Sheet metal doesn't care about your hands. Every edge is a blade. Ductwork, registers, flashing, equipment cabinets—the cuts are constant, shallow, and endless.
Heavy gloves protect you but kill your dexterity. You can't feel fasteners, can't work in tight spaces, can't do the fine work the job requires.
This guide covers practical protection that stops the cuts without turning your hands into oven mitts.
Why Sheet Metal Cuts Are Different
Sheet metal cuts aren't deep. They're shallow slices that barely bleed. That's what makes them insidious—they don't seem serious enough to address.
But they add up:
Infection risk. Hands are dirty on the job. Every cut is an opening for bacteria. HVAC work adds insulation fibers, dust, and biological contamination from old ductwork.
Slow healing. You use your hands constantly. Cuts on fingers flex open with every grip. A cut that should heal in two days takes a week because it keeps reopening.
Cumulative scarring. Twenty years of small cuts leaves hands that look like a road map. Scar tissue builds up. Flexibility decreases.
Pain. Not dramatic pain. Just constant low-level discomfort that makes you slower and more hesitant.
What Doesn't Work
Leather gloves. Protection is good. Dexterity is terrible. Can't feel screws, can't work tight spaces, can't handle small parts.
Cut-resistant gloves. Designed for blade hazards, not sheet metal edges. Often too thick for HVAC work. Expensive to replace when they wear out.
Long sleeves. Protect forearms but not hands. Also too hot in attics and mechanical rooms.
Forearm sleeves. Better than nothing for arms. Don't protect hands or fingers where most cuts happen.
Being careful. You're already careful. You still get cut because you're reaching into blind spaces and working by feel.
What Works: Targeted Wrapping
Instead of covering your whole hand with a glove, wrap only the areas that contact sheet metal edges.
Self-adhering tape bonds to itself, not your skin. Wrap it where you need protection. Leave the rest of your hand bare for dexterity.
Common wrap points: Back of knuckles (where you drag across edges reaching into spaces), outside of forearm (where cabinet frames and duct edges catch you), base of thumb (where your hand opens against sharp corners), fingertips (for handling duct sections and registers).
Why it works:
- Thin enough to maintain feel
- Cotton surface doesn't slip on metal
- Breathes in hot work environments
- No adhesive residue on your skin
- Tears by hand for quick application
Application by Task
Ductwork Installation
Wrap the back of your hand across the knuckles. This is where you catch edges when reaching into plenums and making blind connections.
Add forearm wraps if you're doing long runs. A few strips across the outside of your forearm stops the scrapes from reaching through duct sections.
Equipment Service
Wrap fingertips for coil work. Condenser and evaporator fins slice fingertips constantly during cleaning and inspection.
Wrap knuckles for cabinet work. Reaching into equipment cabinets means dragging hands across sharp internal edges.
Register and Grille Work
Light fingertip wrap. You're handling sharp edges constantly but need full dexterity for screws and fasteners.
Fabrication
Heavy wrap on both hands. Cutting, bending, and forming sheet metal is high-contact work. Two to three layers on fingertips and palms.
Hot Environment Considerations
Attics in summer push 140°F. Mechanical rooms aren't much better. Standard gloves trap heat and your hands become swamps.
Self-adhering cotton tape breathes. Air and moisture pass through the weave. Your skin stays dry even in extreme heat.
Adhesive-based tapes fail in hot environments. The adhesive softens, gets sticky, and makes a mess. Self-adhering tape uses no adhesive—it holds through any temperature.
FAQ
How is this different from cut-resistant gloves?
Cut-resistant gloves cover your whole hand with thick material. Self-adhering tape lets you protect specific spots while leaving the rest of your hand bare. You keep dexterity where you need it.
Will tape stop a serious cut?
It stops the shallow slices from sheet metal edges. It won't stop a knife or a blade. Different hazard, different solution.
How often do I need to rewrap?
Once a day for most work. Rewrap if it starts to wear through or get loose. A roll lasts weeks.
Does it work on forearms?
Yes. Wrap strips across the outside of your forearm where edges typically catch you. Stays put all day.
Can I still feel fasteners and small parts?
Yes. Single layer wrap is thin enough to feel screw heads, sheet metal screws, and small hardware. It's not like wearing gloves.
What about fiberglass insulation?
Cotton wrap keeps fibers off your skin. Not its primary purpose but a useful side benefit.
Stop the Cuts
Guard-Tex: trusted by HVAC techs since 1935. No residue. Breathes in any heat.
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