Shop Apparel... What Do You Wear?

[Sylvia]

Since I moved most of my leather stuff out in the garage I've been mighty cold. And after 4+ years I finally got to buy a few new pieces of clothing and retired to the bin things that have been tie dyed and mended to death just so they wouldn't look so stained up and worn out. But now I have to wonder... what does every one else wear in the shop?

Plain old clothes that is already stained and half worn out?

Do any of you wear an apron?

What about coveralls or Big overalls?

Since I am about to freeze to death out there (it's currently 33*F in my shop) I'm thinking a pair of insulated coveralls would be nice ....or at least some insulated bibs.

Suggestions?

[electrathon]

You need a wood stove. I can not imagine working with it that cold. It would take all the fun out of it.

My shop is the happy place.

[Northmount]

Get a heater! My hands don't work at 33F. Bring what you need into the house as you need and take stuff back out before the next step. Lots of trips somedays, but a lot more comfortable. Things don't apply and dry as well in the cold either.

I usually wear old denim jeans and shirt. When working in the garage/shop, I often wear an old leather jacket. I set the T-stat at about 63F, so it's a little on the cool side, but good for heavier work. Sitting doing close work, I raise the temp so my hands aren't cold.

Tom

Wood stove is a good idea if you have lots of cordwood or scrap around to burn. Used to use an old sheet metal wood heater ... sort of like a big tin can.

Edited December 9, 2012 by northmount

[BearMan]

Hi Sylvia, One thing that you can do that Really helps a lot,,, is a water bed heater under your stamping stone. I used one for years,,, & in the winter it keeps my stone at around 75 deg. Once turned on, it takes a few hours to heat up,,, so if you have stuff to tool every day, it might be best to leave it on. Just make sure you get one with a thermostat. It should cost about $25.00. I hope this helps.... Ed the"BearMan"

[Sylvia]

Thanks for the ideas. I don't mind it when it is in the 40s and my hands remain warm... it's just the old bod that gets cold. The trouble is once I'm cold I stay cold for a while. Wood stove is NOT an option and I don't have a south facing window in there that I can use to make a solar heater.

I have a little electric one but it's about worthless. (thanks anyway hubby) and to top that off it says I can't use it on an extension cord and warns of using it near things like dyes that put off flammable fumes.

I'm really leaning toward insulated bib overalls. Easy to get out of when nature calls and still keeps the bod warm.

[Dwight]

I have two sets of jeans, . . . good and patched. Patched are leather working jeans, . . . flannel shirts are in the same categories.

Insulated bibs are absolutely necessary, sometimes I have to do some leatherwork in the cold, . . . and they ARE great.

Piece of advice: don't get full body coveralls, . . . get bibs. They allow you to dress lighter on your upper body, . . . or heavier than the bibs, . . . which in my case I have to do for my feet and legs.

Sometimes I'm in bibs keeping the lower body warm, . . . and a long sleeved tee on the upper half, . . . even sometimes the sleevs pulled up. Bibs offer better versatility, . . . and one of the best pairs I have, . . . they are ski bibs, . . . $10 at a yard sale, . . . keep this old coot toasty.

May God bless,

Dwight

[Sylvia]

Thanks Dwight. That's what I was thinking Bibs. Found some for a fair price $33 shipped. So I should have them in a week or so.

[gottaknow]

When I work outside, I wear a base layer of long underwear (closer to tights actually). The best fabric content by far is a blend of polyester/Lycra/and a bit of cotton. You create a dead air space next to your skin which will allow you to wear less bulky outerwear. We've made these products for years and they really are amazing if you've never tried them. If your feet get cold, I wear a pair of old Sorel (lots of Shoe Goo in places) with a piece of 9mm neoprene as an sole insert. Makes a big difference if you're standing or sitting with your feet on a cold floor. I had a locksmith friend in Alaska that actually wore skin diving boots inside his regular boots when it was really cold.

Regards, Eric

[electrathon]

I have a little electric one but it's about worthless. (thanks anyway hubby) and to top that off it says I can't use it on an extension cord and warns of using it near things like dyes that put off flammable fumes.

You can use an extension cord, as long as it is heavy enough to carry the current. Get a12 guage cord and no longer than necessary. They only say not to use one because no is always easy and they think you are not smart enough to understand wire size. Think of it this way, every wire in your wall is really no differant than an extension cord.

[celticleather]

You can use an extension cord, as long as it is heavy enough to carry the current.

The most important thing when using an extension cord, is to ensure that it is fully uncoiled when in use. Leaving any part of it coiled up will create an induction, causing the wires to heat up and melt the insulation. I found this out the hard way, many years ago!

[benlilly1]

Why not do your leather work in the house? I couldn't stand being that cold and trying to do leather. My work table is in my office/computer room.

[Chief31794]

I have 2 heaters for Winter Time and 2 Air Conditioners for the summer (deep south), I don't like being uncomfortable, I had a couple of heaters that weren't very good, get one with enough BTU's to heat the area. Some of the Ceramic Tube types are pretty good. I dress in Jeans and Flannel Shirt in the Winter and in Shorts and T-Shirt in the summer. I have aprons (I get the outdoor Bar-B-Que types) and I usually use them when dying.

Chief

[Sylvia]

Benlilly: Because the only area left to work leather is the living room and I got tired of having leather shavings and stuff all over. (The office is fully of my husband's stuff and my music room was taken over by him as well.) Besides I smoke inside the house but not in the garage.

I did use a nice fat yellow extension cord for the heater but it's still doesn't do much heating. Check on the uncoiling, I'll be sure to do that. One thing about it being cold out there... I don't piddle about much. I get what I need done and retreat to the house. So far this piece of leather has been cased for 4 weeks. One casing, covered over with 3mm thick plastic. It's just now getting almost too dry to work, luckily the tooling is done... it's all finish work now.

Edited December 10, 2012 by Sylvia

[Beaverslayer]

The heater you are using does not have sufficient BTU's to heath such a large area. What you can do, is hang a tarp so as to make a smaller area, kind of like a small room. Have it set up in a corner so it's against the two corner walls, then the heater may keep up better.

[dirtclod]

Insulate your work space with as much as will fit. I have 3 1/2 in the walls and 10 inches in the celeing. I heat with a kersine heater and my shop is 24 x 36. It get up to around 50 degrees on a real cold day. Or you can get some Aritics the black lined ones from Carhart, bibs is what i have and you will stay warm. Change your socks pretty regular and wear over shoes your feet will stay warm to. Your feet sweat a lot more than you think even it's really cold.

[oldtimer]

You need to insulate and heat your workspace - or - move inside to your living quarters!

[Sylvia]

The garage is insulated, just not heated. In fact, I think part of the issue is that once the garage gets cold, it retains the cold instead of warming up during the day. I've considered the Tarp thing to make the heated area smaller maybe I'll revisit that idea. It's not too bad today.

Thanks everyone for the ideas and comments. It really helped.

[two crows]

I always wear bib overalls as you can tell in my pic. A cold work area is not good, all these coments are good. You need to warm the place up, its hard to work if your bundled up like a eskimo. GET SOME HEAT IN THERE. Its suposed to be fun not torture... mj

[Double U Leather]

Sylvia...I feel for you. My old shop was in the big garage. I tried to enclose an area with plastic tarp to keep some heat in the close proximity of where I was working. Didn't work too well. At that time, I worked in Carhart's constantly. Wasn't much fun. Thankfully, I didn't have the volume of orders I do now. My shop now is about 12' x 25' ish, and separate from the garage. When it gets real cold (I live in Colorado) I run a couple of electric heaters. To take the early morning chill off, I'll fire up the propane heater for a while. Yea...propane heaters, coiled extension cords, fumes, etc., are probably not up to OSHA standards, but I used to ride bulls so I'm not really too afraid. I do what it takes to work for me. I will not work cold and miserable. If I wanted to do that, I'd sign on to dig ditches or punch cows.

[renegadelizard]

Since I moved most of my leather stuff out in the garage I've been mighty cold. And after 4+ years I finally got to buy a few new pieces of clothing and retired to the bin things that have been tie dyed and mended to death just so they wouldn't look so stained up and worn out. But now I have to wonder... what does every one else wear in the shop?

Plain old clothes that is already stained and half worn out?

Do any of you wear an apron?

What about coveralls or Big overalls?

Since I am about to freeze to death out there (it's currently 33*F in my shop) I'm thinking a pair of insulated coveralls would be nice ....or at least some insulated bibs.

Suggestions?

My shop is inside, so most of the time, and this is a scary visual, im sitting around in my skivies or gym shorts...nothing to ruin then with the occasional dye splatter, and leather dust from sanding washes off pretty easy...if you have to work outside, concentrate on keeping your feet and head warm...i could work outside in short as long as my feet and bald head were warm...I would seriously consider smoking in the garage and moving the leather shop back inside...

Edited December 11, 2012 by renegadelizard

[immiketoo]

My shop is inside, so most of the time, and this is a scary visual, im sitting around in my skivies or gym shorts...nothing to ruin then with the occasional dye splatter, and leather dust from sanding washes off pretty easy...if you have to work outside, concentrate on keeping your feet and head warm...i could work outside in short as long as my feet and bald head were warm...I would seriously consider smoking in the garage and moving the leather shop back inside...

Jesus dude, don't EVER do that again!

Sylvia,

I work in my garage and kitchen for the time being. Kitchen for tooling and garage for most everything else. In the garage, I have two of these heaters. http://www.tractorsupply.com/redstone-trade-ceiling-mount-quartz-heater-2171132

I turn one on and leave it for an hour. They heat objects, not air, so you dont have odors, fumes or super dry air. With both of them on, I can work comfortably in a T-shirt, although I prefer a fleece jacket so I usually just use one. The can be ceiling or wall mounted, and they are pretty cheap. 33 degrees is too dang cold!

[Studio-N]

Fortunately, I have a heated and A/C cooled shop. Still, in the winter I wear jeans, comfortable shoes (lot of sheepswool padding) and a long sleeve shirt when I can, otherwise a warm pullover sweater. During the summer, I like to wear scrubs in the shop.

[Sylvia]

My shop is inside, so most of the time, and this is a scary visual, im sitting around in my skivies or gym shorts...nothing to ruin then with the occasional dye splatter, and leather dust from sanding washes off pretty easy...if you have to work outside, concentrate on keeping your feet and head warm...i could work outside in short as long as my feet and bald head were warm...I would seriously consider smoking in the garage and moving the leather shop back inside...

LOL now that IS a picture.

Well, I bought some insulated bibs that should be here soon. There really isn't any where inside to have the shop. Darling hubby has taken over the office, I can't be in there with him because of a couple annoying things he does while I'm trying to concentrate.... and my music room which he now has set up for repairing guitar amps. And I really don't want it in the living room or our bedroom... no room.

I'm ok with short jaunts to the shop working for an hour and escaping back inside, normally... but when it is this cold out... I can barely get 20 mins in before it's time to get warmed up again.

Mike: Thanks for that link... that may just be what I need!

[Sylvia]

Well, my insulated bibs arrived today. I went to the store to pick them up and thank goodness I decided it would be smart to try them on before I left. The size I ordered was entirely too big. If I pulled the crotch up where it is supposed to be the front of the big was at the bridge of my nose. LOL That was good for a good giggle.

Luckily I found a pair in the store that fit ok but they were marked $40 more than I paid for the ones I ordered. Tried them on and they fit ok but one zippers was bad. I pointed that out to the manager and he let me have them for about $18 more than I paid for the original off branded ones.

When I got them home I examined the zipper. Jiggled, tugged and got the bottom slide up to the hip. Tugged some more and got the teeth aligned. woot! zipped the slider down... and it separated. Grrr.. did that a couple times before I realized it was separating at the same spot. So... I did an old trick.... zipped both sliders up as far as I could get them and squeezed the slider head a little with a pair of pliers... shazaam! Zips fine now. Cha-Ching!

Tried them in the garage... much better. No more frozen turkey hiney. Now to figure out how to keep my NOSE warm. lol

[renegadelizard]

"turkey hiney"?....havent heard that one before... for the nose, i dont think there is any comfortable way to keep that bit warm..ski mask maybe?...or a toasty toe warmers, the ones with the adhesive backs...just peel and stick it on your face...easy peasy...lol...