Eye and hand protection: disposable vs. reusable gear?

Yeah, I’ve just accepted that sweaty hands are part of the deal, especially when it’s pushing 90 outside. I’ve tried those “cooling” liners too - didn’t make much difference, just felt like another layer trapping heat. What’s worked okay for me is keeping a stash of those thin cotton gloves and swapping them out mid-job. They’re not as sturdy, but at least they dry quick and don’t stink up the place. Still, nothing’s perfect... sometimes I just end up working bare-handed and dealing with a few scrapes.

I get the temptation to just go bare-handed when it gets gross out, but honestly, I’ve seen too many folks regret it after a couple of nasty cuts or chemical burns. I hear you on the cotton gloves - yeah, they breathe better and you can swap them out, but I’ve found they don’t hold up at all if you’re dealing with anything sharper than a light bulb. Once had a pair snag and rip halfway through a job, and suddenly I was picking fiberglass out of my palm for a week.

Still, nothing’s perfect... sometimes I just end up working bare-handed and dealing with a few scrapes.

That’s where I’d push back a bit. A few scrapes here and there seem minor until you get a deep one or something gets infected. I get that disposable gloves feel sweaty and gross, but I started using nitrile ones under a lightweight reusable pair - sounds like overkill, but it’s not as hot as you'd think. The disposables catch the sweat, and the outer layer gives you actual protection. I toss the inner ones when they get gross, and the outer gloves last a lot longer than cotton. Not perfect, but it’s been better for me than swapping out cotton all day.

The other thing is, if you’re working around tenants or in shared spaces, bare hands just look unprofessional. People notice. I’ve had tenants comment on it, believe it or not. Plus, if you ever have to handle anything with chemicals or even just old insulation, you’re better off with a barrier - even if it’s not comfortable.

I’m not saying there’s a magic answer, but I’d rather deal with a little sweat than risk stitches or a nasty infection. At least with the double-glove thing, you can adjust on the fly - rip off the inner pair if it gets too much, and you’re not totally unprotected. Just my two cents from too many years of patching up dumb mistakes.

I’ve been trying out that nitrile-under-reusable combo too, and honestly, it’s made a difference when I’m dealing with anything sharp or messy. The sweat factor is real, but it beats getting fiberglass in your skin - been there, not fun. One thing I’m still figuring out is which reusable gloves actually last more than a few weeks without tearing at the seams. Anyone found a brand or material that holds up to both chemicals and rough surfaces?

I get the appeal of the nitrile-under-reusable trick, but honestly, doubling up always made my hands sweat like crazy - almost to the point where I’d lose grip. I’ve had better luck with single-layer heavy-duty latex or even those cut-resistant coated gloves (the gray ones with the rough palms). They don’t last forever either, but at least you can feel what you’re doing. Chemicals are tough though... I haven’t found anything that handles both solvents and rough stuff for long. Sometimes it feels like you’re picking the lesser evil, depending on the job.

- Double-gloving always felt like prepping for surgery, but with way more sweat and less precision. I tried it once for stripping paint and ended up pouring water out of my gloves when I was done. Not ideal.
- Those gray cut-resistant gloves are my go-to for anything sharp or splintery. I can actually pick up screws without feeling like I’m wearing oven mitts.
- Latex is hit or miss for me - sometimes they hold up, sometimes they just disintegrate if I look at them wrong. Plus, the powder gets everywhere.
- Chemicals are a pain. I’ve melted through more pairs of gloves than I care to admit. Still haven’t found one glove that does it all... unless someone’s got a secret stash of “indestructible” gloves?
- Anyone else notice reusable gloves start to smell like a swamp after a few uses? Maybe that’s just me...

Curious - has anyone found a glove that actually holds up to both solvents and rough work, or is it just wishful thinking?