Goggles and Gloves

[luke.]

What type of safety goggles do you wear? Proper goggles or the safety specs, that look like clear sunglasses?

Also what type of gloves? I was thinking of welding gloves and a pair of marigold kevlar fireblades underneath.

Just ordering some kit in preparation for my first taste of cat 4, other than as a spectator.

[markt1967]

I only fire Cat.3 but I use a Cromwell F600 fire fighters helmet bought second hand off ebay...I understand a lot of pro's use these or something similar. The visor is superb as it totally covers the face and affords pretty much full protection, so I see no need for goggles. As for gloves...a sturdy pair of leather motorcycle gloves has been in use for several years now, with only minor scorch marks visible.

[RocketRev]

Welder's gloves and helmet with full face visor and a flash hood underneath. I prefer to buy gloves in shops where I can try them on...... I want flexibility and a good sense of feel. Some gloves have leather that's so thick or stiff that comfortable and fine finger movement is difficult and I don't like that.

[markt1967]

I agree with RR...you do need to try gloves on before you buy. Some can be too thick to have any feel. I have never bought gloves "mail order" for this reason.

[Arthur]

I use a Peltor hard hat with ear defenders built on and a full face visor attached too. Add a nomex race hood too.

With cat4 there is a LOT to be said for electric firing with the employees out of the fire zone completely.

[ambientskies]

Tig welding gloves for me (he also should have been wearing them at the Woodman a few years back! ) but I cut down the wrist lenght.

Flashhood & Sun type glasses (clear).

Have fun

[Venger]

Forestry helmet with a mesh visor and clear safety specs (clear sunglasses style) underneath.

I use a pair of flame retardant gloves bought from here :-

Army Surplus Clothing, Boots & Equipment

These are very lightweight so allow plenty of 'feel' but they wouldn't do a great deal against a direct impact on the hand, so I'd probably go with some sort of welders glove if I got into hand firing a lot of Cat 4.

[Andy_P]

I use a Peltor Forestry helmet with a mesh visor, ear defenders, and the peak cut down by hand.

Two reasons for that:
1. it means the visor can fit a little mre snugly to my face and
2. I don't have to crane my neck so much for the (occasional) moments I have a chance to look up!

I do sometimes think about wearing goggles underneath the visor too, but I certainly can't see the point in JUST wearing goggles. You might save your eyes, but you'd still make a real mess of the rest of your face (thinking here of that awful photo of the {expletive deleted} JWP Fireworks "employee")

[spitfire]

Forestry hat hat for me with safety glasses underneath.

Only wear one glove, on the right hand that hold the rothy that lights the fuse. Like to keep left hand ungloved incase I need to do something fiddly.

[DannyB]

Forestry helmet with mesh visor and inbuilt ear defenders. Although this year am looking at getting some snazzy active in-ear hearing protectors. Basically they block all sounds over a certain level but as long as levels are below that then you can talk to people with them.

Danny