Using disposable gloves when firearm cleaning

I have a couple of boxes of Nitrile gloves that I use occasionally whilst firearm cleaning. Mostly I use Wipe Out foam or Patch Out and Prolix. I don't think they have much potential for toxicity. When using Butch's Bore Shine and most of the other products I use gloves.

I sometimes use them when I remember. Have used nitrile and latex off the shelf from drug stores over the years, no idea on thickness.

I’ve been using the “Workin Gloves”. I believe I got them at Wal-Mart. They have a material back and rubber in the palm, finger areas. They work ok for cleaning, but are a little thick if you have to dissemble small parts. I’m going to try the latex/ nitrile gloves on my next cleaning.

I use nitrile that I get from Costco's pharmacy section. It's not so much about toxic stuff on my skin, but the difficulty in cleaning Unique soot mixed with CLP off my hands.

I'd have to look at the thickness on mine, but I always wear nitrile gloves while cleaning my guns.

Blue gloved from either Sam's Club or Costco. 200 in 2 boxes last quite a while and provide good protection

This is Berkley's write-up on glove properties and materials:
https://ehs.berkeley.edu/workplace-safety/glove-selection-guide

Many chemicals are readily absorbed by the skin on contact and with varying effects that may be immediate/burn/contact dermatitis or long term exposure. If you've ever experienced a chemical induced burn, it's not pleasant. I wear gloves. Match the glove for the proper chemical resistance required.

I have several boxes of nitriles scattered from garage to shop to gun/reloading bench.

Wearing them while using greases/oils/solvents has long seemed a good idea to me.

At a minimum, it makes cleaning my hands afterwards a LOT easier.

I started over 25 years ago when I started wearing contacts; I sure didn't want any petroleum distillate getting into my eyes.

George P said:

I started over 25 years ago when I started wearing contacts; I sure didn't want any petroleum distillate getting into my eyes.

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I've burned my eyes from that more than once in my past. Not quite as bad as putting in contacts after eating boiled crawfish or jalapenos, though.

MoreIsLess said:

Does anyone use disposable gloves when cleaning your firearms?

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Not yet. Probably because my hands almost always look a bit worn and a grimy from my job working on machines. Plus, I have a hard time feeling and controlling small parts when I wear gloves. Probably a learning issue there, though.

However, my stepson and wife use Nitrile gloves when they need to due to Latex allergies.

i use nitrile gloves from harbor freight while reloading , sorting brass, emptying the tumbler and cleaning firearms. much cheaper from them than walmarts. i use the 5 mil.

Took to wearing gloves with any solvents years ago. Especially handy when scrubbing out bores with Hoppes, and the copper remover which is toxic.

I wear them nitrile while cleaning AND shooting.

Ya, I get some looks at the range. Good thing I dont care.

Forty years and never worn gloves. Hot water and soap cleans my grimy hands. However, I do have a few erratically spotted shirts that I wear when cleaning firearms. Protective eye-wear is a must.

I too am from an older generation which never got in the habit of gloves except for real rough work.

Yep! I always wear them when working on my firearms.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0019QXACO/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It’s never a bad idea with gun solvents, spray painting, cleaning painting materials or even when changing the oil in the vehicles.

Stay safe!

Riomouse911 said:

It’s never a bad idea with gun solvents, spray painting, cleaning painting materials or even when changing the oil in the vehicles.

Stay safe!

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Or even cleaning around the house with various chemicals

I use both Nitrile and latex. The latex I use are pretty thin but work fine for one or two guns. Sometimes the rip but I just slip another on.

I’ll use medium duty nitrile I get from harbor freight. They’re the best and I can often use them twice.

Toxicity is a concern. For 5 decades I cleaned my guns without gloves and at 70 I’ve had no issues that would indicate absorption of any of these chemicals. While not paranoid I now try to limit exposure to solvents like gun scrubber and Hoppys #9. You could potentially absorb these trough the skin and lungs.

I also got tired of my hands smelling like Hoppys and oil even after a good scrubbing.

I use the blue Nitriles from Sams Club when cleaning my firearms and sorting range brass. Also wear em when decapping dirty brass.

I also use the 5 mil nitrile gloves from Harbor Freight. They seem thick enough to get the job done. If you work with particularly harsh solvents then you might want to go with the 7 mil gloves but I have used the 5 mils for years and they do just fine. If you get on their coupon code text messages you can get 20% off a sale price. Normally that brings them down to $7 or less a box.

After years of exposing my hand's skin to all sort of harsh chemicals including xylene, acetone, bleach, various cleaning slovents, motor/trans oil , gasoline, etc I've wised up and use nitrite gloves. As for being from and older generation that finds no need for gloves, why stop there? There's all sorts of practices that were formerly thought to be safe but are now understood to be bad for humans. Smoke 'em if ya got 'em!