Mesh goggles are a lifesaver in the summer, especially up on a hot roof—no more wiping them every five minutes. I’ve had the same issue with nitrile gloves after rinsing, they just don’t last. Those PU-coated ones survive a lot of scrubbing and even some roofing tar, at least for a while. I do keep a box of disposables for the really gross stuff, but yeah, it gets expensive fast if you’re burning through them all day.
I hear you on the nitrile gloves—"
" is right. I’ve switched to those thicker blue latex ones for demo work, but they’re hot and not great with solvents. Has anyone found a reusable glove that actually holds up to repeated tar exposure? I’m tired of tossing them after one job.they just don’t last
—yeah, story of my life with those cheap nitriles. I tried the “chemical resistant” reusable ones from the hardware store (the green kind), but after scraping tar, they got stiff and cracked. Honestly, unless you want to spend big bucks on pro-grade gear, I’ve found doubling up the cheapies is about as good as it gets... not ideal, but at least you’re not tossing $20 gloves every time you get sticky. If anyone’s got a magic solution that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg, I’m all ears.they just don’t last
I get the frustration with the green “chemical resistant” gloves—those things are stiff as boards after a couple uses, especially if you’re dealing with tar or solvents. But honestly, doubling up on cheap nitriles never worked for me. They always seem to rip at the worst possible moment, and then you’re left with sticky hands anyway.
Here’s the thing: I bit the bullet and bought a pair of those blue Showa gloves (the ones with the rough grip) a couple years back. Not cheap up front, but they’ve survived paint stripper, roofing tar, even some concrete work. I just rinse them off and hang them up. Way less waste than burning through boxes of disposables, and they haven’t cracked yet.
I get not wanting to drop $20 every time, but sometimes spending a little more once saves you in the long run. Plus, my hands aren’t trashed after a weekend project anymore... which is worth something to me. Maybe not everyone’s cup of tea, but I’m done with the throwaways for anything messier than oil changes.
- Totally agree on the Showa gloves—mine have held up through attic insulation and crawlspace work, still going strong.
- Disposables are fine for quick plumbing checks, but anything with solvents or adhesives? Reusables win.
- Only downside: they can get sweaty inside after a while... but I’ll take that over cracked skin any day.
- For eye protection, I stick with reusable goggles too. The cheap ones fog up or scratch way too fast.