Author Topic: Sawmill Duds (Read 2395 times)

Magicman · « **on:** January 18, 2012, 04:54:05 pm »

No, I am not talking about my SIL. For 10 years of sawing I have always worn a welder's leather waist apron to protect my pants and also to keep sawdust out of my pockets. I am trying chaps to see if they will be satisfactory. They are heavy duck cloth with double knees. Time will tell. LINK

SwampDonkey · « **Reply #1 on:** January 18, 2012, 05:02:56 pm »

I thought you had gotten stiffed on a saw job.

Those look like they'll keep ya warm anyway.

MapleNut · « **Reply #2 on:** January 18, 2012, 05:07:31 pm »

If they don't work out for sawing, strap on your helmet, hop on and go....

:

beenthere · « **Reply #3 on:** January 18, 2012, 05:13:02 pm »

Be interested in how they work. Are they pants chaps or have buckles around the back of the legs? Have to remove shoes to get them on?
Wondering how you get your pocket knife out ?? and the sawdust outta your belt line and shirt??

I wear the chainsaw chaps for chainsaw work as well as splitting firewood (saves on the pant legs). But above the belt the clothes take a beating so I was seriously thinking of your leather apron idea to do both. Seems the apron would be quick to "suit up" and go splitting.

Now you are throwing us a curve....

Shotgun · « **Reply #4 on:** January 18, 2012, 05:23:17 pm »

Yer pants are probably going to take on an interesting profile.

You might get some comments when wearing them on the street without your chaps. Keep us posted.

Norm

Magicman · « **Reply #5 on:** January 18, 2012, 05:32:34 pm »

Today was the second time that I have worn them, so time will tell. The link shows how a strap goes around my belt and Velcros on the side.

They do have a full pants leg, but I am able to pull them on and off with my work boots on. The nice thing is that I can easily access my pockets and Leatherman tool.

I have already thought of that Norm. It could make an interesting or uninteresting pattern. $:-\$ I did not throw my apron away yet.

Busy Beaver Lumber · « **Reply #6 on:** January 18, 2012, 06:01:18 pm »

Do those chaps come with a set of stirrups and a horse?

Actually Lynn, they look like an excellent idea. Where would you get something like that?

POSTONLT40HD · « **Reply #7 on:** January 18, 2012, 06:27:40 pm »

Be sure TO PUT your pants on. Don't just get out of bed and slide into your chaps and off to work!

Shotgun · « **Reply #8 on:** January 18, 2012, 06:39:04 pm »

Your link was too subtle, MM.

Now that you know how to do it, you have to make it more obvious.

Norm

Bibbyman · « **Reply #9 on:** January 18, 2012, 06:44:20 pm »

Mary usually wears Carhartt logger jeans. They have a double front,almost built-in chaps.

I, well everyone knows what I wear.

ladylake · « **Reply #10 on:** January 18, 2012, 07:12:27 pm »

Same as Bibby here, they never fall down. Steve

Bill Gaiche · « **Reply #11 on:** January 18, 2012, 07:21:34 pm »

MM, looks good. Will be great when pickin blackberries too. bg

beenthere · « **Reply #12 on:** January 18, 2012, 07:31:45 pm »

Poston
Thanks for the edit

bandmiller2 · « **Reply #13 on:** January 18, 2012, 07:56:15 pm »

And I thought "sawmill duds" was a new candy.Seems to me a leather apron would give more protection.Its embarasing to be in a store and pull out a handfull of change and saw dust,you don't know weather to dump the dust on there floor or put it back in your pocket. Frank C.

POSTONLT40HD · « **Reply #14 on:** January 18, 2012, 08:08:34 pm »

BEENTHERE....I went hunting once with a bunch of friends . I don't drink but one of the guys did. He woke up the next morning still badly "under the weather". Without a thought, he woke up the next morning and put on his hunting chaps and never knew the difference! We all wore chaps for Quail hunting. He realized it a few minutes later. We have never laughed so hard in our lives. Nothing bad was intended with my comment.....but the chaps sure reminded me of a funny memory.

P.S. Went back and straightened up my comment. Now it looks better!

Magicman · « **Reply #15 on:** January 18, 2012, 08:18:24 pm »

Quote from: Busy Beaver Lumber on January 18, 2012, 06:01:18 pm

Where would you get something like that?

I went back on edit and made the LINK BOLD

captain_crunch · « **Reply #16 on:** January 18, 2012, 09:28:27 pm »

I seem to live in Carhart bibs Insulated in winter and plain in summer. And everything you seem to need is in pants pocket underneath em

Magicman · « **Reply #17 on:** January 19, 2012, 09:18:39 am »

Well, fine guys.

Thanks for trying to trash a legitimate thread. $:-\$

My idea was to show an alternative to coming home with dirty jeans and pockets full of sawdust. This idea and product may work out, or it may not. As I have previously said, "time will tell".

In the meantime,I hope that others will offer other suggestions, alternatives,and ideas to improve our sawmill workwear.

Bill Gaiche · « **Reply #18 on:** January 19, 2012, 09:29:32 am »

Some days you just cant impress anyone MM. But dont give up on my part. bg

Jeff · « **Reply #19 on:** January 19, 2012, 09:41:57 am »

Topic cleaned up and warnings sent.

Carry on Gentlemen.

DanG · « **Reply #20 on:** January 19, 2012, 11:38:03 am »

Those look pretty neat MM, but I'm bettin' you'll go back to the apron in the summertime. I gave up on keeping the sawdust out of my pockets and just cleaned them out when I finished sawing. Got to be a habit.

Solved the problem completely when I quit sawing.

I prefer low-quarter shoes over boots, but they always ended up full of sawdust so I went with boots.

Magicman · « **Reply #21 on:** January 19, 2012, 03:37:05 pm »

DanG, I'm also thinking that the chaps will be too HOT during the Summer. I wear bibs during the Winter and they are really nice, but bibs will cook you in July and August.

At least that old leather apron is not hot to wear. Plus, I wear shorts when sawing in the Summer.

Marty saw those legs and accused me of riding a chicken to work.

dgdrls · « **Reply #22 on:** January 19, 2012, 06:12:26 pm »

The well dressed sawyer!!

DGDrls

petefrombearswamp · « **Reply #23 on:** January 19, 2012, 06:20:07 pm »

Magic I bet your boot socks gather quite a bit of sawdust in the summer.
Bailey's wild Ass double front logger jeans are great.
They are now made back in the good ol USA too!

beenthere · « **Reply #24 on:** January 19, 2012, 06:23:55 pm »

dgdrls
Looks like the well-dressed sawyer had to be politically correct back in-the-day then too.

Magicman · « **Reply #25 on:** January 19, 2012, 07:58:43 pm »

Quote from: petefrombearswamp on January 19, 2012, 06:20:07 pm

Magic I bet your boot socks gather quite a bit of sawdust in the summer.

Indeed the socks do, but very little actually gets into my boots. That is my second leather apron.

Dan_Shade · « **Reply #26 on:** January 19, 2012, 08:59:44 pm »

i'm proud of the sawdust in my pockets. the sawdust in my wallet on the other hand....

Red Pill · « **Reply #27 on:** January 19, 2012, 09:04:03 pm »

Quote from: Magicman on January 19, 2012, 03:37:05 pm

(Image hidden from quote, click to view.)

With that leather apron, it looks like you're wearing a skirt. Or a kilt. Got Scottish blood?

Magicman · « **Reply #28 on:** January 19, 2012, 09:10:44 pm »

Got Redneck blood.

Red Pill · « **Reply #29 on:** January 19, 2012, 11:16:38 pm »

Not all that different . . .

Red Pill · « **Reply #30 on:** January 19, 2012, 11:17:59 pm »

I've been threatening to get a kilt for years. My daughter used to say, "NO, DAD!" but I told her I'd only wear it to church or to pick her up at school . . .

SwampDonkey · « **Reply #31 on:** January 20, 2012, 04:40:23 am »

I know a couple fellas from the western provinces that wore tartan kilts at their weddings. The whole bag pipe deal and all. They once said the the HBC settled the west, a lot were Orkney Scots. It was certainly those two old Scots of the HBC that put the RR through, most of the private financing was from Lord Strathcona (Alexander "Labrador" Smith, a HBC Factor in Labrador)

Red Pill · « **Reply #32 on:** January 20, 2012, 09:38:03 am »

Sorry, MM. We've probably taken your thread too far afield . . .

Meadows Miller · « **Reply #33 on:** January 20, 2012, 09:57:40 am »

Gday

Not a bad Idea Lynn

You know what I tend to wear but I could see where they would be handy as I tend to wear denim jeans year round keeps the sawdust outa your socks and gives the snakes a lill more to bite through

But when they catch on a bolt or something on a loader or whatever for that matter you endup going home with a huge tear in your jeans in usually an very inapropriate place

Dad always said sawmillers have the arse hangin outa their pants though Mate

Regards Chris

terrifictimbersllc · « **Reply #34 on:** January 20, 2012, 09:58:41 am »

I started wearing Filsons Double Tin Chaps http://www.filson.com/products/double-tin-chaps-with-leg-zippers-regular.14023.html about a month ago and what a difference with the laundry load. I won't tell you how many times I can wear a pair of pants now. I got them at http://workingperson.com/ for a substantial discount but had to wait about a month for them from this place. These go on easily, even after I've put my boots on.

The look is similar to Magicman's photo except it's me in the picture so its much more frightening. The chaps seem to evoke comments similar to what Jeff has purged. But they keep your pants from becoming utterly filthy, or ruined, if you're working with sappy wood.

No doubt bibs are still the best, it doesn't matter what you wear under them, but they're much harder to get in and out of and may be too warm.

Magicman · « **Reply #35 on:** January 20, 2012, 10:21:23 am »

Our Winter weather is so crazy and unpredictable here. It can easily be in the 30's in the morning and 70° by noon. Layering is the key to staying comfortable and still be able to work. Vests are a good option for upper wear, and I regularly use two different ones. But, If your legs are too warm, it seems like you are cooking. Protecting your legs and maintaining ventilation is a challenge.

Summer is easy. Just start with not much on, and continually replace sopping wet T shirts with dry ones. When it gets to 98° just stop and go home.

buildthisfixthat · « **Reply #36 on:** January 20, 2012, 09:17:25 pm »

great to see some pro sawing clothes and equipment saftey ,,i have seen many thrown off a job-site wearing sneakers ,torn jeans,ect

Magicman · « **Reply #37 on:** January 20, 2012, 09:31:35 pm »

There are some items that I always wear when sawing, regardless of what covers my legs.

Safety glasses, ear plugs, dust mask, gloves, and steel toe boots. Other items include a weightlifter's belt and a hat of some kind. In the Winter it is generally a cap as pictured. In the Summer it is generally a "pith" type ventilated helmet. When using a chainsaw, in addition to the above, I wear a chainsaw helmet and chainsaw chaps.

At one time or the other, "bad things" have made a point with me and taught me lessons about not wearing particular safety equipment. Some of them are documented here on the FF. $:-\$

Magicman · « **Reply #38 on:** January 21, 2012, 10:58:18 am »

Speaking of gloves, even though I am not responsible for customers or customer provided labor, sometimes they show up without gloves. OK, some worker's hands are work hardened and calloused, but most are not accustomed to handling lumber.

We have a salvage store that sometimes has leather gloves. Sometimes the good quality tight fitting leather gloves that I regularly use, and sometimes only cloth backed rough out gloves. I pay from $1.49 to $1.99 for these and when a worker has no gloves, they will bring a smile to their face.

Under $2 is a small price to pay for more productive work from your helper.

dgdrls · « **Reply #39 on:** January 21, 2012, 11:59:05 am »

http://www.bendavis.com/store/overalls?page=shop.product_details&flypage=vmj_naru.tpl&product_id=5&category_id=3

I found this Teamster Apron from Ben Davis. I have had great luck in the field with BD clothing.

Best
DGDrls

Magicman · « **Reply #40 on:** January 21, 2012, 01:54:23 pm »

That looks very interesting, and Ben Davis is my Grandson. Well, really a different one because that one is a monkey. But, Ben is too.....sometimes.

Jeff · « **Reply #41 on:** January 21, 2012, 03:01:00 pm »

I wish I had some photos of the garb the lumber pilers used to where at the mill where I sawed. A couple of them had coats and bibs where the fronts were made almost entirely out of duct tape, and wore them for years. Carharts and Walls were the main brands they wore, but even the best made cloths dont last long when you are dragging lumber across them day after day after day. The guys took to repairing small holes and rips with duct tape. They just kept fixing bad spots day after day, and eventually, there was more tape than original material.

Magicman · « **Reply #42 on:** January 21, 2012, 04:07:03 pm »

Taking a picture of those might have caused ~~duck tape~~ digital overload.

My leather aprons have held up well, but I am not even in the class of doing what your guys were doing.

I am packing my bags for next week's road trip sawing job and it's mostly T shirts. No shorts yet.

nomad · « **Reply #43 on:** January 21, 2012, 09:11:54 pm »

I've taken to buying gloves in the large size from Harbor Freight. About $15 a dozen. Unfortunately I need XL, so they don't work for me. But Like Lynn says, it sure puts a smile on the helper's face! And I don't care how calloused his hands are. If we're talking about fresh cut SYP, I want the help wearing gloves

Tom the Sawyer · « **Reply #44 on:** January 21, 2012, 09:32:32 pm »

Most of my clients are prepared for milling day but I too have seen their helpers show up without even gloves. I keep a stock of supplies ready to go. Same HF gloves (6 pr to the bag), dust masks, goggles and ear plugs. They may turn down the safety equipment when we start but reconsider when the wind changes. I even have a couple of extra TSC 25' tapes for them to use and a bench brush so they can see the grain more clearly.

Tom

Dan_Shade · « **Reply #45 on:** January 21, 2012, 09:38:33 pm »

I hate wearing gloves.

I never even considered having a few pairs in the truck for any helpers.

I only wear gloves when it's really cold or when cutting/welding metal.

medic · « **Reply #46 on:** January 21, 2012, 10:53:06 pm »

MM - if it makes you feel any better I'll sometimes wear farrier chaps when I'm milling. I stumbled across the idea several years ago when I was milling some used power poles into square timbers/lumber for a barn. The used stuff had splinters galore in it but the chaps solved the problem (at least in my legs). Since they're farrier chaps they just extend below the knee and the back of the leg is open. Cooler to wear than full length 'pants' style chaps.
scott

Magicman · « **Reply #47 on:** January 22, 2012, 07:50:07 am »

I'll be sawing a couple of logtruck loads of Cypress next week so I should be able to give the chaps a good workout. But, I'm not throwing my apron away.

dgdrls · « **Reply #48 on:** January 29, 2012, 11:45:13 am »

Teamster Apron, I thought they were a pretty good Idea, first run with them today,
Table sawing some 1" red oak trim'

http://barebonesworkwear.com/ben-davis-heavyweight-teamster-work-apron-olive-one-size

Best DGDrls

beenthere · « **Reply #49 on:** January 29, 2012, 01:04:58 pm »

dg
Had something like that in mind. Thanks for the pic. Can'tcha get that camera to smile?

Are you working outside? Seem pretty bundled up to be on an inside job.

dgdrls · « **Reply #50 on:** January 29, 2012, 03:46:08 pm »

Beenthere,

Yes, had the table saw outside, less mess to worry about. Grabbed a quick pic for the Forum.
It's about mid 30's here in CNY. weird winter, no snow, barely any frost in the ground.
The Fleece is a bit big, Light thermal under that, Apron on top. Works well.

Best DGDrls

Magicman · « **Reply #51 on:** January 29, 2012, 04:40:28 pm »

I found that with our heat in the Summer, I had to go with a waist rather than a bib apron. Actually, my leather waist apron is a cutoff bib apron. I'll bet that teamster work apron could be cut off. I'll probably order one.

Edit: They are currently out of stock. $:-\$

thecfarm · « **Reply #52 on:** January 29, 2012, 05:20:35 pm »

He got the last one.

dgdrls · « **Reply #53 on:** January 29, 2012, 06:41:18 pm »

Seems I did get the last set!..
Anyone who wishes try here, they are a $buck less!
http://www.gorillagear.com/shopcoats-aprons/aprons-50poly-50-cotton

Best DGDrls

rwthom279 · « **Reply #54 on:** February 09, 2012, 10:19:43 am »

MM, after reading your thread about the 12000+ bf you sawed, and observed you still wearing your apron, I was reminded of something I have in my welding gear. I thought they may allow you to have the best of both worlds, while giving the option of "breathing" room and staying cooler. Work quite well for welding, should apply to milling

Apron/Chaps are $30, Boot Leggins are $20 Both made by "Radnor" and available online or at "AirGas". Different lengths are available. I'm 6'4" and get excellent protection.

terrifictimbersllc · « **Reply #55 on:** February 09, 2012, 02:32:34 pm »

From a part time swing miller's perspective there's a spot there that still needs excellent protection.

SwampDonkey · « **Reply #56 on:** February 09, 2012, 04:32:40 pm »

All you need is a good set of hockey gear and your good to go.

terrifictimbersllc · « **Reply #57 on:** February 09, 2012, 05:24:15 pm »

Being able to go is important too.

Chris Burchfield · « **Reply #58 on:** February 09, 2012, 06:48:27 pm »

I'm in Bibby's camp. My Liberty's are from Walmart. Usually get one or two pair for Christmas as I did this year. In the dead heat of summer with the humidity in Memphis the way it is, If I can't get by with a pair of Liberty's I don't saw. I consider myself a fair weather sawyer.

Magicman · « **Reply #59 on:** February 09, 2012, 07:36:44 pm »

I wear the Liberty's in the Winter, but during the Summer, I need some "Swamp People" britches.

nomad · « **Reply #60 on:** February 10, 2012, 06:35:16 pm »

Quote from: terrifictimbersllc on February 09, 2012, 02:32:34 pm

From a part time swing miller's perspective there's a spot there that still needs excellent protection.

From another part time swing miller; Ain't that the truth!!!

News:

Author Topic: Sawmill Duds (Read 2395 times)