Sheet metal is the trade where bad gloves cost you blood. A guy handling galvanized duct, flashing, or trim is grabbing edges that are sharp enough to filet a finger if you slip. But the same guy is also setting hex screws and running a nibbler, and a thick cut glove makes that work impossible.
ANSI cut levels are A1 through A9. For sheet metal, A4 is the floor. A5 is the practical answer for most work. A6 and above are too thick for fine motor work and you'll take them off, which defeats the purpose.
The glove I sell most to sheet-metal guys is the Mechanix M-Pact CR (cut-resistant) ANSI A4. It has the impact knuckle protection and enough dexterity to set a screw. About $35. The Ironclad Knit A4 is the budget version, about $14. The Showa S-TEX 581 is the wet-grip version with a nitrile foam palm — better when you're handling oily flashing or duct that's been outside in the rain.
Higher level: the Hexarmor 4018 ANSI A6 is the fight-the-edge glove. You give up some dexterity for it. Worth it for guys handling raw stock all day.
What a sheet metal guy carries beyond gloves: aviation snips in three colors (Wiss M1R red right-cut, M2R green left-cut, M3R yellow straight — color coded for a reason, learn the system), a hand seamer (Malco S2R or similar), a spudger or duct knife, a hex driver, a folding rule (some guys still carry one), and a pencil. The kit is small and lives in a tote or a pouch.
Pants: the move is a Carhartt Rugged Flex Rigby pant or a Dickies Industrial pant. Avoid loose-cut pants — galvanized duct catches on cuffs. Tighter cut, a small cuff, and reinforced knees if you're doing residential where you'll be in attics and crawlspaces.
"Sheet metal is the trade where you can tell a five-year guy from a six-month guy by his hands."
Shirts: long-sleeve. Always. Galvanized edges are the same to your forearm as they are to your fingers. The Carhartt Force long-sleeve T or the Dickies Industrial work shirt. For commercial new-build, a hi-vis Class 2 long-sleeve.
Boots: composite toe is the right answer because you're handling metal and metal is cold. Steel toe in a 30-degree mechanical room is a heat sink and will give you cold feet by 10 AM. Timberland Pro Drivetrain Composite-Toe or the Wolverine Floorhand Composite are the two we sell most to HVAC sheet-metal techs. For shop work — fab shop, not field — a steel toe is fine because you're indoors and warm.
Eye protection: ANSI Z87 wraparound. Sheet-metal sparks aren't welding sparks but slag from shears and nibblers will hit your face. The 3M SecureFit 400 with the foam gasket is what we keep in stock for sheet-metal guys.
Hat: a baseball cap or a bump cap depending on the job. In an attic, a bump cap because the rafters are at head height and you'll knock your skull at least twice an hour.
Knee pads if you're doing duct work in basements or attics. Same Klein or ToughBuilt pads as everyone else.
The thing nobody mentions: keep a pair of regular Mechanix Original gloves AND your A4 cut gloves. Switch when you're doing pure tool work like running a screwgun. The cut glove for the metal handling, the regular glove for the fastening. Same job, two gloves. It sounds extra; it'll save you cuts.
Sheet metal is a trade where you can tell a five-year guy from a six-month guy by his hands. Or his lack of hands. Wear the gloves.