Cheap latex gloves. Um where?

I can see the logic in that more - can't be arsed taking a tub of Swarfega on a ride ;)

^Re: gloves and eczema

Depends how bad your eczema is.
Mine would be unbearable if I didn't use gloves daily: my fingers cut very easily - feels like my skin is paper thin.
Any oil and grime will likely exacerbate the problem: having to clean it off certainly does.

Are these really helpful?

I use the blue nitrile ones. you need them to be tight.
It takes me about a minute to get them on properly.
I would be washing my hands for at least 10 minutes to get them properly clean. So it saves me 9 minutes each time.
They also protect against carcinogens, one of which is dirty oil.

That all sounds very plausible but should I take advice on this from someone with sausage fingers?!

nankatsu I've been there and it's a nightmare, I feel for you. Mine is currently very under control so I just get some dry skin basically, but at its worst I had big raw patches where the skin would just split and bleed. And because it's on your hand it's very difficult to stop it. Horrible.

These?

They are normally the ones petrol stations have lol

From Ebay! http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/100-Top-Quality-Nitrile-Medical-Examination-Non-Allergy-1-5-AQL-Surgical-Dental-/161170241679?pt=UK_BOI_Medical_Lab_Equipment_Medical_Supplies_Disposables_ET&var=&hash=item25867eb88f

I use these, vinyl is much tougher than nitrile and not elastic. Cheap as chips too
http://www.justgloves.co.uk/13905_-Vinyl-Gloves/Standard-Vinyl-Gloves/Standard-Powder-Free-Vinyl-Gloves-AQL-1.5.html

Are these really helpful? Serious question, not trolling.

I have eczema on one of my hands but have never really had any problems using my bare hands - nothing Swarfega can't sort out.

Yes.

pound shops have them, as do nisbets catering store

2nd vote for eBay. When I'm running low, I just go on eBay and buy from whoever's doing 1000 nitrile gloves (usually either a fetching purple or blue) for the best price. Covers me for a couple of years of car and bike fettling.

Decent quality Nitrile gloves shouldn't cost more than £5 inc vat for a box of 100 @ retail. You need to go to a motorfactor, and not one that sells shitty exhausts, a proper one with rows of oil filters and brake pads.

I get 'bodyguards' nitrile gloves, 100 in medium for £3.50+vat from local one (glasgow).

Vinyl gloves are usually the same price and they do last a bit longer (you can take them on and off a few times before they split), but I find certain chemicals make them split/shrink and they are a bit baggy around the fingers making fine work more tricky.

I have crap skin, without using gloves I probably wouldn't have any skin left, and I spend most of my time getting my hands dirty lol.