Avoiding lead - use gloves - THESE work great

BigSlick · May 14, 2005, 09:01 PM

Hi guys,

One of my new shooting buddies works for Gould Battery in a plant that makes automotive, truck and marine batteries. He isn't a reloader, so I was scarfing up his brass (like the brass rat I truly am, I didn't miss a single one, you guys would have been proud

). One of the fellows he works with does reload (rifle only) and the subject came up about lead exposure.

This has been a recurring topic on most of the forums I frequent so I thought I would post some interesting info.

We left the range and went back to his house to unload his stuff and his coworker (lives three doors down) dropped by to drool all over us having the chance to shoot a couple of new toys. I got to talking with him about lead, gloves and protection etc..

It seems his coworker had elevated lead level in his blood about four months ago. He works around lead all day and casts his own bullets and fishing weights too. His elevated blood levels were caught by a routine physical at work. The medical people he works with suggested a glove and respirator to use to drastically cut down the exposure to lead. For lower exposure areas, he uses a mask. He worked in an area where the lead plates are mounted in the battery cases. Now he works in a different part of the manufacturing operation, but he has to keep up the extra precautions. It seems that OSHA has a field day at battery plants and the people who work there are pretty judicious about protection.

Lead inhalation is MUCH more dangerous than skin contact, but if it's on your hands and you eat anything, pick your nose, scratch etc, lead absorption/exposure can be increased several fold.

I have bought several types of latex gloves (figured if latex was good enough to be a jimmy hat, reloading would be no problem), but have found that some cleaning chemicals (especially gun scrubber) eats then up and they are far from durable.

He gave me a box of the ones he uses. They are made of nitrile, MUCH heavier than latex cheapos and you can find them at Walgreens drugstore or online.

Nitrile Gloves - get the purple ones

I just put up a batch of 230's and the gloves seemed to hold up great. Good dexterity and good fingertip fit. The pads of each finger are *slightly* textured, to help in the gripping of small things. Overall, they are a ton better than the ones I have used in the past.

When I took them off, I took them outside and hosed them pretty good with Gun Scrubber. They didn't melt like the ones I was using before.

For a mask, to help prevent inhalation, he uses a carbon filter type. The ones he got at work were in a clear bag, so he didn't know which brand they were for sure, but he called the plant (24 hour operation I guess) and spoke to the nurse on duty and she said they were the same as the ones at Walgreens. The ones I found on their site were a little different, but it looks like they are pretty close in specs.

Breathing mask

I didn't get any of these from him since I don't cast my own anymore, but thought it might be useful to those of you who do.

I'm not a chemist, a doctor or anything even remotely related, nor do I play one on the internet.

I just thought this was pertinent info, that may be of use to some of my fellow reloaders.

FWIW,

BigSlick

**JohnKSa** · May 14, 2005, 09:18 PM

Duluth Traders sells boxes of disposable nitrile gloves that are very similar to latex gloves but tougher and virtually impervious to guncleaning chemicals. Pretty cheap. I use them when cleaning guns and have yet to use up the large box I bought.

cheygriz · May 15, 2005, 08:39 PM

I just picked up a box of purple nitrile gloves at Walgreens for just over $4. They work much better than the heavy Playtex "dishwashing" gloves I have been using. Thanks for the heads-up!

BTW, decent masks/respirators are available at any paint store.

I also wear OSHA approved industrial safety glasses, a heavy duty baseball cap and a leather shop apron when casting. and I ONLY cast outdoors!

May 14, 2005, 09:01 PM	#1
BigSlick Senior Member Join Date: January 25, 2005 Location: Texas of course Posts: 277	Avoiding lead - use gloves - THESE work great Hi guys, One of my new shooting buddies works for Gould Battery in a plant that makes automotive, truck and marine batteries. He isn't a reloader, so I was scarfing up his brass (like the brass rat I truly am, I didn't miss a single one, you guys would have been proud ). One of the fellows he works with does reload (rifle only) and the subject came up about lead exposure. This has been a recurring topic on most of the forums I frequent so I thought I would post some interesting info. We left the range and went back to his house to unload his stuff and his coworker (lives three doors down) dropped by to drool all over us having the chance to shoot a couple of new toys. I got to talking with him about lead, gloves and protection etc.. It seems his coworker had elevated lead level in his blood about four months ago. He works around lead all day and casts his own bullets and fishing weights too. His elevated blood levels were caught by a routine physical at work. The medical people he works with suggested a glove and respirator to use to drastically cut down the exposure to lead. For lower exposure areas, he uses a mask. He worked in an area where the lead plates are mounted in the battery cases. Now he works in a different part of the manufacturing operation, but he has to keep up the extra precautions. It seems that OSHA has a field day at battery plants and the people who work there are pretty judicious about protection. Lead inhalation is MUCH more dangerous than skin contact, but if it's on your hands and you eat anything, pick your nose, scratch etc, lead absorption/exposure can be increased several fold. I have bought several types of latex gloves (figured if latex was good enough to be a jimmy hat, reloading would be no problem), but have found that some cleaning chemicals (especially gun scrubber) eats then up and they are far from durable. He gave me a box of the ones he uses. They are made of nitrile, MUCH heavier than latex cheapos and you can find them at Walgreens drugstore or online. Nitrile Gloves - get the purple ones I just put up a batch of 230's and the gloves seemed to hold up great. Good dexterity and good fingertip fit. The pads of each finger are slightly textured, to help in the gripping of small things. Overall, they are a ton better than the ones I have used in the past. When I took them off, I took them outside and hosed them pretty good with Gun Scrubber. They didn't melt like the ones I was using before. For a mask, to help prevent inhalation, he uses a carbon filter type. The ones he got at work were in a clear bag, so he didn't know which brand they were for sure, but he called the plant (24 hour operation I guess) and spoke to the nurse on duty and she said they were the same as the ones at Walgreens. The ones I found on their site were a little different, but it looks like they are pretty close in specs. Breathing mask I didn't get any of these from him since I don't cast my own anymore, but thought it might be useful to those of you who do. I'm not a chemist, a doctor or anything even remotely related, nor do I play one on the internet. I just thought this was pertinent info, that may be of use to some of my fellow reloaders. FWIW, BigSlick

May 14, 2005, 09:18 PM	#2
JohnKSa Staff Join Date: February 12, 2001 Location: DFW Area Posts: 24,993	Duluth Traders sells boxes of disposable nitrile gloves that are very similar to latex gloves but tougher and virtually impervious to guncleaning chemicals. Pretty cheap. I use them when cleaning guns and have yet to use up the large box I bought. __________________ Do you know about the TEXAS State Rifle Association?

May 15, 2005, 08:39 PM	#3
cheygriz Senior Member Join Date: May 11, 2002 Location: high up in the rockies Posts: 2,289	I just picked up a box of purple nitrile gloves at Walgreens for just over $4. They work much better than the heavy Playtex "dishwashing" gloves I have been using. Thanks for the heads-up! BTW, decent masks/respirators are available at any paint store. I also wear OSHA approved industrial safety glasses, a heavy duty baseball cap and a leather shop apron when casting. and I ONLY cast outdoors! __________________ If you think a mighty military force is expensive, wait 'til you see what a weak one costs.