In the workshop....Apron, Toolbelt, or Nothing**

[hermit]

I used to wear nothing, but since I tried one of those denim aprons, I love it. Clothes stay clean. For outdoor/handyman projects I tried 2 different toolbelts and found they are too heavy and just pull your pants down. A little canvas nail apron from home center is the best thing.

Todd

[LinuxRandal]

I can't believe a member here hasn't posted that they just wear a BT thong.

Never had an apron, but have wondered about trying one. Do have a belt, but it is more carpentry, general remodeling type stuff. (too big and full for the shop)

Also considering something like either a photographers, or fisherman's vest.

[movnup]

I'm an oxford type of guy so my old button downs, jeans, and sneaks / deck shoes. The upper pocket grabs the foam ear protectors, screws, small parts and I use a "croakie" e.g. foam string on my safety glasses so I can drop them on my chest and "let um' hang" out of my way. I used to set them down all over the place until I figured this one out (i have four pairs cuz of that) !!!

I also used to wash a lot of ear protecters until I put one of those mesh metal freebie paper clip holders on my bench and now at the end of the day I toss them in there. Air compressor blow off if I've really gone wild ...

[John Hunter]

I wear a vest.

[scorrpio]

I got a toolbelt with suspenders for outside work, but for the shop, I don't have anything special. Tape clips on a pant pocket, pencil in shirt pocket. Behind the ear would be cool, but it interferes with my eyewear and earmuffs. I probably should get some kind of apron, but if my toolbelt is any indication, I'll be carrying my entire clamp collection in that apron before I know it.

[Thom2]

I can't believe a member here hasn't posted that they just wear a BT thong.

I wondered how long it would take before this got mentioned


Aprons - I personally don't care for them, just don't like how they feel when you've gotta kneel, stoop, or bend over.
Tool Belt - I'll use one for outside projects or "ladder work" but don't particularly care for them.
Bib overalls - thought about these quite a bit, but I'd prefer something that I can take off before going into the house.

What about "Shop Coats" ... are these a thing of the past??? Does anybody wear one?


I've had this one from Daluth on my gift list for awhile now.

[LarryG]

A couple years ago I asked a similar question in this thread, except that I was curious as to what folks keep in the pockets of their aprons/belts/coats/etc. Some interesting answers in there, I think.

I'm still wearing the same old set of nail bags, contents unchanged apart from the addition of the remote for the dust collector. I generally have them on while milling up lumber, off while assembling and finishing.

In my shop, a shop coat like the one Thom linked to would be way too hot in the summer, but could provide some welcome warmth (as well as on-board storage) during the colder months.

[Bruce Cohen]

Afrter having part of a saw blade tooth break off and imbed itself into my chest, I went out and purchased a rawhide Welders Apron from Northern Tool. Think the price was $25.00.

Now to do something about my face.

Bruce

[Brian G]

I wear a 5 pocket tool belt. I don't really keep a bunch of "stuff" in the pockets or hanging.

I try to keep good habits and routines, so stuff gets put back in the same pocket every time. I can't stand having to search for a pencil, the spring punch, eraser, etc. So, from memory and habit:

Left front: Spring punch, stubby flat and Philips screwdrivers, sawdust
Left inside: Piece of ratty cloth for wiping things, 6" steel rule, countersink
Utility knife pocket: Pittsburgh lockback utility knife
Right front: whatever misc. screws/nails/small tools I'm using during that session
Right inside: Small pliers, mechanical eraser, marking guage, Sharpie, hole guage
Screwdriver pockets: mechanical pencils
Hammer handle: I don't use it, usually.

Tape measure pocket: Uh, a tape measure.

[Ken Massingale]

Afrter having part of a saw blade tooth break off and imbed itself into my chest, I went out and purchased a rawhide Welders Apron from Northern Tool. Think the price was $25.00.

Now to do something about my face.

Bruce

Ya really think theres any hope for that face, Bruce??

[messmaker]

I use a tool belt if I am doing ouside handyman stuff especially if it involves a ladder. I use an apron in the shop somtimes and a windshirt others. I usually wear a new shirt when I am applying finsh or that is what my wife claims.

[Black wallnut]

Just clothes whail in the shop. I save the tool belt for home repair work. I made an apron with deer skin many years ago but rarely wear it since the pockets seem to just fill with sawdust. Tape measure clips to my pants pocket and I keep a fresh supply of sharp pencils so one is never too far from my grasp. The top of the rip fence on my BT3K is an almost perfect pencil holder.

[Sawduster]

I've got an apron and sometimes think to put it on. Of course, then the next time I'm in the shop, I can't find anything that the pockets of the apron can hold because I forget to look in the apron pockets for stuff.

[JimD]

My normal shop clothing is a pocket t-shirt and either shorts or jeans depending on the season. In the pocket of the shirt goes a mechanical draftsman pencil, a sharpie, and a .5mm mechanical pencil plus a little machinists ruler. In my shop, the screwdrives or other little tools that I could carry are only a couple of steps away so I don't wear them. I try to put a drawer or something on each tool so that the stuff I need for that tool are right there. I clip a tape measure to my pants sometimes if I am measuring long stuff.

I have a couple tool belts but they are kind of bulky for walking around the shop. I'm not real wide but I don't need the pouches of a belt sticking out 6 inches on each side either. I also don't like it that the pockets fill up with sawdust. I like bib overalls but my wife thinks they look silly and it is often too hot for them around here. If I get to doing something where I need a handful of tools to complete, I may strap on my tool belt. Up a ladder would be a good usage for it.

Jim

[Alex Franke]

I voted "nothing," too. Though I must say it can be pretty embarrassing when I realize that I've left the garage door open while I'm working.

I wear a tool belt if I'm working on something like a house (H4H or my own), play structure, deck, etc. Never tried an apron -- not even for cooking, actually.