Conference 7.286::home_work

    I found disposal coveralls in the paint department of Home Depot.
    They were available in various sizes; S, M, L, XL.  They are about
    $5 or $6 if I remember correctly.  I bought a pair but have never
    used them.
    
    I personally have a pair of overalls that I wear for most of my work
    around the house.  I also have a long sleeved rugby jersy and sweat
    shirt for colder months.  When working out of doors in the winter I
    will put a pair of sweat pants on underneath the overalls.  In the
    warmer months, I have a pair of shorts, with lots of pockets, and a
    couple of T-shirts.  I have a pair of duck boots which I use because
    they are water proof.  They don't have a steel toe, a feature I have
    missed on occasion ;^). 
    
    Whenever I feel tempted to start working on something, I put these on.
    They save my "regular" clothes from certain disaster.  These are my
    designated work clothes.  They have paint, soder, ground in dirt,
    stain, insulation, etc. on them and get washed seperateley from all
    other laundry. 
  
    The overalls are the best $20 I ever spent the week after I bought
    the "fixer-upper from hell".

if you know anyone who works in or near a clean room environment then you 
know about "clean suits".  they are disposable suits that are great for 
fiberglass protection.  however, they don't breath well and are very hot in 
the summer.  -craig

    On the same line, I only wear Dickies work pants now when doing
    jobs, they outlast dungarees, and clean easier. The pockets are
    reinforced, and you can let out the seat by ripping out a thread
    in case you work on twinkies more than your house. I leave a
    heavy work belt with hammer and knife holder on sets of these
    pants at my house, add steel-toed work boots and a shirt and you
    are all set to go.
                                 
    							Chris

    I realize that this is a nit but I must say that I wish we wouldn't use
    disposable items as much as we do.  We are running out of places to
    dispose into.  I keep old clothes around for grubby projects, heavy
    clothes for heavy projects, and if I have to use terrible chemicals
    then I think twice.  Dickies are good.  There are some heavy double
    legged canvas pants available tthat we use in our blacksmith shop.  We
    have leather aprons, leather and rubber gloves, cotton hats and
    bandannas to protect hair.  I prefer all cotton or wool clothes because
    they breathe, don't melt, wear well and clean up relatively easily.  We
    have a debate goin on in our household about steel toes.  For light to
    moderate work they're great if you drop somethin on your toe, but if
    you're working with really heavy stuff, dropping something on a steel
    toed boot can cut your toe off.  Otherwise you crush the toe.  (Some
    choice!)
    
    Dondi  

>    I realize that this is a nit but I must say that I wish we wouldn't use
>    disposable items as much as we do.  We are running out of places to

you are only allowed to remove scrap from dec.  so the clean suits i
mentioned are obtained from the trash can.  as far as work goes there are
ways to clean reusable suits but they are generally not as good and cost 
more.  send your concerns to someone very high up the ladder at dec.


>    have a debate goin on in our household about steel toes.  For light to
>    moderate work they're great if you drop somethin on your toe, but if
>    you're working with really heavy stuff, dropping something on a steel
>    toed boot can cut your toe off.  Otherwise you crush the toe.  (Some

i know a guy who jumped down from a loading dock.  his tool belt hooked a 
freon cylinder on the way.  he turned around just in time to put his foot 
under the falling cylinder.  i can't think of many things heavier than that 
cylinder from 4 feet up and it didn't cut off his toe.  i would put steel
toes in the same catagory as seat belts - not needed often, but helping
many times over more than hurting. 

remember, when thinking over all these things.  you get 90% of the benefit 
from the first 10% of the effort.  so don't waste too much of your life 
worrying about that last 10%.

craig

    Can someone recommend a good workboot w/ or w/out the steel toe?
    What to look for in a workboot? etc.
    
    /Jay

    We have used Redwing and Dunham.  The Dunhams come with and without
    the tinsel toes and my family likes the way they fit their feet.  I 
    looked for a loooong time to find a well-made, sturdy boot to fit my
    womens' size 5.5 foot.  I'm very happy with my Dunhams.
    
    Dondi
    
    ps.  my note of dispair about disposables was a generic moan to the 
         world in general to just keep in mind that disposables in general
         add to the general trash problem.  And my observation about steel
         toes was prefaced by the note that steel toes, pro or con, is an
         ongoing debate in my household of four.  Sorta akin to the
         seatbelt debate.  Good heavens!
      

    
    re. steel toe shoes.
    
    Too bad you don't work in a manufacturing plant like here in
    Wastefield. We get one pair of safety shoes issued free per year.
    This year they (Lehigh) introduced a white sneaker ESD shoe that 
    is comfortable and is not that bad looking. Many years ago we used
    to get two pairs but cost cutting measures stopped that. I have
    worn steel toe shoes/boots for many years and they have saved alot
    of pain that I once endured when a cow broke a few of my toes. 
    
    Jim

    My fiance, who works in construction, went to Logan once to pick
    up someone.  They let non-passengers into the gates at the time,
    so he thought he'd go in.  He couldn't get through the metal detector!
    After removing loose change, keys, a belt buckle and some pens,
    there was seemingly nothing left to remove.  The guards were getting
    nervous.  One came over with the scanner when the other went to
    the phone.
    
    Then they discovered the weapon...
    
    His steel toe boots!
    
    Moral:  Don't go directly to the airport from your D-I-Y project!
    
    Elaine

    I'd defininitely second the steel toes.My dec pair of boots (I think they're
    Knapps) has lasted me at least 8 years. I wear them mostly for bringing
    in our wood-- even if it's hot enough to wear shorts. I seem to
    drop at least a third of what I carry so I've saved a lot of broken
    toes.
                                                               
    (the klutz)
    
    Lynn
    

    I found what I think is the perfect set of coveralls for a wide
    variety of jobs - they're rugged white cotton and only $6.95 each!
    They even have a decorative "Indian Point 3" nuclear power plant logo
    (some say NYPA for New York Power Authority).  I bought two - have used
    one already for mucking around with insulation in the attic.  They have
    various pockets - some have elastic-banded sleeves.  Get yours at a
    local Building #19 store (New England).
    
    					Steve

Great suggestion! I have had tremendous luck by going to uniform
rental companies and buying from their always-present used rack. I
have bought perfect condition, very serviceable Dickeys coveralls for
$10, and they have altered it for that price! As a matter of fact,
they sewed on an oval patch that says "Pete" on the breast for another
buck, so now I can look like a real manual-type person if and when I
want to. Plus my clothes stay clean if I have to do a job!

Pete

    Yep - there's a rental company in Nashua (Crown) where I've bought work
    pants and shirts - even free alterations!
    
    					Steve

re .11:

Did you check _why_ they're being offered cheap (with a geiger counter)? :-)

I picked up two sets myself for general work, and (after slight mods) for
beekeeping.  Also add a Homer Simpson mask and you have a Halloween costume
:-)

-Mike

That thought (the geiger counter) did occur to me, but I didn't have one handy.
At least they don't glow in the dark...

				Steve