Steam gloves

Full Item Description

The steam gloves are built around a pair of heavy leather gloves with a soft woolen padding. On the outside they are covered with pliable tubing grafted into the leather, insulated on the visible side but not towards the inside, ending in button-like fuses on the knuckles and a tiny nozzle on the index finger. The tubing runs to a high pressure gas container holding water steam, acid or fuel. The container itself is small and can be fixed on the wearer's belt or on his back/in a backpack (which allows for a larger one, although weight increases exponentially with volume).

Steam from the tubing is finely released through miniature holes, letting the hot air circulate and warm the leather and thus - the wearer's hands. This creates small clouds of steam rising from his hands in cold enough weather.

Cutting edges, spikes, and other offensive details on the fingers or palm edge are optional, depending on the expected use of the gloves.

History

The steam gloves were first designed as a special piece of equipment aiming to keep the hands of engineers and repairmen from getting cold and numb in the harsh weather conditions of the north. There was no outer signs to show that they were something more than a pair of leather gloves. The tubing ran inside through the padding, releasing the steam directly into it. This got the hands of the wearer wet, and caused problems at very low temperatures. After moving the tubes on the outside it became obvious that the steam could be used not only for warming up, but also for manipulating frozen equipment.

Unsurprisingly, human nature found an aggressive use for this invention too, making it into a dangerous hand-to-hand supplement prone to explosions or damaging the user's hands.

Technical Properties

The steam gloves have several modes of operation. The simplest and most peaceful is to warm the hands of the wearer, in which case the steam battery they use lasts for an hour, or maybe a few, independent of the outside temperature. If the gloves are fitted with knuckle-fuses they become a weapon - a punch releases a burst of searing steam on the struck surface, but drains the battery in 10 or so punches. A second device connected to the tubing, the index finger nozzle can be used to melt ice or unfreeze the innards of a frozen piece of machinery with a concentrated jet of steam. This empties a standard battery in 30 seconds, so usually larger containers are used for this kind of operation.

Alternative liquid fills for the battery can give stunning and terrifying results. A fuel filled container along with a special nozzle can produce a jet of flame for melting or possibly welding objects. An acid battery is also possible, although it could eat through the leather of the gloves easily, so additional protection is required.

In any case, recharging the gloves battery with the desired fuel, be it steam or benzine, can be difficult in the wilderness, so carrying several batteries is advisable.