What kind of gloves do you use or recommend in electronics adventures? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: eleguy
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2025, 07:50:31 pm
content: Greetings,I wonder what kind of gloves you use or recommend in electronic tasks like handling the boards/parts, soldering, assembly and so? The ones I use now are probable some sort of "basic ESD gloves" people can buy anywhere. I have got mine from herehttps://eleshop.eu/esd-safety-gloves.html. However, I have recently noticed that the quality of this decently priced product has gone down, so, I thought what could be the next or next next level? I don't like fully plastic ones as those tend sweat a lot in my hands.

author: jpanhalt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2025, 08:46:14 pm
content: I don't use gloves for better dexterity, When contamination/fingerprints are an issue, I use a lint free fabric glove.

author: RoGeorge
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 25, 2025, 07:29:01 am
content: Nobody uses gloves when handling boards/parts, or when doing electronics in general. It is not necessary.

author: armandine2
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 25, 2025, 08:53:00 am
content: Quote from: RoGeorge on February 25, 2025, 07:29:01 am..but some seem to like them

author: eleguy
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 25, 2025, 11:56:03 am
content: Quote from: RoGeorge on February 25, 2025, 07:29:01 amYep that is what I little bit expected... but my hands do tolerate pretty much nothing. So, I kind of have to wear or get all kinds of skin reactions. The worst reactions do come from touching any unfinished metallic surfaces. In addition I don't mind having grease free boards as the end result. Well, certainly ultrasonic cleaning takes those marks away as well but still...

author: jpanhalt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 25, 2025, 12:14:20 pm
content: Then wear gloves that protect your hands. It is not an electronics-related question, but rather medical. If leaving prints is an issue, then cotton cotton gloves may be a solution. I suspect from what little you have described that a breathable glove is your best answer.If you go to surgical gloves, as illustrated, or any other non-breathable glove, that may exacerbate the condition. Good fitting gloves can be expensive and difficult to reuse. Latex fit well, but also are well known to cause allergies, so that might be one class to avoid. A dermatologist more familiar with your problem can probably give better suggestions.

author: eleguy
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 25, 2025, 02:21:40 pm
content: Quote from: jpanhalt on February 25, 2025, 12:14:20 pmYep... and such I wear as described in the original question. What I was looking for if someone knows a good brand/type gloves in addition to the ones mentioned at the beginning of the thread.Medical and medical... I wonder if solder (specially leaded one) for example is super safe and should be touched directly? Somehow I was expecting that people do react to this kind of question in the same way as "old good workman" did in the past when asking them to use safety goggles or earmuffs. "Just for the weak ones. Not mandatory".

author: jpanhalt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 25, 2025, 02:49:04 pm
content: As suggested, cotton is generally pretty ESD safe (e.g,. cotton inspection gloves). What brand to get in Finland? Does "made in China" suffice as a brand? I get mine from Amazon because I am 40 miles from a city that is large enough to have a supplier locally. I suspect fit varies, but what I bought works fine for me.Lead is everywhere in the environment. Sampling blood for lead levels requires specially prepared tubes and precautions because of that. Don't be foolish. Some areas in the US were notorious for local customs like "mud pies" made from Mississippi river mud (e.g., Cape Girardeau, MO). Hopefully that practice has stopped.I handle leaded solder without any special precautions. When I mess with leaded paste, I use disposable vinyl gloves if there is a reasonable chance of getting it on me, e.g., when using a squeegee on a stencil. I take the gloves off to place the parts. If I am only doing a spot repair, I don't usually bother. To each his own.

author: artag
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 25, 2025, 03:07:36 pm
content: Agreed on the medical choice being the important one. People are allergic to a wide range of things and one size doesn't fit all.I sometimes use gloves when using things like photosensitive resin, but mostly I just try not to touch it.There are several electronics youtubers who always wear latex gloves though. I don't know why. I always assumed they had some skin problem. The photo of Marco above is, after all, for a precision analog measuring board - it's worth keeping that super clean.

author: eleguy
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 25, 2025, 04:10:03 pm
content: Quote from: artag on February 25, 2025, 03:07:36 pmMaybe it looks cooler or they are afraid that someone copies their fingerprint. Or maybe they just care they hands...

author: RoGeorge
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 25, 2025, 04:39:17 pm
content: Quote from: eleguy on February 25, 2025, 02:21:40 pmLeaded solder is safe to touch or handle of normal people. If you have a skin allergy to metals, then it is irrelevant to talk about what good ol' workman would do or say anyway, because that won't apply to you, since you claim to have a medical condition.If you are just scared by Pb contamination, which you look like, wear whatever you feel like. In practice, Pb poisoning was not a specific/professional disease. Electronists would have know that after 50+ years of working in the industry.Pb regulations were introduced relatively recent, and for very different reasons the the lead in the soldering alloys, but I won't insist with this topic. It was mostly because of the leaded gasoline, that were putting it in the air.You should wear gloves anyway because of your medical condition. People most often use latex based gloves (from cleaning and kitchen supplies), thought some are allergic to latex.Same for antistatic concerns. If you handle the parts correctly, you won't need any antistatic bracelet either.

author: eleguy
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 25, 2025, 05:04:51 pm
content: Quote from: RoGeorge on February 25, 2025, 04:39:17 pmSuch I have never used in hobby stuff and have not got into problems either. However, if someone does not like to use some particular safety gadget in their hobby then it is matter of that person only. Still it could be that this same person is forced to do so in some workplace XYZ.I think the thread has got - maybe nowadays normal in any social media?? - wrong (bit bitter) taste already by now. The question was about the gloves not if those should be used or not. If I have some special condition or not. If you like to use such or not. Funny is also how people pick up a one word and makes assumptions based on that. I am not sure if this kind of debate/action adds anything to the original question. If one does not know any good gloves or does not care using such at all then that one can continue to the next more interesting subject where he/she as more to give. Why waste any time and try take the discussion nowhere? Well... maybe some like that, some like to be "correct" and maybe some forums live from such. However, I have always thought we can do better here in EEVblog.

author: RoGeorge
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 25, 2025, 05:45:30 pm
content: Quote from: eleguy on February 25, 2025, 11:56:03 amSorry, I can not follow how it is, and not curious to find out. Please ignore my previous answers. Have a nice day.

author: jpanhalt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 25, 2025, 06:09:12 pm
content: Quote from: eleguy on February 25, 2025, 05:04:51 pmPerhaps you have ignored the answers.If you need dexterity, which I suspect is the case, you need a well fitting glove. Cotton or other woven material fits that description and was mentioned early one. Cotton can be extremely cheap (pennies each), generally fit well, and are easy to remove and reapply. Well fitting non-porous gloves (e.g., surgical not exam gloves) are relatively easy to put on, but more difficult than cotton, and are much harder to take off and put back on.

author: eleguy
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 25, 2025, 06:28:13 pm
content: Quote from: jpanhalt on February 25, 2025, 06:09:12 pmGood thinking and yes I have read (and tried to understand) the answers. Maybe I was just not clear enough when asking the question. I think the "style" I mentioned in the original question is ok for my purposes and it does not have to be redefined. Some other style would work probably as well. What I don't like in the current ones is as stated the quality. Although this is what they say about their gloves (can be found by following the provided link)"These are high quality ESD gloves that are made of dissipative nylon (80%) and carbon (20%). Furthermore, the gloves are comfortable to wear, have a breathable and seamless fabrication and are washable"Maybe it is just so that few use quality gloves (or gloves at all) or such does not exist even?In the past I used "this and that" gloves in renovation and such but then I found thesehttps://www.ejendals.com/tegera-safety-gloves/materials/macrothanplus/. The difference is HUGE specially if one followed their size guide. Well, the price is also ~10x compared to "this and that".However, I would be ready to pay 10x price from proper "electronic adventures -gloves".

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 25, 2025, 10:18:46 pm
content: Other thanMarco Reps, you won't find many people using gloves unless its on the assembly line.In that case probably what you linked, or finger cots:https://www.uline.ca/BL_6710/ESD-Finger-CotsI just use regular nitrile non-esd safe gloves when needed, for chemical use, dirty boards, or occasionally if the boards have mouse bites and lots of nasty glass fibers sticking out.

author: eleguy
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 26, 2025, 05:40:03 am
content: Quote from: thm_w on February 25, 2025, 10:18:46 pmThanks! Interesting option. I have not seen such before.

author: armandine2
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 10, 2025, 12:08:39 pm
content: ...magic hands, Paul Daniels

author: Pariah_Zero
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: April 17, 2025, 02:27:08 am
content: I've worn nitrile gloves quite a bit. Not because I donned gloves before soldering, but because I happened to be wearing gloves when I sat down to solder. I can wear the nitrile gloves for hours and not feel uncomfortable or tear them, so it's never been an inconvenience other than the cost of the gloves.I've discovered unusual benefit: those 4-5 mils of nitrile arejustinsulating enough to make the difference between an instant 2nd degree burn (or worse) before human reflexes react, and a reflexive pull awaywithoutgetting burned. (Or at least a much less serious burn).That's a pretty useful thing for learners who haven't branded their skin enough to respect the temperatures.It's also an odd, but useful mnemonic way to discourage bad habits like eating or wiping/picking your nose, rubbing eyes, etc. while soldering.Seriously: Ever try eating while wearing nitrile gloves? The brain just seems to say "Something's gone terribly wrong, and you need to stop immediately."