gloves or no gloves.

[0verkill]

I've worn a glove on my right hand from very early on for opening sprue plates. I found when using double or triple cavity moulds I was much faster using my hand than picking up a stick or wooden mallet, just saved a second or two per cast.
About 4 years ago I was making ingots from wheel weights in late July. It being hot I was in a pair of shorts, me being a hillbilly I was barefoot. Got towards the bottom of the 5 gallon bucket and didn't notice the tinsel fairy was wating in the bottom. The pot was about half full and over half of that went airborne. I turned my head and shut my eyes out of reflex, when I opened my eyes I couldn't see out of my left one, the lead had covered my goggles over that eye. I walked far away from the pot before I took the goggles off. By now I'd saw the 3rd degree burns on my left thigh just above the knee. The lead had also gotten on my foot and after seeing how bad my goggles looked I was almost afraid to look at my head in the mirror. The head didn't look too bad, hurt like crazt since I keep it shaved. Had splatter in my goatee, but it didn't burn the skin. Feet scared me real bad since I've been diabetic for the last 6 years, but that and the leg healed fine. The leg is the only place that still has scars but they'll probably fade in a few more years. Oddly enough I took a pocket knife and scraped the lead off my googles and finished my ingots.
Since then I always wear shoes, pants, a long sleeve shirt, both gloves and a face shield. There's a chance my burns wouldn't heal as nicely next time, so I've tried to keep from getting any more.

[MSGO-Hammer]

I always wear gloves, usually the thin leather work type gloves, apron and safety glasses. I use heavy gauntlet type welding gloves when smelting.

[BulletFactory]

No gloves and Ive got the scars to prove it.

[SquirrelHollow]

I open sprue plates by hand, so a glove is required. But... I would have them on, anyway.

Long sleeves, pants, welders' gloves, boots, glasses, and a hat.

[beex215]

i would suggest it. i hate the feel of the gloves hindering me, but i did have a small drop of molten lead that did sear my skin on my left hand. its a noticeable scar.

[9-toes]

I highly recommend proper gloves. If you burn both hands badly enough you better have a very good friend to help with your morning constitutionals!

[dragon813gt]

Welders gloves, leather apron, long sleeve shirt, non-synthetic boots and a face shield. I also wear a respirator if the smelting pot is smoking bad. Learned my lesson while brazing a line set in about synthetic footwear. The ball of braze that fell off melted it's way through the nylon and charred my wool socks. It should have never gotten that far. Since then I don't mess around with synthetic fibers and molten metals.


Brought to you by TapaTalk.

[Katya Mullethov]

With nothing more than you tube as a gauge , I would posit another thread might be "Shoes or no shoes ?"

[Certaindeaf]

Medium weight leather gloves. Cut sprue with hand, catch sprue with hand and drop gently back into the pot..

[emrah]

No gloves. I'm amazed at how many people open their sprue plates by hand. I just use a hard plastic hammer/mallet to gently tap the sprue plate open, then tap it back into position after closing the mold. No, it's not "beating on" it.

I'll get the occasional small lead burn on my arm, but I find that not having bulky gloves allows me to work more accurately. The gloves can be bulky and fine hand/finger control is diminished.

In other words, I am more wary of dropping something due to loss of "feel" while wearing gloves and having a BIG splash of hot molten lead than the occasional small "sizzle".

Emrah

[john hayslip]

Gloves, I'm right handed and have a nasty scar on the back of my left big finger where a 6 cavity Lyman sprue plate burned the bejesus out of me.

[wymanwinn]

heavy cotton inspection gloves, welder's apron, hat, glasses, long pants, long sleeves, roper boots for casting....

big heavy welding gloves and above for smelting....outside of course...

i used to have asbestos hands....

ww

[10 ga]

Gauntleted welders gloves for smelting and casting. I'm a ladle guy and need the gloves. AND always wear gloves when handling "ore" and sorting lead and WWs and handling lots of ingots. 10

[GP100man]

PPE is a must & I do for smelting & filling the pot ,but the actual act of casting I`m bare handed but do wear glasses , long pants & shoes, especially while sitting.

Been thinkin of an apron .

[NPBullets]

Gloves and eye protection always!

[monge]

Always have gloves on eye glasses and long sleeve shirt on no brainer lead is hot and sticky!

[RCE1]

I like the Ove Glove. Gives a lot of heat protection with very good dexterity.

[Buzzard II]

gauntlet type stick welders gloves, all cotton clothing-long sleeves, no shorts, leather work boots and face shield (one with sweat band!). I wore sneakers once-was that ever a mistake! Still have scar on top of foot! Burned right through. Need another welding apron-old one is shot. Safety equipment is cheap compared to trip to hospital and Dr. bills.

[RoGrrr]

Buy a pair of slip on cowboy boots at a garage sale or goodwill/thrift store.
Don't worry if they are too big. You don't run a marathon while you're casting....

Gloves for me.
And after reading bearcove's post I am replacing my lace-up steel toes with slip on steel toe boots!
I was really looking for an excuse...

[danielk]

Welders gloves all the way!!!! My skin is not match for molten lead, guess I'm just a sissy!!