Anti-Vibration Gloves

I'm curious about why vibration is a safety concern that would be resolved by special gloves.  When a tool of mine (woodworking or otherwise) has a vibration serious enough to bother me, it usually means something is wrong that I need to fix.  What tools have a vibration that you are concerned about?

Google  "long term effects of vibration on hands" if you are unaware of the problem.

Don Goodwin wrote:

I'm curious about why vibration is a safety concern that would be resolved by special gloves.  When a tool of mine (woodworking or otherwise) has a vibration serious enough to bother me, it usually means something is wrong that I need to fix.  What tools have a vibration that you are concerned about?

Problem is that while it isn't overtly bothering you, it can be doing damage to you although it make take a while to manifest.
I'd cite my ROS sander as one of the tools that can be damaging.

I'm hoping someone orders some of these and writes a review. There seems to be two basic types: those with heavy leather pads in the palm, and those with a molded rubber-like pad (picture bubble wrap).

The reviews I've read seem to indicate the later work best but can be cumbersome, and the ones with leather padding don't do much for vibration according to those who operate jackhammers.

What woodworking tools produce vibration that could be damaging?  In my own kit, I think only my ROS and palm sanders potentially bother me after long use.  However, I rarely use them for more that a few minutes.  What other woodworking tools would I need to be concerned about?

Side note: I have a 50+ year old walk behind fence row mower (also called a brush cutter) that does vibrate (and also has tried to kill me - zero safety - exposed blade).  I rigged a door mat as a mud flap to keep debris from hitting me after a rock got my shin a few years ago and left a scar.

A little searching on medical sites produces results like

>The long-term effects of exposure to vibration can include conditions like Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. These conditions can lead to symptoms such as numbness, tingling, loss of grip strength, and even permanent damage to nerves and blood vessels in the hands and arms.

Apparently it's a thing where some are more susceptible to it than others, and can be age-related.

Reviews of the gloves on Amazon have people saying things like pushing a power mower leaves their hands and arms feeling like they are covered in fire ants for hours and days afterwards. Yikes, I think I'd hire the kid next door to cut my grass.

And certainly no scientific study, but just perusing the Amazon reviews of different gloves, it seems most think these types work better


than these



As for what kind of woodworking tools could be damaging?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HrVZiPg6-8

You really want to find a pair that has gel pads in the fingers & palm areas. I developed CT about 35 years ago and bought a good pair, changed some things like buying a 4 stroke weed eater and finding lowest vibration tooling that was available for other things. Was able to reverse it within two years and avoided surgery. Starting to come back now from the new job, constant bench grinding, so need to find a new pair.

Lee Ohmart wrote:

At a recent meeting of out woodworker's club, we discussed shop safety, and the topic of vibration came up.  Several members suggested ant-vibration gloves.  In searching the internet, I find few reliable reviews.  The search also uncovered a separate issue of going with full fingered or fingerless.  One forum just devolved into a discussion of tools with lower vibration.  I can't afford to buy all new sanders, etc. so I focused on the gloves which seem much more affordable.  I was wondering what those of you who wear gloves had experienced.

Anti-vibration gloves can help a bit, but they’re not a complete solution. In woodworking, tool quality, sharp blades and letting the tool do the work usually make a much bigger difference.
If you’re looking for gloves, I’d suggest good leather ones with light padding, goatskin leather is a great option. They’re durable, comfortable and give better grip and protection than standard gloves, while also helping a bit with vibration and hand fatigue.

I've had success using heavily insulated winter gloves for the odd occasion when machinery vibration became an issue.