So I was watching an episode of NYW and looking at the awfully heavy tool belt Norm wears even when he is in the shop and not “out in the field”. It got me thinking: what do you guys wear in the workshop? Me, I wear an apron with my 6″ ruler, small square, marking knife and pencil.
Shaker
Replies
I wear an apron which usually holds a couple of mechanical pencils, a small square and a tape measure. Other items may be added as is needed for a particular task.
-pjw
Shaker,
Apron with shoulder straps - very comfortable. 6" ruler. Mechanical and/or wood pencil. 4" or 6" Bridge City Universal Square. 10' tape measure. Dust control remote. LN or LV block plane if needed at that point. Other small tools only if being used routinely at that time.
Alan - planesaw
Edited 12/30/2007 9:15 am ET by Planesaw
I previously wore an apron from Rockler where the straps were over the sholders rather than on the neck. It was much more comfortable. I recently found an unusual one at Woodcraft store that was a sleeveless vest that zipped up the front. It has four large pockets at the bottom (2 in the front and 2 in the back) and numerous other pockets. It is not only more comfortable to wear, it also protects the upper leg area. I usually have it filled with a tape measure, many pencils and a sharpener, several rulers, 4 inch machinist squares, a block of bee's wax, a knife and stray notes.
dherzig:
I use the same vest. I love it. My boys got it for me for Dad's day last June. It is great. I love the fact thta it is vest and the weight is distributed more evenly across my shoulders. I used to use an apron that was soley supported around my next. It was literally a pain in the neck.
I would do testimonials for them---thats how much I love it.
Later--
Dom - Indiana's newest culture warrior
That vest is pretty interesting. I have a vest that I bought from Duluth Trading that I wear in my shop quite often, it has a number of useful pockets but I hate to see it get ruined with glue and other stains.I currently have an apron from Round House that I customized by sewing on a couple of extra pockets (bought a piece of suede from Tandy Leather) for my dust collector remote and a few other things. I like this apron for no other reason than it has flaps on the pockets. I don't think the people who make woodworking work wear realize how much sawdust gets in the pockets when you don't have flaps.The reality is that about all I use my apron for is a few pencils, my DC remote, and a tape measure. I don't need too many pockets.
Lee Valley apron with straps that rest on the shoulders. 6" rule, two pencils, cheater glasses, remote for the dust control, tape measure, small engineer's square.
I don't use either one. It's way more entertaining laying everything on the workbench and then having to hunt for it. - lol
Shaker,
I suggest you wear a metal belt which is magnetic. That way you can just place your tools up against it and they will stay there.
Mel
Measure your output in smiles per board foot.
"I suggest you wear a metal belt which is magnetic." Absolutely! LIke this one, found at Lee Valley (only on the 1st of April):
View Image
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forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Edited 12/30/2007 7:15 pm by forestgirl
I'd like to have an audio tape of that guy when he walks - better yet, when the fire alarm sounds. :)
BruceT
Forestgirl,
When I wrote my response, I didn't know that Lee Valley had already come up with the idea.
It is a great idea, BUT if no woodworker with a pacemaker should wear a magnetic belt!!!!
Happy New Year.
MelMeasure your output in smiles per board foot.
You forgot the best part of that product - the disclaimer:
Disclaimer - Not for use in proximity to large masses of ferritic steels. Do not wear when operating power machinery, particularly (but not limited to) hand-held grinders, drills, weed-whackers, and chainsaws. Ineffective for use with bronze tools (the bronze age is over). Not for use as a human suspension device. We cannot ship by air. Use prohibited within 50m of navigational devices. Keep off migratory bird paths. Keep away from pacemakers, credit cards, active forges, and MLEV tracks. Do not enter VHS rental premises. Limit one per household - do not approach other belt users. Does not improve blood flow, automobile mileage, or the taste of food. Chris @ flairwoodworks
- Success is not the key to happines. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer
I wear a shop coat.
I was wondering if I was the only one...
Metabo shopcoat except when doing glueups, long denim apron for that.------------------------------------
It would indeed be a tragedy if the history of the human race proved to be nothing more than the story of an ape playing with a box of matches on a petrol dump. ~David Ormsby Gore
Polarseal noted that he uses the shop coat.
Being an engineer, I was of course drawn to the white shop coat for use in my wood shop. Pockets for rulers, 2 micrometers (metric and S.A.E), 3 pencils and two pens, hp Scientific Calculator, the works!
And when my job was just walking around, looking intelligent, and saying "hmmm" occasionally it worked great! Very Engineering-ey. (not sure that anyone was taken in, but heck, it was the job)
However, I've discovered that now that I'm required to actually do work in the shop, it does too good a job keeping me warm. So it's the apron with the straps that go over the shoulder.
As an aside, I find that glue and finish stains improves it's look.
Mike D :)
Jeeeez, that was negligent of me, eh? A very important disclaimer it is!
"Do not approach other belt users." Hah, hah!forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
I bet it takes 6 people to remove him from his table saw.
He may have an old Incra, aluminum ya know. Can't have mine, I already sold it!forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Forest girl, How have you been? Ive been hangin around finehomebuiling for awhile, while we've been building the new shop.
Lou C
Doin' good, Lou, how 'bout you? Welllll, if you're building a new shop, you must be feelin' pretty good! I'll drop you a line later today, we can catch up.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Amazing that belt stays on the hips without suspenders!! :>)
Good grief ! That has to be at least 40lbs. of belt. My back,legs,hips and feet are screeming just looking at it. I've fallen and can't get up ;-) Better add a walkie/talkie.Work Safe, Count to 10 when your done for the day !!
Bruce S.
I wear a LEATHER apron (protection for possible kickback) with pencil, 6" rule, Red felt marking pen, a couple of pcs. of chalk, small machinist's square and 2 tape measures (conventional and flat-woodworkers.)
Frosty
"I sometimes think we consider the good fortune of the early bird and overlook the bad fortune of the early worm." FDR - 1922
In the shop, an apron. Outside the shop, nothing......uh, that doesn't sound right?
:) Paul
When gluing up and finishing, I wear and old apron to protect my clothes. When doing general woodwork, I sometimes wear Lee Valley's Canvas Mk II Apron. It has pockets for a the 6" rule, marking gauge, pencil, and tape measure which I can never find anyways.
Chris @ flairwoodworks
- Success is not the key to happines. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer
I have a finish carpenter backround, so I use a tool belt. I was thinking of using a roll around cart and apron in the future.
-Lou
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