Selecting the right tool belt takes time and experience. I've watched builder's young and old walk through our doors and try on a wide variety of belts swearing that their selection is the ONLY way to go. I remember when the options were slim to none and you had to choose between a cloth nail apron and a leather pouch with belt and hammer holster. Today's tool belt selection is as wide and varied as pick-up truck selection . . . . and they all let you carry nearly as much as your pickup truck.
Gaius was recently in need of a new tool belt and I had nearly as much fun watching him go through the selection process as I do our customers. He is thrilled with his new setup! In the end he decided on a product made by Occidental Leather; the Stronghold Suspendavest with his own favorite tool pouches and drill holster attached to them.
You know we're not short of opinion around here and of course Gaius came up with his own list of essential features. His first tip is to make a concise list of the tools you carry. His list consisted of:
- hammer
- tape (35-ft)
- Speed Square
- Cordless Drill
- block plane
- utility knife
- Japanese Pry Bar
- Japanese Nail Set
- Pocket Boy Saw
- fastener pouch
- pocket for spare bits
In the end we came up with a few simple suggested requirements that can apply to anyone:
- the tools need to all fit into your belt
- you need to be able to reach all pockets easily without contorting your body
- toolbelt needs to be light . . . your tools are heavy enough
- Suspenders are a must . . . they help disperse the weight of your tools
Is there an essential tool that you keep in your tool belt that we didn't include? Let us know: info@shelterinstitute.com
Posts
The link to the "japanese pry bar" is broken. It takes you to a utility knife....
ReplyDeleteSorry -- link is now functional. Thank you for letting us know!
ReplyDeleteBits!... I make sure to have a a variety of bits in one of my pouches. I keep couple short phillips drive bits and a long one. Also a couple square drive bits #1 and #2. I also have a drill bit with a countersink on it. It is always nice to have these on me so I don't need to stop in the middle of working on something.
ReplyDeleteBits!... I make sure to have a a variety of bits in one of my pouches. I keep couple short phillips and a long one. Also a couple square drive bits #1 and #2. And I also have a drill bit with a countersink on it. It is always nice to have these on me so I don't need to stop in the middle of working on something.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great post. Many times I've hated to wear the tool belt because it slipped and slid all over the place. I hadn't imagined that there would be a tool belt/suspender integration available.
ReplyDeleteThe only tools I'd add to the belt would be a cell phone (handy for emergencies) and eye and ear protection.