Carving gloves

[Chizeler]

I am new to this chisel and knife stuff and need to get a glove. There are 2 that I found a kevlar glove and a steel mesh glove. Which one is best?

Thanks

[Colin-Partridge]

I guess I am not really the one to ask as I cant stand to wear one. Not right I know but it just puts me in the wrong mind set to carve. I have tried both and I would probably say for comfort that the Kevlar was the most comfortable. Mind you it will only protect you only so much. you can penetrate Kevlar with a knife. Its a funny thing it will stop bullets but not a knife . So if you are looking for complete protection I would say the glove, but then it will dull your tools : so it is a catch 22. I always say a wound will heal but its hard to replace a good knife.
Colin

now Colin, that's the politically UNCORRECT thing to say, most of us simply say we forget to put them on... hehe .

as to which type is best I guess I can only coment that the steel mesh seems to work ok (when I remember to where it, LOL). because of the nature of weaving the material a sharp point will push the fibers apart and won't stop a puncture type penetration but will help with a cutting or broad edge.

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

I prefer the steel mesh...it has a material over it so when I have missed and hit the glove, so far has not dulled the knife....found a site for a new steel mesh type glove....much cheaper! Its Warren Cuttlery.....I bought a pair for myself and one for my wife and they are fine....anything else runs about 19.95 up to about 25.00...I think these were 8.00.....imho
(oh....I wear a glove all the time...except the other day when I took it off and made one last cut....good advice....don't make one last cut after you take your glove off! : :P

I sometimes use a kevlar glove, you can find them at WalMart in the fishing department called fish cleaning gloves. Whether you buy one there or not, it would be a good idea to go and try them on and find the same you need anyway!

As said previously, they don't help from punture cuts, but do protect from slashes. They also work good when using a rotory tool with an aggressive burr, only wish I would of thought about that before taking a big chunk out of the back of my finger :-[

I'm with Colin on not really being the one to ask. Having tried three different varieties and giving up on them. But, the fish cleaning glove recommended by Randy seemed to be the best, as it had stainless steel woven in with the kevlar fibers. Might possibly be the same glove that Hi-ho got from Warren cutlery. Good advice from Randy on going to Walmart to try them on before you buy as the sizes seemed to be a little off.

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

Only problem with wallyworld, at least ours...they only have one size...'large' ? Kind of dumb but there you are! :

[Chizeler]

Thanks guys I will give Walmart a try. I just started carving with hand tools and already stuck a #7 4mm in my thumb, so I want to try a glove and see if I can carve with one on.

[oldbearx2]

Hey all, I use a kevlar glove, you can get them in different sizes at most carving supply houses. They even have xtra small, bought one for my grandson. One problem I found is that they are somewhat slippery. I bought a product called sportsmans goop and smeared it on the palm and fingers helps to grip better. I have to admit they are a little hard to get used to but if you are Tim Taylor :-[type like me, it saves a few trips to the emergency room.

I've used a fillet glove since early-on and feel uncomfortable without it. I don't wear it when working with full size tools because both hands are on the tool.
I have cut through the glove while working with a kinfe and the damage was minimal, only required a bandaid. On more than one occasion its saved me from a trip to the ER when a palm gouge went where it wasn't supposed to.
Whichever type you choose, its going to be a lot tougher than skin.
KettleKarver.