Leather apron

D

deloid

Joined
Dec 19, 2007
Messages
458
I would appreciate any recommendations about where to find a quality leather apron.

Thanks
 
You can try The Blacksmith's Depot website and Centaur Forge's site. I got mine from a farier's supply store.

Todd
 
I started making my own after a while. I like to double the leather on the face of the apron, where the hot steel hits it coming off the grinder. When that part of the apron gets too thin, just take the stitching out and sew another piece on.
Cheaper than buying a new one.

Fred
 
Check out the phone listings for welding supplies. Pretty much any good welding shop should have some aprons.

--nathan
 
You wear an apron grinding? I like to wear nylon shirts, shorts and flip flops when I grind :p

Just Kidding... I normally have a "shop shirt", a denim or flannel long sleeve that I rotate as they get dirty.
 
I bought one at the welding shop some 25 years ago, and I'm sure it has saved me from getting burned and cut a few times. I had to make new straps for it over the years, and from time to time I wear it when I use the weed whacker out in the yard.
 
I recently bought a nice leather welder's apron at Harbor Freight for 7.99. It should last many years.
 
Fill in your location in your profile and someone near you might know a local store where you can go buy one. I know of 2 welding suply shops near me in Rhode Island that sell various leather aprons of different types all great for smithing.
 
I recently purchased a wood turner's apron from Woodcraft. With its crossed shoulder straps, it's very comfortable. It also has a removable collar that keeps crap from going down your neck. Although I had to sew the buckle back on after wearing it only twice, I am still very happy with it.

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I personally seldom wear leathers. I wear heavy canvas shirts and pants and the hard finish bounces of sparks and splatter. I have a set of leathers and a leather apron. Just learned to wear the "Carhart" type clothing when I welded and it has protected me. You will never get all the flyers. Some always finds a way to get to the skin:rolleyes:
 
I have several aprons in the shop. Most are moderately heavy blacksmith side leather. My favorite is one I made from buffalo hide.It is real attractive and quite supple.I wear it for demos and things like that. The day to day aprons are all full of flux burns and grinding grit stains. There is a big charred spot on the chest where the sparks from the grinder hit me sometimes (grinding on the top belt).

Some features that are desirable for a forging/grinding apron are:
Coverage fairly high up toward the neck.
Chap cut, long bottom.Wrap around sides to give 200+ degree coverage.
Extra flap of leather at the groin area. (the purpose of this is obvious)
Pockets are not usually needed, or necessarily desirable, when forging and grinding.
Adjustable neck strap, and easily fastened back strap.

BTW - Welders sleeves are nice to slip on when doing a batch of damascus.

Stacy
 
I can't tell you where to buy a good leather apron, but I can tell you where NOT to buy one. I saw a cheap deal from "Cheaper Than Dirt", $25.00. Sounded like a good deal. But the tanning is so poor that when I first wore it my clothes were covered with yellow crud. Still a problem. I guess I got what I paid for.
 
Will Leavitt said:
You wear an apron grinding? I like to wear nylon shirts, shorts and flip flops when I grind :p

Just Kidding... I normally have a "shop shirt", a denim or flannel long sleeve that I rotate as they get dirty.
Click to expand...

"Grind nekkid". It's all the rave nowadays.

Craig
 
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