Modelling Gloves

Tommergun

Tommergun

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Joined
Jan 30, 2025
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101
Curious about the use of these (mostly) black gloves that I've seen modelers use. Can you still feel the parts? Beneficial? What brand, where do you get them, cost?
 
I only wear gloves when I'm spraying a model. Well, "gloves" is overstating it — I wear one glove, on my off hand, with which I handle the model (and frequently hold it for spraying from various angles). The reason is purely practical: so I don't have to scrub paint off my fingers afterward.
 
Not sure about the black ones you are referring to... I have used white cotton gloves (bulk purchase) and the blue nitrile gloves.
I use the cotton ones good for handling models in the cabinet, or before varnishing so I don't get fingerprints on them.
The nitrile, very rarely...
While building, I very much rely on sense of touch, sometimes almost as much as my eyes, e.g. lining up a gun barrel and drill bit... personally, the gloves throw me off my game.
 
Blue or black, I think they are the same. If they fit loosely there's a small loss of tactile feel, but since they are just for holding the larger bits it is not a problem for me. I use them when cutting/sanding/grinding on resin too, both hands in that case. I get them from the auto-parts store, cheapest I have found, and using one at a time doubles the life of the box.

I'm not allergic to latex, lots of people are, but I do not think they are as effective against the stronger chemicals as nitrile, thinking acetone and lacquer thinner. I could be wrong about that, never claimed chemistry as a skill.

I do want to start using the white cotton ones for post-paint handling. Anything you can recommend there?
 
I find using Nitrile gloves while airbrushing is essential. Like Jakko, I use one glove on the non-airbrush holding hand while painting. There's a lot of concern about inhaling paint and thinner vapors but these chemicals can be absorbed through the skin too. Nitrile gloves are also non-allergic (hypoallergenic). I also use these gloves for handling model parts when I don't want fingerprints on the model.
I use the blue 5 mil Nitrile gloves from Harbor Freight for $11.99 per box. These come in boxes of 100 in sizes small, medium, large, XL and XXL. I use the smallest size that I can comfortably get my hand into so that they fit snuggly at the fingertips. I've found that small details can be felt through these gloves although the 3 mil white Nitrile gloves that Harbor Freight used to sell provide the best touch sensitivity.
 
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I do use latex gloves :) I used to have blue nitrile ones, until they ran out, but never did feel like they fit overly well whereas latex ones fit better. So I bought more latex ones last year, on the basis that I need them only a couple of times a year so I'm not worried about developing an allergy to them.
 
Yep, i use the blue nitrile gloves (medium so they are tight on my sausage fingers)) during final assemblies and handling chrome painted parts..bare oily fingers will rub off Alclad chrome in a heart beat.
Any drug store sells them box of 100 for around $10 - $14 bucks
 
I keep a box of nitrile gloves on my workbench—and anywhere else I'm likely to handle chemicals, dry or wet. They are not absolute protection, and if you notice them expanding, they aren't keeping out whatever you are handling. As protection from solvents, nitrile (and latex) are only partially effective. If you think the solvent is getting through them, it probably is. If that happens, chuck the glove ASAP, wash the hand, and use another glove.

As for touch sensitivity: surgeons use them. You can get used to it and compensate. Be sure to get a size that fits tightly if tactile sense is critical.

I wear them when spray painting, and when applying decals, when using epoxy resin, and when doing a lot of sanding, wet or dry, especially of resins.
 
BarleyBop said:
Maybe I just haven't used them enough, and I tend to associate them with puppy and toddler projectiles :eek:
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The two things to consider are fit, already mentioned, (and hardest to gauge) and thickness of the material. For scale modeling, thinner gloves are better.

Most come in small, medium, large, and extra large. Once you figure out your size (the tightest fit you can still get on your hands fairly easily) I use and recommend these. Don't get powdered gloves. They are messy, and many people become sensitized to the powder. Just make sure your hands are absolutely dry when putting them on.
 
Nitril gloves come in different thicknesses and some are even textured. I tend to use the 7 mill from Harbor Freight. They have cross hatch pattern texture. Costco sometimes carries very good nitril gloves for a better price for more gloves. Shop around, try different brands and see what works for you.
 
duck said:
Nitril gloves come in different thicknesses and some are even textured. I tend to use the 7 mill from Harbor Freight. They have cross hatch pattern texture. Costco sometimes carries very good nitril gloves for a better price for more gloves. Shop around, try different brands and see what works for you.
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Are you talking about the Kirkland exam gloves?
I have been using ones from Harbor Freight for years, typically just to hold something when I am spraying it. Other than that I do not wear them.
I think for YouTube videos, black gloves have become very trendy especially for closeup shots
 
typ44q said:
Are you talking about the Kirkland exam gloves?
I have been using ones from Harbor Freight for years, typically just to hold something when I am spraying it. Other than that I do not wear them.
I think for YouTube videos, black gloves have become very trendy especially for closeup shots
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The box from Costco says Medicom Vulcan. I know that Kirkland is their store brand, but they also get other brands in. I don't always see nitril gloves in stock and these were over in the household/ mechanic area.
 
typ44q said:
I think for YouTube videos, black gloves have become very trendy especially for closeup shots
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It could be a fashion trend, but I've seen lots of comments about cutting or cleaning fingernails, so maybe that is part of it too.
 

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