What's in your pockets?

[gunnyr]

Curious what folks carry in their pockets or pouches in the shop or job site.

I am primarily a site based trim carpenter but spend several days a month in the shop.  When framing I wear a full blown tool belt.  Once I get to the trim tool belts are typically prohibited as they tend to bash cabinets, railings, trim, etc. 

In the shop and job site I nearly always wear Duluth Flex Firehose Pants/shorts.  I am such a creature of habit I want the same pocket layout EVERY day!  In my pockets I carry a Victorinox Executive Knife, RovyVon E8 Angel Eyes flashlight, Kreg Multi Mark, Stanley Utility Knife, Pica Dry Pencil, and a FastCap 25' Old Standby .

The cargo pockets in the Firehose Pants have plenty of room for additional tools but I carry a well stocked Occidental Stronghold Master Carpenter Case from task to task.

 

[woodbutcherbower]

Utility knife.
Several Staedtler Noris HB pencils.
Mobius brass pencil sharpener.
Van keys.
Wallet.
Phone.
Flick-knife.
Knuckle dusters.
Taser.

 

[Lincoln]

Utility knife.
Several Staedtler Noris HB pencils.
Mobius brass pencil sharpener.
Van keys.
Wallet.
Phone.
Flick-knife.
Knuckle dusters.
Taser.

Wow, you really like keeping your customers in line [big grin]

 

[gunnyr]

Taser.

[eek][big grin] [thumbs up]

 

[ChuckM]

Nothing. Maybe occasionally my cellphone in the back pocket if I'm expecting a call. When I wear an apron, the pockets on the apron are also empty.

 

[bobtskutter]

Saw dust.

 

[Oldwood]

In my pocket I carry a Victorinox Tinker and a 10x pocket magnifier.

In the shop I do not carry much as it is all close by, but I do wear an apron for onsite work.

 

[ElectricFeet]

Saw dust.

+1. And bits of routed and sawn plastic, which can defy all attempts to vacuum out.

Speaking as someone who does most of my woodworking outside so have a lot of carrying-out and carrying-in to do: I’ve tried and failed to use apron pockets. The only thing I seem to manage to use them for is small pieces / offcuts that I need to protect from the vac when I clean up. Everything else migrates to a table/trolley top.

Pockets are either too deep that you can’t get to stuff, or too shallow so that top-heavy stuff falls outwhen you bend over to pick something up. And they are either too high so they get in the way of working or too low that they swing around and hit stuff.

I’m an occasional fan of trays or shallow systainers for precise work. Nice to have calipers / retracting pencil / tape etc all in one small area.

 

[gunnyr]

I've tried an apron several times, mostly just held sawdust...  My friends at Leather By Dragonfly make custom leather aprons, they don't have the open pockets like the canvas ones.  I like the idea of having my frequently used tools on my body and i want them in the same place every time; that's why I wear the Duluth Flex Work Pants.

 

[RonMiller]

I have always had a thing about stuff in my pockets, etc. Don't know why, just never liked the feeling. So one of my favorite Festools, as ridiculous as it is, is the discontinued multifunction stool topped with the Work Center. Smooth rolling, lots of storage, readily at hand in the shop...so nothing in the pockets. [big grin]

 

[ChuckM]

I put a set of essential tools (pencils, awl, square, rule, scissors, mask, ear plugs, etc.) in every main work station (workbench, table saw, drill press/sanding station, bandsaw, miter saw, etc. Never need to walk back and forth for a petty item.

 

[Crazyraceguy]

Since I'm in the shop, not doing field-work anymore, it's minimal. My truck keys, (tool box keys connected) go straight into a drawer when I open the box. Cell phone goes in the top of the box.
So my pockets are really only carrying my wallet on one side and a really cheap (super lightweight) plastic razor knife. It's a folding type, that is actually designed for wallpaper hangers.
I keep a 12' Stanley tape measure clipped to the outside of my pocket, a 16' Stanley on the back bench, and longer ones in the box.
I do use the phone as a calculator once in a while, for a Cut-list program occasionally, and Spotify through the Makita radio.

 

[Bencan]

I wear my Diamondback artisan basically every day unless I am working in finished spaces. From framing to trim work it’s basically always the same setup.

Hammer
Tape measure
Pica
Marker
Paolini
Vice grips or some small knipex pliers
Olfa knife
Chalk line
Speed square
Full pocket of bent nails and garbage about 20lbs worth

All my most used tools and the garbage I neurotically pick up all over the jobsite. Overall it’s a very light slim setup, after it’s been cleaned up at least

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Duckler]

I have a keyring that carries a vehicle remote, a Surefire flashlight and a variety of keys.
I finally found a law enforcement style key holder that is worn on my belt.
Occasionally the wad of keys goes in my pocket, but that belt hook/clip thing is a great thing.

 

[gunnyr]

I have a keyring that carries a vehicle remote, a Surefire flashlight and a variety of keys.
I finally found a law enforcement style key holder that is worn on my belt.
Occasionally the wad of keys goes in my pocket, but that belt hook/clip thing is a great thing.

HAH!!  Looks like you and I are the only ones to carry a flashlight!  I find it invaluable to look for things under benches and truck seats!  It also works well to cast at a low angle over the floor when looking for that dropped washer!

 

[rst]

I also wear Duluth carpenter pants, the left accessory pocket will hold my I phone perfectly, right diagonal pocket has Pica pencil and marker, pen, red Sharpie fine point, Milwaukee regular sharpie and Wiha one meter folder rule, Leatherman Skelator utility knife.  Regular right pocket cash bills, no change. Left back pocket large hanky.