Comments on: A Toolmonger’s Bib

By: metis

metis — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 17:02:37 +0000

huh. everyone doesn’t do this with their apron? i just set a heavy rule on the apron edge on the work bench.

By: ray

ray — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 06:27:48 +0000

can not use one of the things , with the work that i do ,lol

By: Shopmonger

Shopmonger — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 15:35:53 +0000

Try having a portable phone………..haa haa haa
other than than have some hook and loop to attach the edging to your table…. then you can remove it when you want…..

By: David Bryan

David Bryan — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 22:58:22 +0000

I can’t get my head in my pocket.

By: paganwonder

paganwonder — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 15:50:22 +0000

When I want to answer the phone I put it in my pocket.

By: scott

scott — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 01:07:56 +0000

Such aprons have been used for a long time. Ben Franklin wore one made of leather. They probably go back at least to early watch/clock makers.

I’d be tempted to use a hook and loop fastener to attach the hem of the apron to the bench bottom. That way, when the phone rang and I was sure there was nothing critical that needed retrieval, I could turn and go without too much risk to life and limb. rare earth magnets sewn in along the edges might be a good last line of defense.

Cloth has to be cooler than leather. Printer’s ink would soak right through, though.

By: Zathrus

Zathrus — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:44:15 +0000

@KMR - I’m guessing the point isn’t to stop things from rolling off, but (as Brian says) to catch things that may fall when you’re working on something small and delicate.

As noted, it’s from the jeweler’s trade, where you may be working with very small precious stones while setting them in a ring, necklace, etc.

I could see how this could help a watchmaker, clock maker, toy maker, etc. as well.

The other alternative would seem to be to build the bench a lot higher so you could sit close to whatever you’re working on without killing your back.

By: Brian

Brian — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:33:41 +0000

It has some obvious convenience issues, but this would solve a problem for me that a lip on my bench wouldn’t. Inevitably, I am working on something small (inserting components into a PCB say) and I want to work real close to the work. I never remember to work over the table, I just bring it closer to my face. This always ends up being six inches in front of the edge of the bench so when I drop something, it falls straight to the floor.

By: rjerryc

rjerryc — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:03:37 +0000

Maybe he ordered the lobster and someone handed him something to fix instead? Sure looks like an imbecile in the picture. KMR has the right idea and the comment by David Bryan is priceless.

By: Joe

Joe — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 21:58:02 +0000

mmmmmm…Train

By: KMR

KMR — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 21:24:46 +0000

If the goal is to stop parts rolling off your bench, simply add a small lip to the edge of your bench. All of the bench’s in my shop have a piece of 1/16″ inch thick aluminum angle strip screwed to the top / leading edge of the benches. This keeps stuff from rolling off easily and you don’t look stupid either like that guy in the photo.

By: Mike47

Mike47 — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 21:17:52 +0000

If that were me in the picture and the phone rang, I’d hang myself…

By: David Bryan

David Bryan — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 20:54:44 +0000

This reminds me of that old feller who got a carburetor to work on and right away went down on his knees to work on it on the floor and somebody says to him “Wouldn’t it be easier working on it on the bench?” and he says “You can’t knock it off of the floor.”