What cut-resistant gloves do you guys use?

R

rwdenney

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Nov 20, 2020
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I’d like to think I didn’t need them.

But I do.

But the Kelly Woodslasher is now tight on its handle and sharp enough to shave with. Not that I’m going to test that. It’s also sharp enough to cut skin that just grazes it.

Rick “two cuts on the left hand, one on the right” Denney
 
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The Kelly was easy to sharpen, by the way, blood loss notwithstanding. I used a coarse mill bastard file to reprofile it, a fine Helko file to refine the coarse filing, and a diamond 220/600 puck to perform the final sharpening. I need to strop it but I left the project in search of bandaids. That Helko file is excellent but too darn short. Two of the cuts happened before i reprogrammed my arms to take much shorter strokes.

The handle was not really one I wanted to save, but it was the Redhead’s father’s, and her mother took it back in the deeps of time when they parted ways. Both long gone. But I was given a directive: Do not replace the handle.

The head was loose, so I carved the shoulder to allow the head to choke up a quarter inch further, and then cut away the protruding haft in the hopes of clamping the wedge in a vice and pulling it. All that worked, but there was no way that wedge was coming out. So, I trimmed it smooth, still a little proud of the head, and drove in a couple of metal wedges. The combination of driving it farther down the handle and adding the wedges has made the head tight.

But I don’t much like the grain orientation in the handle, so I think this one will remain more memento than tool.

Rick “for occasional use only” Denney
 
I don't use cut-resistant gloves. I'm one of those who firmly believes that stupid SHOULD hurt, and that the best PPE lies between the ears.

EDIT: Glad you finished the project, sounds like it was worth the effort!
 
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Stupid is not realizing when protection is needed. I’ve never had an issue with my knives, but my sharpening setup for knives provides more separation, and I can do it in a different setting.

What got me was the shortness of that Helko file. But it’s finer and wider than my Nicholsons.

Rick “not the only person to complain about that” Denney
 
rwdenney said:
But I don’t much like the grain orientation in the handle, so I think this one will remain more memento than tool.

Rick “for occasional use only” Denney
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I've learned that grain orientation is subjective. Different people like it oriented different ways, but I've found the main thing to look out for is runout. That is far more important and dangerous than the grain orientation. In reference to the gloves, I just wear thick leather gloves when I'm afraid I'll cut myself. They've yet to let me down.
 
I decided to get chef’s chain mail gloves. I mess with sharp things quite a lot, and two signs of aging that I’ve noticed are: less finger dexterity, and skin that is easier to break, even when callused. :)

I should remember that the axe handle in question is 50+ years old and it has been used and abused. If it was likely to break, it probably would have.

Rick “keeping small mistakes small” Denney
 
I don't typically wear gloves, but the best cut-resistant gloves I know of are made by HexArmor. Get ones with SuperFabric in the places you need protected and you'll be well covered.
 
Guards are a valid approach, for sure. I saw those in An Ax to Grind. But I couldn't figure a way to put on on that Helko file, which doesn't have the usual tang for fitting in a handle.

The third cut happened when I was sheathing the axe, and I certainly won't be wearing protection gloves when doing that. But I've drawn blood twice dealing with sheaths--the corners of the bit get me because the sheath is too stiff on the bit and invites me to pry it off from one end. A bad idea. If I catch myself doing that again, I'm going to rivet handles on my sheaths so I can pull them off easily.

Yes, I'm new to sheaths, having never used them before. My axes where never sharp enough for it to be much of an issue. But I figured if I'm upping my axe game so that I can enjoy my chopping workouts, I should start using sheaths. But sheaths require attention--and I wasn't paying enough.

Rick "who has used sharp kitchen and carry knives for decades without blood loss and didn't realize how different axes were" Denney
 
I've cut myself a few times sharpening axes. Sometimes I remember to wear leather gloves, sometimes I don't. When I get cut, I think, oh yeah, I guess I should have worn gloves. oh well.

Not that I think we should cut ourselves, but I've read before that men don't bleed "enough" anymore. I used to give blood regularily which was probably good for me. Most of us live such sheltered, protected lives these days. Historically (and prehistorically) our lives were so much harder and more dangerious and bleeding was a common occurance.
 
Let me be clear: I am not in pain, and the cuts are not serious. But they are messy, and the wife complains.

Rick “lol” Denney
 
you could add some more complains to avoid washing up, dishes, and so!
i put a leather gard on my sharpening files, use also average leather gloves, and last but not least 2 light brown eyes!
 
rwdenney said:
I’d like to think I didn’t need them.

But I do.

But the Kelly Woodslasher is now tight on its handle and sharp enough to shave with. Not that I’m going to test that. It’s also sharp enough to cut skin that just grazes it.

Rick “two cuts on the left hand, one on the right” Denney
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I use chain mail gloves when handling knives and axes to avoid cutting myself. you can obtain them on Amazon for a decent price.
 
That’s what
WOODS127 said:
I use chain mail gloves when handling knives and axes to avoid cutting myself. you can obtain them on Amazon for a decent price.
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I ended up buying.

Rick “hasn’t had time to put them to use yet, though” Denney
 
I suggest you use them when handling sharp objects to avoid injury. I always wear gloves since an incident with a woodsman's pal machete resulting in a serious cut on my thumb. I also complained of a design flaw with woodsman's pal sheath in the Sheaths and such forum.
 
Are you saying you don't need gloves? You have to have gloves, so you don't cut yourself. Health is above all. I just surfed the internet and found a nice pair on amazon with a level 5 protection, and I don't know if it's good enough for you, but I think I'll order them. I'm from NoCry. But if it is still about gloves, I am allergic to latex gloves, and I am looking for a good alternative. I read on a site that Nitrile gloves would be a pretty good alternative and are perfect for any skin type. Has anyone tried such gloves?







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the link: https://medrux.com/latex-vs-nitrile-gloves/
 
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I was about to laugh, but if you mean something like these, then actually that would probably give some protection:

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These, not so much: 🤣

1633721204421.png
 
I've yet to cut my hands on an axe, ive had plenty of cuts on my legs though, one fell from a table and sliced my ankle, i was holding one head down and lifted a bit too enthusiastically and sliced my calf, was holding another the same way but wearing flip flops and kicked the bit, split by toenail and gave be a little nick on the tip.

I would say, having owned a few shaving sharp axes, that ive never felt the need for a glove, but if I were to choose one, it would probably be some without rubber grips on them and a kevlar layer. Keeping that sliding action is more important than impact protection i'd say
 
Inexpensive police "pat down" leather gloves with kevlar lining can be had a reasonable prices. They are not "normal" work style gloves, but are comfortable and allow for great dexterity. I have only seen them in black with short cuffs.
 
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