Motorsport Composite Fundamentals: Gloves
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Gloves
03.47
| 00:00 | During the initial lamination process, as well as cutting and fettling our cured parts, there's a risk of skin irritation as well as potential cuts. |
| 00:08 | Even though we'd usually be using tools, composite construction is a very hands-on job. |
| 00:14 | So, unsurprisingly, our hands take the brunt of it all and require protection. |
| 00:19 | Let's consider this in the typical order of operations, starting with the lamination process. |
| 00:24 | The reinforcements themselves and their raw fabric forms don't really pose any problems. |
| 00:30 | The primary concern here is working with the resins. |
| 00:33 | Although each resin we discussed earlier in the course is chemically different, the risks they present are essentially the same. |
| 00:39 | An important point to note here is that some resins are marketed as containing no VOCs or volatile organic compounds. |
| 00:48 | Put short, these commonly cause nasty reactions from exposure and also produce smelly fumes that will give us a headache at the least. |
| 00:56 | Some resins are also marketed as non-toxic. |
| 00:59 | However, in either case, we should take precautions as the chemicals contained in them are still likely to cause some form of irritation. |
| 01:07 | While nitrile gloves are the go-to for many of our workshop jobs on cars, they will fall apart quickly during hand lamination with certain resins. |
| 01:16 | Put simply, for hand lamination with polyester and vinylester resins, we should use latex gloves. |
| 01:22 | Unless you have skin allergies to latex, in which case you should stick to nitrile and just be prepared to change the gloves more often. |
| 01:30 | Also, when working with epoxy resins, harmful chemicals can pass through latex, where a good quality nitrile glove will prevent this. |
| 01:38 | The other process where hand protection is required is during material removal. |
| 01:42 | This could be cutting and trimming our cured composite parts to the correct size and shape, general fettling of edges and also drilling holes. |
| 01:51 | The dust, debris and other small particles of cured resin and reinforcement will cover our hands, irritating the skin and also posing a risk of cuts and splinters. |
| 02:01 | Anyone who's ever cut and sanded fiberglass before will be familiar with its tendency to cause unbearable itching. |
| 02:08 | While nitrile gloves will prevent irritation and some light scratches, they aren't really much use against abrasive edges. |
| 02:15 | For these general finishing jobs, we recommend wearing a pair of cut resistant gloves that use Kevlar knitted fabrics and a nitrile coated palm. |
| 02:24 | The Kevlar protects against cuts from sharp edges and the nitrile palm gives you a good grip. |
| 02:29 | Before wrapping up, it's important to note here that gloves can be a hazard in themselves. |
| 02:34 | The danger lies in the glove potentially getting caught in a rotating machine, such as a linisher, grinder or a drill, and this can pull our fingers and hand into the machine with them. |
| 02:44 | In general, the use of these tools in composites construction is very limited, and as such, it's recommended to forgo the use of gloves for these rare jobs. |
| 02:54 | With that said, should you ever want to wear them to prevent skin irritation, be sure they're tight fitting or simply use nitrile gloves that will rip away easily. |
| 03:03 | On this note, it's also important to remember that any loose clothing or long hair should always be tied up and kept clear of rotating machinery. |
| 03:11 | With that covered, let's recap the main points to remember. |
| 03:14 | Gloves are required to protect our hands from exposure to resins, as well as dust and abrasive surfaces that we might be handling when finishing our composite parts. |
| 03:24 | Latex gloves are the go-to for handling chemicals during the lamination process. |
| 03:28 | However, if we have allergies to latex or we're working with epoxy resins, we can use nitrile gloves. |
| 03:34 | Cut -resistant gloves are suitable for any cutting, drilling or other material removal jobs. |
| 03:39 | Just be sure to take care of using gloves with rotating machinery. |
