Tool belt options

[signcrafter]

I used to wear tool belts when I was younger and did the same task everyday but never liked wearing one and stopped. I do a variety of things so tools needed are always different so started just grabbing what I need for each task. I'm hanging a bunch of crown molding and going up and down a painter's scaffolding with stud finder, m18 nail gun, gauge blocks, angle finder, laser measurer, etc. and it's a pain and want to give a tool belt a try again. Haven't looked at them in 15 or so years so looking for recommendations on what's out there that's decent but won't break the bank since I most likely won't wear it often. Mostly for carpentry and drywall uses so something with a couple nail/screw pouches and then your standard tools.

 

[iron block]

An option to consider might be work pants with lots of pockets and loops. Might not fit the nail gun, but everything else should stow nicely. And as a bonus, some versions can have knee cushions added. Nice to have if your job is going to involve lots of kneeling.

 

[Renegade1LI]

Not the cheapest but the best quality, I've had a set over 30 years & still looks & works great. Lots of options, I use with suspenders so easy on & off.

Occidental Leather - Tool Carrying Systems

Hand Crafted in the USA. Tool carrying systems that work as hard as you do. Innovative, functional design, expert craftsmanship, and the highest quality materials since 1980.

www.occidentalleather.com

 

[signcrafter]

An option to consider might be work pants with lots of pockets and loops. Might not fit the nail gun, but everything else should stow nicely. And as a bonus, some versions can have knee cushions added. Nice to have if your job is going to involve lots of kneeling.

I usually wear carpenter pants that have a few extra pockets and they work most times but there are times I need an actual tool belt and want to pick a new belt up.

Not the cheapest but the best quality, I've had a set over 30 years & still looks & works great. Lots of options, I use with suspenders so easy on & off.

Occidental Leather - Tool Carrying Systems

Hand Crafted in the USA. Tool carrying systems that work as hard as you do. Innovative, functional design, expert craftsmanship, and the highest quality materials since 1980.

www.occidentalleather.com

Ya those were the top of the line. Can't justify that much for something I won't be using often, especially when I don't like to wear belts most of the time. If it was something I liked to wear and would be using it more I might invest in a nice one like that. Looking to spend around 100 or so on a decent one but don't need anything that special.

 

[alinc100]

I would say Occidental has the best suspender/suspension rig but just the suspenders are at/over your budget. I'd look at something like this: https://www.acmetools.com/dead-on-j...liates&utm_source=impact&utm_medium=affiliate

or
https://www.homedepot.com/pep/BUCKE...&irgwc=1&afsrc=1&cm_mmc=afl-ir-101044-456723-

The key in all these is comfortable suspenders that help distribute the weight.

 

[alinc100]

Also find yourself a bucket similar to this. I actually have one at work with a hole in one side ,slips over the stem of my painters scaffold for even greater stability. The gap in the center slides over the top rail. https://www.amazon.com/Compartment-...-Container/dp/B07NP815HZ?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[signcrafter]

Also find yourself a bucket similar to this. I actually have one at work with a hole in one side ,slips over the stem of my painters scaffold for even greater stability. The gap in the center slides over the top rail. https://www.amazon.com/Compartment-...-Container/dp/B07NP815HZ?tag=atomicindus08-20

That's a really neat idea. I actually was thinking about making a wood tray to hang on the rail of the scaffolding last night. I'll have to order one of those, would be perfect for holding my stud finder, laser measurer, and other things and could reach it with one hand while holding the crown with the other. Thanks

 

[jives]

I've got a tool apron, a tool vest, at least 3 different full size tool belts (some from my son), and a variety of belts with pouches. Picked 'em up along the way. I tend to not like any of them, but will overall pick a 40 year old leather tool belt or the apron. The apron if I know the project is only in the garage, as opposed to in/out of house or yard.

 

[alinc100]

That's a really neat idea. I actually was thinking about making a wood tray to hang on the rail of the scaffolding last night. I'll have to order one of those, would be perfect for holding my stud finder, laser measurer, and other things and could reach it with one hand while holding the crown with the other. Thanks

I'd venture the dollar store, Target, Walmart ,Meijer would all carry something similar if you don't shop Amazon.

 

[JerseyBoatBuilder]

That's a really neat idea. I actually was thinking about making a wood tray to hang on the rail of the scaffolding last night. I'll have to order one of those, would be perfect for holding my stud finder, laser measurer, and other things and could reach it with one hand while holding the crown with the other. Thanks

I use this from Little Giant. Works on ladders and scaffolding.
Little Giant tote

 

[bonneyman]

You guys have provided alot of good ideas. I've used a 5-gallon bucket with a Bucket Boss liner for years but if I had to do something smaller and totable what you guys have recommended looks good.

 

[Monte]

 

[AEAdam]

I don't know about you. I’m getting older and find the weight of my tool belts to be problematic, especially if I’m climbing all day, which I have been. I have occi bags on military style web wear. Have a lot of lighter stuff from homedepot. Heat is also a problem for me. Wearing a heavy rig with a padded belt and suspenders isn’t fun in the summer. My tee shirt becomes completely soaked and limits arm movement.



Where I am now is wearing the lightest, cheapest canvas belt & pouch, no suspenders. I don’t put much in there, usually just fasteners and a few small tools. I have a titanium hammer which really helps. The nail guns, or impact drivers are the bigger problems. I have a swing hook belt clip that I use for carrying bulky tools. That’s been my favorite method for carrying power tools.

Occidental leather bags are nice. I have them, but super heavy. Probably the heaviest choice you can make. They have a newer model called "Oxy lights", which are light weight with some leather trim. They are probably better. I feel like "occidental" is a "let them eat cake" answer. Its a default here without really understanding the details and realities.

For anyone who thinks I need to eat less or work out more (or whine less):
1) go to hell
2) my scaffolding isn’t a ladder where your legs do the work. It’s a straight aluminum tube frame with rungs maybe 18” apart. I climb it with my arms. Climb to the top, then have to lift 4x8 sheets of plywood up. I often have one hand on the work, one hand on the nail gun or whatever, and no hand to steady myself. My scaffold planks are pretty good but they flex.


(pic is a couple years old- note I screwed the scaffolding to the wall, which was a game changer).

At the end of the day my feet hurt from climbing round tubes and steadying my body. If I’ve worn my belt all day, I find uneven belt loading (typically on my right side) hurts my lower back. If I take a week off from work or have a 4 day weekend, I actually feel ok by the time I get back to the office. But a 2 day weekend could be tough for me both days.

 

[signcrafter]

I don't know about you. I’m getting older and find the weight of my tool belts to be problematic, especially if I’m climbing all day, which I have been. I have occi bags on military style web wear. Have a lot of lighter stuff from homedepot. Heat is also a problem for me. Wearing a heavy rig with a padded belt and suspenders isn’t fun in the summer. My tee shirt becomes completely soaked and limits arm movement.



Where I am now is wearing the lightest, cheapest canvas belt & pouch, no suspenders. I don’t put much in there, usually just fasteners and a few small tools. I have a titanium hammer which really helps. The nail guns, or impact drivers are the bigger problems. I have a swing hook belt clip that I use for carrying bulky tools. That’s been my favorite method for carrying power tools.

Occidental leather bags are nice. I have them, but super heavy. Probably the heaviest choice you can make. They have a newer model called "Oxy lights", which are light weight with some leather trim. They are probably better. I feel like "occidental" is a "let them eat cake" answer. Its a default here without really understanding the details and realities.

For anyone who thinks I need to eat less or work out more (or whine less):
1) go to hell
2) my scaffolding isn’t a ladder where your legs do the work. It’s a straight aluminum tube frame with rungs maybe 18” apart. I climb it with my arms. Climb to the top, then have to lift 4x8 sheets of plywood up. I often have one hand on the work, one hand on the nail gun or whatever, and no hand to steady myself. My scaffold planks are pretty good but they flex.


(pic is a couple years old- note I screwed the scaffolding to the wall, which was a game changer).

At the end of the day my feet hurt from climbing round tubes and steadying my body. If I’ve worn my belt all day, I find uneven belt loading (typically on my right side) hurts my lower back. If I take a week off from work or have a 4 day weekend, I actually feel ok by the time I get back to the office. But a 2 day weekend could be tough for me both days.

I'm the same way, don't like wearing a belt because of the weight and bulk, and uncomfortable in the summer heat like you said. I like the freedom of not wearing one and that works most of the time for me. Especially since I'm doing something different almost everyday so it's not like I can just grab my belt with all the tools I need already in it. So I find it easier to just grab the tools I need and take them to where I'm working. But there are times a belt is needed, drywalling, framing, trim, concrete, etc.

 

[Steve_P]

I have a relatively inexpensive canvas one by Bucket Boss; I looked on Amazon and it's NLA. I didn't want to spend too much $ on it as I knew I wouldn't even use it once a year as a home DIYer. It works fine, hammer loop, small pouch for hardware, and two larger pouches with small pockets on the outside. When you're on a ladder, a toolbelt can really help save you lots of trips up and down, plus dropping stuff. There is a reason why they're used by builders.

this is the closest thing that I see to it

https://www.amazon.com/Bucket-Boss-50200-Builders-Rig/dp/B00GK4TZ2E/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[KnurledNut]

Why the bakers scaffold vs using a ladder?

 

[AEAdam]

Why the bakers scaffold vs using a ladder?

1) I hate ladders.
2) In this pic, the window jamb, minus the glass, with all that outside trim was made of PVC. I lifted it onto the first platform from the ground, then lifted from the first to the second. The scaffolding was a game changer for me.

And that's been fairly typical for me, where I'm moving materials up with me, then I'm standing at the top and installing stuff.


These guys were pretty manageable. Just for reference, they are over 6' tall. All PVC, but built exactly like the old wooden windows they replaced. I refinished the old sashes, saving the old wavy glass, then reinstalled the 100+yr old sashes into these jambs with modern seals.

The bulky trim was designed to flash back to the house wrap and allow for exterior foam insulation and an outer layer of ply.


On this front face, I did (windows doors, balcony etc) and Zip up to the bottoms of the second floor windows. Then I hired a crew with a tele handler to do the upper stuff. It got to be too much for me to carry plywood up that high. BTW the window trim was liquid flashed to the Zip plywood.

 

[AEAdam]

I'm the same way, don't like wearing a belt because of the weight and bulk, and uncomfortable in the summer heat like you said. I like the freedom of not wearing one and that works most of the time for me. Especially since I'm doing something different almost everyday so it's not like I can just grab my belt with all the tools I need already in it. So I find it easier to just grab the tools I need and take them to where I'm working. But there are times a belt is needed, drywalling, framing, trim, concrete, etc.

Agreed 100%. I think my crappy canvas pouch was AWP brand and cost maybe $10 at HomeDepot. I have to have some sort of belt.

As you can see, I'm pretty far through exterior work. The ground floor interior work is next. For that, I've been using a rubbermaid janitors cart for tool storage. And that's been helpful.

I made a Klein shoulder bag for my electrical tools. Carried it to a community college home electrical class. I thought I could just throw it over my shoulder to wire up all my switches and receptacles. Boy was I wrong. It's way too heavy to walk around with.

 

[KnurledNut]

@AEAdam @signcrafter

Why the bakers scaffold vs using a ladder?

I was asking about the OP's need for scaffold. Is it needed for access? Needed for height? A ladder could be quicker and less laborsome especially working alone and toolbelt-clad. Thus the question.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I'm just a DIYer but I have a Tough·Built. It has a padded belt and modular design to swap out different pockets for the task at hand.

 

[signcrafter]

@AEAdam @signcrafter

I was asking about the OP's need for scaffold. Is it needed for access? Needed for height? A ladder could be quicker and less laborsome especially working alone and toolbelt-clad. Thus the question.

For a few reasons. Painters scaffold are 4 feet wide by about 2 feet so can walk back and forth while putting crown up, less up and down on a ladder. Just one step up and you can reach about 6' of wall on a bigger platform then a ladder step. It rolls easy so I can scoot it as I'm working my way around the room. I don't use it often but for certain things it's nice to have and light weight and folds up so easy to move and store. Also have 3 sections of bakers scaffold that come in handy but they are bigger and heavier. And 12 of the bigger real scaffolding frames but mostly use those outside or on vaulted ceilings.

For crown I have the fast cap crown hangers so I just screw one to the wall about 2/3 the way down the board and then set the crown in it and it holds it. Go down to the end and start positioning and nailing off and work my way towards the hanger. The hanger slides out and finish nailing the piece.

 

[AEAdam]

@AEAdam @signcrafter

I was asking about the OP's need for scaffold. Is it needed for access? Needed for height? A ladder could be quicker and less laborsome especially working alone and toolbelt-clad. Thus the question.

Sorry, I misread your post.

 

[KnurledNut]

Sorry, I misread your post.

No worries. Good info in your post.