The ABCs Of Leather Work Gloves

Humans have always needed to protect their hands.  Whether welding on a rig or playing baseball with the kids, our hands need protection.  It is critical they be safeguarded from harm, and protective gear like leather work gloves makes that possible. 

Video showcasing MCR Safety Mustang^® Leather Work Gloves

MCR Safety has been supplying leather gloves to multiple industries since the 1970s.  Originally known as Memphis Glove; today, companies recognize us simply as MCR Safety.  Since 1988, MCR Safety has manufactured our own high-quality, cut-n-sew leather gloves that protect the hands of workers across multiple industries.  Today, with the recent expansion of NXG intelligent manufacturing, one of our most distinguishing qualities is that we directly manufacture over 2/3 of all gloves produced! 

 
When you see the MCR Safety Mustang, you know it’s one of the best leather work gloves available today!

We are still one of the world’s largest producers of industrial gloves, selling more than 1 million pairs of leather work gloves annually!  Our consistency in quality, knowledge of production costs, and regular output have allowed us to create both economy and premium glove styles to fit the needs of all our customers.  

The last 50 years can be summed up as the Golden Era of Hand Protection. 

Historically speaking, the past 50 years may best be summed up as the Golden Era of Hand Protection due to the number of technological advancements within PPE.  We know many users are loving our latest seamless knit gloves with advanced coating.  However, we also know our customers!  There are many who prefer a nice pair of leather work gloves, such as utility gloves and construction gloves.  MCR Safety is proud to have been part of this Golden Era for the last 45 years, and we’ve worked hard to bring leather work gloves into the twenty-first century.  

Today, we offer more than 280 leather work gloves styles and over 1,000 leather glove options in total, factoring in the different sizes.  In fact, we’ve earned a reputation over the years for offering one of the widest ranges of leather work gloves on the market.  

Let us show you how we are continuing to advance hand protection.

 

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Characteristics of Leather  

It’s no wonder leather gloves have been used for centuries.  They have all the qualities necessary for protecting hands while allowing for dexterity and comfort.  As the title of this article indicates, you can truly summarize leather gloves into A, B, and C.  Here’s what we mean:

Abrasion-Resistant
Best Heat Protection
Cut Lined to Perfection

 

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Abrasion-Resistant

                
Leather is a very durable product due to its natural animal fibers and the tanning process, which also helps the leather’s flexibility. 

As with any product, there are different qualities of leather.  But good-quality leather work gloves, like those made by MCR Safety, are designed to last and withstand abrasive work conditions.  Whenever you’re encountering rough objects, a nice pair of leather gloves comes in handy.

 
Just click the image to start sorting our leather work gloves by ANSI Abrasion Scores

As you can tell from the image, MCR Safety doesn’t offer a leather glove that scores less than an ANSI Level 3 abrasion score.  It’s a testament to our leather’s inherent abrasive qualities. In addition to being abrasion-resistant, leather work gloves also offer excellent tensile strength.  No matter what tension you inflict, it’s tough to tear a pair of MCR Safety leather work gloves.

 

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Best Heat Protection

 
Because we know our customers perform many different jobs in our products, MCR Safety tests our leather gloves to ensure they are both abrasion- and heat-resistant.  Our Innovations Technology Center, or ITC Lab, follows ANSI 105-16 conductive heat-resistance testing standards for leather work gloves.  

Be sure to read up on how the ITC Heat Scoring works by clicking on the ITC link above.  After testing, all of our glove materials receive an ANSI contact heat score that allows you to choose the level of heat-resistance you need in your gloves.  You can click the links below to view the glove options available at each specific level:

• Level 1 for applications less than 176°F
• Level 2 for applications less than 284°F

(All MCR Safety leather work gloves are at least Level 2)

• Level 3 for applications less than 392°F
• Level 4 for applications less than 500°F
• Level 5 for applications less than 808°F

 
Big Jake^® is one of the most widely recognized, heavy-duty leather work glove across industries.  These four gloves achieve ANSI Level 5 heat resistance. 

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Cut Lined to Perfection

  
Most leather gloves come with a non-leather lining.  Some lining options include foam, fleece, jersey, and wool linings.  For more specific details on linings, click here.  

Depending on the material, general-purpose linings offer users the following benefits:

• Make putting on the gloves easier
• Added warmth 
• Prevent chafing

 

The only downside to general-purpose liners is that they offer zero cut-protection.  Add that to leather’s own limited cut-protection itself and you’ve discovered one of the typical downsides to leather gloves over the years.  However, recent advancements and modified leather work gloves have changed all of that.  As one of the largest U.S. industrial leather glove producers, MCR Safety has already upgraded over 15 leather glove styles to be cut-resistant, including our MU3624K, 4840K, and 3601SKHV styles. 

  
3601K Drivers Glove, Premium-Grade Grain Goatskin, DuPont™ Kevlar^® Lined

 

 
3601K

Of course, leather isn’t indestructible.  But when lined with other materials that protect against what leather cannot, leather gloves become superior protective gear.  For instance, when lined with DuPont Kevlar^®, leather gloves become cut-, abrasion-, heat- and flame-resistant.  This makes them ideal for use in many different industries, as explained below.

With over 143,000 hand injuries reported in 2015 by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, it’s extremely important to find gloves with cut protection.  If your job consists of cut hazards and you still prefer a traditional leather work glove, MCR Safety has you covered.  

You can use our cut protection page or our guide to find the right degree of cut-resistance for your needs.  Look for gloves that incorporate DuPont Kevlar^®, Hypermax, or similar material.

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More Leather Glove Information

Yes, we’ve reviewed the ABCs of leather with you, but we’re not going to leave you hanging here.  You don’t earn a top spot in the industry, selling over 20 million leather gloves, by not explaining the very essence of that product to your customers, right? Here is some more information on leather that you might like to know as you consider which leather glove is right for you.

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Types of Leather

While cow leather is the most common type of leather, you might find another kind more suited to your job.  These different leather types can then be broken up into different hide sides, as explained next.

Real leather work gloves, not synthetic leather gloves, are made of tanned animal hides.  There are many different kinds of leather and each has its benefits: 

• Buffalo leather – softer than cowhide, more durable, plus it stretches

 

 

  

• Cow leather – excellent abrasion- and heat-resistance, highly durable

 

 

  

• Goat leather – a strong, durable leather with great tensile strength

 

 

  

• Deer leather – very comfortable, offers tremendous dexterity due to its softness

 

 

  

• Elk leather – one of the most durable and softest leathers

 

 

 

• Pig leather – the most durable leather available due to the porous texture of the hide, works well in wet applications

 

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Grain and Split Differences

Have you noticed that different leathers have different textures?  This is due to the animal it is made from, what part of the animal the leather came from, and which side of the hide was processed.

 
Splitting Leather Hides

Thick animal hides can be separated into two layers for making leather.  These layers create different grades: 

• Grain leather is the smooth, external side of the hide.  It provides durability and dexterity. 
• Split leather is the rougher, internal side of the hide and has better abrasion-resistance.  Split leather is also divided into three categories depending on where on the animal it comes from:
  
  *Side Split - this part of the leather is more durable and provides the best protection.
  *Shoulder Split - more economical than side split leather because it’s less durable.
  *Belly Split – the most economical, as it has the least consistency of texture and appearance.

 

Example of Top Grain vs. Split leather

When purchasing leather gloves, make sure to first note the grade of leather to ensure you’re getting a product that is tough enough for what you need.  Once the hides have been separated and the leather grades distinguished, two types of leather work gloves appear:

1. Leather Drivers

 
Made from thinner leather to allow for more hand movement while still protecting from abrasion, most leather driver gloves today are made from cowhide.  Some also come in pig or goatskin, with a select few made from deer and elk skin.  When compared to our next leather glove mentioned, driver gloves offer the best dexterity.

Did you know, driver gloves were first developed to help early race car drivers grip their wooden steering wheels?  Since then, leather driver gloves have become standard issue for racers. 

 

2. Leather Palms

  
Leather palm gloves are ideal for any job.  A standard leather palm has key features like a safety cuff, shirred elastic back, knuckle strap, leather fingertips, wing thumb, and welted seams in the high-stress areas.  Welting is an extra piece of leather sewn into the seam to give it additional strength. 

 
Components that make up a leather palm glove.

 

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Uses of Leather Work Gloves

Leather has been the favorite material for protective gloves for thousands of years, mainly due to its availability.  Even today, when other materials are easy to get, leather is preferred by many because of its unique qualities that make it suitable for a variety of uses.  For instance, did you know that if you hold a flame to leather it will shrink and curl but not catch fire?  It goes without saying that a stringed synthetic glove just doesn’t offer that kind of protection.  Countless industries still rely on leather work gloves for this feature and for the ABCs mentioned above.  Here are some uses for leather work gloves:

• Construction Gloves – Due to their abrasion resistance, leather gloves take a beating in some of construction’s most rugged environments. 

 
Nothing compares to a Big Jake heavy-duty leather work glove.

 

• Utility Gloves – Because it is naturally flame-resistant, leather is the top choice among linemen and electricians who need to protect themselves from arc flash. 
  
  
    
  When you’re framing and setting poles in the utility industry, it doesn’t hurt to make sure all your PPE worn is ARC Rated, like the MU3624G.

 

• Welding Gloves – Leather can also withstand high temperatures: up to 430°F when untreated and as much as 600°F when tanned with chrome.  This makes it suitable material for MCR Safety welding gloves and other jobs that involve exposure to heat. 

Welder wearing elkskin leather welding gloves and our new FR welding shirt made with Triple Vents.

 

MCR Safety has one of the widest selections of leather work gloves and welding gloves in the industry.  In addition to our gloves, welders are enthusiastic about the brand-new FR welding shirt that features our patented Summit Breeze® Triple Vented Technology. We received the following testimonial from the welder in this image:

 

“The breathable feature is awesome and really makes the shirt stand out.”

You can’t go wrong in hot welding environments wearing elkskin leather welding gloves and a comfortable FR welding shirt that that breathes.  

 

Remember, MCR Safety doesn’t just manufacture leather work gloves.  We offer cut-resistant gloves, hi-vis safety rainwear and vests, safety glasses, and FR clothing.  We’re your full-line partner when it comes to PPE.

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Protect Yourself with MCR Safety Leather Work Gloves

Gloves are a necessary part of workplace safety.  Whatever job or industry you work in, MCR Safety has leather work gloves that will protect you and make your job easier.  With over 280 styles to choose from, you’ll love the quality, fit, and protection our leather work gloves provide.  

We enjoy the distinction of manufacturing most of our own gloves, so we can truly promise our customers superior safety and not ask them to trust the word of a third party.  While MCR Safety offers gloves in a variety of materials suited for industrial work, few are as durable and versatile as leather work gloves.  

Our goal at MCR Safety is to help every customer find the right pair of gloves to protect them from workplace hazards.  Whatever dangers you face in the line of duty, we promise we have a leather work glove suitable for getting the job done right while protecting your hands.

 

We welcome any comments, feedback, or suggestions for how we can best protect people at work.

For over 45 years, MCR Safety has proven to be a world leader in gloves, glasses, and garments. Whether it’s on the shop floor, an oil rig, or a construction site, we are there providing solutions to workplace hazards. It’s all part of our commitment to protect people. 

No matter your industry, we have the personal protective equipment you need.

 

Learn more about MCR Safety by checking out our most recent video. For more information, browse our website, request a catalog, find a distributor, or give us a call at 800-955-6887.