Prototype: My square at my belt

[evidenttools]

Hi.

I've been thinking about this for a long time: having my square on my belt, because I'm constantly looking for where I put it.

Especially because I work between the workshop and outside when it's not raining: better lighting, dust outside, etc.

With a solution to protect the set square, enclosed in a sheet of plywood.

Four 10 mm magnets to hold it in position.

At this stage, I don't attach it to my belt, but instead put it in my jeans pocket, slipping a piece of "soft hard" plastic inside. So I can easily remove it if it ever gets in the way when carrying beams or something else.

Well, I added something to attach my tape measure, my Pica Dry pencil (I finally got around to it, even though I'm not entirely satisfied, I spend my time sharpening it), and, my favorite by far, my cheapest mechanical pencil(s).

 

[evidenttools]

In practice, it's a bit too far forward; it would be better on the side of my hip.

I'm going to think about attaching it between the front and back pockets of my jeans.

Right or left side? We'll see how it works. The best would probably be a set square and ruler on the left, pencils on the right.

I'm also tempted to bring my stainless steel Japanese set square, which you can see in the last photo, next to the scissors.

On the other hand, it's great; I have a "full-hand" grip with the edges of the plywood to grab or replace my tape measure, which isn't always practical with the edges of jeans pockets, which the ruler ends up damaging.

A little "Laura Kampf" spirit that I like!

 

[onocoffee]

A Square at My Belt.

When I read that the first thing that came to mind was my Woodpeckers 4” Double Square mounted on a large silver Western belt buckle.

And now that I think of it, that would be pretty cool.

 

[Packard]

I think I would rather a small belt clip that could quickly detach from the square, or even a small holster made from Kydex, would be very durable, and very light weight. The only “specialized” equipment required is a toaster oven.

Even if you are not familiar with Kydex, you’ve seen it. The entire interior of modern passenger aircraft is made from heat-formed Kydex panels. The material has been co-opted by the holster industry for the same reasons that the aircraft builders had: Light weight, durable, easily formed, cheap or no tooling.The heated material can directly formed over many articles (including squares. The video shows special grommets for assembly, but Chicago screws will work as well.

In any case, I suspect that the belt carrier will prove to be too bulky in the long run.

A good idea, but I think it needs to be refined, made smaller and lighter and easily reproduced.

There are many videos on working with Kydex. Small sheets are available online. Black being the most popular, but the aircraft-beige is available too.

 

[smorgasbord]

My son would probably use that to make a Western gun-slinger type movie parody....
Whose the quickest square in the West?

 

[peter halle]

Tool belts are such a personal thing - what works for one doesn't for another based on workflow, -space, and even what goes into them. I once experimented with making something in leather and it too ended up long and I hated it. have you thought about flipping that so that the long downward leg was facing backward?

Peter

 

[evidenttools]

Thanks for the Kydex suggestion. This is a first prototype. I'll see how to finalize it when I find the configuration that suits me.

 

[evidenttools]

I would try turning the bracket 90 degrees, but I wonder if that would be less practical. To be continued in several weeks of testing!

 

[Cheese]

I think I would rather a small belt clip that could quickly detach from the square, or even a small holster made from Kydex, would be very durable, and very light weight.

Another vote for Kydex...it's good stuff. It's lightweight, strong and can be fashioned in a smaller package than the wood while still protecting the square. It can also be solvent welded using commonly available bonding agents.

https://www.holstersmith.com/vcom/kydex-kydex-sheet-colors-c-546_54_136_551.html?gad_campaignid=1037921464&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADt803bt7mjjDetj5dLat9fCr9Foy&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIyPPym7OXkAMVrkd_AB2XfA2PEAAYAiAAEgKcL_D_BwE

 

[demographic]

Different people use tools in different ways but Ive hanged to a 150mm combination square over a 300mm one for my regular use, plus a quick roofers square.
The 150 does 90 % of what I needed from my 300mm one and is waaaay better to carry, doesn't poke me in the leg/elbow when I kneel down and if I need a longer one its in my box.

 

[Packard]

This minimalist gun holster shows what I would have had in mind. It is made from Kydex and shows a spare magazine holder incorporated.

A similar design with the accessory pencils would work in my opinion for the square.

My squares have been tossed around like almost any of my hand tools and remain fully functional. I would note feel compelled to incorporate a full protective sheath for them.

Site for the below image. Includes several other images of the same holster.

In any case, there are many manufacturers of belt clips (metal or resin) for holsters that would work equally well for your wood holster or a leather or Kydex holster.

In case you are worried about the clips ability to handle the weight, my old Colt 45 (Government Model) weighed in at 39 ounces without ammo).

resin belt clips for kydex holsters - Google Suche

 

[ChuckS]

Different people use tools in different ways but Ive hanged to a 150mm combination square over a 300mm one for my regular use, plus a quick roofers square.
S ip.

That's so true that when working in my shop, I never wear a tool belt of any kind to keep my hips, knees and ankles from any unnecessary and additional weights.

Our own body weight is enough a burden on our limbs, and some people I know my age have developed enough problems for themselves because of their weights, some requiring surgeries as a fix. There's no way I'd burden myself like Norm Abram and others, hanging a nail pinner, cordless drill, hammer, and whatnot on my waist!

I wear an apron to protect my clothing, and I don't put anything in its pockets. My solution to having tools whenever I need them is to put duplicates of them (tape measures, pencils, squares, rules, etc.) all over the place/workstations.

 

[Vondawg]

With you hundred percent Chuck

 

[luvmytoolz]

I wear an apron to protect my clothing, and I don't put anything in its pockets.

Same! Besides, any pockets seem to magically fill up with sawdust regardless of what I'm doing, so there's no room for anything else.

 

[onocoffee]

Agreed, ChuckS. I only keep a Hultafors pencil in my apron.

 

[Michael Kellough]

Same! Besides, any pockets seem to magically fill up with sawdust regardless of what I'm doing, so there's no room for anything else.

Blowing the crud out of pockets is the “killer app” for those little high speed blowers.

 

[peter halle]

I try not to wear a tool belt. I added suspenders to get the weight off my hips about 6 years ago. I still use my Festool tool apron with the barest of stuff in them in the shop - a 12' tape measure, a mechanical pencil, a Pica pencil, a Bridge City 4 inch adjustable squared a razor knife. Anything else is on a horizontal surface close by. Out and about I don't carry anything in pockets anymore - Nutsac sling bag.

Peter

 

[Michael Kellough]

I’m a minimalist as far as my person goes. No belt, no apron, nothing in my pockets but my phone in the back.
But I’m a maximalist as far as shop equipment goes. There are multiples of the basic tools all around the shop.
When a measurement is critical I go get “the one” that is used for the duration of the project.

This started when a combination square scratched the work twice in the same project.

 

[Packard]

That's so true that when working in my shop, I never wear a tool belt of any kind to keep my hips, knees and ankles from any unnecessary and additional weights.

Our own body weight is enough a burden on our limbs, and some people I know my age have developed enough problems for themselves because of their weights, some requiring surgeries as a fix. There's no way I'd burden myself like Norm Abram and others, hanging a nail pinner, cordless drill, hammer, and whatnot on my waist!

I wear an apron to protect my clothing, and I don't put anything in its pockets. My solution to having tools whenever I need them is to put duplicates of them (tape measures, pencils, squares, rules, etc.) all over the place/workstations.

When I had my frame shop, I borrowed a video camera and set it up in the workshop area. I found I was moving from station to station retrieving tools. I set each station up with a full array of the tools required for that station. I also set up 10 utility knives with fresh blades each morning, so I would not have to break stride and replace blades while working. (I used each blade for one operation only, to ensure I did not damage any cuts with a dull blade.)

In any case, duplicate blades not only improved my efficiency, it allowed me to pick up a work-rhythm which (I believe) improved the quality of my work. Attempting to work faster or slower than your natural rhythm seems to reduce the quality of work.

 

[Mike Goetzke]

Couple years back I bought a leather work apron. I was somewhat embarrassed to wear it at first but now this is the first thing this nerd puts on when I go into the shop. I'm lost without it because there is a place for everything. I also use it when using my wood lathe. I see they make these leather pouches now - very tempting: https://calaveratoolworks.com/products/the-maker-pouch-copy