Does anyone wear shop aprons?

[Mike'smeatshop]

Yes, I wear one, but I don’t wear anything under it.

Just wanted you all to have that mental image this morning.

Only from Pa.

 

[sparky 1971]

I have one and have used it a couple of times when using glue. It's a better thing to wipe my hands on than my pants. I have found that because I'm fat the pockets stick out too far and get caught on everything I walk past in the shop. The corner of the table saw is notorious for stopping me in my tracks.

 

[cretedog]

Does anyone wear shop aprons?​

I Almost always wear one. Cheap, light denim in the resto/ machine shop. Mainly to save my clothes from grease, oil and chips. And provides a couple of pockets for often used items. Custom made medium weight leather for blacksmithing and heat treating. Modern lightweight welding jacket for welding, torching and heavy grinding.

Might have to get myself a Christmas present and try the one Dr. Clyde linked... looks nice.

 

[Kenskip1]

Only when I am applying barbeque sauce to the ribs.

 

[MovingAlong]

Was grinding something held in a vise, focused on the part and not the sparks, set my t-shirt on fire...

Now I've got a leather apron that I wear occasionally.

 

[milky2k]

I use one of these mainly to keep sawdust or metal grinding bits/ shavings off my clothes. It helps that it has pockets to hold your tape measure, marking tools etc. I don’t like having an apron hang on my neck so I got this style that hangs on the shoulders.

Dadidyc Tool Apron with Pockets Adjustable Heavy Duty Waxed Canvas Shop Apron Work Apron Fits Men and Women (Brown) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07S99WW3M/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[alfadan]

Wonder how this one handles machine work

 

[Kurt4440]

Yes, I wear one, but I don’t wear anything under it.

Just wanted you all to have that mental image this morning.

Some much needed eye bleach.

 

[bwringer]

What the AI generated plastic hell is that?

MAKE IT GO AWAY!!!!!

 

[bwringer]

Boy did u ask the right guy.
I still burn holes in a lot of clothes & deal w/ fiberglass in my belly from cut off wheels, but when I remember I don one of my goat skins. You’d think all that hair would be a fire hazard, but it refuses to ignite. Bonus it’s nice & toasty on a cold garage. Hair goes to the inside. Raised goats back in the 70’s. Always named the wethers Chuck & Stew.

You ever have one of those moments when something totally, completely, 100% unexpected happens in the midst of an otherwise completely normal conversation?

I did not expect "I WEAR MY GOATS!" to pop up here.

Makes sense, just wasn't an answer I would have dreamed up.




Anyway, yes, I have a couple of aprons, but I don't seem to have the ability to remember I have them, so I'm forever transforming shirts I can wear in public into garage shirts.

 

[mark-NJ]

I bought the Katz-Moses apron in the OP's post and I absolutely love it. It's got everything you could want, and it's not terribly expensive. Best apron I've ever owned.

I modded mine here & there, but as-is, you'll have no complaints.

Some woodworkers prefer pockets with flaps to keep the sawdust out...I just shove my vac hose into them now and then. No biggie.

EDIT: Maybe I should add: I wear it for woodworking. For metal working, I wear a leather welding jacket. Grinding & cutting throws sparks that can set fibers on fire (I have a few shirts & pants with oddly-placed patches, but don't we all?) and I suspect the Katz-Moses apron, being cotton, might not like a stream of sparks from an angle grinder hitting it. Since most of the people here are more metal guys than wood guys, I figured this was worth pointing out.

 

[AreBeeBee]

I have a denim apron with one top-center pocket, made by my wife 45+ years ago. The pocket is for the pica rule that letterpress printers often carry. Since then the apron has shifted from the press (8x12 chase, treadle-drive platen Chandler & Price) to the work bench.

I should use that apron more often but it mainly sees use when I'm painting something in the shop.

 

[jives]

I bought a FR welding apron on sale at TSC last year, but don't use it for welding because it is awkward when in odd positions and does not cover the arms. The apron is not useful for general and wood work as it has no pockets. Now it is for paint and finish and sanding. I tried a tool vest and not a fan. I may try the apron idea again, but only ones with shoulder straps, not neck.

 

[Jeff]

I get free knee-length lab coats from work. I wear them whenever I work with chemicals.

 

[rharman]

I have a couple of the lightweight ShopSmith aprons (red & blue) and a nicer Rockler one. I very rarely wear them but only because I don't think about it. If I remember that they they are there, I will wear one.

The ShopSmith guy told me once that they wore red for their demos in case they nick themselves. Wiping off blood on the red doesn't show as much.

 

[Junkdrawer Dog]

One shop I worked in supplied aprons and shop coats although hardly anyone used them. I would occasionally wear one for filthy jobs or painting. Then I went to a job that gave me 10 pieces of green FR gear annually. I always had plenty of green jackets after that. I preferred them for rough or dirty work compared to aprons or shop coats.

 

[Jeff]

Yes, I wear one, but I don’t wear anything under it.

Prove it. I triple dog dare you!

 

[LopezBart]

My first engineering job out of college the managers asked us to wear ties, but we were out in the lab working with robots, wire welders, giant positioning tables full of black moly grease, etc... so we complained about the ruined clothes, and got shop coats w/ our names embroidered on. Those helped; I still have one 40 years later, but it doesn't fit so well since it's also 40 lbs later... I wear a leather apron & half jacket when welding, and a denim apron when things get messy at the lathe.

 

[ambenz]

I have a denim apron I forget to wear most times.
I also have a full jump suit from my former automated HVAC employer I never used so I put all my Navy F-14 Fighter Squadron Tomcat patches on it and usually don't wear that either...LOL! But those items are there if I need it.

 

[bwringer]

My first engineering job out of college the managers asked us to wear ties, but we were out in the lab working with robots, wire welders, giant positioning tables full of black moly grease, etc... so we complained about the ruined clothes, and got shop coats w/ our names embroidered on. Those helped; I still have one 40 years later, but it doesn't fit so well since it's also 40 lbs later... I wear a leather apron & half jacket when welding, and a denim apron when things get messy at the lathe.

My Dad was an instrument engineer at a manufacturing plant, and the suits were forever up his *** because he either wasn't wearing a tie and dress clothes, or because he was wearing them and they were filthy. The instrumentation and processes he was overseeing, specifying, designing, troubleshooting, etc. were out in the plant, and trying to keep him confined to the office was like making a fish ride a bicycle.

Once when I was small-ish, they had some sort of family day, and we got a tour of the offices (but not the interesting bits out in the plant). I caused some embarrassed shuffling among the suits when I loudly asked "Daddy, how come your hard hat's the only one that's dirty?"

 

[fourjeepin]

I have one because my wife bought it. I have worn it a couple of times. Nothing against it; I just usually don’t think about it.

 

[setfocus]

I have a denim apron I forget to wear most times.
I also have a full jump suit from my former employer I never used so I put all my Navy F-14 Fighter Squadron Tomcat patches on it and usually don't wear that either...LOL! But those items are there if I need it.

You flew tomcats?

No apron here as an auto tech. I remember when I took my auto classes, the teachers wore the long lab type coats. I do have some small burn holes on some of my uniforms just from torch and cut off wheel use, but no welder. Won't let us have one, which means I don't have to do much exhaust work and I won't touch things like exhaust manifolds

 

[ambenz]

You flew tomcats?

No, I was a Plane Captain on the flight deck for a whole squadron of F-14's.
See this for a better explanation of what I did....

CHIPS Articles: Navy Petty Officer Kevin McEach Selected as Plane Captain of the Quarter

Later I worked on the avionics/black boxes/electronics once I made Petty Officer 3rd class.

 

[AEAdam]

I like those goat skin chaps, but every time I wear them, devil worshippers offer me gifts and light candles where I’m working. Really getting annoying.

 

[richfinn]

I've got one of the Mechanix brand aprons that I use for BBQing and cooking my "ultimate" Pasta sauce (recipe available on request)

I was asked to share my "Ultimate" pasta sauce recipe, so decided to make it available for everybody



You might have to find a substitute for the sausage meat or add fennel seed.

1. https://swaledale.co.uk/products/pork-fennel-red-wine-sausagemeat

2. A Large Onion (finely diced)

3. San Marzano Tomato's (1 regular sized can)

4. fresh Garlic (finely diced/do not burn)

5. A small cup of red wine

Salt/Cracked black pepper/olive oil/save some pasta water to adjust the thickness of the sauce at the end

Use good quality Italian dried Pasta (I like Fusili)

Fry off the meat/onions/garlic in that order and transfer to a large saucepan, then deglaze your frying pan with the wine and add that and the Tomatoes and simmer for 20-30 mins add salt/pepper to taste (if your sauce is too thick add a little pasta water at the end).

When you boil the Pasta use 1 tablespoon of salt per litre of water and follow the timing on the packet for "Al Dente" (or 1 minute short), drain the pasta and combine with the sauce.

 

[rharman]

Almost 40 years ago, when I started in IT, they gave us all the long lab coat to wear while we were schlepping equipment around or tearing down a PC. I thought it was odd as I was a developer but ended up wearing a lot of hats - and a lab coat at times! I may still have that thing somewhere.

 

[isb cornbinder]

I am old. With old age comes dropping food. My cousin Lucy used to call and ask what I had to eat at the last meal. I had to tell her to hold on while I check the front of my shirt.
My wife took my best shop apron and folded half of the front up and sewed it on the left and right. I had a really big bib.

 

[2oolhound]

I use a leather one when grinding and throwing sparks mostly but I often wear it for lathe work to keep chips out of my clothes and for blacksmithing.

 

[Zeus36]

Used to apprentice with a tool and die maker for 10 years and we wore these. Used them for running a lathe or grinder/wire wheels. My GF uses them for her epoxy resin artwork.

 

[Mike'smeatshop]

Used to apprentice with a tool and die maker for 10 years and we wore these. Used them for running a lathe or grinder/wire wheels. My GF uses them for her epoxy resin artwork.

I use to wear one like that back in the 1980s. But like some of said around the neck gets to be a pain. But you sound young and can handle it.

 

[slodat]

I have the Hudson Durable Goods apron. I wear it almost all day, nearly everyday when I’m running sheet metal parts of the machine tools. Keeps errant chips, wire wheel wires, grinding slag, dross, etc out of my skin, pockets, and so on. I’ve had it almost three years. It’s a bargain for the price.

I did make some changes to the Hudson apron. I really like having things at my fingertips and it’s really saving my street clothes.

Divided the top pocket to keep things upright and organized. Pencil, sharpie, Olfa razor knife, 6” machinists rule and a long tweezer.



The original plastic buckle was jamming up. I had to crawl out of it a couple times and it was a matter of time before I broke the buckle. Got a cobra style buckle and tri-bar adjuster. The metal parts are more appropriate for the apron and are much nicer in use. It should come with these.



Apron is so much easier and faster on and off. And the adjustment stays in place much better. I am a fan of shoulder straps as well.

As much as I like it and wear it, I’ve been eyeballing the Calavera leather aprons for a while..

 

[Mike'smeatshop]

I have the Hudson Durable Goods apron. I wear it almost all day, nearly everyday when I’m running sheet metal parts of the machine tools. Keeps errant chips, wire wheel wires, grinding slag, dross, etc out of my skin, pockets, and so on. I’ve had it almost three years. It’s a bargain for the price.

I did make some changes to the Hudson apron. I really like having things at my fingertips and it’s really saving my street clothes.

Divided the top pocket to keep things upright and organized. Pencil, sharpie, Olfa razor knife, 6” machinists rule and a long tweezer.



The original plastic buckle was jamming up. I had to crawl out of it a couple times and it was a matter of time before I broke the buckle. Got a cobra style buckle and tri-bar adjuster. The metal parts are more appropriate for the apron and are much nicer in use. It should come with these.



Apron is so much easier and faster on and off. And the adjustment stays in place much better. I am a fan of shoulder straps as well.

As much as I like it and wear it, I’ve been eyeballing the Calavera leather aprons for a while..

Yea. I like the looks of that apron. It looks lighter that the one I showed in the first .

 

[babyseal]

Pointless to wear one. I'll still look like I rolled around in the floor sweepings. Easier to embrace my inner pig than fight it.

 

[slodat]

Pointless to wear one. I'll still look like I rolled around in the floor sweepings. Easier to embrace my inner pig than fight it.

This was me until I was running machine tools all day. Having my most used items at my fingertips has become a big quality of life improvement. When I'm down on the ground for something, the apron absolutely comes off.

I also really appreciate the apron when running the bench grinder, big buffer, and that sorta thing as a layer of PPE.

 

[Mike'smeatshop]

This was me until I was running machine tools all day. Having my most used items at my fingertips has become a big quality of life improvement. When I'm down on the ground for something, the apron absolutely comes off.

I also really appreciate the apron when running the bench grinder, big buffer, and that sorta thing as a layer of PPE.

The wife's washing machine likes it better also. Keeps the other cloths from turning black.

 

[shanny19]

Shop apron?
ah hell no, I already look enough like Keith Rucker!

Lab Coat? (looks like some here dont know the difference)
I’ve wanted one for years, the exact one worn by Brewmeister Smith in Strange Brew. Someday…

Welding leather?
ditched leather for lightweight nomex forest fire shirts decades ago.

 

[babyseal]

This was me until I was running machine tools all day. Having my most used items at my fingertips has become a big quality of life improvement. When I'm down on the ground for something, the apron absolutely comes off.

I also really appreciate the apron when running the bench grinder, big buffer, and that sorta thing as a layer of PPE.

That's a pretty good point actually. As CRS clamps down steadily, I'm always looking for my marker, reading glasses, ruler, pencil etc. that I set down "somewhere". It'd be nice to have a place for that stuff...if I remember to put it back in the pocket.

 

[hop up]

I started wearing one when I was doing a apprenticeship at a tool and die shop. The first week I didn’t and ruined a few shirts but worse is the metal slivers got into the washing machine . This caused me to throw out a number of clothes as the slivers were woven into the fabric.
50 years later still wear on and have a few for different tasks.
All are mine are made out of leather as I make sew leather goodies tool bags holders tool pouch’s rolls

 

[Chrome Vanadium Cody]

@shanny19 I have a Ben Davis lab coat I wear for dealing with stuff that’s biohazardous but not quite on the level to be worth the effort of putting on a Tyvek suit. I like it a lot and think the price was pretty decent: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077JLXZQW?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[haveissues]

I wear one when out in the shop. Helps keep my clothes clean and gives me pockets to shove **** in so I'm not putting my dirty hands in my pants pockets. Has to be the style with a hinged top pocket though or I spend half the day picking up my 6" scale from the floor.