gloves or no gloves.

[Mike W1]

Prefer what I call "farmers chore" gloves that are insulated and best if they've been worn a number of times. Never feel the heat of the handles or the inevitable small splashes that occur. The tools I keep handy all have wooden handles I've made that are large enough to be easily picked up with a gloved hand and the small "plastic" headed mallet never has to be laid down but then I bottom pour.

[Grmps]

You DON'T need thick gloves for protection from the lead. TIG gloves are very thin, they are designed to protect you from arc flash (the heat generated by welding and remain very flexable.
I like a small leather mallet for tapping the old handles and moving the sprue plate

[308Jeff]

Just started casting in earnest yesterday. Been using the welding gloves I used for smelting. HATE 'em! Ordered some closer fitting leather gloves from Amazon a while back, but I'll be darned if I can find 'em.

Guess I should be looking for them now instead of typing on here.

[308Jeff]

Ordered a pair of these

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

and these

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[Bama]

Gloves and eye wear and boots too cause hot lead = burns and some can be really bad. Rahter be pouring boolits than healing.

+2 on gloves and eye protection

[Hannibal]

Can't believe this thread is still rolling along.

Casting without gloves and glasses is like riding a motorcycle without a helmet. Yeah, you look 'cool', but if something goes wrong, you're screwed.

Except no one thinks casting bullets looks cool, besides a few fellow casters. It sure ain't gonna get you laid.

[LAH]

Total focus on the task at hand is the primary line of defense.

I'll repost this as it goes with part of the post of rking22 & my other link is broken. I really enjoy this & call it 13 minutes with Jerry. Notice how he does things & listen to his warnings. Pure ole common sense will keep you from much trouble. I smelt & cast much like this only I standing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSgQ82Kqhzo

[lightman]

I voted no gloves. I'm not one to ignore using PPE. I cast with long pants, long sleeve shirt and safety glasses, but no gloves. I do wear gloves when adding lead to to the pot. I also wear gloves when smelting.

[mold maker]

Gloves are never necessary unless the unexpected happens. If one has time to think out everything beforehand, mistakes would be extremely rare. It's the off chance we encounter something unexpected that necessitates PPE. As long as we don't touch or allow anything hot to touch us, we are golden.
I have always been a multi-tasker, and often don't have 100 % attention on the task at hand. I suspicion there are many more that will admit the same. A phone rings, a dog barks, a spouse or boss speaks, and for a brief moment, our attention is missing. That slight break in attention is more than enough time for disaster.
Beyond that, it's just convenient to do some task like opening the sprue with your hand without fear of burns.
No, gloves are less comfortable and less agile than bear hands, but severe burns are much worse and last a long time. We aren't dealing with uncomfortable warm, it's 700+ degrees and it penetrates deep. The wound it causes is apt to become infected and it hurts like he11.
I know I'm preaching to the choir, but if all casters realize the need for gloves before the inevitable happens, I'm not just flapping my gums.
No matter how safe you think you are, or how many years you've done it your way, It will inevitably happen to you and it will hurt more than your pride.
I'm no Safety Sally, but good gloves are the least PPE I'd agree to.

[Retumbo]

Should have a third option; sometimes

[David2011]

I've gotten very used to opening the sprue plate with my hand since I started using sprue plate lube. Afraid that if I tried casting without gloves I will grab the hot mold with my bare hand.

[bleukahuna]

Didn't for many years, started hand opening, none of the clumsiness I assumed would occur(I'm using standard welding gloves) and I'm happier about not beating on my sprueplates.

[308Jeff]

Of the two pairs I ordered from Amazon, I really like the TIG gloves. They are much better fitting than welding gloves, which greatly increases dexterity, and I'm able to pick up bullets or sprues with them. Well worth the 12 bucks.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[largom]

Same here. Opening sprue plate with hand is easier on the mold.

[FISH4BUGS]

No gloves=burns
gloves=no burn
easy choice.

The perfect answer

[Yodogsandman]

I wear gloves for smelting and fluxing but, not when casting with a bottom pour.

[Mitch]

Well just so you all get your laugh for the day.
I use to not wear gloves just ballcap and glasses.One night i was on a roll things were going realy well till they didnt.I didnt do anything i had not been doing .A sprue jumped out of the pan and landed on my right thigh.So woat do you do then weill sure your grag it off your leg cuz it is burning lol.So then my figer are burning and i drop the thing right into my right shoe.by this time i am moveing like the speed of your fave varment round.Useing my favorite 4 letter word lol.
From then on it is Gloves.HiTop Work boots.glasses and ballcap.I can not afford to lose any more hair.
Have a great weekend all Bob

[nh7792]

Gloves and safety glasses anytime the casting machine/pot is on.

[Alcast]

Used to cast without gloves or any other protection as a matter of fact.Just wearing my regular glasses.Then it happened.Don't ask me how I still am looking for what or why;a drop of water or was it some humidity into my lead ingot I had just dropped in the pot.All I remember,a loud POP like you'd have fired a .22 from a revolver.The pot was empty;I had lead on my cap,on my glasses,on my shirt and everywhere on the wall.All 10#of it had sprayed everywhere exept on my hands or in my face.Like I said,my glasses had some in them;I was mighty lucky.
Now I wear welding gloves,face shield and I button up my shirt.You won't catch me casting or smelting dressed only with a T shirt!

[Cleatus]

Used welders gloves when I 1st stared, but quickly switched just a pair of pair of leather work gloves I picked up at home depot for doing yard work. Work well enough to remove the sprew and dump it back in the pot. Wear my regular everyday glasses, long sleeves and sometimes a baseball cap if I remember

I do a lot of cooking an never wear any type of protection from oil splatter...sure it stings when it happens, but it's not life altering. I cast for 3 hours the other day and burnt the hell out of my hand..but not from casting...it was removing a pot pie from the microwave **** gravy was leaking from the side and did way more damage than stray lead droplets caused from dropping the sprew back in the pot.