Fat men sweat. . .a lot. . .

[Adam Cruea]

I'm sure there's something I could search, but I figured I'd still ask. . .

What do y'all use to keep sweat out of your eyes, off your tools, and off your projects? I work in a 65F (~17C) in bare feet, shirtless, with shorts to try to keep cool. Invariably, I end up just dripping water off my brow onto my glasses, into my eyes, or worse, off my nose and onto my projects/iron tools. Like I wipe my head and the water starts beading back up.

What have you guys and gals found to control that best?

[Shawn Pixley]

I tie a Bandana above my eyes.

[Jim Koepke]

I tie a Bandana above my eyes.

Same here just use the cleanest convenient rag.

jtk

[Matthew Hills]

run a fan. helps the sweat to dry faster.

Matt

[Mike Holbrook]

They make sweat bands for the head, but when needed I use a bandana or a cotton baseball cap. I went on a gluten free diet though and lost 30- 35 lbs, down to about 170, now I find I get cold more than hot. If it isn't one (*&7(*& thing it's another!.

[John Kananis]

Skinny guys (well not exactly skinny) sweat too. Its all about body temp, brother; depending on what your normal temperature is (mine is 96.3), lower will sweat more than higher as ambient temperature will affect your individual temperature (especially when working hard).

I fight the same battle you do and have no additional weight to carry - even when I was in the best shape of my life (former Marine, Orange County Marathon 3hrs 22min) I sweat like a pig.

Long story short, air conditioning is the (my answer). GL

[Enrico Caruso]

I would suggest that you do a couple of things: 1. Get tested for diabetes (my father sweat profusely, and was always thirsty until he was diagnosed with diabetes and medicated). 2. I learned from my world travels that in hot moist climates like China and Central America that the folks eat hot "chilis" which are very spicy hot peppers to prevent sweating. Otherwise, the traditional sponge head band will keep the sweat into your eyes at a lower level. Diving goggles might even work better.

[Stanley Covington]

I use a bandana or tenugui to cover my entire head to keep the sweat out of my eyes and from dripping onto my tools, but also to keep sawdust from my follically challenged pate.

Below is a link to a video of somebody putting one in the "kenkakaburi" or fighting style I typically use. Also, there is a link to a page showing several methods. Those of you with long flowing locks will like these.

Stan

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5Aks8y9RVA

http://www.hashimotoya-maturi.com/hatimaki.html

[Chris Hachet]

I tie a Bandana above my eyes.

This is also what I do. I also drink frequently (water) to keep hydrated.

[Dan Hulbert]

Terrycloth headbands help me keep my glasses clean and the drips off my tools and projects. No need for one today, its 2 degrees out there, but when the weather turns, it will be time to grab the headband. I've also had good luck with the cloth bands containing water retaining beads. Soak them in cold water for a bit, wrpa around your neck and they really help when the temps go above 90. It's semi-desert here, so evaporative cooling really works well.

[ken hatch]

Here in the desert sweat is good, not much drips because it evaporates quickly. As a long distance motorcycle rider in the desert Southwest (IBA, Bum Burner Gold, 50 CC and others) I've learned to use sweat and water to stay cool on the hottest days (118F is not unusual). The secret is a product named LDComfort. LDC gear is made of a two layer fabric. The layer next to your skin wicks the sweat to the outer layer and keeps your skin dry. The outer layer holds the moisture for controlled evaporation. LDC makes a helmet liner that would work very well in the shop. Do a google on LDComfort, it could be your answer.

ken

[Adam Cruea]

Thanks for all the suggestions.

Enrico - I get blood tests approximately every 6 months for that stuff and more. My family history has diabetes on both sides, heart conditions. . .all sorts of stuff. My blood sugar is well within range. (yay!)

John - Yeah, I'm the same guy that can shovel snow outside when it's 20F in just shorts, boots, and a sleeveless shirt (though I end up shedding the shirt). I think I could work in a freezer and be comfortable. My barefoot habit is actually one way I've found to stay cool; the tile in my basement is cold, and I have found I lose a lot of internal heat through my feet. So cold feet for me keep my comfy.

Ken - Thanks for the suggestion. I could dual-purpose that helmet liner for when I ride *and* when I woodwork. Or just get two. :)

[Garth Almgren]

I usually wear a baseball cap, with a blue shop towel as a backup. Those blue towels hold a lot of sweat!
Nothing more annoying than having sweat dripping on your glasses (safety and regular).

[Frank Drew]

I installed a.c. in my shop after I found myself dripping sweat onto an oil finish I was applying. It made a ton of difference in my hot-weather work day.

[Pat Barry]

I'm sure there's something I could search, but I figured I'd still ask. . .

What do y'all use to keep sweat out of your eyes, off your tools, and off your projects? I work in a 65F (~17C) in bare feet, shirtless, with shorts to try to keep cool. Invariably, I end up just dripping water off my brow onto my glasses, into my eyes, or worse, off my nose and onto my projects/iron tools. Like I wipe my head and the water starts beading back up.

What have you guys and gals found to control that best?
You should lose the shorts too as long as you are at it. More exposed surface area should help :)

[Terry Beadle]

I used an old white athletic sock until I bought some terrycloth head bands off Amazon. ($2.00 )

The head bands work great and dry out over night.

Any one with a wife that can sew ( I know...sexist statement but the odds are...;-) ) can make some head bands out of old towels or sweat shirt scraps.

[Niels Cosman]

I am not that fat, but I sweat like a hog in heat no matter what I do. I am also a glassblower so this is a mixed blessing.
I wear a fitted baseball cap. I have also started to wear japanese-style head bands, but I am not sold on them yet. They don't play nice with the glasses.
A baseball cap is also nice to keep flying bits from going over the top of your glasses when using tailed-devices.

[Lenore Epstein]

I've been a heavy sweater through thick (heavy) and thin (light). So much so that I always had very low sodium levels when I worked in 100 degree desert temperatures doing heavy labor, no matter how much salt I took in, and all my hats were crusted with salt around the bands. 65 is right around the point where I get overheated if I'm doing anything physical at all; at 80 I'm prone to heat exhaustion, probably because of all that backcountry work in my 20s and 30s.

This may sounds a little odd, but the best way to use a fan is to point it at your, err, nether regions, because as every first-aider who deals with heat-stressed patient knows, cooling your lower core is one of the best ways to lower your core temperature without getting into an ice bath (the other is ice packs under your armpits, but that's a lot less comfortable). Put a basin of ice water in front of your fan and you might actually get too cold. Wearing shorts will only make it more effective. Lookers-on might think it's weird, but who cares what people think if it works?

These days I use a bandanna with little beads (http://www.amazon.com/JellyBeadZ-Cooling-Scarf-Bandana-Black/dp/B004XX4X9E/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1454632855&sr=8-2&keywords=cooling+scarves) I picked up at a sporting goods store. The beads expand when soaked for a few minutes; supposedly they work well in wet climates, too. I drape it around my neck and move it to put the outside against my neck if the inside loses it cool. There are also cooling towels which work by evaporation, though I haven't tried them.

Good luck!

[Don Emmerling]

I would still pursue a medical reason for the sweating. Have you specifically told your doctor about your sweating problem? I would get my thyroid checked as this can be a cause for what you described. It never hurts to track down these issues before something takes a turn for the worse and it cannot be corrected. Let us know of any follow up efforts you make. Would hate to lose a woodworker.

[Gary Cunningham]

I tie a Bandana above my eyes.

I keep several around. Sweat flows freely when the humidity rises.

[Curt Putnam]

I, too, sweat profusely for no apparent reason. Sweating from the head has been tied to vitamin D deficiency. I'm taking vitamin D supplements now and it doesn't help. OTOH, I do have borderline low thyroid and glucose tolerance issues. Medical help may be the answer. Some people just sweat no matter what. I never did until I started running and haven't been able to stop since.

[Matt Lau]

I concur with everyone else.
Unusual sweating can be something more serious.

Bandanas are great.
Also, try wicking clothing.

[Adam Cruea]

You should lose the shorts too as long as you are at it. More exposed surface area should help :)

BONUS: A roll in the sawdust will help soak up the sweat! :eek:

And it's not just sweating from the head. I get soaked all over. The head is just the most annoying sweat because it drips on my tools and projects. Generally after a day in the shop, I have to literally peel most of my clothes off. That's right before I jump in a shower with the hot water turned almost completely off.

Oddly, I brought up the thyroid issue with my doc a while back and it's perfectly fine.