When dealing with wood, it is critical to wear a sturdy pair of gloves. Working with wood is hard on your hands, and gloves protect your hands from splinters, wounds, and blisters.
Whether you’re a professional carpenter or working with wood is your hobby, your gloves should be built to handle a wide range of jobs.
The best gloves provide a balance of flexibility, general safety, cut resistance, comfort, and reliability. Your gloves should protect your hands while also making your task simpler.
YES, you should wear gloves while splitting/cutting wood because of safety purposes. You could encounter rough wood with sharp edges which exposes you to the risk of splintering and injuring your hands, and therefore, gloves made of leather or iron clad can keep your hands safe. Also, cuts are inevitable while dealing with woodwork. And for this reason, gloves become essential.
However, if you’ve frequently used gloves while working, you’ve undoubtedly noticed a handful of things. To begin with, the vast majority of gloves wear out far too quickly. That is why you need proper information and guidance regarding the ideal gloves for woodworking.
And you’re exactly in the right place as in this article, we will be discussing gloves that provide protection while cutting/splitting wood.
Why do you need gloves while splitting wood?
1.) To protect your hands from cuts and blisters
Major and minor cuts can be avoided with the use of gloves. As we are aware that working with wood like cutting, splitting, can be rough on your hands and can cause painful blisters.
There’s a chance you’ll get a wood splinter trapped in your hands. So in order to avoid that, a solid pair of gloves can go a long way in keeping your hands safe.
2.) Provide good grip
Your hand might sometimes be sweaty while working and it can cause your wood cutting equipment to slip and injure you, therefore, a glove will provide good grip over the equipment even though your hands sweat.
3.) Gloves can also protect your hands from impact
Cutting and splitting wood can sometimes cause large chunks of wooden pieces to fall on your hands, therefore, a sturdy glove can protect your hands from impact damage.
4.) Gloves will protect your hands from severe, extreme temperatures
Because cold temperatures can cause temporary or permanent damage to your skin, gloves can keep your hands warm and safe.
Also, they’ll make your hands comfortable enough to carry out your wood cutting and splitting smoothly even in cold temperatures.
See also: Best Rechargeable Heated Work Gloves
5.) Look for gloves that provides agility
It is crucial in woodwork to be able to move your hands and fingers freely.
You must be able to easily move between work requiring a high level of hand protection, such as using dangerously sharp equipment to cut wood, and duties requiring accuracy and dexterity, such as measuring and splitting.
Therefore, your gloves should be made to move easily with your hands and fingers.
What are the risks involved if you do not wear gloves while splitting wood?
1.) Cuts, blisters and abrasions.
2.) Small pieces of wood might get stuck in your hand.
3.) Sharp edges of wood might cause some major damage to your hand.
4.) Wood cutting equipment will also be a hazard in case of slips and fall because of inadequate grip.
5.) You might fracture your hand if a large chunk of wood falls on your naked hand.
6.) In some extreme cases, you might lose your fingers too.
What features should you look for in your gloves to protect you while splitting wood?
1.) The proper fit- Proper size is critical for both comfort and productivity with all types of work gloves. Wood cutting and carpentry need a firm grip, accuracy, and precision.
You also need to make sure your gloves don’t get caught in your equipment or machinery, so make sure they fit tightly and appropriately.
Choosing gloves in the correct size is critical, and understanding your hand size is the first step. Consult our glove sizing guide to discover how to precisely measure your hands, and then use our sizing chart to guarantee you get the correct size.
2.) Cut resistant gloves- According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, cuts, severe bruising, and punctures are among the most prevalent forms of occupational injuries each year.
Woodworking like cutting and splitting wood necessitates constant handling of sharp items and equipment.
And when it comes to work involving all this, the most crucial attribute to look for in your glove is adequate cut resistance.
3.) Strong, flexible glove material- Splitting wood necessitates great accuracy, therefore your gloves must be flexible and lightweight. You’ll also need sturdy, long-lasting material to keep your hands safe from harm.
When selecting gloves, consider materials which offer abrasion and puncture protection without sacrificing your ability to work on tasks that require a high level of precision.
4.) Look for comfortable and breathable material- When you wear comfortable gloves, you are more efficient and your risk of hand injury is greatly decreased.
Choosing a pair of comfortable gloves is dependent on your work environment. To reduce sweat and overheating, use gloves that breathe, especially in hot and humid situations.
If, on the other hand, you work outside all year, you should consider investing in a pair of cold-weather work gloves. Comfort should always be a factor when working in any environment.
Apart from looking for the above features, you also need to look for gloves that provide safety according to the American National Standard Institute (ANSI).
For various uses, multiple levels have been defined in accordance with the mandatory safety standard. The chart below mentions the levels:
| ANSI Standard | What do they mean? |
| ANSI A1 | Paper cutting, material handling is covered. |
| ANSI A2/A3 | Material handling, small parts handling, general purpose, warehousing, woodworking and construction are all covered. |
| ANSI A4 | Bottle and glass handling, dry-walling, electrical, vehicle assembly, woodworks and metal handling. |
| ANSI A5/A6 | Sharp metal stamping, metal recycling, woodworks, pulp and paper, automobile aerospace sector, meat processing. |
| ANSI 7+ | Sharp metal stamping, pulp and paper, oil and gas, industrial pipe fitting, sheet metal, steel cable handling. |
Therefore, you need to look for gloves that come with ANSI A2/3, A4, A5/6 or A7+ gloves if your work involves cutting and splitting wood.
How to Care for Your Gloves?
When it comes to gloves, a little care goes a long way to keep them with you for long. These gloves are strong and do not quickly lose their form.
However, here are some tricks to help your favourite gloves live even longer!
1.) The gloves may all be machine washed. Hand cleaning with soap and cold water is, in my opinion, the finest alternative.
2.) Never dry your gloves in the dryer. Instead, allow them to drip dry naturally. Squeezing them to extract excess water may cause the material to become wrinkled, if not damage the form.
Recommended gloves for wood cutting/splitting
1.) Ironclad Utility Work Gloves
These gloves provide good grip while handling equipment, also lightweight and non bulky which makes your work easier. It also has good durability and protection against severe external temperatures.
Check it out here-
- HIGH PERFORMANCE TASK SPECIFIC WORK GLOVE - The number one selling Ironclad work glove
- HAND SAFETY - Thermoplastic rubber knuckle protection provides impact and abrasion protection across the knuckles
- SECURE FIT - Adjustable Hook and Loop Closure provides a secure custom fit for ideal performance
- SWEAT MANAGEMENT FEATURE - Terry cloth sweat wipe conveniently located on the back of the thumb allows you to stay focused on the job at hand with one wipe of the brow
- MACHINE WASHABLE - Machine wash cool. Air drying is recommended in order to keep the size consistent with its original form from time of purchase
- ENGINEERED FIT - All Ironclad gloves are designed with our industry leading flawless fit system that defines up to 16 application driven measurements to provide best in class fit
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
2.) G & F Cut Resistant Gloves
These gloves are great if you need to chop wood and require a firmer grip on your tools to avoid harm. It also shields your hands from tiny splinters of wood that may pierce your skin.
Check it out here-
- 100% cut resistant fiber
- Premium quality cut resistant material: the cut resistant gloves are made from 100% cut resistant fibre that ensures protection from cut level 5 while working on any type of cutting
- Premium quality heat resistant material: the cut resistant gloves are coated with silicone block palm coating technology that ensures protection from heat
- Total protection from cuts and heat - cut resistant gloves meet – cut standards that ensure protection of your hands from scrapes, cuts and heat
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
3.) Dowellife Cut Resistant Gloves
Receive the protection you require while still enjoying the comfort you desire. Order these gloves to keep your hands safe when working with sharp equipment. These are helpful for preventing cuts and blisters.
Check it out here-
- Protect your hand from cuts and abrasions
- Excellent comfort and dexterity to wear and grip
- Easy to sanitize and keep clean
- More convenient to hang dry and replace
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
4.) WISLIFE Safety Gloves
These cut-resistant gloves are suitable for handling sharp objects such as blades and knives, as well as abrasive materials like wood.
You can check it out here-
- Protect Your Hand From Cuts And Scrapes
- Easy To Maintain And Keep Clean
- Convenient To Wear And Grip
- Multiple Use
- Food Grade And Breathable
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
5.) Ergodyne ProFlex Gloves
These breathable gloves will not let sweat accumulate on your hands while working. They’re built for tough jobs therefore will definitely protect your hands while woodworking. They’re sturdy but lightweight.
Check it out here-
- THERMAL PROTECTION - Dual-zone insulated with 40 grams (palm) and 70 grams (back of hand) of 3M™ Thinsulate™ for extreme hand protection in cold conditions.
- WATERPROOF + WINDPROOF - A weather-resistant ripstop outer shell, DWR water-repellent finish and a breathable insert block cold, moisture and wind to keep hands warm and dry
- DURABLE MATERIALS - Rugged palm and fingertip reinforcements are designed for superior grip, abrasion resistance and flexibility when handling things in chilly temps
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Conclusion
As we have already discussed earlier, working with wood is indeed a tough job you need to keep yourself safe, especially your hand. When there is work to be done, you should not have to settle for less.
You’ll need gloves that are both protective and functional while being comfortable. You need protection from abrasion, laceration, and major as well as minor cute.
Because hand injuries are a major occupational safety concern, hand protection is critical. So, look for good, protective features in your gloves. And not only the features but also look for what ANSI standard they meet.
