Picking leather for a workshop apron

[DartmouthDuffer]

Hello everyone! I'm about to make a leather apron for a family member as a gift. The most intense work they do is woodworking. My main ask for people here is what leather should I use.

Chrome vs Veg vs pull up

3/4 or 4/5 oz?

Soft or medium temper?

 

Any advice helps! Thanks in advance!

Edited April 1, 2023 by DartmouthDuffer

[Ddat]

I might make an apron at some point and I am curious as well. For such a large piece, isn't chrome tan less expensive? I think a pull-up leather would look awesome.

[Handstitched]

I had to make an alteration to a leather  apron that a friend of mine got as a gift, it was custom made , apparently. My friend is quite tall as well ( he too is a woodworker) The leather apron  was chrome tanned dark brown. The issue he had was  that the strap that goes around the neck was too heavy on his neck . The apron itself was heavy , a bit too heavy for my liking. But anyway, I ended up making the straps in cross  ' X' arrangement so that the weight of the apron was on his shoulders.I  also altered the strap that goes around his waist so some of the weight sat on his hips.A lot of messing around, but it worked. 

So when making a leather apron, just keep the weight in mind. 

HS

Edited April 2, 2023 by Handstitched

[fredk]

I once made a sort of apron for a chap. He wanted it like a tabard with a full length back. I used upholstery grade chrome tan which was a mid-brown colour. The leather was about 1.2mm thick. I had a very large piece of leather and just cut a head hole just off centre, only for to try it out for size and shape. The chap thought that was going to be it and liked it! so I added straps and buckles just about waist level and that was it. No pockets, no trimming. That was what he wanted. *   He was a farrier and used it in his work, he wanted the back piece to protect his bare back from the open fire, both heat and sparks

*other workers will maybe want pockets for tools

[GatoGordo]

I made my first apron with vegetable tanned leather. I found this to be too stiff and uncomfortable. Every time I bent or sat down, the leather did not want to do the same. I thought it would break in in time, but it never did.

I made a second apron with the same pattern, but this time I used a soft 6/7 oz chrome tanned leather for the body. This one is comfortable, bends with me, and I wear it exclusively over the vegetable tanned.

[DartmouthDuffer]

On 4/2/2023 at 11:34 AM, GatoGordo said:

I made my first apron with vegetable tanned leather. I found this to be too stiff and uncomfortable. Every time I bent or sat down, the leather did not want to do the same. I thought it would break in in time, but it never did.

I made a second apron with the same pattern, but this time I used a soft 6/7 oz chrome tanned leather for the body. This one is comfortable, bends with me, and I wear it exclusively over the vegetable tanned.

thanks for the post! you don't find 6/7 too heavy? What do you use it for primarily?

[GatoGordo]

3 hours ago, DartmouthDuffer said:

thanks for the post! you don't find 6/7 too heavy? What do you use it for primarily?

The completed apron is only about 2.5 lbs so not heavy at all. I use it primarily when dying, but I wanted something thick enough that it would provide some protection when doing something a bit more intense.

[DartmouthDuffer]

2 hours ago, GatoGordo said:

The completed apron is only about 2.5 lbs so not heavy at all. I use it primarily when dying, but I wanted something thick enough that it would provide some protection when doing something a bit more intense.

Any chance you could link the leather you used here? Really appreciate the input!

[GatoGordo]

8 hours ago, DartmouthDuffer said:

Any chance you could link the leather you used here? Really appreciate the input!

I purchased the leather from Maverick Leather, but they no longer sell what I purchased. It was a Golden Rod Dearborn which is described as Glovey/Soft. They currently have four different colors of Dearborn with black the thickest at 6oz. I would consider the other three to be too thin, but you might like it if you think the thicker leather might be too heavy.

[DartmouthDuffer]

9 hours ago, GatoGordo said:

I purchased the leather from Maverick Leather, but they no longer sell what I purchased. It was a Golden Rod Dearborn which is described as Glovey/Soft. They currently have four different colors of Dearborn with black the thickest at 6oz. I would consider the other three to be too thin, but you might like it if you think the thicker leather might be too heavy.

Incredible, thank you so much!

[LeatherApron]

For longevity and a deep patina, choose vegetable-tanned leather for a woodworking leather apron.  It is initially stiff, but it softens and endures for a long time.  The perfect thickness is 4/5 oz; it's flexible enough for comfort and robust enough for protection.  An apron made of mild-tempered leather retains its shape while permitting movement.  Steer clear of chrome-tanned leather since it is less resilient and responds poorly to heat.  An alternative that wears more quickly is pull-up leather.  Include tool pockets for convenience and cross-back straps for balanced weight distribution.  Make sure the leather apron has been treated to withstand water.  For any woodworker, this system provides longevity, comfort, and protection.

Edited March 21 by AlZilla
Removed spam link

[Dwight]

I kept getting little spots of dye and stuff on my shirts . . . got aggravated . . . made an apron.

I looked all over in the shop for a special leather to make it from . . . didn't like anything II saw.

Wound up making it from marine vinyl . . . sold at Joann's fabric shop for about 25 a yard.  I keep it and use it when developing a pattern . . . it mimics leather well enough for holsters . . . so I had it on hand.

Am I ever glad I did.  It is fairly light in weight . . . liquid proof . . . makes good pockets . . . 

If I had to do it all over again . . . I'd still use the vinyl.

May God bless,

Dwight

[Tigweldor]

You can get cost effective leather aprons at Ebay under "welding apron".

They have real chinsey/cheap straps though - I usually convert the neck strap into an X-pattern so it fits over both shoulders and replace the hip belt also.

For the replacement straps I use old seat belts (very comfortable) - you can get those at your local scrap yard - usually just for a donation to the coffee jar fund and all the tools you need to salvage them is a sharp pair of scissors/knife. 

I know that this route is not totally "all home made" - but it only costs around $30US for the whole project.

A little more if you want to add good buckles and snaps - seat belts are usually 50mm wide = 2 inches.

Edited March 26 by Tigweldor

[chuck123wapati]

I use my bib overalls that's why they call em overalls lol.