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Gene (Grand Forks, ND)

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Just wanted to see how many Smart Carpenters out there are using Suspenders on the Tool Belts. The young guns give me a hard time on it but every time they have to run for a tool not in there belt &qu... (read more)ot; I get to chew there azz "

11/23/2011 12:31 AM · Reply · Like (4) · Share >

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MacIII (Toms River, NJ)

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Well, when you walk around all day with a 32oz hammer on your belt, a square,razor knife, pliers, chalk line, every screw tip and driver attachment possible, a few different spade bits and regular bit... (read more)s, pencils and markers, a drywall saw and cats paw, not to even mention the nails and or screws, it would be insane not to wear suspenders. Especially if your ass challenged like I am. I didn't get one.

11/23/2011 12:51 PM · Like (1)

vdb (Newbury, NH)

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I will have to inform our customers on Monday that they have a crew of "dumb" carpenters building their million dollar house! haha Not a single person wears suspenders, we just all know what... (read more) we are doing for the day and what we need in our tool belts. No need to be hauling around a full tool box of tools for the entire day!

11/25/2011 11:56 PM · Like

MacIII (Toms River, NJ)

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Look at framing, even for a day, if you are not using a nail gun, you are pounding 8d nails, 10d nails. 16d nails for hangers, some hangers taking 40-60 nails per side. That's about 3 belt pouche... (read more)s with a few pounds of nails each. Figure for a million dollar home, your are also bolting beams together, bolting ledgers and plates add another pocket for bolts, nuts and washers. Now add the square, hammer, chalk line, plumb bob,wrench of some type for bolts, and nail puller. Maybe if a nail gun is used too, you may also be carrying a small bottle of oil for air tools. Framing today isn't what it was in the past. Walking onto the job with a hammer and a square doesn't cut it anymore. I'll take that back, union guys rely on the contractor to have all other tools on the job. They then spend the day walking back and fourth all day for every little tool they need to break up the monotony of working. To work in any job that requires lifting, employees are required to wear back belts except for construction workers. The tool belts today are designed in a way to work as back support. I worked my entire career ruining my back. Not as young as I once was and many times, was worked like a dog. The body does just like any other piece of equipment, does break down. We are not supermen. If you can, wear a tool belt with suspenders.

11/26/2011 9:10 AM · Like (2)

Gene (Grand Forks, ND)

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You don't need suspenders if you don't have any tools to carry. The smart carpenter will be the one that does all the lay-outs. The rest of you guys don't need them because the only too... (read more)l you have is a hammer.

11/26/2011 2:15 PM · Like

vdb (Newbury, NH)

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It is a matter of preference, not of intellect. Everyone on our job-site knows how to do all aspects of carpentry, from lay-outs to framing to finish work. I respect that you like to wear them, I just... (read more) do not prefer them.

11/27/2011 5:57 PM · Like

vdb (Newbury, NH)

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I completely understand where you are coming from! Carpentry definitely takes a beating on your body. I have worn suspenders before, its just not my personal preference. We definitely have no connecti... (read more)on with unions, we just rely heavily on pneumatic guns and having all the tools, nails, etc close to where you are working.

11/27/2011 6:15 PM · Like

Gene (Grand Forks, ND)

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Just got to ask where you work that you build multi-million dollars homes with crews that are all lead men.

11/27/2011 6:43 PM · Like

Gene (Grand Forks, ND)

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It is a matter of preference, not of intellect. I meant no offence. The "Smart Carpenter" part was my way of saying if your smart enough to where then now, your back will not pay for it late... (read more)r.

11/27/2011 6:48 PM · Like

vdb (Newbury, NH)

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We build custom homes in New Hampshire. There are four of us on the job. It all depends on what facet of the house we are on, as soon as the foundation is in we are there till the last piece of trim i... (read more)s put in the house. Generally the house is large enough that we split up and tackle different aspects of the house, one person will cut one day and then the other the next. Its actually really nice because it breaks up your week. Nothing is worse then getting stuck doing the same thing for weeks at a time, plus you get to learn all aspects of carpentry.

11/27/2011 8:19 PM · Like

vdb (Newbury, NH)

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After 14 years of snowboarding, and looking forward to 15+, my back is doomed no matter what!

11/27/2011 8:25 PM · Like

Nate (Lawrenceville, GA)

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Has anyone considered alternatives to toolbelts like vests or specialty carry systems, Like Pro-Fit? http://www.pro-fitcarry... (read more)systems.com/

11/28/2011 1:59 PM · Like

MacIII (Toms River, NJ)

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Nate, with a rig like that there is no need for a truck, lol. I saw everything possible on that set up except for the tool belt.

11/28/2011 4:57 PM · Like

Nate (Lawrenceville, GA)

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They do have tool belts, but I really like their holsters! http://www.pro-fitcarrysystems.com/DCS/

11/30/2011 1:57 PM · Like

MacIII (Toms River, NJ)

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The holsters are nice.

11/30/2011 8:42 PM · Like

daddycard (Clarksville, MI)

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Those look pretty cool. Never used anything like those modular systems. Placed an order tonight so we will see.

11/30/2011 9:02 PM · Like

Rudy (Dimondale, MI)

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As a person with a bad back and a retired electrician at an auto-factory, I think suspenders is an excellent choice for carrying tools, pouches, etc. There is nothing more frustrating, then to go on a... (read more) call to repair something and not have the proper tools or parts. My pouch was as large as I could find, my belt had several Plano partition containers carrying a variety of wire terminals, fuses, tape, etc., all depending on the call description. A must when the job could be a 1/2 mile away, and possibly, include several flights of stairs. I started out like everyone else, a tool pouch and belt carried on one shoulder, a bad back suggested that I equalize the distribution of weight rather then on just one shoulder, a suggested ergonomic solution for ones psychical health.

12/10/2011 2:03 PM · Like

Lane (Arab, AL)

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I'd have to agree. I can't imagine lifting the weight of that massive belt every time I reached up to drive nails above my head. I backpack for fun...the entire backpacking community does it... (read more)'s best to keep weight off the shoulders and put it on the hipbones like nature intended. Maybe we need better fitting tool belts.

01/03/2012 12:44 AM · Like

LaneCo

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Having suspenders takes a lot of the strain off your hips and back, I use them daily because it always seems like my pouches are full and you tend to add tools as the day wears on. It definitely helps... (read more) reduce the strain and fatigue on my lower back and keeps my belt where I want it. And I don't have to keep adjusting my belt all day long.

01/05/2012 9:18 AM · Like

Vinny (Neshanic Station, NJ)

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I guess I'm one of the smart ones. I started wearing suspenders about 15 years ago, and my back has thanked me ever since. I finally broke down and bought a rig with the suspenders that hook on D... (read more)-rings. Much better than just hooking on regular ones.

01/06/2012 2:57 PM · Like

Nate (Lawrenceville, GA)

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Have you used your modular system yet? I'm interested to hear what you think.

01/12/2012 12:03 PM · Like

daddycard (Clarksville, MI)

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yea and i love it. its nice to have bags set up for different jobs instead of having to empty the bags on your belt and refil when you change jobs. I can see it will save me alot of time as long as th... (read more)ey hold up.

01/12/2012 6:02 PM · Like

daddycard (Clarksville, MI)

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Update: Still love the modular system, even ordered some more bags. i have bags for trim nails, framing nails, screws, and a mixed bag for my maintenance work. I have tool belts for my framing work an... (read more)d maintenance work. I love the fact that I can quickly switch up without emptying out bags and grabbing through tool bags all the time. One thing I do alot of is installing doors. I have a seperate system for this too, my tool bag has a torpedo level, a flat pry bar, hammer, nail set, 15' tape measure, and a knife. I switch over my Rockwell pocket drill too. My nail bag has 3/4" and 2" nails for my gun in it, some screws, glue, and shims. Love it, everything right at hand.

01/27/2012 6:45 PM · Like (1)

stovebolter46 (Coopersville, MI)

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not to mention you look way sexier with a set of suspenders on

02/02/2012 1:19 PM · Like (2)

djesde (Walled Lake, MI)

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It all in the looks.

03/23/2012 11:39 AM · Like

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