Cutting nails short keeps dirt from getting underneath – still stains

The picture above is of a neglected thumb (Not a nasty middle finger). Our hands are the most valuable tools we possess, it makes sense to protect them. I remember when I first started turning wrenches, you were a sissy and a wimp if you were afraid to get your hands dirty. I used to be constantly exposed to grease, oil, mineral spirits, carb cleaner and brake clean. I recall working I in a 10 bay shop, with the bays lined up in a row. Many times I was 6 to 9 bays away from the nearest sink, where we washed our hands. I would many times use brake clean to spray off my hands, to save time. In addition I  was frequently washing my hands with cleaners and hand soaps that would dry my hands out allowing the grime to easily work it’s way deep into my skin. Needless to say, my hands were constantly stained. The only time my hands would really come clean was when I went on vacation, especially to the beach. After a week away from dirt and grime, my hands in the salt water frequently for that week, my hands would finally get back to normal. My wife would always comment “your hands are so clean”. Then back into the grease I would go until another year passed and it was vacation time again.

Stains will not wash off  – they wear off.
Later in my auto mechanics career, I realized that wearing latex or nitrile gloves were the only way to go. Instead of having to wash my hands before pulling a car out of the shop, all I had to do is take the disposable gloves off and I was on my way. This saved time and made me available for my next job sooner. When using adhesives like super glue or two part epoxy, gloves protect your hands and being able to peel them off quickly, helps prevent getting the adhesive on tools or the customer’s car.

Latex gloves sometimes causes allergic reactions for some people. Nitrile gloves are recommended for those that have sensitivity to latex products. Many new colors are available, including the most recent, I’ve seen…BLACK (Microflex Midknight Black nitrile gloves).

Nitrile gloves usually cost a little more, but in most cases they last longer resisting easy tears.

At home I’ve found even more uses for nitrile gloves. Doing sprinkler repairs is a perfect example, when it comes time to use PVC solvent and glue, the gloves go on. Nothing seems to be worse about drying  your hands out than purple solvent and PVC glue. My wife even likes to have latex gloves on standby in the kitchen. After she makes hamburger patties or cuts up a chicken, she says it’s nice to be able to take the gloves off and throw them away, then you know your hands are safe to go into the utensil drawer.

We’ve got one customer that hangs drywall, that’s sold on nitrile gloves. Drywall joint compound can really dry out your hands. He likes the nitrile gloves also because he can still feel what he is doing. He says that since Wise Auto Tools has free shipping at $199 and no sales tax outside the state of Florida, he’ll keep coming back.