While working with RC cars, sometimes some parts fall off. You know it’s easy to glue it with epoxy. But, you’re also aware of the harmful elements of epoxy.
To be safe, you decided to wear gloves. That’s the first thing to do before working with epoxy. But, have you ever wondered which type of gloves are the best?
There are many options. Vinyl is one of the many. Can you use vinyl gloves with epoxy? Let’s answer it.
Yes, you can use vinyl gloves with epoxy. But, it’s preferable to wear nitrile gloves. They are firmer than vinyl. Also, have fewer chances of chemical components passing through these gloves. It means your skin will be protected. You can also try reusable silicone gloves. Try to avoid thin latex gloves.
This is just an overview. Stay with us to know more about safer gloves with epoxy.
Can You Use Vinyl Gloves with Epoxy?
Whenever you work with epoxy, you must wear gloves. Even before touching the bottle, put on your gloves. Your skin shouldn’t get in touch with epoxy.
Epoxy is a highly chemicalized adhesive. It is great for any RC model. You just need to be careful while working with epoxy resin.
You might be thinking it’s easy to maintain zero contact. Wearing regular gloves while working with epoxy is enough. You are wrong.
You would be right when you work with any daily usable glue. But, for RC tire glue or super glue, you need to be extremely careful.
Contact with uncured resin and its hardeners leads to skin irritation, rashes, and burning. Repeated contact may cause an allergic reaction called contact dermatitis.
So, it’s important to understand which gloves work as a barrier between skin and epoxy.
There are a few options. One of them is vinyl. Vinyl gloves are frequently used for food and beverage. That’s why they are easily available. And also resin resistance with tiny pores. It’s cheaper than nitrile gloves.
If your vinyl gloves are way thinner, try wearing two gloves on each hand. This will give double protection.
Also, for safety choose a well-ventilated area for epoxy casting.
But, is this the best glove for epoxy resin?
Apparently, no. There are some other gloves like nitrile, latex, or even reusable gloves. Nitrile gloves are recommended to be the best for epoxy. It’s slightly expensive and hard to find. For a second option, vinyl gloves come first in line.
Talking about other options, let’s have a look at some other gloves for epoxy. We’ve to figure out which one gives the most protection against epoxy.
Which Gloves Are Safer for Epoxy?
Apart from vinyl gloves, epoxy can be handled with some other gloves. It’s better to use reusable gloves for epoxy resin. However, you’ll get an idea of which gloves to keep and which to throw away.
Let’s directly dive into the discussion.
Nitrile
Nitrile is considered to be the best gloves for epoxy as mentioned earlier. It gives better resistance against epoxy chemicals. You’ve to pay a good amount of money but it’s worth it.
It is durable so will stay longer with you. Also, nitrile gloves for epoxy resin don’t have lubricant powder. Some people are allergic to this ingredient. These gloves are completely safe to use.
You can use nitrile gloves for all kinds of resins. It’s even used as polyester resin gloves.
If you’re looking for perfectly fitted nitrile gloves, try Medline FitGuard Touch Nitrile.
If you’re searching for disposable nitrile gloves, buy ForPro Disposable Nitrile Gloves.
Its biggest competitor is latex gloves. Little do people know, latex isn’t that safe to use for epoxy. It’s like comparing graphite with aluminum.
Find out more in the next part.
Latex
You’ll find from various sources that latex can be used. It can be used only when you don’t have any allergies.
The truth is that latex should never be used for epoxy. It’s super cheap that’s why people opt to buy it. But, it doesn’t give the level of protection you need from epoxy.
Major reasons to avoid latex gloves are-
- It’s thinner
- It frequently gets teared
- Epoxy resin can permeate the glove barrier easily
- It uses lubricant powder in making these gloves. Many people are allergic to this specific component. It’s another negative side of latex
Now you know why we are not recommending using latex as epoxy putty gloves. It’s a thousand times better to put some more money on buying nitrile gloves.
Reusable Silicone Gloves
As the name suggests, reusable silicone gloves are super convenient. They save your money and last longer.
Its build quality supports working with epoxy or hot glue. Your skin won’t get burnt wearing this.
Some may find it difficult to put on these reusable silicone gloves for epoxy. For them, rub some baby powder on your hands and then wear it.
Also, it feels soft wearing these gloves. There are no signs of allergic reaction. So, feel free to try them once.
One negative side to silicone gloves is that it’s not environmentally friendly. Whereas a latex glove with so many cons isn’t bad for the environment. Latex is actually biodegradable. Since it’s made of natural rubber.
Along with gloves, you’ve to choose the right adhesive for RC. According to the type of adhesive you pick the safer gloves.
So, in all scenarios nitrile gloves win. They are also biodegradable. It’s a clear choice to use nitrile gloves over vinyl and others for epoxy.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is Epoxy Toxic to Breathe?
Yes, epoxy is toxic to breathe. Specifically, epoxy fumes cause irritation in the throats and nose. Also, it has harmful effects on the lungs. If you inhale epoxy fume on a daily basis, it can worsen. You may end up becoming a patient with asthma. Or, your nose becomes too sensitive.
Do You Have to Wear a Mask While Using Resin?
Yes, you should definitely wear a mask while working with epoxy. Wear a breathable mask. Epoxy resin contains harmful, toxic components. Without a mask, your nose and throat will be vulnerable to irritation. Repeated exposure leads to serious health issues.
What Kind of Gloves Should I Wear for Resin Printing?
For any epoxy, resin work, choose to wear nitrile gloves. These gloves are a chemical barrier. This means your skin won’t get in touch with it. Nitrile gloves are of high quality. Quality comes with a higher price. But, its resistance is worth the extra money over latex and vinyl.
