Almost Burned

[patrick reif]

I was pouring some 1/8oz tube jigs with a wire weedguard this morning and had a spill over on the last cavity. The molten lead was no more than 1" from the index finger of my left hand. I wasn't wearing gloves...stupid right? Yeah, I think so too.

The weed guard is a little complicated to bend right so it fits in the small cavity, and I do it best bare handed so I need a glove that's easy on and easy off.

The leather palms I use for plastic wouldn't be of much use here because of the cloth back.

I unplugged my pot and won't pour again until I get a decent heat resistant glove.

What gloves do you use for 900 degree lead?

Do you bother with eye protection?

I don't heal the way I did 20 years ago, so safety first...ounce of prevention type thing, or in this case, an 1/8oz of prevention.

[cadman]

Patrick,

This is what I wear when I pour, not to say that you have to do as well. Summer and Winter. Long sleeve shirt (flannel quilted in winter), buttoned at the wrist, and long pants preferably blue jeans, shoes and socks followed by plastic safety glasses and a face shield. My biggest concern more than anything is protecting my eyes. Not that any other parts of the body shouldn’t be protected. I am right handed so I hold my molds with my left hand. 95% of the time I use my Lee IV bottom pour pot, so I do not use a glove on my left hand, unless I’m pouring the cavity closest to my hand and depends on which mold. Also since I now use the mold release spray, I inject lead most of the times in all of my molds if the mold will allow me to do that, so very little if any lead comes out and pours over. On my spinnerbaits which I pour with a Palmer hot pot, I always use a glove on my left hand. Too much chance for spill over and splashing. I have recently been using a small 1 oz. ladle for about $4.00 and now I use my hot pot just to heat the soft lead. The ladle for spinnerbaits is a godsend. No more lifting the heavy hot pot. As far as gloves go I buy thick leather gloves. After awhile, they will break into your hands and feel more comfortable. You can even use old leather gloves that are used for fireplaces they have the long cuff that goes to your elbow. The thicker the better especially on the top part of the hand. If you need more info PM me and I will try to help you out.

Edited August 30, 2010 by cadman

[smalljaw]

I have cotton mill gloves I got from where I used to work, we made aluminum extrusions and we had to wear 100% cotton pants and shirts, I found out the reason was that polyester ond other man made materials would melt and burn your skin when you were next to the press. Cotton mill gloves are a bit bulky but they protect and they go on and come off easily, you don't need to use your other hand to put on and you can take them off by keeping fingers straight and just give a firm shake.