Mechanics Gloves

Are there any good pairs? If so, please inform me as to which ones to buy and why. berkeleying up my hands has gotten old. Cost is no object, but I'd like to maintain finger dexterity and have a decent level of protection.

I still like the original version.

Latex gloves are the best for general working because you can still use your fingers and have dexterity. You don't have a whole lot of protection, but they are better than bare skin. Plus they make for easy clean up. I use them at work every day and I love them. For other things that I don't need dexterity for I have a pair of "mechanics gloves" from Harbor Freight. $5 or so...

I used to use the "Mechanix" gloves, but they're really pricey and really reduce dexterity. We've been using these at the Wreck Racing shop for the last 2-3 yrs and they're really good and really cheap. Not quite as much protection as the Mechanix gloves, but much easier to work in, and way cheaper.

When I'm working with something really oily I usually wear some latex or similar under these.

I have the same problem but hate the various levels of dexterity vs toughness and vary my gloves accordingly, the following is my experience in order of most dexterity with least toughness to least dexterity and most toughness:

1) I've found nitrile gloves offer the best dexterity and best oil fluid protection, but they're hot as hell and tear on sharp edges, and when coated in fluids can be slick...

2) Next are the half Latex, half nylon gloves which offer excellent breathe-ability, good dexterity, and tough working surface. Problem is fluid easily runs around the back and can soak your hand from behind, making them annoying, and when coated in fluids can be slick...

3) After that I have standard 'thin' nylon mechanics gloves with a thin leather face (no finger tip or back of the hand protection). These provide acceptable dexterity for larger parts, good toughness, absorb fluid and provide a good grip soaked or not...

4) Level 4 is thick mechanics gloves with leather over the palm, fingers, tips, and rear of the glove. These are great for sharp metal, rough edges, large parts, bad spots where there's the possibility of injury to the rear of your hand, etc. I think of these as my BFH of gloves...

5) Finally there are full leathers, for when you know injury is assured but you're too damn stubborn to admit defeat...

Try them on, cut out the offensive parts ,Usually between your thumb and Forefinger. cover your knuckles. get used to them . It is similar to breaking in shoes ,Don't give up.It's all about sensitivity.

I usually wear "Mechanix" gloves, I don't think they reduce dexterity too much, and I've been very happy with the quality and level of protection. They seem to fit much better than the cheaper gloves.

I also have a pair of very, very thick all leather gloves that I wear when I'm welding, dealing with steel cable, working with very heavy parts, etc. They're old, I think I got them from my grandfather.

Home Depot has a line of "Mechanix" clones for $10 a pair. I have about 4 pair distributed between the garage, shed and vehicles...

Rog

I just got a pair of Kobolt gloves and love them. I wear a pair of the thick HF rubber gloves under them.

I got used to gloves by cutting the ends out at the first knuckle. Wear them constantly and acclimate. Gloves are cumbersome but useful.

I use raven nitrile gloves - 6 mil - about twice as thick as the common purple nitrile gloves. Last a little longer, but will still tear with abuse. Otherwise home depot mechanix clones at about $10 for 2 pair. Welding gloves when I break out the grinder/cutoff wheel since the safety shield is long gone.

TRoglodyte wrote: I got used to gloves by cutting the ends out at the first knuckle. Wear them constantly and acclimate. Gloves are cumbersome but useful.

I guess I'll be getting some of these $10 clones and trying that out. I don't have a lot of feeling left in my hands; so, when I tried/borrowed gloves before I found the reduced injury rate wasn't worth the loss of dexterity and feeling. The amount of blood shed while pulling the head off my Jag was alarming though.

Hands down (geddit) BEST mechanics gloves I have ever used are Atlas Glove Nitrile Tough gloves my wife got me. They're incredible for car work.

They are woven nylon/spandex with the palm and finger bottoms dipped in nitrile goo like tool grip. They have 100% dexterity and touch feel, they grip like heck even with some oil on them, they last, they are washable, and they aren't terribly expensive - less than $5 a pair, IIRC.

A great product and I can't recommend them highly enough.

In reply to Duke:

Where can I get them locally?

Mechanix gloves are garbage. I can go through a pair of those in under a week. I only use work gloves in the cold of winter, and nothing much lasts, but just about anything is better than Mechanix. Regarding the Atlas Glove Nitrile Tough gloves, a google search turns up lot's of leads. If you're losing that much blood while pulling heads, maybe gloves isn't the answer.

Zomby woof wrote: If you're losing that much blood while pulling heads, maybe gloves isn't the answer.

Hahaha, fair point. In hind sight, the answer should have been take the hood off and pull the engine - btdt; it makes working on this engine nice and easy. I couldn't figure out how I was going to get the hood off of an XJ6 without another set of hands though. The fact that Craftsmen sockets are apparently softer than the head bolts was the killer though. Oh well.

My hands are Turtle hands ,Wear gloves , sooner the better.

Zomby woof wrote: Mechanix gloves are garbage. I can go through a pair of those in under a week. I only use work gloves in the cold of winter, and nothing much lasts, but just about anything is better than Mechanix. Regarding the Atlas Glove Nitrile Tough gloves, a google search turns up lot's of leads. If you're losing that much blood while pulling heads, maybe gloves isn't the answer.

They last a bit longer than that around here, but agreed, for their price, they're not that great. Nitrile or welding for me, nothing in between.

I wear the mechanix gloves that slip off and on while working. Considering one of my jobs is to climb up onto lighting truss and focus the lights.. I need something with a few seconds ability to handle a 1k watt light and still be dextrous enough to handle tools.

My hands have thanked me for them time and again. I just cannot figure out why I always wear out the left one when I am right handed

I have a pair in my pocket, well worn and broken in. I wear gloves constantly, because my hands hurt from not using them.

MG_Bryan wrote: In reply to Duke: Where can I get them locally?

Ace Hardware?

i have sevral pairs of mechanxe gloves. at least a couple of them for airsofting, one kept in the car for dealing with anything under the head or checking oil and such, and one pair for winter gloves for when you need something light to keep from frezzing doing the pizza delirry thing.

http://www.oakley.com/products/factory-pilot-glove-w-leather-palm/94025-323?promotion_id=6&cm_mmc=google-semsearch--brand-active-terms--exact-oakley-_-%5bOakleyProdExtensions%5d

Then cut off the fingers. Best glove I have ever had.

It contributes nothing useful to the conversation, but I hate wearing gloves, other than for warmth outdoors. They are always too small, I can't feel anything, and I've seen them get wrapped up in rotating machinery- I'd rather grow a little chunk of skin back than unwrap my arm from that rotating shaft.

I wear nitrile gloves. The thicker black ones in the garage and the blue medical ones at work while touching gross people. I find that going one size up doesn't actually reduce dexterity and does keep the from tearing as easily. I found that thin blue ones one size up were more tear resistant than thick black ones that fir snuggly. I do have a pair of mechanic like gloves that are supposed to be worn for auto extrication, but I find them frusterating and usually just use medical gloves instead.