Workshop Gloves

September 2006

There are few car jobs that don't result in dirty hands. Even checking the oil or tyre pressures gives you grubby mitts, while more in-depth work could leave you with bigger problems. Brake fluid, petrol and antifreeze can play havoc with your skin, creating sores and dryness, and old engine oil is carcinogenic.

So wearing gloves is a good idea, even for valeting, as many wheel cleaners are acidic, while silicones in protectants feel really nasty on the skin.

But which gloves do you go for? Essentially, there are three types: latex, vinyl or nitrile. Latex are cheapest and generally fit best; the expensive nitriles are tougher and resist chemicals better. Vinyl versions fall between the two.

Strength is vital, as few of us will bother using gloves if they have to be frequently replaced.

We repeatedly tried to loosen a tight bolt to check for splitting, plus immersed the gloves in paraffin, thinners and T-Cut to assess chemical resistance. Points were also awarded for comfort, fit and price.

Verdict

When it comes to working on cars, nitrile rules. It costs more, but the gloves last so much longer and can be reused. Our Sempermed Best Buy combines comfort with excellent strength and solvent resistance.

Tuffsafe's Recommended TFF-961-4021B items aren't quite such a good fit, but they are cheaper and you get 10 more. Bodyline's Vinyl are more comfortable than the award winners, but don't have the same strength.

Top 3

1. Sempermed
2. Tuffsafe TFF-961-3121B
3. Bodyline Vinyl

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