Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

Bitumen Boy

Can anyone on the forum recommend a good barrier cream to try and protect my hands from the sort of oily greasy things that our old cars are such a varied source of? I've never got on with gloves for working in (though I use them for washing up these days Laughing

) but my hands are really starting to suffer these days. Ideas?

Rich5ltr · Joined: 28 Mar 2008 Posts: 678 Location: Hampshire, UK

My father worked for London Underground at Acton Works and used to bring me home Swarfega (green) for washing hands and Rozalex (pink) as a barrier cream, worked a treat and you can still get it. Rozalex Dri Guard. It's quite hard and it's a good idea to work it underneath your fingernails as you put it on.

colwyn500 · Joined: 21 Oct 2012 Posts: 1745 Location: Nairn, Scotland

goneps · Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2016 10:35 pm Post subject:

I agree with colwyn500—wouldn't be without my nitrile gloves. You can do the filthiest, most disgusting jobs and still have clean hands at the end.

Make sure to get the right size for a good close fit so that you don't have folds getting in the way at your fingertips. I'd suggest persevering with them. Buy a box of 100, and by the time you've used them up you'll wonder how you ever managed without.

Oh, by the way—don't buy the powdered variety. It's supposed to make them easier to put on, but is completely unnecessary and dries the skin.

Richard

Bitumen Boy · Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2016 10:32 am Post subject:

Thanks for the replies, gents.

Rich, I'll certainly give the Rozalex a try as it seems widely available and looks to be the sort of stuff I'm after.

Colwyn500, Goneps - I've tried all the flavours of disposable gloves and can't get on with them. Sweating is a major issue, they don't come far enough over the wrist and I find they all tear far too easily to be useful. I'll use them for the worst jobs - bitumen or deskinning/straining paints - but for most car stuff I find them pretty useless. Leather riggers are handy to avoid skinned knuckles when tight fasteners suddenly let go, but are obviously no good for more delicate jobs.

Whitegoatie · Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2016 7:36 pm Post subject:

kevin2306 · Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2016 9:23 am Post subject:

I am lucky enough to have one of these in my garage

http://www.debgroup.com/uk/products/selector/dispenser/deb-3-step-skin-protection-centre-small-4l

I get the refills through Arco but to be honest it lasts a very long time.
For really mucky jobs, with solvents etc I use gloves but always buy them from a paint shop suppliers as they seem to last longer and dont fall apart when using solvents etc.

Kev

JohnDale · Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2016 8:10 pm Post subject:

When ah wor a lad there wor no nitrile gloves & since then I have never been able to wear them due to the sweating. I do, however, use the best hand cleaner in the world, Comma Manista. I have never had any skin problems once I stopped using green Swarfega about 60years ago. I was told at the time that Swarfega was made from recycled petrolium products(?) I believe that the red Swarfega is different. All the best,JD.
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1958 Ford Zephyr Mk2 Convertible
1976 Ford Granada Ghia.

Bitumen Boy · Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2016 11:05 am Post subject:

Penman · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4756 Location: Swindon, Wilts.

Hi JD
Red Swarfega now has a grit component in it, BUT i think it might be micro polymer bits which I have heard get through the screens at the treatment plants and thus enter the water courses and then the sea and finish up being ingested by micro organisms which are then absorbed up through the food chain into the fish we eat.
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Bristols should always come in pairs.

Any 2 from:-
Straight 6
V8 V10

goneps · Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2016 4:54 am Post subject:

baconsdozen · Joined: 03 Dec 2007 Posts: 1119 Location: Under the car.

I have found margarine to be good for getting semi dry paint and grease etc off. Wipe the excess off with a towel and then wash your hands with soap and water. I have psoriasis and things like swarfwega seem to start it off. Although it might sound odd,rubbing hand cream (I nick the wifes) in well before starting on a messy job seems to seal the skin and your hands clean up quicker.
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Thirty years selling imperial hand tools for old machinery(Now happily retired).