Chemical Salinization Gauntlets

Salt-enhanced chemistry is an art practiced throughout history. In the past many of its users were shamans, priests, or magicians wishing to imitate elemental magic, but in modern times it has become a tool of the learned and civilized, a method of obtaining magical power through science instead of mysticism. Back in the day a mumbling wise-woman might have thrown a pinch of salt into her torch to produce a great gout of flame, but today's practitioners (particularly those that wield it on the battlefield) typically prefer a safer, more reliable method. Chemical Salinization Gauntlets (CSG's) provide just such an alternative.
True to the pieces of armor for which they are named CSG's encase the hands of their wielder, allowing precise hand motions and movements of the wrists to trigger pre-selected formulas with blinding speed. More ritualistic approaches to salt-enhanced chemistry demand that ingredients be mixed carefully and by hand, exposing practitioners to the possibility of human error or the meddling of environmental disturbances such as an earthquake of rampaging feline. CSG's use a series of complex mechanisms to provide rapid, near-perfect measurements, and their armored construction makes the process far harder to interfere with.
Once found only within the studies of lords and uncommonly wealthy scholars, CSG's are now a relatively common sight in hospitals and universities, in courts and counsels, and even on battlefields around the civilized world. For though they are costly to build and to stock they are perhaps the most versatile tools a mortal race has ever created, and valuable enough to outweigh their cost.

Mechanics & Inner Workings

Essentially a CSG is a storage device for salt and a variety of other ingredients, all of which are used for chemical recipes. Their true usefulness comes from their ability to mix and combine these substances in a controlled, precise fashion, eliminating mortal error and providing some shielding if anything does go awry. Both ingredients and mystic salts are typically stored in easily removable metal cylinders which feed into a primary barrel positioned parallel to the fore-arm. When directed, the gauntlets will open particular cylinders just long enough to allow the requested amounts to slip into the main barrel (this barrel is typically sealed during this process). Here they are either mixed or kept separate as the recipe demands and exposed to a pre-determined amount of mystic salt to jump-start the reaction. It is in this phase that accidents tend to happen, for mystic salt is an incredibly energetic and dangerous substance and can create hazardous side-effects if handled improperly.
As the reaction starts the primary barrel is opened and the chemist aims it where they wish the reaction's product to go. This could result in a lightning bolt, a stream of concrete, a cloud of pheromones, and a number of other effects depending upon the combined ingredients.
*Note: CSGs are highly customizable and can be fitted with a number of specialized attachments and internal modifications to change their behavior or improve their performance when recreating certain recipes. These alterations can change how the tools operate considerably so this explanation only really applies to basic, unspecialized models.

Manufacturing process

As with most pieces of machinery CSG's are made in pieces. Machines or skilled laborers manufacture the individual components (following their schematics with great precision), ensuring that every fragment of the finished item is forged exactly to specification... or not in some of the lower quality production facilities, where the guidelines are a little looser. 
After the pieces are finished they are fitted together to form the final product.

Significance

CSGs allow skilled chemists to practice salt-enhanced chemistry quickly and mitigate the risks involved. They have proven incredibly useful on battlefields and construction sites, in laboratories and hospitals, bringing and unprecedented speed and precision to the chemical recipes they recreate.

Item type

Tool

Related ethnicities

• The Tomi
• The Urken.

Rarity

CSGs are fairly common in most technologically advanced nations, although their quality and capabilities can vary drastically.

Weight

Between 4 to 11 pounds per gauntlet, depending upon the manufacturer and the materials used.

Dimensions

Under a foot to over two feet by 5-12 inches, depending on the maker.

Base Price

Prices vary depending upon the region but CSG's are typically rather expensive.

Raw materials & Components

CSGs (although they can be made with a variety of other materials) are typically crafted from a variety of durable metals. Steel is a popular choice for the main body, while more specialized metals are often used for the internal workings.
Of course these gauntlets usually integrate some kind of glove/sleeve to protect the hands and arms that wield them, with or without padding. These are primarily made from leather or tough fabrics.
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In order to function properly, CSGs incorporate a legion of near-hidden gears, rings, rods, and other such components, in addition to the larger peices such as the cylinders or armored plating.

Tools

Due to the great intricacy and large number of their components, CSGs are typically made with automated machinery in a factory of some description. This is one of the reasons CSGs are rarely found outside of highly industrialized nations.
In rare cases the task of making a pair of these gauntlets will be given to an individual craftsman. Smiths, machinists, armorers, clock-makers, they all have different tool sets and different approaches to such a daunting project, but most involve a forge, and anvil, a hammer, and a pair of tongs, amongst other things.