What's in your shop apron?

[kmealy]

I'd like to hear what you keep as your go-to tools in your shop apron (or tool belt, or whatever)

My right side waist pocket is
* tape measure
* utility knife, Stanley #99 that I've had for years
* eraser
* chuck for drill press

Left side waist pocket
* 6" combo square (used to have an engineer's square, but I'm trying this out)

Chest pocket
* Couple of pencils from #2 to 0.5mm mechanical
* 6" ruler
* 4" calipers, mostly used to gauge thicknesses


Some of the measuring devices have both imperial and metric. I usually work in imperial, but there are times when metric is just easier. For example, it's easier to take the half of 46 mm than 1 13/16. And some products are made in metric.

[DaninVan]

Tool belt;
Right side large pocket...
-1"'x 25 ' tape-measure
-circ. saw blade wrench
-candle stub
-carpenter pencil(s)
-sawdust
Right side small pocket...
-a large punch
-misc. bits and pieces, mostly nails and screws
-sawdust
Right side outer pockets...
-Estwing framing hammer
-four nail sets
-util. knife
-sawdust
Left side large pocket...
-chalk line
-plumb bob
-round two sided sharpening stone
-spring loaded ctr. punch
-misc. nails
-sawdust
Left side small pocket...
- can't remember but undoubtedly sawdust
Left side outer pocket ...
-circ. saw rip guide
-12" comb. square

[kmealy]

I got an ad for this today. Speed Square 2.0 I read the manual and it's the thing for framers

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-Unive ... t-overview

[Herb Stoops]

It might be kind of bulky in your apron, but I like the looks of it for a rafter lay-out tool. I always used the front hammer loop for the combination square. Even the speed square was clumsy in the pouch. I hung the hammer on the back side from a ring.
Herb

https://www.amazon.com/SitePro-SITEGEAR ... ag=mh0b-20

[Bushwhacker]

Nothing.
The wind tore my yard gate up and when I check it, some of the wood was rotten so i replaced it. I got my nail belt out and dumped the pockets. Mostly old rusty bent nails and a couple of pencils.
Now nothing, not even saw dust.
and oh, I found the lost hammer from my tool wall. It was in one of the loops.

Bushwhacker

[Nickp]

Like everybody else I have several tool belts...it turned out to be an advantage. For small jobs I carry a one-sided belt (canvas), and then one for electrical work and one for outside work, etc... And since I have more duplicate tools than I'll ever need I have a tool bag that I take when I go remote (boat, longer than a day, etc...) I tend to load up for the job but I always have...pencil, scribe, tape, folding rule, utility knife, 12" combination, pocket calipers, 6-way screwdriver, speed square, 16oz Estwing, 6" prybar, spring punch, center punch, nail punch, toothpicks, 4" steel...and a small empty pocket for removed nails/screws...

Shop apron gets...pencil, scribe, folding rule, 6' tape, small pocket notebook, 6" combo square, pocket calipers...everything else is "grab n go"...

I also find myself re-configuring from time to time cuz the inventory seems to build on its own...

[Cherryville Chuck]

No shop apron. I have a trough down the center of my workbench instead. It holds tape measures, knives of a few types, sanding aids that I make out of pieces of HPL, pencils and markers, and my bench dogs. I have to clean it regularly but it's nice to have everything handy without hanging on you. Under the bench are 2 framing squares, 2 speed squares (6 and 12"), a 6x12 framing square, 12" hook rule, and a center finding rule. Next to those are all my small light duty F clamps which get used often at the bench as well as two large hand screws and 2 small ones. Spring clamps are under the other side.

I took my tool belt and added suspenders by getting some seat belt type strapping and sewing them on with a Lee Valley sewing awl. Here's one from Banggod that shows it with the needles. LV's picture didn't show it with the needles and oddly LV's is cheaper. https://www.banggood.com/Professional-S ... d7b4d486f8 The suspenders support the load from your shoulders and don't keep pulling your pants down. At least that's what mine did. With a big framing hammer and a drill hanging from the belt they get pretty heavy and the suspenders pack the weight easier.

[DaninVan]

Didn't pay your Hydro bill, Charles?

[Cherryville Chuck]

Crappy cheap camera. To get enough lighting for it I have to get out the halogen tripod work light. That gets Hydro excited when I turn it on. But then my heater doesn't come on for a while.

[Nickp]

...do your neighbors complain that you're dimming their lights...? You need a better extension cord to the hydro plant...

[DaninVan]

Heh...I just had my driveway pole light replaced. had to get one of the local contractors with a bucket truck to do it.
This time we replaced the halogen flood fixture with a 54 watt LED outdoor flood fixture. It's at least twice the light and 1/3 the power consumption.
Considering it's on from dusk til dawn I think we'll notice a savings in electricity.
So far only one of the neighbours has whined about the super nova on our driveway...
(It's the only streetlight on our street.)

[Cherryville Chuck]

My closest next door neighbor (3 or 400 feet away) a few years back came to me wanting to petition what ever powers that be for out in the country here to put up a street light. For security reasons he said. I said we're more secure without it. He looked puzzled. I said it's dark at night here so if somebody wants to steal something from me he's going to need a flashlight. Then I'll see him but he won't see me. That's when the fun starts.

[DaninVan]

Not to mention bears. Them knowing where you are but you not being aware of them. Never mind the cougars...

[Cherryville Chuck]

I have lots of lights I can turn on when I go out and several solar ones with IF sensors. Don't need or want any of them on all night.

[DaninVan]

Yee Hah! I'm a local 'celebrity' now...
Third one up from the bottom.

[Herb Stoops]

Yee Hah! I'm a local 'celebrity' now...
Third one up from the bottom.

Are you the Warden with the Prison Yard Light?
HErb

[Herb Stoops]

I have seven outside lights around my house so the burglars can see their way around and not wake me up.
Herb

[DaninVan]

Yee Hah! I'm a local 'celebrity' now...
Third one up from the bottom.

Are you the Warden with the Prison Yard Light?
HErb

More like the inmate.
But yup,that'd be me.
Finally; getting the recognition I deserve!

[Cherryville Chuck]

I have seven outside lights around my house so the burglars can see their way around and not wake me up.
Herb

You reminded me of a cheap security system I thought up for protecting against those who would sneak up in the dark. You take one of the standard motion detecting yard lights and instead of putting bulbs in it you screw in one of those adapters that allow you to plug something into it. Run an extension cord from it to your bedroom and have it power a buzzer that's just loud enough to wake you but not the rest of the neighborhood (like Dan's light). You know someone's outside and they have no idea that you know.

Here is a tip my son in law taught me. If you store paint balls in the freezer they leave huge bruises and paint ball guns are capable of very rapid fire.

[Herb Stoops]

I think the term is infamous....where they make the victim appear as the villain, a lot of that disease going around.
Herb

[Herb Stoops]

Years ago I worked with a guy that came in everyday and complained about the dog next door barking all night long and he was loosing sleep. So he rigged this big spot light on his roof shining into his neighbors bedroom window. When the dog started to bark he would switch on the light. A few days later the neighbor was knocking on his door complaining that the light was keeping him awake at night. He told his neighbor that there must be intruders poking around at night because it makes his dog bark so he turned on the light to check it out.
From then on no barking was heard at night.
HErb