Why gloves?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 1,259
Likes: 198
From: Texas
Why gloves?
I see many videos of people doing work on their cars. Most of them are wearing gloves. Why?
I have been working on cars since 1950 and have never worn gloves. It would make working twice as hard without the touch of my fingers. I am 90 years old and only have experienced two injuries in all that time, one to my eye and one to my arm. Gloves would have not helped. Why do people use gloves when working on their cars?
I have been working on cars since 1950 and have never worn gloves. It would make working twice as hard without the touch of my fingers. I am 90 years old and only have experienced two injuries in all that time, one to my eye and one to my arm. Gloves would have not helped. Why do people use gloves when working on their cars?
CL Community Team Leader
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 3,026
Likes: 948
From: The School of Hard Knocks
I see many videos of people doing work on their cars. Most of them are wearing gloves. Why?
I have been working on cars since 1950 and have never worn gloves. It would make working twice as hard without the touch of my fingers. I am 90 years old and only have experienced two injuries in all that time, one to my eye and one to my arm. Gloves would have not helped. Why do people use gloves when working on their cars?
I have been working on cars since 1950 and have never worn gloves. It would make working twice as hard without the touch of my fingers. I am 90 years old and only have experienced two injuries in all that time, one to my eye and one to my arm. Gloves would have not helped. Why do people use gloves when working on their cars?
Lead Lap
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 4,611
Likes: 372
From: In your head
The right gloves keeps it less messy for both tech and car. However most gloved techs are using ones which decrease dexterity and tear after a few minutes of use.
I have had vehicles in for service, with reputable shops and well the grab bars, parts of the headliner were smeared from grease/fluid transfer.
I have had vehicles in for service, with reputable shops and well the grab bars, parts of the headliner were smeared from grease/fluid transfer.
Pole Position
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,476
Likes: 566
From: PA
As Stroock mentioned, it's more about keeping various oils, chemicals etc off my skin.
I don't work on my car much anymore but I work on big machines at work. In particular there's a gear oil at work that I do not want touching my skin. Smells awful too.
I don't work on my car much anymore but I work on big machines at work. In particular there's a gear oil at work that I do not want touching my skin. Smells awful too.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 18,612
Likes: 1,852
From: Ohio
I wear mid thickness latex that is intentionally sized very tight so I have high dexterity, main goal is to prevent my hand getting dirty and any skin absorption of the various carcinogens in used oil or particulates.
I hardly ever wear a heavier glove unless I'm using an air hammer or dealing with something around exhaust that is so tight that radiant heat will be an issue if I need to do something in there. The air tool use is because constant vibrations will cause nerve damage and leave your hands/arms "buzzing" at a low level with constant exposure.
Lastly it also allows me to never have to worry about getting into a car and getting something dirty as I can just strip the glove.
I hardly ever wear a heavier glove unless I'm using an air hammer or dealing with something around exhaust that is so tight that radiant heat will be an issue if I need to do something in there. The air tool use is because constant vibrations will cause nerve damage and leave your hands/arms "buzzing" at a low level with constant exposure.
Lastly it also allows me to never have to worry about getting into a car and getting something dirty as I can just strip the glove.
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Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 69,226
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From: Maryland
I wear gloves when I'm detailing my cars just to keep my hands clean. The oils from my hands also get on towels and smear glass, etc. I also wear them when I'm cooking and BBQing to keep from having to constantly wash my hands.
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Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2025
Posts: 281
Likes: 81
From: Florida
jimisbell is 90 years old. Been working on cars forever. Chemicals weren't any cleaner or less toxic in the 50s & 60s either. I'm 74 and don't wear gloves either. Less dexterity and zero feel. We're still here to talk about it! But, then again, only the good die young!
Racer
Joined: Jul 2025
Posts: 1,254
Likes: 244
A good friend from high school became a full time auto mechanic. By the time he was 40 the skin on his hands looked horrid. While I rarely do any work on our cars, I wear nitrile gloves when working on my motorcycle and cleaning firearms.
Last edited by ChattanoogaPhil; May 29, 2026 at 05:25 AM.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 69,226
Likes: 4,222
From: Maryland
jimisbell is 90 years old. Been working on cars forever. Chemicals weren't any cleaner or less toxic in the 50s & 60s either. I'm 74 and don't wear gloves either. Less dexterity and zero feel. We're still here to talk about it! But, then again, only the good die young!
Personally, I just don't want to have to clean all that **** off my hands, I'd rather just take the gloves off and throw them away and be done with it.
Last edited by SW17LS; May 29, 2026 at 07:12 AM.
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2025
Posts: 281
Likes: 81
From: Florida
I know lots of people who chain smoked their whole lives and lived to be 90 without lung cancer. Does that mean its a good idea for all of us to go out and smoke? Probably not. Chemicals are bad for your body, and what gets on your hands gets absorbed by your boddy. Better to just not have that happen.
Personally, I just don't want to have to clean all that **** off my hands, I'd rather just take the gloves off and throw them away and be done with it.
Personally, I just don't want to have to clean all that **** off my hands, I'd rather just take the gloves off and throw them away and be done with it.
As a full time mechanic I would strongly consider nitrile gloves when getting down and dirty. I actually advocate using them at my Sheet Metal business when chemicals are involved.
