Work gloves protect your hands from chemical and mechanical hazards such as punctures, cuts, and impacts. When choosing your gloves, consider the type of materials you’re handling and the kind of task you need to perform–e.g., carry heavy objects, cut sheets, handle chemicals, among others.
Here, we list the Most Common Types of Work Gloves based on the materials they’re made of:
Coated Fabric Gloves
As general-purpose gloves, they are designed to protect your hands from puncture and cut and a wide range of chemicals. However, they don’t work well in colder temperatures because they have less insulating properties.
Coated fabric gloves come in different coatings such as polyurethane, latex, nitrile, and PVC.
Cotton Gloves (also called liners)
They are made of a thin, breathable fabric that makes it easier to handle or manipulate objects than if you use gloves made of thicker, less flexible materials. The downside is that they provide minimal protection against hot surfaces, sharp objects, and open flames.
These gloves are primarily used to keep your hands clean and prevent abrasions while handling equipment or raw materials. Occasionally, they are used as a base layer beneath a thicker glove to provide additional protection from cold temperatures, hot surfaces, and other hazards.
Kevlar Gloves
Despite being lightweight, Kevlar gloves are remarkably durable against cuts and abrasions. Hence, they are commonly used as a lining to other types of work gloves.
Aluminized Gloves
Thanks to their heat-resistant materials, they are suitable for welding operations and work involving high-heat ovens, foundry, and furnaces. Keep in mind that they provide protection for up to 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit (or 1093.33 degrees Celsius).
Leather Gloves
Leather gloves are ideal for gripping and handling sharp and abrasive objects. Additionally, their durable material provides protection from moderate levels of heat from friction and welding, although frequent exposure to heat causes them to shrink and crack.
Workers are often required to wear liners when using leather gloves because the skin tends to dry out when it is frequently in contact with raw leather.
Winter Work Gloves
Winter work gloves have an outer layer that allows for a sturdy grip and an inner layer that provides insulation (around each finger) and protects the skin from moisture.
Chemical and Liquid-Resistant Gloves
These gloves prevent toxic and abrasive chemicals such as sulfuric acid, alkali, fuels, bases, alcohols, and peroxides from coming into contact with your skin.
Keep in mind that chemical- and liquid-resistant gloves also offer resistance to steam and water permeation.
Puncture Resistant Gloves
As their name suggests, they protect your hands from puncture wounds. Usually, their materials are manufactured in a way that resembles the scales of a fish, a design that deflects penetration from shards and needles.
Vibration and Impact-Resistant Gloves
These gloves are commonly used by workers in the construction and automotive industries where pneumatic tools, grinders, jackhammers are often used for extended periods of time.
Keep in mind that long-term exposure to pulsating and shaking equipment/machinery can permanently damage your nerves, blood vessels, and muscles in the hands and arms.
Choose the Right Glove Size
To know the correct glove size for you, measure the circumference of your hands, which is just under your knuckles.
Below is our reference chart:
Measurement Glove size
5 inches xxxs
6 inches xxs
7 inches xs
8 inches small
9 inches medium
10 inches large
11 inches xl
12 inches xxl
13 inches xxxl
If you need high-quality WORK GLOVES, visit Wholesale Industrial Parts or call us at (844) 588-8455.
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