With greenwood carving does anyone wear an apron for carving and if so what would folk recommend for someone getting back into at least spoon carving, maybe more later?
Greenwood carving Apron
- Thread starter Silverclaws2
- Start date
-
BushMoot: Come along to the amazing Summer Moot 31st July - 5th August (extended Moot : 27th July - 8th August), a festival of bushcrafting and camping in a beautiful woodland PLEASE CLICK HERE for more information.
I made my own work apron out of a lump of upholstery leather. Abakhan sometimes have dumps of them.
I use it for everything: carving, potting, wood turning and using an angle grinder.
The two adjustable straps at waist and neck are double break away - pop fastener and low-grip Velcro. I have a permanently damaged hand from when my school metalwork apron dragged it into a polishing machine.
It also has a beard guard that can fold up under my visor but usually folds out of sight.
I’d include a picture but I’m away on holiday.
I use it for everything: carving, potting, wood turning and using an angle grinder.
The two adjustable straps at waist and neck are double break away - pop fastener and low-grip Velcro. I have a permanently damaged hand from when my school metalwork apron dragged it into a polishing machine.
It also has a beard guard that can fold up under my visor but usually folds out of sight.
I’d include a picture but I’m away on holiday.
I have an army surplus leather apron, I think it's a farriers one, but there are other varieties.
Pretty sure it cost me a fiver all those years ago, but I'm told that a leather apron is the latest fad in celebrity cook wear so the prices have gotten a tad ridiculous.....though they want brown, but a lot of the army stuff was yellow or grey, so maybe ?
Very robust, takes a lot of abuse, cleans up easily, safe from sparks, splinters, flint chips, etc.,
Pretty sure it cost me a fiver all those years ago, but I'm told that a leather apron is the latest fad in celebrity cook wear so the prices have gotten a tad ridiculous.....though they want brown, but a lot of the army stuff was yellow or grey, so maybe ?
Very robust, takes a lot of abuse, cleans up easily, safe from sparks, splinters, flint chips, etc.,
I made mine from the back of a leather sofa someone was throwing away.
the straps are 25mm webbing with pop studs attachments - at the time i didn't want to get the leatherwork box out.
Works really well.
In terms of spoon carving though, are you wanting something to protect you from being cut or just something to keep your normal clothes clean?
If it's the latter you could get something like a warehouse coat or a lab coat that will stop dust and wood chips.
Get something oversize so it's easy to put on over existing clothes and away you go.
the straps are 25mm webbing with pop studs attachments - at the time i didn't want to get the leatherwork box out.
Works really well.
In terms of spoon carving though, are you wanting something to protect you from being cut or just something to keep your normal clothes clean?
If it's the latter you could get something like a warehouse coat or a lab coat that will stop dust and wood chips.
Get something oversize so it's easy to put on over existing clothes and away you go.
I made mine from some leather I picked up at a Moot years ago - I use it for carving, forging and cordage making use - it has a foot strap for when I double a cord by reverse rolling - but since I lost a lot of weight it is now a bit large on me....
Observing here, a lot folk seem to be using leather aprons, of which would have formed my second question
Bench hand joiners use canvas aprons, usually with two pockets on the front.
Handy, comfortable to wear and good for wiping hands free of glue, varnish, etc.,
I know a couple of greenwood carvers who use them too.
You can buy a waxed canvas version on eBay just now for well under a tenner delivered.
Waxed Canvas Tool Work Shop Apron Heavy Duty Woodworking Chef Workshop Unisex UK | eBay UK
Function: This kind of apron can protect your clothes from dust and dirt effectively. Occasion: This apron is suitable for cooking, baking, fishing, gardening, planting, grilling, haircutting and others.
www.ebay.co.uk
I don’t like pockets in my aprons. I use a small tool table next to my work position, be it sitting or standing
That is way more reasonably priced than I expected it to be when I clicked the link. Fair play to him.
Only problem with them is you need a large format printer which a lot of folks don't have access to.
Very reasonably priced for the printed version apart p&p being £9 so I just ordered one of the ones Toddy linked to for £8.69.
It should be pretty easy to mod to it include the thigh protectors like Adams version has.
If it's a pdf, you just tell your printer to add cut lines and print across multiple sheets with it's poster function. I've done loads of things like that. Giant movie posters, surfboard plans, etc.
Years ago, when I was a young apprentice, I was told to always dress for the job because it generates the right mindset to be a better craftsman.
So, I have five basic sets of clothing/covers depending on my role for the day
Carpentry and woodworking - it's a traditional canvas carpenter's apron that my mother made me (her father was a master carpenter and she was a tailoress). It is surprisingly difficult to cut yourself cutting towards your body! I do use a 'no cut' glove on my left hand when doing tight work such as spoons and the like though.
Metalworking, forging, casting, and heat treating - a thick black leather apron that comes quite low to protect from sparks, spills, and the odd dropped component coming out of a kiln, that I made myself. No pockets, perfectly smooth front panel - you don't want to catch a piece of molten or white hot metal in a pocket. I use the same apron when attempting to do flint knapping (I don't go as far as Will Lord getting in that role).
Mechanic - working on cars, bikes, tractors and the like - Tanky's overalls. They're just like commercial overalls but in the tank regiments they were black so I try to get black ones when I can.
Working in the woods and scrub - I use 'country pursuits' clothing - very hard wearing, comfortable, good value and protective against thorns. I'll usually be wearing the same stuff around the campfire
Then, for full on coppicing and tree felling using chain saws, petrol or electric, it's full PPE. I'm usually working on my own so I take as few risks as possible.
So, I have five basic sets of clothing/covers depending on my role for the day
Carpentry and woodworking - it's a traditional canvas carpenter's apron that my mother made me (her father was a master carpenter and she was a tailoress). It is surprisingly difficult to cut yourself cutting towards your body! I do use a 'no cut' glove on my left hand when doing tight work such as spoons and the like though.
Metalworking, forging, casting, and heat treating - a thick black leather apron that comes quite low to protect from sparks, spills, and the odd dropped component coming out of a kiln, that I made myself. No pockets, perfectly smooth front panel - you don't want to catch a piece of molten or white hot metal in a pocket. I use the same apron when attempting to do flint knapping (I don't go as far as Will Lord getting in that role
).Mechanic - working on cars, bikes, tractors and the like - Tanky's overalls. They're just like commercial overalls but in the tank regiments they were black so I try to get black ones when I can.
Working in the woods and scrub - I use 'country pursuits' clothing - very hard wearing, comfortable, good value and protective against thorns. I'll usually be wearing the same stuff around the campfire
Then, for full on coppicing and tree felling using chain saws, petrol or electric, it's full PPE. I'm usually working on my own so I take as few risks as possible.
I use one of these - https://thesmockshop.com/product/triple-pocket-smock/ for when I'm woodworking/spoon carving/crafting, if spoon carving I'll normally have my bodgers bib on as well.
I appreciate wearing an apron for woodwork, and its not that hard to make. This one I made from an old tent sheet, some leather parts, rivets, buttons and webbing. Could sew it with a normal sewing machine.
Similar threads
