that the people in photo shops wear while handling photos/negatives? These may accomplish 2 things:

[1] allow air to escape while putting the gloves on, thereby allowing one to get the fingers all the way to the tips -- instead of having the "E.T." bubble at the ends

[2] allow the perspiration some way to "wick" away from your hand, provided you leave the liner exposed at your wrist

I don't think they'd diminish one's "feel" too much, and would even offer a little padding.

Just thinking out loud . . .

Brian

If you don't want to wear gloves, rub moisturizer into your hands before starting a job. Whenever you stop to wash your hands be sure and put some more moisturizer on. At the end of the day, after your last washup, your hands will be reasonably clean.

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There are three basic types of liners readily available.
1. Cotton Lisle - lightweight, two piece, usually unhemmed, sort-of-washable. Full/half fingered = Approx. Range $4 to $6 for 10 pairs.
2. Tricot knit - lightweight, two piece, usually hemmed, washable, lint-free. Stretchy, so they conform easily to your hand. Full/half fingered = Approx. $16 for 10 pairs.
3. PHA (Poly-Hexamethylene-Adipamide) stretch nylon - lightweight, seamless, washable, lint-free, available as static dissipative. Extremely comfortable. Full fingered = Approx. $16-$18 for 5 pairs.

Generally referred to as glove liners or inspection gloves. I recommend the tricot and PHA gloves for most jobs. I use the half fingered tricot most of the time and the PHA if I'm going to be in them all day. If it's really nasty and/or you are likely to tear the glove, go with cheap cotton.

Prices shown are retail and higher than you could find with a little looking.

val

I tried the gloves from work today while working on the steering pump. They aren't as tough as I tought, had a couple "blow outs", but nothing a quick change couldn't cure. Found that changing gloves whenever I came up for air kept the sweat problem to a minimum.

The garage had some gloves with a gripping surface, I got a couple of those as well. I'll try them out soon.

I still got a little dirty, mostly the forearms above the gloves, but definitely much easier to clean up.

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Mike Tangas
73 280 SEL 4.5

I have found that wearing latex gloves while using my snowthrower kept my fingers from getting frost-bitten. They kept my hands much drier and warmer than not using any gloves. Having a pair or two in the glove box might not be a bad idea for changing a tire during nasty weather, either.

Latex gloves come in a wide range of "mil" thicknesses. The thicker gloves are more sturdy, but you loose some dexterity.

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JCE
87 300E, 62k miles
Smoke Silver

Not fifteen minutes ago I learned a painful downside to using latex gloves - once they get oily, they become very slippery!

I had just removed the return line from the steering pump and was trying to get the pressure line. As I positioned the wrench, a small amount of residual fluid from the return line ran out on the glove. When the fitting came loose, my hand slipped right down the wrench, with my thumb jitting that nice sharp corner of the hand brake linkage.

The gloves did keep the grease and crud out of the wound, and kept the blood inside the glove. Actually got lucky, only separated the nail, rather deeply though. After a few choice words and cool water, I switched to the gripper type gloves, proceeded extra slow and finished the removal.

I will change gloves whenever they get any lubricating liquid on them to minimize this downside.

On the plus side, the hands are very clean right now. Thanks for starting this discussion.



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Mike Tangas
73 280 SEL 4.5

Mike,

Try "Mechanix" gloves. That is the brand name,they should be available at the local Auto chain for about $30. They are well worth it as they are well made and seem as if they will last for quite a while.

If it is good for racing mechanic's, than they should be good enough the average guy. Also, they are washable.

One thing you will like, they don't slip! They are synthetic (feels like soft suede leather) on the palm side and a nylon web material on the back side that breaths well. Another good thing is that the leather is thick enough that heat isn't too much of a problem, don't grab a hot header! j/k Go try a pair out at the store. I think you will find them at http://www.martelbros.com/mechanix/Gloves.html

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96 C280

[This message has been edited by roas (edited 05-04-2000).]

I started using the latex gloves 9 years ago. My wife has noticed not only my hands are cleaner, also, my underpants do not have black spots any more. It is great.

David

[This message has been edited by be459 (edited 05-04-2000).]

Mike,

Sorry about the accident. Good luck with the pump.

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Wilton Strickland
Goldsboro, NC
91 350 SDL. 81 300D

David (be459):

Auto maintenance in your underwear? What a novel idea ! Sorry guys -- just couldn't resist that one . . .

Brian

Brian,

Getting my underpants dirty was always a problem. When I was working on a car and I needed to go to bathroom, I had to wash my hands first. But my hands could never be completely clean and dry after washing that caused finger marks on the underpants. I would think all male mechanics had the same problem, wouldn't it?

Now, I just remove the gloves before going to a bathroom.

David


[This message has been edited by be459 (edited 05-04-2000).]

Being a college boy, who shovels paper all day long and has "perfect skin and hands" I never wear gloves when working on a car or my boat. Indeed getting my hands greasy and dirty I like for a change. LOL I also see all the techs and mecahnics wearing them now.

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300E
Soon To be E55
27 foot Grady White Offshore Sportfish.

I ended up getting the idea to wear gloves while looking at the "do it yourself" portion on mercedesshop. The pictures there clearly showed hands with latex (or the like) gloves on. I thought "hmmm what a great idea" Now if only I could remember to wear them before, and not during a repair, I'd be all set! ...and clean too!
Oh, I do rip 'em up a bit sometimes, but I'd rather have a dirty finger or two than crud covered digits.
-Larry

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03/83 300D 184k
07/73 280 160k