Shop Apron

[sign216]

What does the board think for shop aprons?  Canvas, or a leather cobbler's/welder's apron? 
Harbor Freight or pay for a 1st quality one?

I moved, and can't believe I lugged the thin shoddy canvas apron I've been not liking for years.  Time for an upgrade.

[Lannis]

What does the board think for shop aprons?  Canvas, or a leather cobbler's/welder's apron? 
Harbor Freight or pay for a 1st quality one?

I moved, and can't believe I lugged the thin shoddy canvas apron I've been not liking for years.  Time for an upgrade.

Leather for sure if you're welding or grinding and throwing a lot of sparks around.

For items that aren't expensive, I tend to go ahead and get one that professional would get.   Shop aprons aren't like a full shop tool set, where a homeowner's set might be $10,000 and a Snap-On cabinet full might be $100,000.   

I tend to just wear raggedy clothes when I'm going to be in the shop, but a shop apron would be nice.   When I go to pick up my shotguns from the gunsmith, I'll see what kind he's wearing ....

Lannis

[acogoff]

     Wow!, this is getting to be a "fancy" bunch. Just wear what you like. Rest assured that flinging oil and grease don't seem to care one way or the other either

[sign216]

Ok, I'll come clean. 
I've been wearing an old one from the wife. 
I'm man enough to say it doesn't matter, it's just sparks and oil and other manly stuff, but....

[normzone]

My brother is a househusband, and one day while she was at work he was doing laundry and cleaning house, all his favorites were in the wash.

He grabbed one of her mumus and put it on and started washing dishes. She came home, took one look and went back out again.

We talked it over, he's going to market them in camo and call it the "Man Mu". Put enough pockets and a couple of gun holders on it and he might be on to something.

[oldbike54]

 Norm , maybe a man mu with the HD logo ...

 Dusty

[jbell]

I use a Harbor Freight apron.  It works for me.  When I'm welding, I just stand further back. 

[Tom]

Hadn't really thought about it till I read this thread.  I just put clothes on that I don't mind getting dirty but an apron would make sense.  I don't use one in the kitchen either.

[Aaron D.]

Heaviest Carhartt, pants and shirt, deals well with grinding sparks and hot environments. Blanket lined at times. Aprons get in the way.

[Tom]

Forgot about this.  I have a blue Moto Guzzi factory coveralls worn by the workers.  They now wear red ones.  I only use mine at rallies when I go to the shower. 

[Sasquatch Jim]

  I use an old leather serape that I brought back from Mexico about 30 years ago.

[EldoMike]

What else?

[Chuck in Indiana]

Back in the day in the tool room, the (ahem) higher skilled trades wore white shop aprons. The lower skilled trades, (Machine repair, etc.) wore blue ones. All were a lighter grade of canvas.
That said, in the Guzzi Garage (tm) or shop, I just try to remember not to wear "good" clothes.   

[sign216]

Back in the day in the tool room, the (ahem) higher skilled trades wore white shop aprons. The lower skilled trades, (Machine repair, etc.) wore blue ones. All were a lighter grade of canvas.
That said, in the Guzzi Garage (tm) or shop, I just try to remember not to wear "good" clothes.   

Chuck, I've heard it's like that in Europe.  Your apron color, material, and markings are important.  It denotes your rank, title, and position.  Almost like a military uniform, where small changes in insignia/color/cloth denote large differences of rank.   

[Mr Pootle]

Chuck, I've heard it's like that in Europe.  Your apron color, material, and markings are important.  It denotes your rank, title, and position.  Almost like a military uniform, where small changes in insignia/color/cloth denote large differences of rank.   

I've never heard that, but Europe is a continent, not a country. It is made up of lots of different countries. Which country or countries have you heard it about?
It sounds more like Freemasons' aprons, which do show the wearer's rank.

[lti_57]

I have a few shop aprons.
I bought from a Bike shop going out of business. very handy place to put a few tools and do some minor tweaking with out putting on a pair  of coveralls

[sign216]

I've never heard that, but Europe is a continent, not a country. It is made up of lots of different countries. Which country or countries have you heard it about?
It sounds more like Freemasons' aprons, which do show the wearer's rank.

Mr. P,
I'm aware that Europe is a continent, made of distinct countries.  I lost an uncle in WWII, fighting so that you could remain in separate nations instead of swallowed by the Reich.   

As for the aprons, I recall that different occupations had different material (canvas, leather) and different colors.  I've read reports of that from 1700-1800's in Pennsylvania, USA.  I can't recall my European sources, but with it's rich tradition of established guilds I was hoping for someone to educate me.
J 

[Chuck in Indiana]

Mr. P,
I'm aware that Europe is a continent, made of distinct countries.  I lost an uncle in WWII, fighting so that you could remain in separate nations instead of swallowed by the Reich.   

As for the aprons, I recall that different occupations had different material (canvas, leather) and different colors.  I've read reports of that from 1700-1800's in Pennsylvania, USA.  I can't recall my European sources, but with it's rich tradition of established guilds I was hoping for someone to educate me.
J

Well, I was actually an "indentured servant"..  had to sign an indenture at GM. That was right out of the middle ages. In the sheet metal tool room, the highest skilled ("bench men") wore the white aprons. Lower paying jobs.. machinists, etc. generally wore blue aprons or none at all. In the molding tool rooms.. a "lesser" skill.. people.. even the bench men wore blue aprons. There was no rule written in stone, but everyone did it.

[sign216]

Well, I was actually an "indentured servant"..  had to sign an indenture at GM. That was right out of the middle ages. In the sheet metal tool room, the highest skilled ("bench men") wore the white aprons. Lower paying jobs.. machinists, etc. generally wore blue aprons or none at all. In the molding tool rooms.. a "lesser" skill.. people.. even the bench men wore blue aprons. There was no rule written in stone, but everyone did it.

Yes, social norms can become iron clad.  Something as simple as apron color is a badge that can't be changed.

I once worked for a warehouse, everyone had the same white apron, but only because white was cheapest and the company was supplying them.


Post Script:  I'm looking at waxed canvas aprons instead of leather or plain cloth.  Any ideas?

[Lannis]

Yes, social norms can become iron clad.  Something as simple as apron color is a badge that can't be changed.

Like the long brown "overalls" (actually long coats) that British craftsmen and tradesmen have worn for 100 years.   They announce to everyone the job and status of the person wearing it.   Practical in several ways ....

Lannis

[RANDM]

Norm , maybe a man mu with the HD logo ...

 Dusty

And then finish the "combo" with a nice pair of "chaps".

Yaaaay.

Maurie.