Chainmail glove sizing

A metal mesh glove is a glove made of stainless steel rings, worn on the hand that holds the food or workpiece, not the hand with the knife. People use them for shucking oysters, boning meat, and cutting with hand knives. Fit matters. A glove that is too big slides and exposes fingers, and one that is too small is hard to use and gets worn through quickly.

How to measure

1. Hold your hand flat with fingers together.
2. Wrap a flexible tape or a strip of paper around the widest part of your palm, across the knuckles, excluding the thumb.
3. Read the circumference. If you used paper, mark and measure it against a ruler.
4. If you are between sizes, measure your hand length too and take the larger size if the glove will be worn over a liner.

Size chart

Glove sizes under the European standard EN 420 are numbered from the hand circumference in inches, so a size 8 fits a hand with an 8 inch circumference. Many mesh glove makers also use letter sizes.

Makers differ, and some mesh gloves are cut larger than their label. Always check the manufacturer's chart. If the glove fits over a thin cotton liner, you may want to size up.

What it protects against

Metal mesh gloves are made for hand knives and similar manual cutting. The European standard EN 1082-1 covers protective gloves and arm guards against cuts and stabs by hand knives. These gloves are meant to protect the hand holding the item, for example a mussel or a carcass, from a slip by the knife.

OSHA guidance for food service says personal protective equipment must be chosen for the task, and it describes a mesh glove on the non-cutting hand as one control among others, such as sharp knives, cutting away from the body, and a stable surface. See the OSHA deboning guidance.

What it does not protect against

The same standard documents note limits. A mesh glove is not made for powered or toothed blades, and it is not a defence against a stab from a pointed blade driven with force. It does not stop crush or heat. It can be dangerous around rotating machinery because it can catch. Do not rely on it for slicers, saws or power tools. Check the maker's instructions for the intended use.

Cut levels

Gloves are also graded by cut resistance under other standards, such as ANSI/ISEA 105 in the United States, which runs from A1 to A9. A mesh glove is usually at the top. Read the product's rating for the specific test used, because tests differ.

Care

Rinse after use, dry, and store hung or flat. Stainless mesh can go in a dishwasher for many models, though follow the manufacturer. Check for broken rings before each use. A damaged glove should be retired.

What to buy

Look for a glove that:

• Has a clear size chart and the EN 1082-1 mark.
• Has an adjustable strap that you can tighten.
• Is reversible, so it fits either hand.
• Has seamless or welded rings, as in butted versus riveted.

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