GB Wildlife

[tenbears10]

Took my new wildlife hatchet back to my mother in law's this weekend, she has a nice big garden and small field and there are always jobs to do. When we got there a branch had come down in the field during last weeks bad weather. The branch was about 15 foot long with several mature limbs coming from it.

I would have used my scandinavian forest axe but I didn't take it with me. This was a blessing because I had to use the wildlife and it performed really well. I didn't think a small light axe would be up to the job. I managed to limb the whole branch and chop everything into fire wood with only 2 major branches needing an old felling axe to get them off the main branch. I hasten to add that the branch itself is waiting to be sawn next time we go home.

One thing I did find was that my hands soon developed one blister on my thumb and several sore patches especially round my wedding ring. Now I think this is due to far too much time working in an office at a computer and not nearly enough time doing proper work outdoors which makes you sweat for a reason other than not having aircon! What I was wondering was how many of you use gloves when using an axe or even when doing a lot of knife carving? Be honest now I've owned up to being a southern softie with baby soft hands.

For those who do have gloves what kind? I really like the look of american style leather work gloves but the tend to cost a lot by the time you order them from the US even though they are cheap before shipping;
http://www.sierratradingpost.com/xq/asp/base_no.55162/dept_id.L2~4759/qx/product.htm
This is the kind of thing I had in mind but at about £8 they are a bargain until you add shipping.

Let me know what you all think.

Bill

 

[MartiniDave]

I find I can't get on with a glove on my cutting hand, be it using knife, axe, billhook or whatever. I do quite often use a glove on my other hand, partly to protect from the swinging blade, and partly because I tend to have to deal with lots of sharp spiky things. I use the sort of raw leather and canvas gloves, usually bought chear at the market and regarded as a semi-consumable. Always keep a pair in each landy for wheel changing etc.

The worse blistering I get around the wedding ring is from paddling my kayak, where my hands are inevitably wet.

Dave

 

[jakunen]

I never use glove when using any cutting implement, especially an axe. I personally don't think its is as safe as you can't feel the axe as well and i've found I don't feel like I have as much control. I find the axe tends to slip a bit in my grasp.
Thankfully the Wetterlings I got from Gary has not (yet) given me any soreness or blistering and I've been flying a desk for 6 years so my hands are probably as un-used to this kind of work as yours.
Onyl thing I can suggest is just try to toughen your hands up somehow or don't try to do so much...

 

[steve a]

hi Tenbears, the problem with using gloves imo is that the axe will tend to slip from your grasp, this leads to inaccurate blows or at the very least is dangerous to yourself and anyone close by. Even with the rough leather rigger type gloves the axe will slip. My advise would be to persevere, put up with the sore patches and toughen the hands up with time. I know you can get gloves made for axe use, I have never tried them, but I would try and toughen the hands up first. It may take some time but you can do it.
As to the wedding ring, tape it over with micropore tape.

 

[Adi007]

I tend to go from wearing no gloves to wearing fingerless kevlar cut-proof gloves (fingerless by design, not accident) or full kevlar cut-proof gloves. I'm not sure how "cut-proof" they are and have no intention of discovering but they do make hard jobs easier and the extra positive grip does make working safer.

 

[bushwacker bob]

If you do require some american style tan leather work gloves,they are marketed in the UK. They are called Tiger Brand gloves and i brought 2 pairs for less than a fiver.I found mine in a builders merchants.

 

[Schwert]

I tend to wear a glove at least on one hand many times whether using an ax or a knife. A good leather glove does not seem to bother my control. If I am chopping or splitting I usually only wear a glove on my right (sliding) hand.

These have been used a bit eh?

http://********.free.fr/guest/SeaCowGloves.jpg

 

[rapidboy]

I usually carry a cheap pair of work gloves although it's more for tending the fire ,removing pot's / food .
I dont like using them with my knife or axe as i dont feel as in control but if im using a maul to split large amounts of wood at home i use them and full face protection ,steel toe boots.

 

[Brynglas]

Because I keep losing gloves (normally one at a time) I try not to spend too much money on them. I often use the textile gloves with rubber dimples on the palm and fingers in cold weather for log splitting/chopping and they work really well, otherwise, particularly if cutting thorny bushes such as blackthorn etc. I use bog standard canvas and leather gauntlet style gloves, I wear them a little loose so that if the glove gets caught in anything I can get my hand out and that if I need the extra dexterity I can easily remove the glove.

Both of these types of glove are available in most ironmongery/hardware places. I get mine from the good old Farmers co-op and they cost pence.

 

[Andy]

if I use gloves which doesn't happen very often I tend to use my semi fingerless cycling kevlar gloves. In this case they are very good as far as cut proof goes. boken glass didn't leave a mark on them

 

[Stuart]

I carry leather gloves when i'm out I use them when i set snares to keep my scent off them and when i'm building shelters or working with bush to keep my hands safe from nicks and cut which get infected

 

[george]

I always use gloves - pretty much like the ones in Schwert's pics. Ever since I got a couple of bad burns on my hands that had me out of action for a while, (stupid welding accident - not bushcraft related! But tought me not to pick up hot bits of metal with my gloves off! ) I've been really careful to look after them. Try going for a pee with only one partly useful hand and button flys. :shock:

The ones I'm using just now I got from Homebase for about seven quid - lasted me 2 years so far ( though I have had to re-stitch parts.) I keep them well waxed and find they don't upset my grip.

They're great for handling stuff in the fire as well - you can reach in and move wood about without damaging yourself as well as handle hot pots etc. without any hassle.

I try to look after my hands in the same way that you would look after your feet - everyone knows how blistered feet can ruin a trip, damaged hands do the same thing.

George

 

[BAHDog]

I always wear either Elkskin or Deerskin gloves. They are like a supple second skin. Too many wicked splinters waiting to drive in deep. Gloves are like boots for the hands.

 

[sargey]

i normally use goat skin, light duty gloves, from a safety equipment suppliers on a local trading estate. they're not so hard wearing, but hard enough.

earlier this year i found some "waterproof" leather gloves at a local garden centre for about 8 quid. the idea was that they would remain supple after a soaking. i leant them to a scout digging a latrine and never got them back. :roll: so i have no idea if they're worth having.

being left handed i also get grief from the wedding ring when chopping. simple solution, take it off. two provisos, DON'T lose it, and DON'T let your darling beloved find out. ):

cheers, and.

 

[mr dazzler]

I agree with Adi007 on this one. I worked as a piece rate pallet fixer, and if you didn't wear gloves your hands 'd get shredded; the grey leather ones lasted a day or two -splinters, nails, wire, strappings ect. (started wearing steelie clogs too cos got sick of nails piercing normal boots) We started using them orange dot grip ones-lasted better, good grip. Best gloves for me them SHOWA kevlar and neoprene ones which I first used handling glass all day in factory. Your hands "stick" to glass easily with less effort (no need to squeeze too hard) Scuba divers use them-still excellent grip when wet too. Excellent to hold axe (I only use small axes one handed so no need to slide) and billy hook. Just think if you could get SHOWA socks you could climb up glass buildings! :roll:

 

[alick]

I always wear either Elkskin or Deerskin gloves. They are like a supple second skin. Too many wicked splinters waiting to drive in deep. Gloves are like boots for the hands

Glen can I ask where you get gloves like the ones in your picture ?

I'm not keen on using them with edge tools, but do like a pair of thin, tough gloves for handling rough stuff, ropework and the like. Like you, I can't get on with them unless they're premium quality and a really snug fit.

For many years I used a pair of thin motorcycle gloves for this but they were shredded a couple of years ago keeping my hands in one piece during a spill. The ones in you pic look the perfect replacement.

UK Royal Air Force pilot's gloves are another alternative but I've never found them for sale to civilians.

Thanks,

Alick

 

[ssj]

Years ago, when I was an iron worker, I would wear out a pair of ordinary canvas cuffed cowhide gloves in 3 or 4 days. I switched to goatskin gloves that cost twice as much but lasted four times as long.

More recently, I have been wearing thin deerskin gloves while hiking. Especially in the US southwest and Colorado where you encounter steep, rocky trails. After a day of using your hands to help clamber up and down trails, it feels like you've been rubbing them with coarse sandpaper.

Sorry, a little off subject.

Steve

 

[BAHDog]

Glen can I ask where you get gloves like the ones in your picture ?

Alick, I found some Elkskin gloves at the local hardware store but now they don't have them. I found the Deerskin gloves at a cowboy supply house not far from here. The nice thing about either of those hides is, if you get them wet they will dry supple and not become stiff like cow hide. Cow hide is a very durable leather depending on it's quality but no where near as supple. These gloves do fit extremely well. I believe the one's in the photo are elkskin. I wish I could give you an internet addy for them but I get them local in Tucson, Arizona. Good luck on your search. They are worth it.

 

[Paganwolf]

You will probably get gloves like in the pikkie in your local BIG garden centers over here in blighty, they have em in most of the biggies near me, i usually carry a pair of leather Brit/army/leather combat gloves in my smock pocket (cheap) only to handle real hot things, apparently piddling on your hands hardens em up,(mental note, dont shake BCUK members hands when you meet em!! :shock: ) the salts dry your skin,1/2nd WW trick but ive also herd that piddling in your boots softens them!! :?: also a 1/2nd WW trick confusing eh Please dont pee in your boots though :roll: , i only herd it i wouldnt think Goretex likes it much!! :rolmao: :rolmao: