Stained Black Hands

JohN Dee · 28th February 2008, 04:14 PM

We run an RG 13 Series II stump grinder.

The last 4-5 months if you use it without gloves on, once finished your hands are stained black. When I say stained, I mean soap & hotwater won't get off what appears to be dirt on your hands.

I've spoken to a few mates of mine and they also get it from their stump humpers... This thing would only happen with the manual handling types as you blokes with the hydraulics have them nice levers to push back and fourth (let me know if you get stained black fingers from the levers

)

Just a few things I would like to get some views and opinions on:

What causes your hands to become dirty?
What is the best way of getting this stuff off, other then waiting 7 to 14 days for it to go away with constant scrubbing?
What's a good way to prevent this (besides wearing gloves)?

TreeDimensional · 28th February 2008, 04:19 PM

JohN Dee, does the handle have rubber on it? Or is it made of some light alloy like magnesium or aluminum?

The sure fire way to get your hands clean is to try some of your Mom's dish washing soap.

JohN Dee · 28th February 2008, 04:27 PM

No rubber. I've tried dishwashing liquid, didn't work.

Here is the link to our stump grinder. New Age Arbor / Rayco Australia -- The Tree Equipment Specialist

TreeDimensional · 28th February 2008, 04:35 PM

We use this stuff, it even gets oil based paint off. The lanolin will make your hands , girlfriend touchable again.

Joes Kleen Products

As far as what is causing it, I don't know. You might try wrapping some tape around the handles where you will be holding it. If your hands get dirty there, then its time to look at the belts OR the engine seeping oil. Maybe even might be a dry bearing grit flying back on you.

playfordtree · 28th February 2008, 04:45 PM

What your experiencing John is the symptoms of hard work.
(something the hydraulic lever pushers dont understand)

I can still see my ex-boss now, leaning against the rayco jnr. pushing his levers as he puffed on a cigarette.
All the while telling me how a much of a crap job i was doing as i dragged brush and loaded wood.

Have you tried the gritty type of industrial handcleaners?
Or as a long shot you could try a stainless steel bar of soap? (no i'm not joking)

Nothing worse when your a young buck like yourself, and you've got a hot date on friday night, and you go to touch her and she looks at your hands like you've just rubbed them in dog crap.

"Your not touching me with those things"

Then you get married and they complain you dont touch them enough.

JohN Dee · 28th February 2008, 04:58 PM

I havn't tried the above mentioned for getting it off my hands...

It's abit bad when your clients/colleagues squint at you sideways when you shake their hand and yours is as black as the Ace of spades...

Plus the gf wont let me near her when my hands are stained :P

TreeDimensional · 28th February 2008, 05:15 PM

Just what I thought, nothing to do with health! Everything to do with the opposite sex.

I thought she worked with you once ina while.

Eric Frei · 28th February 2008, 06:46 PM

I used to get it a lot from the Dosko too, and you'll get it changing the teeth over, mine tend to go a redish brown, the tanin colours of cocos palms.

What you are getting is tanin stains, aboriginals paint with the stuff mate, maybe in 40,000AD it will wear off.

Not even petrol, acetone, metho, kero, windex, gumption etc gets it off, it's in your skin like a tattoo.

Wear gloves, I like the suede type leather ones, I get it a little from the levers of the Kanga too, depends on sweat and amount of dust.

Ever had the chipper out in the rain at night, then you park it on the customers driveway and start it ... it drips black drops of goo the same, tanins mate.

Cocos palms is reddish and a week easy for it to go.

Done it · 28th February 2008, 07:23 PM

Wet Ironbark is one of the worst, takes ages to wear off. The reason your getting it now is the wet, humid weather. It was so dry here for the last 4 or 5 years it didn't happen much. If it's a personal problem, try Skin Repair cream before you start work, it helps a bit. Don't tell anyone I told you this.

I've never used the stuff.

Eric Frei · 28th February 2008, 08:10 PM

LOL sure, it's right there next to the vasoline

shaggs · 29th February 2008, 10:12 PM

Are you guys telling JD to wear riggers gloves in the wet!!!

That way they can be yellow rather than black!!!!!

If you really want clean hand for the big night, and you have to work that day....try disposable nitrile gloves (like the doctors/paramedics wear) under your riggers etc

They dont say it but they are good for working on saws etc when you dont want greasy/petrol smelling hands after.

crucificio · 29th February 2008, 10:27 PM

Aha the dirty hand problem, what you need to do is rub in some hand cream before you start using the machine, what this does is to fill all the peres and grroves in your hands so prevents staining of the skin, if you keep a tube with you then you can apply it as you go along, suntan lotion works just as well. also makes your hands last longer

newguy18 · 1st March 2008, 01:46 AM

i know something that will take anything off your hands but its gonna burn something fierce,carb cleaner,not gumout usually the stores brand is better and stronger,the stuff i buy once melted the handle off a craftsman screwdriver.do you have fred's stores down under?

groundpounder · 1st March 2008, 02:25 AM

I have experienced this with an old Rayco. I think it was metal tarnish from a reaction of the metal to sweat. And boy did that Rayco make you sweat. My personal favorite for removing the tarnish, pinyon sap, tannin, etc. from my hands is Comet and a nylon brush. If that doesn't work, I'd just say wear it and be proud!

JohN Dee · 2nd March 2008, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by newguy18

i know something that will take anything off your hands but its gonna burn something fierce,carb cleaner,not gumout usually the stores brand is better and stronger,the stuff i buy once melted the handle off a craftsman screwdriver.do you have fred's stores down under?

Hmm how hot is it? I once had my head washed (when I was about 8..) in kerosine to cure a lice problem and boy did that burn (cured the problem though).. Probably why I love to eat the HOT and SPICY indian foods.

Not sure about those dr gloves there shaggs, they make me really sweat in a wierd way through my hands... Not sure if I could handle that all day..

Crucifico, that sounds like a good preventative. It makes sense... I used to have a really bad acne problem when I was younger in highschool and I moisturised every day to help keep the dirt and grime off.

Quote:

Originally Posted by groundpounder

I have experienced this with an old Rayco. I think it was metal tarnish from a reaction of the metal to sweat. And boy did that Rayco make you sweat. My personal favorite for removing the tarnish, pinyon sap, tannin, etc. from my hands is Comet and a nylon brush. If that doesn't work, I'd just say wear it and be proud!

Lol I like that last bit aye. The paint around the handles is starting to become removed and exposing the metal...

newguy18 · 2nd March 2008, 12:09 PM

It feels cold at first but then it burns but it usually doesn't phase me any but then again i have almost no feeling left in my hands.

bigshea13 · 2nd March 2008, 01:57 PM

i use to hate the pitch stuck to my hands. one day at lunch i got mayonaise from my sandwich on my pitchy hands. the pitch rubbed right off and ive been using it ever since for all sorts of stuff. maybe itll help maybe it wont

dov · 4th November 2009, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohN Dee

We run an RG 13 Series II stump grinder.

The last 4-5 months if you use it without gloves on, once finished your hands are stained black. When I say stained, I mean soap & hotwater won't get off what appears to be dirt on your hands.

I've spoken to a few mates of mine and they also get it from their stump humpers... This thing would only happen with the manual handling types as you blokes with the hydraulics have them nice levers to push back and fourth (let me know if you get stained black fingers from the levers

)

Just a few things I would like to get some views and opinions on:

What causes your hands to become dirty?
What is the best way of getting this stuff off, other then waiting 7 to 14 days for it to go away with constant scrubbing?
What's a good way to prevent this (besides wearing gloves)?

My guess is that the handles are steel and you got Euc sap on them at some stage. Fresh Eucalyptus sap should clean it off (probably wash your hands first) or try Eucalyptus oil.

olyman · 5th November 2009, 01:20 PM

or,try some vege oil on your hands, or some new engine oil--serious. change oil on a dsl engine???,try and get that off your hands!!! new engine oil will cut right thru it, then clean that off---------

Bruce Hopf · 5th November 2009, 03:16 PM

One thing that everyone is forgetting here. When your hands, or any part of your body gets warm, the Pores in your skin opens up more, than if it was cold, and dirt, or what ever falls into the pores, more easily.
When I used to be in home renovations, I used to do a lot of fiberglass insulating, and that dust from that stuff, would itch. What I used to do when I got home, was to climb into the shower, put it as cold as I could stand it, and let the water wash the dust off, then gradually increase the temp of the water.
If I used hot water right away, the fine dust would drop into the open pores of the skin, and the itch was a lot worse, that before I had my shower.
Try using cold water to start your washing of your hands, with a good detergent dish soap, or hand cleaner, and see if that helps. Bruce.

JohN Dee · 5th November 2009, 04:44 PM

I use latex dipped gloves now, so they don't let my hands get dirty anymore - and even better when they are dirty the accumulated sweat helps clean them

Thanks for the help everyone, need to keep my hands clean and stain free now more then ever

Steve Tipton · 5th November 2009, 04:49 PM

The beast way I've found to get hardwood stain and similar from your hands is to wash them in soap and water with sugar. Scrub the sugar and soap mixture in hard.
An old trick from my Dad, used in the cast iron foundry.

Eric Frei · 5th November 2009, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohN Dee

need to keep my hands clean and stain free now more then ever

OK, it's out there.

Spill the beans

Jason Axe · 10th November 2009, 03:52 AM

at least you know how to keep the ladies off of you if you ever run into that problem

i use the latex coated gloves now and then. i dont feel like i worked hard if my hands are clean tho.

JohN Dee · 22nd November 2009, 02:01 PM

Hey Quintrex that sugar water is a good one

Yeah gotta keep my hands clean as now just got out of my long term relationship! Done with them for a LOOOOONG time now.

On the other hand, what would be a good story if I ran into a chick that noticed my stained black hands?

Bruce Hopf · 22nd November 2009, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohN Dee

Hey Quintrex that sugar water is a good one

Yeah gotta keep my hands clean as now just got out of my long term relationship! Done with them for a LOOOOONG time now.

On the other hand, what would be a good story if I ran into a chick that noticed my stained black hands?

Extreme Frost Bite.

. Yeah that would work over there. I know Good One.

.
I think I might be in the same boat, about getting out of a long term a relationship. Won't be another one. Bruce.

SchafferLoaders · 10th January 2010, 10:02 AM

Hey JohN Dee

If you didn't want to go through all that sweating in the latex try a true barrier cream. I used to work in an pearl lab for years and constantly had 70% ethanol on them which is pretty harsh on your skin, better to

the stuff. Silic 15 is the one I used. It was up in Darwin so I sweated enough without into the gloves as well

Or try this Barrier creams protect workers? hands

cheers,

Cam

28th February 2008, 04:14 PM	#1
JohN Dee Moderator Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Climbing around the world Posts: 855	Stained Black Hands We run an RG 13 Series II stump grinder. The last 4-5 months if you use it without gloves on, once finished your hands are stained black. When I say stained, I mean soap & hotwater won't get off what appears to be dirt on your hands. I've spoken to a few mates of mine and they also get it from their stump humpers... This thing would only happen with the manual handling types as you blokes with the hydraulics have them nice levers to push back and fourth (let me know if you get stained black fingers from the levers ) Just a few things I would like to get some views and opinions on: What causes your hands to become dirty? What is the best way of getting this stuff off, other then waiting 7 to 14 days for it to go away with constant scrubbing? What's a good way to prevent this (besides wearing gloves)? __________________ We are what we repeatedly do... Excellence then, is not an act, but HABIT... Red : Green : Blue

28th February 2008, 04:19 PM	#2
TreeDimensional Mature Tree Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 426	Re: Stained Black Hands JohN Dee, does the handle have rubber on it? Or is it made of some light alloy like magnesium or aluminum? The sure fire way to get your hands clean is to try some of your Mom's dish washing soap.

28th February 2008, 04:27 PM	#3
JohN Dee Moderator Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Climbing around the world Posts: 855	Re: Stained Black Hands No rubber. I've tried dishwashing liquid, didn't work. Here is the link to our stump grinder. New Age Arbor / Rayco Australia -- The Tree Equipment Specialist __________________ We are what we repeatedly do... Excellence then, is not an act, but HABIT... Red : Green : Blue

28th February 2008, 04:35 PM	#4
TreeDimensional Mature Tree Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 426	Re: Stained Black Hands We use this stuff, it even gets oil based paint off. The lanolin will make your hands , girlfriend touchable again. Joes Kleen Products As far as what is causing it, I don't know. You might try wrapping some tape around the handles where you will be holding it. If your hands get dirty there, then its time to look at the belts OR the engine seeping oil. Maybe even might be a dry bearing grit flying back on you. Last edited by TreeDimensional; 28th February 2008 at 04:38 PM. Reason: sp

28th February 2008, 04:45 PM	#5
playfordtree Mature tree Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Behind Your Sister! Posts: 331	Re: Stained Black Hands What your experiencing John is the symptoms of hard work. (something the hydraulic lever pushers dont understand) I can still see my ex-boss now, leaning against the rayco jnr. pushing his levers as he puffed on a cigarette. All the while telling me how a much of a crap job i was doing as i dragged brush and loaded wood. Have you tried the gritty type of industrial handcleaners? Or as a long shot you could try a stainless steel bar of soap? (no i'm not joking) Nothing worse when your a young buck like yourself, and you've got a hot date on friday night, and you go to touch her and she looks at your hands like you've just rubbed them in dog crap. "Your not touching me with those things" Then you get married and they complain you dont touch them enough. __________________ Euthanizing South Australian Trees since 2007

28th February 2008, 04:58 PM	#6
JohN Dee Moderator Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Climbing around the world Posts: 855	Re: Stained Black Hands I havn't tried the above mentioned for getting it off my hands... It's abit bad when your clients/colleagues squint at you sideways when you shake their hand and yours is as black as the Ace of spades... Plus the gf wont let me near her when my hands are stained :P __________________ We are what we repeatedly do... Excellence then, is not an act, but HABIT... Red : Green : Blue

28th February 2008, 05:15 PM	#7
TreeDimensional Mature Tree Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 426	Re: Stained Black Hands Just what I thought, nothing to do with health! Everything to do with the opposite sex.I thought she worked with you once ina while.

28th February 2008, 06:46 PM	#8
Eric Frei Admin - Razor sharp and independent 2 X Diploma Level 5 qualified arborist Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 12,820	Re: Stained Black Hands I used to get it a lot from the Dosko too, and you'll get it changing the teeth over, mine tend to go a redish brown, the tanin colours of cocos palms. What you are getting is tanin stains, aboriginals paint with the stuff mate, maybe in 40,000AD it will wear off. Not even petrol, acetone, metho, kero, windex, gumption etc gets it off, it's in your skin like a tattoo. Wear gloves, I like the suede type leather ones, I get it a little from the levers of the Kanga too, depends on sweat and amount of dust. Ever had the chipper out in the rain at night, then you park it on the customers driveway and start it ... it drips black drops of goo the same, tanins mate. Cocos palms is reddish and a week easy for it to go. __________________ Protect your rights to work - Join Australian Tree Association My businesses:- Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding Brisbane \| Brisbane - Gold Coast Consulting Arborist

28th February 2008, 07:23 PM	#9
Done it Over mature heritage tree Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Australia. Posts: 784	Re: Stained Black Hands Wet Ironbark is one of the worst, takes ages to wear off. The reason your getting it now is the wet, humid weather. It was so dry here for the last 4 or 5 years it didn't happen much. If it's a personal problem, try Skin Repair cream before you start work, it helps a bit. Don't tell anyone I told you this. I've never used the stuff.

28th February 2008, 08:10 PM	#10
Eric Frei Admin - Razor sharp and independent 2 X Diploma Level 5 qualified arborist Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 12,820	Re: Stained Black Hands LOL sure, it's right there next to the vasoline __________________ Protect your rights to work - Join Australian Tree Association My businesses:- Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding Brisbane \| Brisbane - Gold Coast Consulting Arborist

29th February 2008, 10:12 PM	#11
shaggs Mature tree Join Date: May 2007 Location: sydney Posts: 422	Re: Stained Black Hands Are you guys telling JD to wear riggers gloves in the wet!!! That way they can be yellow rather than black!!!!! If you really want clean hand for the big night, and you have to work that day....try disposable nitrile gloves (like the doctors/paramedics wear) under your riggers etc They dont say it but they are good for working on saws etc when you dont want greasy/petrol smelling hands after.

29th February 2008, 10:27 PM	#12
crucificio Sappling Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: isle of man Posts: 30	Re: Stained Black Hands Aha the dirty hand problem, what you need to do is rub in some hand cream before you start using the machine, what this does is to fill all the peres and grroves in your hands so prevents staining of the skin, if you keep a tube with you then you can apply it as you go along, suntan lotion works just as well. also makes your hands last longer

1st March 2008, 01:46 AM	#13
newguy18 Part of the Furniture Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: orlando,fl Posts: 4,977	Re: Stained Black Hands i know something that will take anything off your hands but its gonna burn something fierce,carb cleaner,not gumout usually the stores brand is better and stronger,the stuff i buy once melted the handle off a craftsman screwdriver.do you have fred's stores down under? __________________ Have your say join us today. old schooler Last edited by newguy18; 1st March 2008 at 07:32 AM.

1st March 2008, 02:25 AM	#14
groundpounder Sappling Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Centennial Co. Posts: 19	Re: Stained Black Hands I have experienced this with an old Rayco. I think it was metal tarnish from a reaction of the metal to sweat. And boy did that Rayco make you sweat. My personal favorite for removing the tarnish, pinyon sap, tannin, etc. from my hands is Comet and a nylon brush. If that doesn't work, I'd just say wear it and be proud!

2nd March 2008, 12:09 PM	#16
newguy18 Part of the Furniture Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: orlando,fl Posts: 4,977	Re: Stained Black Hands It feels cold at first but then it burns but it usually doesn't phase me any but then again i have almost no feeling left in my hands. __________________ Have your say join us today. old schooler

2nd March 2008, 01:57 PM	#17
bigshea13 Former Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: super 8 motels Posts: 361	Re: Stained Black Hands i use to hate the pitch stuck to my hands. one day at lunch i got mayonaise from my sandwich on my pitchy hands. the pitch rubbed right off and ive been using it ever since for all sorts of stuff. maybe itll help maybe it wont

5th November 2009, 01:20 PM	#19
olyman Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: iowa--usa Posts: 125	Re: Stained Black Hands or,try some vege oil on your hands, or some new engine oil--serious. change oil on a dsl engine???,try and get that off your hands!!! new engine oil will cut right thru it, then clean that off---------

5th November 2009, 03:16 PM	#20
Bruce Hopf Veteran Heritage Status Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: North of Sebringville, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,176	Re: Stained Black Hands One thing that everyone is forgetting here. When your hands, or any part of your body gets warm, the Pores in your skin opens up more, than if it was cold, and dirt, or what ever falls into the pores, more easily. When I used to be in home renovations, I used to do a lot of fiberglass insulating, and that dust from that stuff, would itch. What I used to do when I got home, was to climb into the shower, put it as cold as I could stand it, and let the water wash the dust off, then gradually increase the temp of the water. If I used hot water right away, the fine dust would drop into the open pores of the skin, and the itch was a lot worse, that before I had my shower. Try using cold water to start your washing of your hands, with a good detergent dish soap, or hand cleaner, and see if that helps. Bruce. __________________ McCulloch chain saws 1- Pro Mac 60, 1- Pro Mac 700, 2- Mac 10-10 Automatic's, 2- Mini Mac 30's, 2- Mac 110's, 2- Mini Mac 35's, 1- Mac 140 with Automatic Chain Sharpener, 1- Pro Mac 10-10, 1- Mac Cat, 2- Eager Beaver 2.0's, 1- Mac 1-10 Stihl chain saws 2- 044's, 2- 034's, 2- 024's, 1- 064, 1- 084, Strunk chain saws 1- Busy Beaver, 1- SpeeDemon Special Stand Back, I Have A Very Extreme Case of CAD (Chain Saw Addiction Disorder).

5th November 2009, 04:44 PM	#21
JohN Dee Moderator Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Climbing around the world Posts: 855	Re: Stained Black Hands I use latex dipped gloves now, so they don't let my hands get dirty anymore - and even better when they are dirty the accumulated sweat helps clean them Thanks for the help everyone, need to keep my hands clean and stain free now more then ever __________________ We are what we repeatedly do... Excellence then, is not an act, but HABIT... Red : Green : Blue

5th November 2009, 04:49 PM	#22
Steve Tipton Over mature heritage tree Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Sydney Posts: 823	Re: Stained Black Hands The beast way I've found to get hardwood stain and similar from your hands is to wash them in soap and water with sugar. Scrub the sugar and soap mixture in hard. An old trick from my Dad, used in the cast iron foundry. __________________ Heightmaster

10th November 2009, 03:52 AM	#24
Jason Axe Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: marysville Posts: 63	Re: Stained Black Hands at least you know how to keep the ladies off of you if you ever run into that problem i use the latex coated gloves now and then. i dont feel like i worked hard if my hands are clean tho.

22nd November 2009, 02:01 PM	#25
JohN Dee Moderator Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Climbing around the world Posts: 855	Re: Stained Black Hands Hey Quintrex that sugar water is a good one Yeah gotta keep my hands clean as now just got out of my long term relationship! Done with them for a LOOOOONG time now. On the other hand, what would be a good story if I ran into a chick that noticed my stained black hands? __________________ We are what we repeatedly do... Excellence then, is not an act, but HABIT... Red : Green : Blue

10th January 2010, 10:02 AM	#27
SchafferLoaders Sponsor Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Australia Posts: 34	Re: Stained Black Hands Hey JohN Dee If you didn't want to go through all that sweating in the latex try a true barrier cream. I used to work in an pearl lab for years and constantly had 70% ethanol on them which is pretty harsh on your skin, better to the stuff. Silic 15 is the one I used. It was up in Darwin so I sweated enough without into the gloves as well Or try this Barrier creams protect workers? hands cheers, Cam __________________ Schaffer loaders website \| Our loader thread here at TreeWorld for you to participate in Last edited by Eric Frei; 10th January 2010 at 10:24 AM. Reason: link

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