Black nitrile gloves: what they are actually for

Disposable gloves are one of those workshop items nobody thinks about until they run out. Then it becomes very obvious how much work they were doing.

If you're working in a garage, a bodyshop or a plate production area, black nitrile is usually the right choice. Here's why, and where it genuinely makes a difference.

What nitrile gloves are

Nitrile is a synthetic rubber. It was developed as an alternative to latex and it has since become the default in most industrial and automotive settings.

Three properties matter for workshop use.

Chemical resistance. Nitrile stands up well to oils, greases, fuels and many solvents. Latex does not. If your hands are in contact with petroleum-based products, this is the main reason to switch.

Puncture resistance. Nitrile is noticeably tougher than latex or vinyl at the same thickness. Working around trim clips, panel edges, cut acrylic and hand tools, that matters.

No latex proteins. Latex allergies are common enough that any workplace supplying gloves to a team should be thinking about it. Nitrile removes the problem entirely.

Nitrile Gloves Special Offer

Our Black nitrile gloves are on a special promotional price through September, October and November 2026.

A carton contains 10 boxes of 100 gloves, so 1,000 gloves in total, at £47 +VAT. Three cartons are £141 +VAT, and free delivery applies on any multiple of three cartons, with carriage charges on other quantities.

Available in Medium, Large and Extra Large. They're powder free with textured fingertips, AQL 1.5 rated, tested to UK and European standards and achieving Type C chemical resistance.

To order, call 01252 749808 (option 1) or speak to your Area Manager.

Why black

The colour is not just a style choice, although it does look considerably more professional than blue when you are working in front of a customer.

Black hides grease and dirt, which means a glove looks presentable for longer and people are less inclined to change it purely because it looks scruffy. In practice, that reduces waste.

It also provides contrast. Working with white plate acrylic, reflective sheeting or light coloured trim, a black glove makes it much easier to see what you are handling and where your fingers are.

Where they earn their keep

1. Handling plate components

This is the one specific to our industry and it is the one most people underestimate.

Reflective sheeting and acrylic pick up fingerprints, and fingerprints on a plate face are not something you can always polish out once the plate is finished. Handling blanks and film with clean gloves protects the surface through production.

Anyone who has had to scrap a finished plate because of a mark that appeared under the film knows exactly what this is worth.

2. Adhesives, solvents and cleaning products

Plate work involves adhesive transfer tapes, panel wipes and cleaning solvents. Bodyshop and garage work involves considerably more.

Nitrile holds up against most of what a workshop uses day to day. It is the practical reason nitrile has replaced latex almost everywhere in automotive.

One honest caveat: nitrile is not resistant to everything. Acetone and some ketone-based solvents will degrade it fairly quickly. If you are working with those, check the specific chemical resistance rather than assuming.

3. Oil, fuel and grease

The obvious one. Servicing, fluid changes, anything under the bonnet.

Nitrile keeps its integrity in contact with petroleum products where latex swells and breaks down. It is the difference between a glove that lasts a job and a glove that fails halfway through it.

4. Printer and consumable handling

Thermal ribbons, printheads and ink cartridges all mark hands and all mark surfaces. Gloves keep the transfer in one direction.

They also keep skin oils off components that are sensitive to them, which is worth knowing if you have ever wondered why a printhead has gone patchy.

5. Customer-facing work

Anything done on the forecourt, at the trade counter or in front of a customer.

Fitting plates, handling paperwork, moving between a vehicle and an office. Clean hands and clean gloves say something about the business, and it is the sort of detail customers register without consciously noticing.

6. General workshop protection

Sharp edges, hot components, abrasive surfaces and anything you would rather not have on your skin.

Nitrile will not stop a serious injury and it is not a substitute for proper cut-resistant gloves where those are needed. But for general handling it takes the everyday knocks that would otherwise show up on your hands.

How to choose the right glove

Powder free

Powdered gloves are easier to put on and leave residue on everything you touch. On plate faces, acrylic and freshly cleaned panels, that residue is a problem.

Powder free is the right choice for anything where surface cleanliness matters.

Sizing

Gloves that are too big tear at the fingertips and reduce grip. Gloves that are too small tear at the base of the thumb and are uncomfortable enough that people take them off.

Stocking a range rather than one universal size cuts waste more than most people expect.

What they are not for

Worth being clear, because assuming a glove does more than it does is how people get hurt.

Nitrile gloves are not cut-resistant gloves. They are not heat-resistant gloves. They are not a substitute for proper PPE where a task calls for it.

They are protection against contamination, contact and everyday wear. Within that, they are

excellent.

Frequently asked questions

Are black nitrile gloves better than blue?

Functionally, they're identical. Same material, same protection. Black hides dirt and grease better, looks more professional in customer-facing work, and gives better contrast against light coloured materials like plate acrylic.

How many gloves are in a carton?

A carton holds 10 boxes of 100, so 1,000 gloves. Cartons come in Medium, Large and Extra Large, and buying in multiples of three includes free delivery.

Are nitrile gloves resistant to petrol and oil?

Yes. Nitrile has good resistance to oils, greases and fuels, which is why it's largely replaced latex in automotive work. It isn't resistant to everything though. Acetone and some ketone-based solvents will degrade it.

Should I use powdered or powder free gloves?

Powder free for any work where surface cleanliness matters, including plate production, painting and panel preparation. Powder leaves residue on everything you touch.

Are nitrile gloves suitable for sensitive skin?

Nitrile contains no latex proteins, so it removes the latex allergy problem entirely. Note that nitrile gloves do contain accelerator chemicals, which can cause type IV skin irritation and contact dermatitis in people already sensitised to them.

Can nitrile gloves be recycled?

Not through standard household recycling. Some specialist glove recycling schemes exist. If waste is something you're looking at across your workshop, speak to your Area Manager about what we offer.

Getting them on your next order

We supply black nitrile gloves alongside plates, components and fixings, so they go on the same account and the same delivery. No second supplier to set up and no separate carriage charge.

Packed 100 per box, 10 boxes to a carton, so 1,000 gloves per carton. Available in Medium, Large and Extra Large. AQL 1.5, tested to UK and European standards, Type C chemical resistance.

Getting them on your next order

We supply black nitrile gloves alongside plates, components and fixings, so they go on the same account and the same delivery. No second supplier to set up and no separate carriage charge.

Packed 100 per box, 10 boxes to a carton, so 1,000 gloves per carton.

Available in Medium, Large and Extra Large. AQL 1.5, tested to UK and European standards, Type C chemical resistance.

Quantity	Gloves	Price
1 carton	1,000	£47 +VAT
3 cartons	3,000	£141 +VAT
6 cartons	6,000	£282 +VAT
9 cartons	9,000	£423 +VAT

If you are currently ordering gloves from a separate supplier, it is worth a conversation. Speak to your Support Manager and we will get them added to your next order.

Free delivery on multiples of three cartons. 

Carriage charges apply to other quantities. Offer ends 31 October 2026.

If you're currently ordering gloves from a separate supplier, it's worth a conversation.

Call 01252 749808 (Opt 1), email sales@sandhurstautoprint.co.uk, or speak to your Area Manager and we'll get them added to your next order.