Comments on: Reader Question: What’s your favorite shop glove?

By: The Glove Guru

The Glove Guru — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 19:58:52 +0000

As a Glove Industry expert and former glove manufacturer and now a major glove distributor, I was happy to see the commentary on mechanics gloves. Mechanics type gloves were initially introduced around 2003 and have become very popular and valuable to mechanics and laborers.

As I recall, IronClad was the first to popularize them, followed by Youngstown (former IC guys) and Mechanixs who made improvements or replicas. We’ve sold them all but favoring some models over another for design, usefulness, and price. They all fit nicely, but the end result is about fit, feel, and function. Most important is a design, which adds long-life to the glove. This year we are adding the Kinco ProSeries line which offer a better design at an economical price.

If any of you wish to participate as one of our glove “selected” work glove evaluators, drop me (Joe) a request at gloves-online.com

Also, if any one has a technical question regarding work gloves, rubber gloves, coated gloves or the like, please let me know. Gloves are our business and our passion.

Thanks, Joe (The Glove Guru)

By: TireGrunt

TireGrunt — Wed, 21 Feb 2007 03:49:58 +0000

I like the the ‘mechanix’ gloves but they only last me about a month a pair in a retail tire shop (I personally mount about 40 tires a day) and they are pretty good at allowing me to do fine stuff (valve cores, etc) and they come off pretty quickly when I need to do paperwork or touch the interior of a customers car. I found out that Mechanix now makes two new types of gloves T/M and T/C for $40 and $70 that look heavy duty enough to deal with just about everything you can throw at them.

Until I cough up that much money I have several pairs of the traditional type that I wear nitrile desposables underneath in wet/snowy weather or when they become so full of holes they become almost useless but I try to strech them out.

By: Fong

Fong — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 22:17:26 +0000

I’m partial to the Mechanix M-Pact series gloves. Grip is good. I’m more concerned about bloody knuckles when that bolt suddenly gives. It’s not that I’m afraid of a little pain but bleeding is messy. =P

By: Toolaremia

Toolaremia — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 15:41:47 +0000

I started out with the Mechanix, but switched to the Craftsman the first time they went on sale for $10. Now I have one pair of “clean” gloves for delicate topside work, a “dirty” pair for bottom-side work, and a pair of heavy-duty leather gloves for tire, brake, and metal work. When the Craftman’s go on sale, I usually buy a couple pairs. I have at least four in the drawer now. They usually last a Summer. I also like the new design with rubber over the thumb and forefinger. They last significantly longer.

By: Eli

Eli — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 01:46:28 +0000

I like Latex, Ironclads , kid leather. This a fetish website or what?

By: sizod

sizod — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 01:18:06 +0000

A pair of those gloves won’t last me a day before i have gone through the index finger or thumb, I gave up buy them latex disposable are way better

By: Paul

Paul — Sun, 18 Feb 2007 18:07:06 +0000

If I wear gloves around the shop it is for protection from some process, such as wood staining, or welding. For chemical protection I wear those blue nitrile is it, gloves. Latex gloves get eaten up by too many solvents. For welding I sort of recall a horse on the cuff of the ones I have. They’re TIG welding kid gloves or something like that. I picked up a few pair at a welding supply house. I do have the heavier welding gloves too, but I usually don’t need that sort of protection.

I really don’t like to wear gloves, but sometimes I figure I am better off if I do. I wouldn’t wear gloves for just doing mechanical work. I’d never entertain the thought of buying gloves like are pictured in this post.

By: luthier58

luthier58 — Sun, 18 Feb 2007 16:37:35 +0000

I combine two of the above. I wear nitrile gloves all the time, when it’s cold I snip the thumb and first two finger tips out of cheap jersey gloves and wear them over the nitriles. Nothing beats the thin nitrile for dexterity, and they’re both so cheap it’s not painful to throw a torn/fuel-soaked pair away.

By: Old Donn

Old Donn — Sun, 18 Feb 2007 14:50:39 +0000

I’ve been sold on these things from Day 1. The standard issue Craftsman/Mechanix gloves not only save bumps and burns, they make hand cleaning a whole lot easier. I always pick up a pair or two at Sears when they’re half price. One drawback, as outlined in another post, once they get soaked with grease or oil, it’s there for good, no matter how many times they’re washed. A box of nitriles is always good to have around for messy jobs.

By: sam

sam — Sun, 18 Feb 2007 07:04:26 +0000

i use ironclad wrenchworks gloves any time i’m doing any lifting and handling. i know they’re expensive, but they fit me perfectly and my hands feel a lot better after a day of work wearing them.

By: nrChris

nrChris — Sun, 18 Feb 2007 03:47:27 +0000

The Mechanix gloves that you pictured are the ones that I prefer. When they go I like to remember that it could have been my knuckles and fingers all banged up instead of the gloves. And no matter what anyone says, they are good looking.

By: Roscoe

Roscoe — Sun, 18 Feb 2007 02:11:25 +0000

Plain old jersey gloves are my favorites since you can buy a bundle of them for less than a pair of other gloves, then pitch them as soon as they get nasty.

By: Harry

Harry — Sun, 18 Feb 2007 02:08:29 +0000

Nitrile gloves are my favorite. They protect the hand somewhat and offer protection from chemicals, grime, and fluids while maintaining dexterity. They’re supplied for free at work.
My next favorite all purpose glove is the military nomex glove. It offers durable protection, maintains dexterity, and throws in heat protection.
The Mechanix gloves have the cool factor I guess with the wide range of styles, logos, and colors available. However, when they’re oil or coolant soaked who cares? That’s why I like the nitrile gloves. When they tear, get too slimy, or my hands need some fresh air, off they go and they get tossed into the nearest trash can.

By: Dazrin

Dazrin — Sun, 18 Feb 2007 01:29:02 +0000

FYI, the red Mechanix gloves are on clearance at Sears.com for 9.97. Red, extra large size only.

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?cat=Mechanics+Tools&pid=00947666000&vertical=TOOL&subcat=Automotive+Specialty+Tools&BV_UseBVCookie=Yes

By: Cybergibbons

Cybergibbons — Sat, 17 Feb 2007 23:31:08 +0000

I used to like Mechanix gloves, but they are really quite expensive here, and they don’t last long before they are covered in heavy fuel oil. Not too good at heat insulation either.

Recently, I’ve been using what resemble leather flying gloves - very soft leather, quite thin. They last ages, fuel wipes off ok, and they are good at insulating up to a reasonable temp (10bar steam temps anyway). Dirt cheap in China as well.

By: Eric

Eric — Sat, 17 Feb 2007 18:50:03 +0000

I like the craftsman mechanics gloves, they’re pretty similar to the mechanix gloves (mechanix makes them), and they’re $5 cheaper, and if you watch the ads they go on sale pretty often for as low as $10. Though they have changed the design recently, and i’m not sure what I think about the new finger tips yet.

By: Trevor Dyck

Trevor Dyck — Sat, 17 Feb 2007 18:30:55 +0000

Since I work in a motorcycle dealership, I can get accessories at cost, so I usually spring for some mesh/leather Alpinestars “motocross” “mx6″ gloves. They hold up pretty well and don’t cost alot, even if you can’t get them at dealer cost. My $0.02