Aceinstaller

Maybe the guys that trained me were a little too hard on the help,(considering that any new labor usually lasted under a week, and some would just up and leave before lunch) but one of the main rules on the job was to wear your tool belt with the proper tools according to the work bieng completed.

It was a bit of a pain at first, but after a while it is understood why.

Moving into Chicago, and working with a few different crews out here has got me wondering: Doesn't everyone wear thier toolbelt on the job?

mdshunk

If you spot a guy taking his bags on and off 20 times a day, you've just spotted the new guy.

Taking your bags off really puts a crimp on efficiency.

There are a few times when I do, such as crawling in tight quarters, or working in cramped conditions. Sometimes I take them off when working near expensive finished goods, such as finishing a newly installed kitchen.

My rule of thumb is... arrive on job, put bags on first. Don't take them off until you're headed for lunch or the day is done. There should be some overwhelming reason to take them off otherwise.

Granted, some trades don't really do the tool belt thing.

RobertCDF

When I still worked framing I would wear my bags all the time UNLESS I was had to move A LOT of material (half a bunk of studs or more, 15+ sheets of ply) I had to do this a lot when I was moving up the chain but once we got a new laborer I was free... Then he would quit after a few days and I was back at the bottom. Now that I work for myself I dont wear them unless I need to.

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Robert Shaw
Colorado Springs Custom Decks
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Aceinstaller

This is more like it!

Efficency is the key. When I am on a job under a different G/C I can't stand those "less expensive" crews that are just wasting time walking around looking for the tool that is needed to do something or going up and down ladders for a different screwdriver.

A man making minimum wage without his toolbelt is probably costing 20 an hour in real terms.

pwrpapa

I'm sorry.I guess I'm the biggest prick in the land.
You take your belt off, your fired. No if's an's or butt's.
I love to see my competition do things like that.

Would you take your belt off in a gun fight???????????

Mike Finley

Okay, I'm a moron, what the hell? There is a tool belt controversy?

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mdshunk

Well, Mike, the first step to recovery is recognizing that you have a problem. I'm not sure what this has to do with tool belts, but perhaps we can help you work through it.

No, no contraversy. It's just that some recognize the inefficiencies of not wearing a tool belt for most tasks versus wearing one. Mind you, some tasks and trades are not especially oriented for the tool belt thing. Framers, many carpenters, iron workers, sidewallers, of course electricians, and a few others really need the benefit of wearing bags.

nadonailer

Outta the truck, on go the bags! And I work for myself so I don't have to, its just the only sensible way of gettin' things done. Unless I gotta carry a bunch of stuff or go crawlin under a house or somewhere where they would be in the way,,,,,,,

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leiffearn

Sometimes when I start the day without bags at first, it feels like I have a hard time getting motivated. If my bags are on, then I know that the day has already begun now GO! I feel naked without them. The guy who trained me yelled at me for taking off my bags all the time. One time I said "Well if they make bags that will hold a push broom then I will!" Im glad he kept me around. Do you guys have those permanent bruises on your sides?

mdshunk

Yeah, I know exactly what you're saying. If I stagger into a home under construction with a coffee in my hand, I'm quite likely to roam around for 30 minutes looking at stuff and talking to other people while they're trying to work. Put on the bags, and my whole outlook changes. Weird, huh?

Now that's funny.

I hang my bags off one of those back supporter belts, and that makes all the difference in the world. Really nice.

leiffearn

BACK SUPPORT BELTS!!!!!!! i love it

all vinyl

its amazing i have this talk ervry time a new man comes on board no matter the agehalf seem to be taught the bag goes on when the work starts and comes off when work is finished if your bag is on you have mostly everything you require ecept for that 6 foot crowbar when you just have to fine tune that window ha ha . so it's not just me

Teetorbilt

You 'tool belt' guys scare me to death. Nothing like seeing some guy with 50#s of hardware on his hips just miss $50K worth of finished cabinetry where a simple scratch could take days to repair. I even have a belt buckle phobia.

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ruskent

To me it all depends on what your doing. If i am framing, i'll have it on. If i am hanging cabinets i normally won't wear it. One day i was building a big retainingwall and got ticked off looking for my tools i went to my truck and took all my carpentry tools out of bags and put in my masonry hammer, 12in level, stone chisel, marker, and my deadblow hammer. I was the only guy in town doing landscaping that day with bags on, but it was alot easier.

ConcreteNed

I'm a concrete carpenter by trade, if I don't wear my belt, nothing seems to get done.....Almost always, it's the first thing done, put on the belt and load it up with nails...wedge bolts....ect..

comes off at lunch and again at days end.....I will take it off if hauling panels or during a wall pour......Other than that, it's a must to wear it during working hours...

Scott Young

bags are a funny thing. years ago i was at a job sight where i was just a carpenters helper at the time. i bought my bag and tools from a pawn shop and they were really used. they had holes sewed shut with chalk line. it was lunch time and we were all laid up under the work trailer...the only shade on the site. this new carpenter walked up and i will never forget him. he had snake skin boots, levi silvertab jeans, white (really white) t-shirt, smokes rolled up in sleeve, brand spankin new white hard hat, and bling bling tools from sears. he had craftsman tools everywhere. he walked up and squatted down to look under the trailer and he anounce that he was the new carpenter. the lead carpenter commented on his tool belt. the new guy said it better be nice he just dropped 2 grand at sears. tommy, the lead, got up and asked to see it. the guy took it off and handed it to tommy. tommy dropped it on the ground which was about a foot of dust and then urinated on it. he told the new guy, now it will look like you know what you are doing. man, i was glad i was poor and went to pawn shop!

jwatkins

My guys learn very quick to keep their bags on at all times. If mine comes off for luch theirs does to if not it says on. Call me a hard a$$ but when your bags are on you mean business and you look like it! I am notorious for nailing hte new guys bags to the floor when I catch them with them of or hiding a hammer in the rafters when they leave their finger smasher laying around.

leiffearn

ever tried nailing your balls to the subfloor?

jwatkins

Never tried that but have managed to nail a foot to a top plate setting trusses.

Aceinstaller

Yeah teetor I agree with you too.

Finished product is something else. Any damage to finished product is reason for back charge.