Latex gloves while handling cast bullets?
- Thread starter OldRook77
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floydster
Member
Been handloading for over 60 years--No I don't wear gloves when handling cast bullets.
KansasSasquatch
Member
I don't. I tried, too cumbersome for me. But I don't eat or drink in my reloading room and wash my hands then my face very thoroughly after reloading (or anytime I want some Copenhagen). Doesn't matter if I'm working with cast bullets or any other style. After casting I'll usually of my top layer of clothing directly into the washing machine, then wash up thoroughly.
Schwing
Member
I do wear gloves now. I had a little brush with high lead levels a few months back. You won't absorb it through your skin (not enough to even measure to be honest) but that does change if you bounce around from reloading to cleaning a gun or any other activity that uses solvents.
for me, it keeps all of the lead in one place. It is a reminder not to brush my hands on my cloths or my face and is a reminder not to handle other stuff with lead on my hands. I still wash my hands when done. As KansasSasquatch already stated, i also wash my cloths when I am done. It all sounds paranoid but, even the mild lead poisoning I dealt with was extremely uncomfortable for a few weeks.
If you do wear gloves, I would suggest nitril over latex. The latex gloves just don't hold up well for me.
for me, it keeps all of the lead in one place. It is a reminder not to brush my hands on my cloths or my face and is a reminder not to handle other stuff with lead on my hands. I still wash my hands when done. As KansasSasquatch already stated, i also wash my cloths when I am done. It all sounds paranoid but, even the mild lead poisoning I dealt with was extremely uncomfortable for a few weeks.
If you do wear gloves, I would suggest nitril over latex. The latex gloves just don't hold up well for me.
Dframe
Member
No, I never wear gloves while loading. I DO however, wash thoroughly after loading and before I touch anything else. I NEVER have drink or food anywhere near my reloading room.
whughett
Member
Have not in 30 plus years, but that don't make it right. I also don't when picking polished brass out of the media, which may be even more hazardous.
Bad habits die hard.
Bad habits die hard.
Elkins45
Member
I don't, but I did recently buy a bottle of D-Lead soap to wash with after doing any kind of gun stuff. It may be 90% marketing, but it was cheap.
I don't. 32 years of reloading and counting. I cannot stand latex gloves on my hands. I guess i would never make it as a doctor--wait, I am a doctor, but not that kind, for me its Piled High and Deep.
The big deal is to wash your hands well after handling the lead bullets or tumbling media and do not eat or drink while handling bullets or tumbling media.
The big deal is to wash your hands well after handling the lead bullets or tumbling media and do not eat or drink while handling bullets or tumbling media.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
I don't.
Especially when casting bullets!
Ever had a melted vinyl or latex glove stuck to your hand.
rc
Especially when casting bullets!
Ever had a melted vinyl or latex glove stuck to your hand.
rc
No, I don't. Without starting yet another lead poisoning thread, solid lead is not absorbed through your skin (fingers).
You simply need to wash your hands before eating, smoking or nose picking. Use a fingernail brush and wash your hands well or twice.
You do not need special soap. Most if not all had soaps contain EDTA which is a chelation agent and will remove the lead from you hands.
You simply need to wash your hands before eating, smoking or nose picking. Use a fingernail brush and wash your hands well or twice.
You do not need special soap. Most if not all had soaps contain EDTA which is a chelation agent and will remove the lead from you hands.
PhotoBiker
Member
Gorilla Grip Gloves, $4.99/pr at The Home Depot. Last me at least 5 months a pop.
I wear them for all reloading activities though, not just handling cast lead bullets.
Latex work for me for short, periodic tasks, but to put on a pair of latex gloves each night would kill my hands over time.
The Gorilla grips are latex on the palm side and light fabric on the back, they breath, I've never had my hands sweat while wearing them.
I wear them for all reloading activities though, not just handling cast lead bullets.
Latex work for me for short, periodic tasks, but to put on a pair of latex gloves each night would kill my hands over time.
The Gorilla grips are latex on the palm side and light fabric on the back, they breath, I've never had my hands sweat while wearing them.
Carl N. Brown
Member
The key is to wash your hands well after handling lead in small particles (as you get casting bullets or cleaning guns fired with lead ammo) before eating, drinking or smoking. If your finger tips are grey, wash it away.
Arkansas Paul
Member
I don't, but it wouldn't be a bad idea to wear them when tumble lubing boolits. Has nothing to do with safety, but I hate Lee Alox getting on my hands. It's sticky so I've thought about it for convenience.
As rcmodel said though, not while casting. Leather gloves only for that.
As rcmodel said though, not while casting. Leather gloves only for that.
ReloaderFred
Member
Not in 50 years of reloading, and 43 years of bullet casting. I wash my hands thoroughly after handling lead of any kind, and don't eat with my hands until they're washed at least twice. My blood/lead level is in the low normal range.
Hope this helps.
Fred
Hope this helps.
Fred
GBExpat
Member
OldRook77 said:
My Dad got me into reloading in ~1968 and I have been doing it ever since. I have never used gloves when dealing with cast lead bullets, I just make sure to wash my hands.
If you are wearing these loves to minimize contact with lead, not replacing them at every use just allows the "lead dust" to build up in the fabric area over time. A false sense of protection in my opinion.
If you are wearing them for other reasons such as abrasion protection etc, well that is a different matter.
greenmtnguy
Member
Just don't eat drink or smoke while you're reloading (you shouldn't be smoking anyway!!) and ALWAYS wash your hands before you do anything else. I don't wear gloves while handling lead bullets, just as I don't wear gloves when I'm handling lead solder to solder circuit board components. Just be sure to wash thoroughly before doing anything else, and don't be touching your face/eyes/whatever without washing first..
http://www.amazon.com/Grafco-Latex-...F8&qid=1385445587&sr=8-1&keywords=finger+cots
So much more comfortable than gloves. You need at least two sizes. I wear an X large on my thumbs, and a large on my first two fingers.
I agree with the other guys, no big deal handling elemental lead. I wear them when I reload because of the powder residue on the cases and the lube on the bullets. That, and I don't want my ammo to get fingerprint-shaped tarnish spots on them. My reloads might sit on a shelf for years.
I still wash my hands, but it doesn't take 2 minutes to scrub the black off my fingertips. If I am making a couple dozen rifle cartridges, then I won't bother. But when loading up 500 rounds, it's worth my time to roll these on.
So much more comfortable than gloves. You need at least two sizes. I wear an X large on my thumbs, and a large on my first two fingers.
I agree with the other guys, no big deal handling elemental lead. I wear them when I reload because of the powder residue on the cases and the lube on the bullets. That, and I don't want my ammo to get fingerprint-shaped tarnish spots on them. My reloads might sit on a shelf for years.
I still wash my hands, but it doesn't take 2 minutes to scrub the black off my fingertips. If I am making a couple dozen rifle cartridges, then I won't bother. But when loading up 500 rounds, it's worth my time to roll these on.
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gpurp
Member
No eating or drinking? Well I can understand the eating part. What's the danger with drinking out of a closed container?
greenmtnguy
Member
Well, closed container might keep lead particles from falling off your fingers and into the drink, but the outside of the container gets coated with particles from your fingers.. if you don't wash the container surface when you wash your hands - you'll just get particles back onto your hands again when you pick up that half empty budweiser to finish it off while eating dinner...
I wear gloves for almost all my reloading and 100% of my cleaning. The main reason I use them is to keep my hands clean so I don't have to scrub them when I am done working. The second thing is to keep bad stuff off my skin. I have very dry skin and chemicals really do a bad number on my fingers. The third reason is to keep any oils I might have (on my normally dry hands) off primers when reloading with a single station press. And finally, reloading and gun cleaning involves some chemicals and elements that are really bad for people like high VOC solvents, lead, and mercury.
My advice is to USE NITRILE GLOVES. Latex will melt when handling some solvents like acetone. And nitrile is strong and very durable. I actually hate other kinds of gloves like nylon, rubber, and latex.
Lou
My advice is to USE NITRILE GLOVES. Latex will melt when handling some solvents like acetone. And nitrile is strong and very durable. I actually hate other kinds of gloves like nylon, rubber, and latex.
Lou
Cranky CJ
Member
Usually, yes. I wear them working on cars, guns etc. I use the nitrile blue gloves for all the reasons listed above. ^^^ Pretty much habit now.
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