Aprons, what style?

[Glenn]

I thought it would be interesting to run a poll on this topic. Multiple entries are acceptable so you may choose both length and style.

For forging I use a full length leather apron. General shop work is a denim full length apron. But there is a waist length leather apron handy to throw on quickly when needed.

Recently I purchased a cotton full split length apron and am liking it more and more for the range of movement and the fact that the straps don't circle the neck but go over the shoulders, through loops at the waist and tie in the front. Takes a little time to figure out how to put it on the first couple of times, but it is very comfortable to wear and provides protection from both dirt and minor personal damage (shirts last a lot longer now). The strap arrangement will be transfered to the full leather apron soon.

[Ted T]

Nick, I need to backtrack somewhat. When I am fooling around with smaller size objects while using a small GAS FORGE I usuall don't give a thought to putting on my apron. I put it on mostly when I use my coke forge, forging larger objects.
Be safe, be safe!
Ted

[Marc]

I sometimes use a home-made apron out of cotton duck. It's full length with split legs, and velcro straps to wrap around the ankle. I keep it pretty loose. The straps are there to keep the legs from flapping around. It's got a chest pocket I use for soapstone, pens, pencils, rulers, ...

I use it when grinding and welding, or if I've got some clothes on that I don't want messed up. And also in the summer, over shorts.

[Ten Hammers]

I seldom wear an apron here at home shop. I have an apron that I wear to rondys. Home made ( not one piece big nuff so I stitched 2 together and put a neck loop on it ). I also put the ties on ( leather shoe laces ). I have a Tillman commercial apron I wear at the day job ( about 26-27 bucks ) sometimes.

[mtforge]

I use a a full length (chest to knees) leather for the rendezvous and started using a full length cotton for the home shop. I get too many holes in the clothes.

[Frosty]

I usually wear a full length heavy leather apron with split legs to the top of my boots. The straps go over my shoulders, through rings at my waist and around to buckle in front. The straps make it very adjustable and comfortable the weight being split between my shoulders and the waist belt. It has a breast pocket the size of a pack of smokes + Zippo and pencil, scale, etc. pockets. There is a scale/square/rod, etc. pocket on the left leg as well.

I wear it when things might get messy and the reduced flexibility allow. I don't know how many times it's armored me against grinding disks coming apart, this isn't a common occurance but it's happened more than a dozen times in the last 10 years. It's also stood up nicely to sprays of molten flux, welding spatter, grinder spray, brush wires, metal chips and other various flying debris.

Attached is a poor pic of me in it. I'm the old fart on the left. the handsom young guy on the left is Richard one of my students.

I had it made by a friend based on the apron used by a THANKFULLY ex-associate.

Frosty

[Frosty]

Originally Posted by Frosty

.
I'm the old fart on the left. the handsom young guy on the left is Richard one of my students.

Frosty

That SHOULD'VE read, "I'm the old fart on the RIGHT."

I even double checked "preview." <sigh>

A little about the setup in the picture, if you're curious. Deb and I were still building our house and I didn't even have a tarp up for a smithy. I set up what I did at the time because Richard hunted me down on the web to learn to make a sword. He was 15 when we met so naturally he wanted to make a sword.

I still have most of my tools under a tarp but the shop is nearly closed in. It would've been before the snow flew this winter but I fell off a tilt top trailer at work and shattered my left arm and elbow. That was sept 12 and I'm still under a 10lb limit. Back to work on light duty a good two months before the surgeon's most optimistic estimate. <grin>

The shop would've been the first thing I built if I were still unmarried at the time. Heck, Deb would've gone along with it if we didn't have to have a place to live and a barn for her pygmy goat herd. The smithin tools are fine even after years under a tarp but the goat's wouldn't have fared so well.

The first pic is Deb, Buran, (the Great Pyreneese, livestock guardian dog) myself and the girls.

The second pic is Buran the 150lb Pyr livestock guardian being his perfectly gentle self with HIS charges. Do NOT give one of these gentle giants the idea you are a threat to THEIR charges. Shooting yourself instead will be a lot less painful.

The third pic is the house from the doe pen. A Boer doe is in the foreground and goat rock is on the right.

And why are the goat pictures on topic you ask? I wear my apron when I disbud the kids.

Frosty

[Gary]

I prefer a waist to knee leather apron for forging at home and the Fort. For grinding I wear a chest to knee leather apron along with my goggles and face shield.

[bruce wilcock]

i have allways worn a leather waistcoat and a waist to ankle split horse hide apron with leather tapes tied at the side and short foundrey boots with splash guards.

[suthincomfort]

i don't wear one , tom