Gun cleaning - Do you wear gloves?

[Fun2Shoot]

Back in the 60's and 70's, I thought nothing of cleaning auto parts bare-handed with leaded gasoline or kerosene or paint thinner.

But today as an older and wiser man, I take many more safety precautions than in the past.

These days, while cleaning my firearms with Gun Scrubber, Hoppes, Breakfree etc., I wear a cheap pair of rubber gloves like you get in the housewares dept. of a store. You know, the Playtex yellow ones. They hold up real well to solvents and when I'm done I just wipes the gloves with a clean cloth and save them for the next time. I avoid the toxic fluids from absorbtion into my skin (and liver!) and my hands don't stink like solvents for the next three hours.

I tried to use disposible rubber gloves, but the solvents eat holes in them and they tear easily on the gun's parts.

Do you use rubber gloves during your gun cleaning sessions?

 

[Shrinkmd]

Always

A doubled pair of vinyl do fine, especially if the first pair go through.

Back when AIDS first came out, lots of nurses didn't want to wear gloves for drawing blood because they weren't trained that way and couldn't feel things as well.

Use your gloves!

 

[.45FMJoe]

Not I.

 

[elric]

I wear the blue nitrile ones I get from Harbor Freight. The local store often has them on sale for 1/2 off, so when they do I buy a couple of boxes.

http://search.harborfreight.com/cpisearch/web/search.do?keyword=nitrile+glove

The nitrile seems a whole lot more durable than basic latex gloves, and seems to stand up to most solvents and cleaners, although the aggressive carb cleaner I was using when reviving an old lawn mower seemed to react with them a bit.

 

[Art Eatman]

Not in the last 60 years or thereabouts...

Art

 

[Cacique500]

Yep - everytime I clean the guns. Harbor Freight or MSC direct have them for good prices.

 

[yongxingfreesty]

looks like i need to get me some gloves

 

[Soybomb]

I haven't in the past but decided that probably isn't the wisest thing in the world and now have a pack of gloves for future cleanings.

 

[Sisco]

Probably should but don't.

 

[Lupinus]

no

 

[hexidismal]

Probably should but don't

+1

 

[MaterDei]

I very rarely use cleaners when I clean my guns. Q-Tips, rags, patches, brushes, and bore snakes are all I normally use. When I'm gone I apply a tiny bit of oil and I'm done. About twice a year I'll use Hoppes and when I do I use gloves and I do it outside. If your cleaning with gloves and inhaling the fumes you're defeating much of the purpose.

My next step will be to try using my dishwasher. I've heard that works well.

 

[AdamXBT]

No.[/

Back in the 60's and 70's, I thought nothing of cleaning auto parts bare-handed with leaded gasoline or kerosene or paint thinner.

B]Its Safe...For Use In Mu Guns.

 

[SniperStraz]

I don't...

...but I see no reason not to.

 

[Bruce333]

I do when cleaning Cosmoline off. I use the blue Nitrile gloves also (free from work ) For normal maintenance cleaning, no.

 

[PaulTX]

No - but I use MPro7 which is non-toxic.

Paul

 

[shadowalker]

Yes I do, it keeps my hands clean and who knows what will turn out to be toxic down the road.

Just because the cleaner is believed to be non-toxic doesn't mean the residue it is removing from the firearm is.

Asbestos and lead based paint were once great things, better to be safe than sorry .

 

[AZLibertarian]

Yes I do. I haven't had a problem with the solvents affecting the gloves (I use latex gloves from either Harbor Freight or Costco).

Although the scent of Hoppes #9 seems manly enough for me, the wife (Surprisingly! ) doesn't think so. So I clean the guns on the back porch and wear the gloves. The inconvenience of the gloves is a good trade for keeping the wife.

I hadn't considered the health affects of the solvents. However, for precisely that reason, I do try to wear an old pair of flight gloves when picking up range brass. There's no sense in making this hobby dangerous to my health.

 

[f4t9r]

no , but this thread made me think about it in the future

 

[ACORN]

I didn't, until I had a bladder cancer scare. When my urologist (DR. Longfinger)
asked me if I may have been exposed to petroleum based chemicals (benzene) the light went on. Luckily for me it was benign, but for all they cost gloves are a no brainer.

 

[birdv]

After all the old farm chemicals I have handled as a child.

Wow I never even thought about it.


Seven Dust for plants 2%.
Farm use Seven Dust 78%

I looked at the bottle my grandmother powdered coated her vegetables with it was the 78% stuff. Both of my grandparents are healthly as a horse.

 

[U.S.SFC_RET]

I don't use the high powered cleaners in any weapon that I own. I stand corrected I do use gun scrubber down the bore but I swab the bore out. To me there is no need.

 

[xiphur]

Yes every time. Hoppes doesn't wash off easily with soap and water and it dries out my skin ...and its stinky...

Use the nitrile gloves as they are more resistant to solvation by oil based solvents than latex.

 

[CannonFodder]

Not often. It's hard for me to get a good grip on some of the tinier parts and pieces.

Besides, the air I breathe in Philly, as well as living in a town where fried beef and cheese whiz is considered a delicacy will probably kill me first.

 

[LkWinnipesaukee]

When cleaning and lubing I dont.

But when all the disassembled parts are oiled, I put rubber gloves on to avoid leaving prints/dry spots. I dont know if it makes a difference, but what the heck.