I?ve looked high and low for aprx elbow length (high dexterity) casting gloves with limited results. With today?s technological advancements, It seems like there should be something out there without having to shell out a few hundred bucks. My $24.99 welders gloves work great, other than all the fumbling that goes along with thick gloves. I understand that companies think they can charge crazy high prices for a specialty glove like this, but come on. Any thoughts or ideas would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
I use the nomex pilots gloves. They protect my hands from molten lead contact and are dexterous enough to enable handling of the mold. I use a mallet to cut sprues.
Dan
Use to use plain Mechanix gloves... good control and handling
Got a small spill now and then but just shook it off.
No issues tho I wouldn't want a really good spill on them.
I wear welding gloves when I am refining scrap lead. In those cases I am dealing with two dutch ovens that hold 100# each. It only takes one visit from the tinsel fairy to make you want ATGATT when dealing with lead in that quantity.
For bullet casting, I just wear a plain leather glove on whichever hand isn't holding the mold handles, usually my right hand. I usually just pick a worn out "dress" glove with a think leather shell and some lining to protect against the heat when cutting a sprue or against incidental contact with the furnace.
Thick aramid gloves for smelting and nomex pilots gloves for casting days.
Thanks, Something a guy told me earlier, some thin goatskin gloves are ample, the little gloves just keep you remembering that everything is hot, he had a good point
Quote from: Kenk on November 29 2022 06:12:52 PM MST
Thanks, Something a guy told me earlier, some thin goatskin gloves are ample, the little gloves just keep you remembering that everything is hot, he had a good point
This is spot on.
Plus it?s a whole lot cheaper than some super fancy gloves 😊
I have a set of fiberglass cloth, asbestos mittens that are used in bronze foundry casting. They are too cumbersome to add much value.
They sound a lot like my whopping big welders gloves, they work great, but are about as clumsy as it gets
Depending on the mold as to wether I wear gloves or not. Molds with solid handles like buckshot molds I use welding gloves. Putting sprue back in the pot I usually wear leather work gloves just in case I get a little splash.
Thanks, I haven?t had an ?dang that hurts? moments yet, but have with hot grease. I?m not a big swearer, but am confident a small lead splash would generate a substantially bigger response
The tinsel fairy is the one to worry about more than a little back-splash, not that the backsplash doesn't hurt.
Some of the scrap lead I get is painted with latex paint. When the water-cured paint gets heated sufficiently, it released said water. Get enough of that below the surface of melted lead and it can get exciting in a big hurry. I have learned from experience what can and can't go in a pot that is not empty.
The other thing to mind is where your parts and pieces are in relation to a hot mold. Last casting session I somehow reached over a hot mold for something and it just touched my forearm for a moment. Second degree burn that is still faintly visible over a month later.
I dont wear gloves. Get ya in more trouble at worst times. Ill wear a glove when loading the pot or dumping sprue back in. Sometimes when Stiring. But find them a problem when casting. But I use a hammer
To open sprue not my hands.
I get occasional burns but no kore then in my work life welding.
CW
Ended up picking up some thin Tillman goatskin gloves on Amazon, gota say, they are the most comfortable under $20.00 dollar gloves I?ve ever worn
I use Bruella oven / BBQ glove on the left hand and an insulated leather heavy duty work glove on the right hand. The oven/BBQ glove is great for heat resistance. You can pick up a hot mold and handle it with no problem and it goes up high on the arm. The leather work works is more durable and great for opening and closing the sprue plate but doesn't offer as much dexterity.
When smelting wheel weights and handling ingots and hot pots the Oven/BBQ gloves work great.
My brother is a welder and I've tried some of his gloves. They were terrible. Not as much heat resistance and not as much dexterity.