June 12, 200916 yr How many wear one when forging? Bib type, below the waist or farrier type? Why? Did you make yours, an dif not, where did you get it? I have a kudu hide left over from a hunt in Namibia two years ago that needs finish tanning, and I am thinking this would be a fine use.
June 12, 200916 yr I wear one a friend gave me that is made of mule skin bib type. When some of the steel mills closed back east they were just thrown out.
June 12, 200916 yr Hi Bill, I use one from the waist to the knee. I made it from elk hide sewed a belt onto it that buckles on the side. Has served me for several years and the one that Mark Aspery wears came from the same hide. Gaylan
June 12, 200916 yr I have a bib type, leather. Bought it a while ago at the local welding supply shop, and if memory serves, the price wasn't too bad.
June 12, 200916 yr My favorite one was made from a wrap around leather mini skirt. No changes necessary it just wrapped less around a much larger waist.
June 12, 200916 yr Bib type full length, but after watching Mark Aspery and Gerald Boggs and their short ones, from the waist to just below the knees, I am rethinking it. But with a coal fire sometimes you can actually scorch your nipples, and the bib prevents that, we had a new student in class who discovered this, gave me a chuckle once I was sure he wasn't injured badly.
June 12, 200916 yr I have a bib type as well...... got mine on E-bay though.... I was fresh out of kudu hides at the time :)
June 12, 200916 yr bib type here, got it at Harbor Freight, cheap, bad thing is the yellow coloring comes out on your shirt if you sweat. That's what "shop clothes" are for anyway.
June 12, 200916 yr My favorite one was made from a wrap around leather mini skirt. No changes necessary it just wrapped less around a much larger waist. Pictures! We want PICTURES! Mine are bibs with an over the shoulder and around the waste belt that's very adjustable and comfortable. Extends to mid shin and belts around the legs below the knees. I don't wear it all the time though, only when I need some armor against heat, sharp flying things, etc. It's taken a large piece of a 9" grinder disk, mid chest without a scuff and I escaped without more than a start. It's thick. Probably why I don't wear it all the time. I love the "Norse" apron though it'd have to be my fancy go to meetin apron and marryin and buryin apron. Frosty Edited June 12, 200916 yr by Frosty
June 12, 200916 yr Bib type yellow suede that used to go well below my knees. I bought it the day after I caught my shirt on fire with an angle grinder. It wrapped around my calves when I walked, so I cut about 7 inches off the bottom. Much better now. And yeah, it turns my shirt yellow when I sweat.
June 12, 200916 yr Heavy red suede bib from chin to knees. Wear it all the time, forging, grinding, and other mechanized tasks. Has lots of burns and scuffs from various and sundry "incidents" I hold long pieces with my thigh for added stability, so have a few burns where the heat "crept up on me"
June 12, 200916 yr Long Bid type, here. Don't like the hot slag to hit the front of me. (wimp!!) Big Doorway of the Pioneer Village Blacksmith Shop - Blacksmith Photo Gallery
June 12, 200916 yr where would you go to buy a heavier piece of leather for a short heavy skirt type??
June 12, 200916 yr Divermike, Tandy Leather Factory, add .com and you are there, they sell all kinds o leather. As an aside, during the hot summer 90s F and high 80 in humidity, I work in my apron, boots and heavy shorts. Need the apron, and boots... not sure about anything else.. got a sun burn that way,..... yeah try explaining an apron shaped sunburn.... hope you have better luck than I did.... Now I move around the tree to stay in the shade....
June 13, 200916 yr My pretty "New" apron. This photo is about eight yrs old. My apron is not so pretty now! In my old shop - Blacksmith Photo Gallery
June 13, 200916 yr Author You guys are great. Mini skirts, HF yellow "sweaters," mulehide, elkhide and scorched nipples! No one else would believe this.
June 13, 200916 yr Frosty; The geneva convention explicitly forbids me from posting such pictures! WE don't live in Geneva. I'll show you mine if you show me yours. Frosty
June 13, 200916 yr Is scorched nipples a side effect of forging with pierced nipples? Why do I think this is going downhill fast?
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