"Do You Use Latex/Nitrile Gloves When Making Terrain?" Topic

Other than pollen, mold and (specially) cats, I've never really been allergic to anything else … until now it seems. And it made my hands itch like crazy, to the point that I couldn't sleep.

I'm still working on pinpointing the culprit* but, until then, I'm not taking any chances on it happening again. So Ill be ordering myself a box of these:

auction

QUESTION
Has anyone else here had to switch to wearing gloves when working on terrain and such (or perhaps even when sculpting)?

Dan
* I think it might be tile grout that I started adding to my fine sand on occasion, but I'm still not sure. Or it could be the 10-minute epoxy putty I used a couple of times to make patches. I sure hope it's not something more common like Green Stuff putty or PVA, because I use those things all the time. :(

I use gloves when I'm airbrushing or painting terrain, but that's so I don't have to scrub paint off of me.

No. I worked for almost 40 yrs with paints and their chemicals
with little or no protection. You all know that it hasn't effected me at all. (sniff)

Z

Are you becoming like Rev. Ignatowski? :)

Dan

Avoid latex gloves, they have a tendency if used for long periods to cause allergic reactions. I know after using them for years in nursing I developed a allergic rash to them , luckily the hospital switched to all non latex due to patient allergies.
Otherwise I've never had a problem with terrain making items or paints.

I always use gloves for sculpting, painting, terain work, everything. I buy boxes of 100 at the local Harbour Freight outlet. Once a month or so they are on sale for $5.00 USD, and I will pick-up one or two. They come in medium and large sizes. I have never had an issue with any skin reaction to the material. Using gloves makes clean-up a snap. I also dust my hands with baby powder before I put them on as it makes taking them off easier and prevents any sweating.

Dave

I was mesmerized by a horde of lac-bugs, not by mere mellifluous spirits. "I'm not just a hillbilly, I am a high class hillbilly" is my mantra.

I wear them spray priming and sometimes terrain building, also household cleaning.

I usually wear nitrile or latex gloves when spray-painting, just to keep the paint off my hands. I'm usually just using wood glue or CA glue when making terrain, however, and I tend not to get them on myself.

I frequently wear nitrile gloves, but especially when I'm working with epoxies, and glues other than PVA. When painting terrain, I wear them as it makes cleaning my hands as easy as peeling the gloves off when I am done! Cheers!

Yeah, I wear them for working on terrain or messy painting.

There is a way of assembling CinC micro-armor without super-gluing one's fingers together?!?! :)

pjm

" I think it might be tile grout that I started adding to my fine sand on occasion, but I'm still not sure. "

Grout can cause chemical burns while it reacts with water. I just finished regrouting my pool tile yesterday, and used a band-aid to protect my thumb as I pushed it around. If you got any dust on your (sweaty) hands (hopefully not in your lungs!), you probably got some irritation from it…

Zephyr1

You might be right. I used the grout tile a day or two before the itching of my hands started.

Thanks

Dan

I will usually wear gloves when I am priming figures, mainly to keep my hands from getting covered in Gesso. I used to wear them in my old work space that got chilly in cold weather, but developed a skin rash from keeping them on too long.

Dan,

You can probably get similar nitrile gloves for less expense if you buy local. Check with a local drugstore or hardware store.

Jim

I glue my fingers together with or without gloves.

"I glue my fingers together with or without gloves."

Me too!

If I'm scrubbing PineSol or Simple Green off figures I'm stripping, I do. Both de-fat skin.
Also if I'm spraying anything I have to flip over.

I also dust my hands with baby powder before I put them on as it makes taking them off easier and prevents any sweating.

Also a great way to increase the allergenic properties of latex. Prolonged exposure to latex will lead to a sensitivity. Powdering the glove just exacerbates the problems.

Use nitrile instead. Very hypoallergenic, "breathes" as well as latex, and comes on and off easily. Aren't hospitals in the US powder and latex free?

Or it could be the 10-minute epoxy putty I used a couple of times to make patches. I sure hope it's not something more common like Green Stuff putty……

Green Stuff is epoxy.

Bowman

Indeed. But the 5- or 10-minute kind seems (feels/smells?) like it would be harsher for some reason. Or maybe it's just my imagination. I just try not to use it too often.

Dan

Dan, they are both polyamide epoxies. My understanding is that the hardener is the dangerous part. They used to be aromatic amides that we're very volatile and would affect breathing. The new ones aren't. The MSDS indicates skin sensitivities and rare skin allergic reactions. The material is quite alkaline and will burn if in high concentration.

I handle 5 minute epoxy all the time and I'm not allergic to it nor does it affect my skin when in contact. Vigorous washing with soap and water will take care of that. Or wear nitrile gloves during mixing and handling. I doubt it's any more dangerous than CA glue or polystyrene model glue.

Bowman

Excellent information, about the pH being alkaline. Reminds me of lye, and a bad burn that I received when I was a kid. And it took forever to heal too.

So I'm definitely getting the gloves.

Thanks!

Dan