Shop Clothing

[Puff Griffis]

Doctors/Nurses scrubs Puff

[Jay Pique]

Unfortunately, I work in a shop where dust collection is NOT the number one concern. In fact, it's not 2 thru 100 either, apparently. As such, my clothes are almost always coated with dust and shavings, which I frequently blow off with compressed air.

I'm trying to come up with the "ideal" shop outfit. What shoes are good to stand in all day and resist wear and staining - yet don't cause swamp foot? Pants? What about an apron? This one looks like it would serve the purpose, but my god - 60 bucks?!

What about shirts? Something that doesn't actually attract and hold dust would be nice. What about traditional clothing? I'd like to look presentable to customers - giving off the "craftsman" image, but it needs first and foremost to be functional.

Shoes are the biggie right now though.

JP

[Rob V]

For shoes - I got a pair of Doc Martins. Well worth the $$ IMO. Ive had them for 2+ years now but only wear them in the shop ONLY. Great support.

[Mark Jerde]

If you're in the US and someone's paying you, why isn't OSHA hassling them?

My feet tend sweat a lot. Sometimes I'll change socks 3x per day. I sometimes I will also change shoes.

If you have room in the shoe, put paper towels or newspaper (if you're cheap like me ) in the bottom of the shoe. Change the paper when you start to feel dampish in the feet. Makes a lot difference.

-- Mark

[Mark Jerde]

This has got to be the worst paragraph I've ever posted on zero beers. ;-) Type, send, proofread.

-- Mark

[RB]

[Tom]

That reminds me of my former company's product marketing strategy:

Ready, Fire, AIM!

[charlie b]

That one really resonated! The Iraq War strategy ring a bell?

In the software world there was similar strategy referred to as vaporware. The strategy went "Ready AIM! ....................................................... ....................................................... ....................................................... ....................................................... ....................................................... ....................................................... ....................................................... ....................................................... ....................................................... ....................................................... .......................................................

charlie b

[Mark Jerde]

I knew an "Action Today!" company with this strategy:

FIRE! Never Ready! Never Aim!

-- Mark

[Bob G.]

==========================

Your question sounds kind of dumb...however after tracking sawdust into the house for many years my wife DEMANDED that I do something to stop, or at least reduce, the dust I was transporting, into HER HOUSE....

The shoe thing is easy for me...I just keep an old pair of Rebock loafers that are very comfortable inside the shop door...they look like hell with dried glue paint and everythijng else on them but what can I say...I am NOT trying to look good for any customers...

I tried an apron but truthfully never got the hand of using it... last time I saw mine it was ...(well who knows whenr I saw it last...)

I was in the hospital in December and noticed a Doctor with the traditional long "lab" coat on that was not cloth but looked like nylon ...and the light bulb went ON.... Went out and ordered one from a local uniform shop and it works very well... I did have my wife put elastic around the wrist area of both sleves so that I do not have loose material around my wrists... The sawdust just falls off the coat on to the shop floor ..does not stick...

Bob Griffiths

[Doug Miller]

Talk to OSHA; I'm sure that the inspector can explain to the company brass why it's a good idea to install a dust collection system. :-)

Combat boots. The real thing, from an Army surplus store -- or better yet, from a PX, if you or someone you know is active-duty, retired, or in the Guard or the reserves. Works for me.

Looks ok, but I gotta think you could find something similar for less money. Can't be that hard to make one... maybe you could get some leather and make your own?

Well, dust probably won't stick that well to stuff like vinyl, leather, or spandex. But unless the other guys in the shop are remarkably open-minded, you might want to stick with more traditional woven fabrics.

Anything woven is going to attract and hold dust. Wool isn't a good choice. Neither is any type of flannel. Cotton broadcloth is about as good as you're likely to find.

Leather apron would sure do that.

Combat boots.

-- Doug Miller (alphageek at milmac dot com)

How come we choose from just two people to run for president and 50 for Miss America?

[Victor Radin]

I got a pair of "Work n Gear" shoes about 5 or 6 years ago. I wear them every day and other than some laces and leather treatment, they needed nothing else. These are NOT inexpensive- IIRC somewhere between 100 and

130, but over the 6 years that's about $20 a year- not a bad deal. No problems with stank-foot, either- the leather is excellent and breathes, so there's not evil water buildup.

Another option that I used when working as a machine builder was to wear hiking boots. If it's good enough to trek 20 or 30 miles a day, shop time was (pardon the expression) a walk in the park.

As far as other shop clothing- denim and a can of cling-free. Look into some of the shop coats too- keeps dust off and lets you save on the heating cost too.

/vic

[Pat Barber]

[Grandpa]

Been using a similar one for years now, works like a champ! White dacron polyester lab coat I got at a thrift store, 2 large waist pockets, 1 breast pocket w/ built in pencil pocket.

[B a r r y B u r k e J r .]

Try wicking, non-cotton athletic socks, or something like Smartwool, no matter what shoes you wear. The moisture is carried away from the foot, which makes my feet way more comfortable. I'm sold on good socks after years of stepping in rivers while hiking and mountain biking.

I prefer Carhartt.

I'm happy with my Bucket Boss apron. It dosen't cover my pants, but I don't really care.

T-shirts work for me. Button down "work shirts" look better.

How about Dr. Evil's plastic suit that looks like a plastic slipcover for grandma's sofa?

Try the socks!

Barry

[BRuce]

shoes, I have a pair of slip on shoes that are seamless on the tops and I slip them on as i leave the house and slip them off just before I come in.

I have one similar to the one you posted but did not pay near as much, alas it is no longer listed in on the site. I wear it all the time (in the shop!), protects from flying objects, slips of the blade and keeps the dust off the front of my clothes.

It is hard to look like a craftsman in a cloud of dust, good Lone Ranger, bad woodworker.

BRuce

Jay Pique wrote:

[Eric Johnson]

Knapp work shoes have a patented cushion sole that is excellent if your on unpadded concrete all day long. Carhardt carpenters pants and a leather apron when turning or routing. Also have a cronie hanging around after hours thats an office boy by day and he where his business casual Levi's Dockers that aren't presentable for him on the job anymore. They seem surprisingly durable and easily kept clean as well although I wouldn't run out to buy $40 pants to make sawdust in.

EJ

[Pounds on Wood]

Take a look here:

might find something useful.

--

[Larry Jaques]

I'm a lean, clean, TYVEK machine. Ya gotta LOVE the look!

Thu, 12 Feb 2004 21:01:30 GMT, Pat Barber brought forth from the murky depths:

[B a r r y B u r k e J r .]

I don't mean, "hot", as in chicks dig ya' in the Tyvek.

Barry