Area Representative z7 Posted August 13, 2021 Area Representative Share Posted August 13, 2021 I've tended to use Sawrfega but any other recommendations?Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SM25T Posted August 13, 2021 Share Posted August 13, 2021 I use an orange gritty one in a 4 litre pump action bottle ... from CostCo. I think it is branded Swarfega. Very effective. The original green slimy Swarfega is awful stuff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aerobod - near CYYC Posted August 13, 2021 Share Posted August 13, 2021 I 2nd the orange gritty stuff, seems to be similar from many vendors, the stuff I use from Canadian Tire works as good as the Costco stuff which is probably comparable with the Halfords one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrightpayne Posted August 13, 2021 Share Posted August 13, 2021 What are 'beads' made from? They are hopefully not plastic! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SM25T Posted August 13, 2021 Share Posted August 13, 2021 Haven't tasted them. Very fine gritty feel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SM25T Posted August 13, 2021 Share Posted August 13, 2021 Natural cornmeal thankfully. Also available at Screwfix it seems Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Area Representative z7 Posted August 13, 2021 Author Area Representative Share Posted August 13, 2021 Thanks all Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toby S Posted August 15, 2021 Share Posted August 15, 2021 I use Solopol following a machine engineer friend of mine recommendation who spends all week up to his elbows in oil and grime - seems to work well with fine pieces of pumice in the solution and not overly chemicalled so reasonably kind on the skin - I've never had any adverse skin irritation reaction Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan Kay Posted August 16, 2021 Share Posted August 16, 2021 Orange Swarfega bought in 4 L containers.But a lot less of it since I finally found workshop gloves that I like:Tornado Contour Avenger Breathable Precision Work GlovesJonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan Kay Posted August 16, 2021 Share Posted August 16, 2021 PS: Ian recommended these gloves:Site KF120 PU Palm Dip Gloves Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrightpayne Posted August 16, 2021 Share Posted August 16, 2021 Just googling Solopol it looks like it is made by DEB who also make the Swafega range of products.I think I'll be getting the orange stuff from Screwfix next as a) no plastic beads and b) we have a branch 10mins walk away :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger King Posted August 16, 2021 Share Posted August 16, 2021 Wear nitrile pervy gloves and you won't need Swarfega; with the added bonus that oil is not good for the skin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Deslandes Posted August 17, 2021 Share Posted August 17, 2021 Comma Manista. Contains Perlite (volcanic glass) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leadership Team Toughie Posted August 17, 2021 Leadership Team Share Posted August 17, 2021 Ahem! Somewhat late to this thread.I used to work for Deb, who make Swarfega. The grit used to be made from tiny little plastic beads, but that hasn't been the case for a couple of decades, when they were changed for ground down nut shells, so are bio-degradable.When I worked there the active ingredient used to be D-limonene, and I assume its still the same, though I haven't looked at an ingredients list for some years. It's an extract from the peel of citrus fruits, so also bio-degradable, and often found in all sorts of modern cleaning chemicals.There are more aggressive products around, which are fine for the occasional use, but the active ingredients were very aggressive, and aren't recommended for regular everyday use, so we really tried to educate people away from using them, as in those days there were growing claims against employers over industrial dermatitis. Which is why you'll seldom find blokes working in garages who don't wear gloves.Solopol used to be one of our German competitors (who we eventually bought out) who made a very aggressive product. We avoided making a me-too version because we thought it too aggressive. Because of demand from loyal customers we did eventually make something equally aggressive, but continued to try to recommend that users avoided it, for skincare reasons. The very fact that we were then making the product and still telling people not to use it added to our credibility that we cared about the effect on the skin, rather than just making a fast buck.Comma was one of our low cost competitors, cheap and... Perlite is not biodegradable, and in quantity can block drains, so from an environmental perspective, should be avoided.Caveat: The above is from what I recall at least ten or fifteen years ago, if my memory is correct. If anything, the products certainly won't be any worse than they were then, and at Deb we used to pride ourselves on being one of the leading hand and surface cleaning companies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrightpayne Posted August 17, 2021 Share Posted August 17, 2021 Alan,Great insight to the world of keeping our hands clean! It will be interesting to see what lathering them with alcohol for the last 18 months does long term! Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leadership Team Toughie Posted August 18, 2021 Leadership Team Share Posted August 18, 2021 As I also used to be responsible for the medical side of the business, i covered the antibacterial side too. Using alcohol as frequently as medical staff were SUPPOSED to use it, when the concern was MRSA sweeping through hospitals, is not good for the hands. The Hibiscrub, which was supposed to be used in theatres (but was often overused around the hospitals in an attempt to make up for poor hand hygiene procedures) was even more aggressive.We always recommended using a moisturiser frequently during the day, otherwise the the skin takes a real hammering, despite the glycerine gels that are put into hand sanitisers. The same applies to using the more aggressive, non sanitising hand cleaners I referred to above.In tasks which incur heavy soiling, we also recommended the use of a barrier cream before getting your hands dirty, as it does make it easier to remove the dirt afterwards. All the barrier cream does is to block the pores with a benign cream to make it harder for the dirt to get ingrained, thus easier to get off afterwards. So for heavy soiling it should be a three stage process, barrier cream before working, a hand cleanser after working, followed immediately by a moisturiser. Never thought I'd be rabbiting about this stuff anymore, and certainly not here! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrightpayne Posted August 18, 2021 Share Posted August 18, 2021 I think its useful information - we've all been focused on our health and wellbeing the last 18 months and probably a situation all of us who work on our cars have to deal with!I use Bodyshop Hemp hand cream when needed - smells manly and not too slimy! My hands generally need more attention in the winter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leadership Team Toughie Posted August 18, 2021 Leadership Team Share Posted August 18, 2021 Skincare problems get worse in winter as the damp softens the skin and makes abrasion more common. Just washing hands removes the natural protective oils. Industrial dermatitis is usually far more prevalent in winter months. Using more moisturiser helps.I used to be in the military, out in the fields for days in all weathers. Just constantly handling equipment, ropes, immersion, in wet weather made the fingers sore. I always tried to make sure I had moisuriser with me in the field and used it regularly. It sounds anomalous, but for a big roughie toughie commando using moisturiser was a boon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tuck2020 Posted August 18, 2021 Share Posted August 18, 2021 Zalpon zorange here, which I find quite good. Not sure of its health or environmental credentials though, it contains pumice. The best I've ever used was Wurth D Mark. Fantastic stuff, sadly unavailable now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SM25T Posted August 18, 2021 Share Posted August 18, 2021 #19 ... Has Wurth D mark been replaced by Wurth Euro ? :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tuck2020 Posted August 30, 2021 Share Posted August 30, 2021 My apologies, I've only just seen this.Im not sure, I was given the D Mark by a Wurth rep years ago, I'm not actually a customer of theirs. I guard it with my life! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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