Kiln gloves protect your hands and forearms from hot lids, peephole plugs, shelves and pots. They are not all the same: a lined leather glove that is fine for lifting warm mugs at 150°F can fail fast on a raku lid. The number that matters is the maker's own temperature rating, and almost every maker qualifies it as protection for short contact, not for holding hot ware.
This guide compares four heat-rated kiln gloves and two pairs of IR-filter glasses for looking into a firing kiln, using maker pages, maker brochures, kiln manuals and dealer listings. It is research-based: we compare published ratings; we do not test gloves. Where a dealer, not the maker, gives a figure, we say so.
Kiln gloves and glasses at a glance
- Best for raku and the hottest jobs: ZetexPlus 200 Series gloves (rated to 2000°F by Newtex)
- Best long-cuff hot glove: Tillman 993 aluminized carbon Kevlar (1000°F for short durations, 14 in)
- Best everyday unloading glove: Jomac 305KWL Kevlar wool-lined (500°F, cut and flame rated)
- Best light-duty kiln glove: AMACO Kiln Gloves (leather, 450°F)
- Best glasses for peeking at cones: Phillips Safety 15011 light green (IR and UV, prescription available)
- Best shade 3 IR glasses: Pyramex Emerge SB7960SF (IR 3.0 lens, matches Skutt's #3 advice)
Kiln gloves and glasses compared
| Product | Type | Maker rating | Length | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZetexPlus 200 Series | Fiberglass fabric glove, wool lined | To 2000°F (Newtex) | 11, 14 or 23 in | Raku, hot lids | Check price |
| Tillman 993 | Aluminized carbon Kevlar | 1000°F, short durations | 14 in | Radiant heat, forearms | Check price |
| Jomac 305KWL | Kevlar loop-out, wool lined | 500°F | 13 in | Unloading, peephole plugs | Check price |
| AMACO Kiln Gloves | Split cowhide, cotton lined | 450°F | Not published | Warm ware, light duty | Check price |
| Phillips Safety 15011 | Light green glasses | IR and UV (no shade number) | n/a | Watching cones | Check price |
| Pyramex Emerge SB7960SF | IR 3.0 filter glasses | Shade 3.0, Z87.1-2020 | n/a | Peephole checks | Check price |
1. ZetexPlus 200 Series: best kiln gloves for raku and very hot work
Zetex is the material many potters mean when they say "raku gloves." Newtex, which makes ZetexPlus, lists its 200 Series as 100% ZetexPlus fiberglass fabric treated with vermiculite, double stitched and reinforced, with a wool liner, and rates it "for temps to 2000ºF." The 220 Series adds a double layer on the palm and thumb for more heat resistance, though Newtex prints no separate figure for it. Lengths are 11, 14 and 23 in; for raku, the 14 in or 23 in glove covers the wrist and forearm.
Dealers selling Zetex gloves print different numbers, which shows how much ratings depend on the exact product and how it is tested. Read the rating as protection for brief contact with hot surfaces, such as lifting a raku lid or pulling a peephole plug, not for gripping a glowing pot. Use tongs for that.
- Maker: Newtex (ZetexPlus)
- Material: ZetexPlus fiberglass fabric with vermiculite; wool liner; double stitched
- Rating: to 2000°F (1,093°C) per Newtex for the 200 Series
- Lengths: 11, 14 and 23 in (gloves and mitts)
- Double palm: 220 Series, 14 and 23 in
- Price band: not captured in our October 2026 check; check the live price
Source conflict: Newtex rates the ZetexPlus 200 Series to 2000°F. Hot Clay rates the Zetex Plus glove it sells to 982°C (1,800°F) "for short durations" and says it is not for picking up or handling hot ware. The Ceramic Shop lists a 14 in Zetex heavy-duty glove (maker not named) at 1100°F. Check the rating printed for the exact glove you buy.
Pros
- Highest published rating here
- Long lengths for forearm cover
- Wool lining
Cons
- Stiffer than Kevlar knit
- Ratings vary between sellers
Who should skip it: Potters who only unload a cool electric kiln; a lighter Kevlar or leather glove gives better grip.
Before your first raku firing, read our raku firing guide and follow your kiln maker's instructions.
2. Tillman 993: best long-cuff glove for radiant heat
Tillman's 993 is a 14 in gauntlet glove made entirely of aluminized carbon Kevlar, designed to reflect heat and resist spatter, according to Tillman's product data on Airgas. The shiny aluminized surface is the reason to buy it: it reflects radiant heat, the heat you feel on your hands and face when you open a lid or lean over a hot kiln, and the long cuff protects the forearm.
Tillman rates it "up to 1000°F (537°C) for short durations" and adds a caveat every glove buyer should read: temperatures and applications "are intended as guidelines and not as guarantees of performance." That makes it a strong choice for opening a raku kiln or pulling plugs from a hot electric kiln, with tongs doing the actual lifting of hot ware.
- Maker: John Tillman and Co. (Tillman)
- Material: aluminized carbon Kevlar throughout
- Length: 14 in, gauntlet cuff
- Rating: up to 1000°F (537°C) for short durations
- Use listed by maker: high heat and foundry work
- Price band: not captured in our October 2026 check; check the live price
Pros
- Reflects radiant heat
- Long cuff
- Clear maker rating with an honest caveat
Cons
- Less dexterity than a knit glove
- Aluminized coating wears with use
Who should skip it: Anyone who needs fine grip for setting cones or stilts; it is built for heat, not touch.
3. Jomac 305KWL: best everyday glove for unloading
For the routine job of unloading an electric kiln that has cooled most of the way, a wool-lined Kevlar glove is a good balance of heat protection and grip. Wells Lamont Industrial lists the Jomac 305KWL with a Kevlar loop-out shell and full wool lining, rated to protect "up to 500°F," and a 13 in length that covers part of the forearm.
It also carries two ratings most pottery gloves do not publish: ANSI/ISEA 105 cut level A3 and flame resistance level 4. Cut resistance helps with sharp glaze drips on shelves and broken pieces. Wells Lamont showed the XL size out of stock when we checked, so you may need another dealer or size.
- Maker: Wells Lamont Industrial (Jomac)
- Material: Kevlar loop-out shell, fully wool lined
- Length: 13 in
- Rating: up to 500°F (260°C)
- Other ratings: ANSI/ISEA 105 cut level A3; flame resistance level 4
- Price band: not captured in our October 2026 check; check the live price
Source note: a 16 in Jomac wool-lined Kevlar glove sold by SPI is titled "protects up to 700°F." That is a different length; the 13 in 305KWL is rated to 500°F by Wells Lamont.
Pros
- Good grip for a heat glove
- Published cut and flame ratings
- Wool lining
Cons
- Not for raku
- Stock was limited at the maker
Who should skip it: Raku potters and anyone opening a kiln near peak temperature.
4. AMACO Kiln Gloves: best light-duty kiln glove
AMACO's kiln gloves are lighter-duty gloves for warm, not hot, work. AMACO lists them as select shoulder split cowhide with a full cotton lining and foam back, a wing thumb and partial Kevlar thread stitching, and says they withstand temperatures to 450°F (232°C). AMACO sells an extra small size, which is rare for heat gloves, and a men's large.
That rating suits lifting shelves and ware from a kiln that has cooled to a safe opening temperature, and handling warm posts. It does not suit raku, hot lids at the top of a firing or peephole plugs pulled near peak. AMACO does not publish the cuff length, so check that it covers your wrist.
- Maker: AMACO (American Art Clay Co.)
- Material: split cowhide; cotton lining; foam back; partial Kevlar thread
- Rating: to 450°F (232°C)
- Sizes: extra small (item 11403R) and men's large
- Length: not published by the maker
- Price band: about $20 to $30 at AMACO in October 2026; check the live price
Pros
- Small sizes for smaller hands
- Pottery brand stocked by many dealers
- Low price
Cons
- Lowest rating here
- Cuff length not published
Who should skip it: Raku potters and anyone who opens the kiln before it cools.
5. Phillips Safety 15011 Light Green: best glasses for watching cones
Phillips Safety, which makes glasses for glass and kiln work, recommends a light green filter for "basic kiln work" and names the 15011 among its picks. The maker describes the polycarbonate light green lens as giving "excellent UV blockers, excellent IR protection, and good clarity," with 38% visible light transmission, so cones and glowing pots stay easy to see without the darkness of a welding lens.
Phillips lists an ANSI Z87.1 safety rating and offers the glasses with single vision or progressive prescription lenses, which helps potters who otherwise struggle to wear safety glasses over their own. Phillips does not publish a shade number for this lens, so if your kiln manual asks for a specific shade, compare it with the Pyramex below.
- Maker: Phillips Safety
- Lens: polycarbonate light green; 38% VLT
- Filtering: IR and UV protection per maker; shade number not published
- Standard: ANSI Z87.1 (maker listing)
- Prescription: available, single vision or progressive
- Price band: not captured in our October 2026 check; check the live price
Pros
- Bright view of cones
- Maker recommends it for kiln work
- Prescription option
Cons
- No published shade number
- Sold mainly for glassblowing
Who should skip it: Potters whose kiln manual specifies a #3 or #5 welding shade; buy a lens with that shade printed.
6. Pyramex Emerge SB7960SF: best shade 3 IR glasses
Skutt's manuals recommend IR and UV protective glasses for looking into a kiln for extended periods and say "#3 welders green or gray glasses will protect your eyes." The Pyramex Emerge SB7960SF is a low-cost way to follow that advice: dealer listings give it an IR shade 3.0 lens, and Pyramex lists the Emerge as meeting ANSI/ISEA Z87.1-2020 high impact and CSA Z94.3-2020, with 99% UVA, UVB and UVC protection.
Pyramex and its dealers sell it for light brazing and cutting, not for kilns specifically, and a dealer notes that shade 5 and lighter filters are not for arc welding. For a quick look at cones through a peephole, a shade 3 lens is what Skutt describes. Olympic's manual suggests dark glasses or a number five welder's lens, which is darker; follow the manual for your kiln.
- Maker: Pyramex
- Lens: IR filter shade 3.0 (dealer listing title)
- Standards: ANSI/ISEA Z87.1-2020 high impact; CSA Z94.3-2020 (Pyramex)
- UV: 99% UVA, UVB and UVC (Pyramex)
- Frame: dual lens with soft nosepiece
- Price band: not captured in our October 2026 check; check the live price
Pros
- Matches Skutt's #3 shade advice
- Impact rated
- Inexpensive category
Cons
- Darker view than light green
- Not sold as a kiln product
Who should skip it: Glass fusers who want a clearer view of glass at lower temperatures, and anyone whose manual asks for a #5 lens.
How to choose kiln gloves
Match the rating to the job
Think about what your hands will touch. Unloading a cooled electric kiln and moving warm ware is light duty: a 450°F to 500°F glove is enough. Opening a lid near peak, pulling peephole plugs or working a raku kiln is a different job that calls for the highest-rated gloves here. Wait for the kiln to cool to the opening temperature in your manual before you unload; our kiln temperature guide covers cooling times.
Read the rating the way the maker means it
Glove ratings describe brief contact, not continuous holding. Tillman calls its figures "guidelines and not guarantees of performance." Hot Clay says its Zetex gloves are not for picking up or handling hot ware, and Delphi Glass says its 400°F kiln gloves are "not designed to grasp firing ware." Use tongs for hot pots, and let the gloves protect you from the lid, the frame and radiant heat.
Materials: leather, Kevlar, aluminized and Zetex
Leather gloves such as AMACO's are comfortable and cheap but carry the lowest ratings. Kevlar knit or loop-out gloves, like the Jomac 305KWL, add heat and cut resistance and keep good grip. Aluminized gloves such as the Tillman 993 reflect radiant heat, which suits standing over an open kiln. Zetex fiberglass gloves carry the highest published ratings and suit raku. A dealer glove with no published rating, such as Clay-King's blue kiln glove described only as protecting "at very high temperatures," gives you nothing to compare.
Cuff length
Reaching over a hot rim puts the wrist and forearm closest to the heat. A 13 to 14 in glove covers the wrist; a 23 in Zetex glove covers most of the forearm for raku. Wear long natural-fiber sleeves under short cuffs.
Fit and grip
A glove that is too big slips and makes you grip harder. AMACO's extra small and Phillips' prescription glasses are reminders that fit matters for safety gear. Keep one pair of light gloves for unloading and one heavy pair for hot work, rather than one compromise pair.
Care and replacement
Replace gloves with holes, thin spots, hardened leather or worn aluminized coating. Keep them dry: a wet glove can pass heat to your skin quickly. Store them away from glaze buckets so they do not pick up glaze materials, and wash your hands after handling kiln wash or shelves.
Face and eye protection for looking into a kiln
A firing kiln gives off infrared light, and kiln makers warn about staring into it. Skutt's manuals say long-term viewing inside the chamber "can cause damage to your eyes" and recommend IR and UV protective glasses for extended viewing, naming #3 welder's green or gray glasses. Olympic's manual suggests dark glasses or a number five welder's lens when looking through an observation hole. Bullseye Glass, writing about glass kilns, recommends safety glasses with ANSI shade 1.7 lenses for the lower temperatures of glass work.
Two common shortcuts do not work. A Pottery Making Illustrated article with ophthalmologist Laura T. Muller notes that sunglasses may block UV but do not protect in the infrared range, and that plain didymium glasses made for glassworkers do not block infrared either. Look for a lens sold as an IR filter with a shade number, marked to ANSI Z87.1.
A face shield is for heat on your face, not a substitute for IR glasses. For raku, where you open a glowing kiln and lift pots out with tongs, our raku kiln guide and raku pottery guide list a face shield, heat-resistant gloves and natural-fiber clothing as basic gear. Pull peephole plugs with gloves on and keep your face to the side of the hole.
Safety: gloves and glasses do not replace the kiln manual. Keep the clearances and floor rules your kiln maker sets, vent the room, and stay near a firing kiln. When you scrape shelves or chip kiln wash, wear safety glasses and a NIOSH-approved respirator and wet-clean the dust, since kiln wash and glaze dust contain silica; see our kiln wash guide and clay dust safety guide.
Sources: Newtex ZetexPlus glove brochure (NXP, distributor-hosted); Tillman 993 and 822 product data on Airgas; Wells Lamont Industrial Jomac 305KWL page; AMACO Kiln Gloves page; Phillips Safety 15011 product page and "Choosing the Right Safety Glasses for Kiln Work" post; Pyramex Emerge IR page and Safety Glasses USA SB7960SF listing; Skutt KilnMaster Operating Manual (rev. 1/19/09) and KilnMaster LT manual (rev. 04/28/17); Olympic Kilns Electric Kiln Operating Manual; Bullseye Glass, Safety in the Kiln-Glass Studio; Pottery Making Illustrated, In the Studio: Eye Health for Potters (Jul/Aug 2020); Hot Clay Zetex Plus listing; The Ceramic Shop Zetex heavy-duty and wool-lined Kevlar listings; Delphi Glass hot gloves listing; Clay-King kiln gloves listing; SPI Jomac 16 in listing. Specs checked October 2026.