Being the "Deckman" ... (a deck builder) ... spiders and I have daily contact. Many of my deck projects start with a rotten deck tearout and disposal, and that's AFTER I have to move the old wood pile that's been resting against the rotten posts for years. And being the craftsman I am, I simply cannot wear gloves when I work. I must feel the wood I'm working with.

I get bit probably once a month. I've only had one serious bite, and I think it was a black widow. I've seen three brown recluse bites. One was my cousin, he lived, the other two died.

Having said that, I still feel gentle toward the creatures. As I'm ripping and tearing out a deck, I see them running and scurrying away. I try to give them time to do just that. After all, I'm the one attacking them.

Once in a while I'll run into a very aggresive and large spider that will attack me. He'll leap at me and won't take "NO" for an answer. Then I just use my hammer and move on.

But, never take a spider bite for granted. I've seen two men die from them. CHEERS, Bob(deckman)Nelson