OK, most people are right-handed. So why...

[trof]

do overalls and carpenter pants always have the hammer loop on the LEFT side?
Is this some Leftist Plot?

I mean, you're holding the nail with your left hand on the board you're also holding up, and reach for the hammer with your right hand...and it's not there.
It's ON THE OTHER SIDE.


So you put the board down, and the nail.
Get the hammer in your right hand, put the board back up and place the nail, and THEN you can hammer.

I'm starting a petition campaign to Liberty, Dickies, Big Ben, Carhardt, and whoever else makes work clothing.
Put the damn hammer loop on the RIGHT side.
The screwdriver/pliers pocket can be of the left side.
OK?

[yellowcanine]

1. Because pants with hammer loops are just for looking cool. Not actually for hammers.

Could be true.

[trof]

5. I'm helping a friend with a fairly major construction project.

A 60' X 80' barn/shed.
I finally decided I need something other than jeans.
A loaded tool belt gives me a back ache.
I MAINLY needed a hammer where I could get at it conveniently.

Over the years I've usually had a pair of overalls hanging in the back of my closet for various home construction/handyman jobs. Just not now.
So I bought a pair.

I'm thinking seriously about asking Miz t. to relocate the loop to the right side.
She's a whiz on the sewing machine.

[A Simple Game]

17. You can buy just a loop that will go on the belt for your pants. n/t

[Wait Wut]

2. Post this in the gun forum.

I bet you'll get a logical answer. Or, a really interesting nonsensical one.

[A Simple Game]

3. Because

Liberty, Dickies, Big Ben, and Carhardt also sell tool belts?

[trof]

6. See post 5. Tool belts give me a back ache.

I've used one.
They're handy until you get to be a geezer and load them up with too much hardware.

[deucemagnet]

4. Ditch the overalls, buy a tool belt,

and load it with heavy tools that will pull your pants down enough to show a good inch of plumber's crack. That seems to be how the pros do it.

[trof]

7. That's the great thing about overalls.

NO SAG!
They don't pull your pants down because you aren't wearing PANTS!

[trof]

8. About exposed butt cracks:

Funny, they don't seem to be so offensive when it's a 30-something attractive woman.


I'm just helping out a friend, but he has a hired construction crew doing the heavy lifting.
Today we were lifting a stud wall into place and when this very attractive young woman bent over I got a nice view of the top few inches of Mary Lou's derriere.
Naturally, I didn't say a word.

Just sign me...
'Dirty Old man'

[pokerfan]

9. according to yahoo

When carpenter's pants where originally designed they where called painter's pants. The two small pockets that are on the right leg outseam are for the painter's scraper and putty knife. The hammer loop was put on the left side because the scraper and knife would be used more than the hammer.

Sounds plausible, I don't know...

[RC]

10. I don't see a problem.

But then, I'm left handed, so were both of my parents as are one of my two girls.

BTW, you can buy suspenders for your tool belt.

[trof]

11. Not to whack this dead horse too much...

What I mean is, my OP was kinda tongue-in-cheek, but...seriously...
I've tried suspenders with the tool belt.
Now you can't easily get into your shirt pockets.
It's like you're in harness.

Overalls have pockets where you want them that you can get to.
And a lightweight cotton nail apron pretty much gets you all the handy access you need.
Works for me, anyway.

Tomorrow we start screwing on the sheet metal panels.
I'll blow them away with my cordless drill/driver holster.

[RC]

22. Well, I played electrician for a while, wiring apartment houses and private homes.

A nail apron would be pretty light.
Being left handed in a right handed world, I don't have much sympathy when right handers have problems.
Everything from pens and pencils to scissors to computer mice and key boards to the 'proper' way to stuff an envelope are set up for right handers.

[Curmudgeoness]

12. Get yourself a needle and thread,

and a nice piece of material, preferably pink or purple, but I will leave that up to you. Then just custom design your overalls.

Jeez....it takes a woman to tell you this simple solution???

[trof]

14. No, Miz t. has already said she can remedy this.

CUSTOM OVERALLS!

[Curmudgeoness]

16. Sigh. Men!!!!!!! nt

[Ptah]

13. So, if I understand correctly, you bang with one hand and screw with the other?

[trof]

15. Bang...screw...what's the diff?

[amerikat]

18. I've given up on denim for work pants.

I now buy used military pants. Lots of pockets, looser fitting and are more durable
than denim. Rip stop nylon and cotton mix are light and don't cling to my skin when It's
hot and humid. The two large cargo pockets can hold four squeeze clamps. Pockets are
big enough to hold a water bottle or two. Hip pockets are large, back pockets are a good size also.
They have places to hold knee pads inside of pockets. I find those regular knee pads with the strap around
the back of the knee to be very uncomfortable.

I'm a carpenter at a place that builds sets for plays, interiors for museums, casinos, supermarkets, Etc.
We also build stuff for the major theme parks. Most are one of a kind pieces. So I never know from
day to day what tools I will need or if I will be climbing on the work or working from ladders or a scissor
lift.

About the hammer loop. I have a leather one with a metal loop that goes over my regular belt.
Most days I get by with a small nail apron. Some days a regular tool belt is needed. I hold all this up
with suspenders. I'm not hiking my pants up all day from the weight of the tools. I've never been more
comfortable in work clothes.

I get the pants as surplus or used in excellent condition for about $20 from a local
Army/Navy store.

Edit to add. We have a soft goods department that will sew just about anything. I had them sew
some small pockets right on the suspender for pencils, markets and such.

[trof]

26. Now THAT sounds like a fascinating job.

Thanks for all the tips from a pro.

[amerikat]

27. It's Pretty cool to work on such a variety of projects.

As I grow older, I have learned to work smarter. Brute force is no longer an option.
The tools I use and the work clothes I wear are just what's practical for me.

Psst...we are building a clown car. All the posts about the republican clown car are driving me crazy.

I'll post pics when it opens to the public. Confidentiality agreements and such.

[trof]

29. 'Work smarter, not Harder'. You bet.

The framer was measuring and calling out "114 and 3/8ths".
"31 and a half and 29 and 1/4."
And back at the chop saw to his 'helper' "What did I just say?"
I started writing his measurements down.
Saved a lot of time.


There was something that had to be measured every two feet. many times.
We were hanging sheet metal siding.
Lots of tape measure and marking work going on.
And "WHERE'S A TAPE MEASURE?"
I cut an exact 2 foot piece of 2X4 on the chop saw.
Square at both ends.
"Here, use this to measure and mark."
"WOW! THANKS!"

[amerikat]

28. An online store for the lefties

http://www.leftyslefthanded.com/

There are lots of stores online for lefties. No left handed carpenter pants that I can find.

[RebelOne]

31. Great site, but I have become adapted to using

right-handed tools even scissors. The only thing I hated were the spiral notebooks I had to use in school. Damn spirals would cut into my hand. When I went to school, 2 thousand years ago, there were no tools for lefties.

[Brother Buzz]

19. My Grandfather's carpenter overalls has two loops, one on each side

I used to hang my hammer in the back where it didn't whack everything I tried to walk past. I know you have an aversion to tool pouches, but you might be happy with a single pouch nail pocket and a single hammer hook slung on an old ammo belt. It's a fraction of the weight as those he-man macho tool belts that weigh a ton, and you can move thing around until you find what works best, plus you have the option of adding different pockets as needed (sheetrock knife, second nail pouch, screw gun holster). Keep it simple.

[hunter]

20. One of my grandpa's friends had a hammer like this...

I think he'd have had a blast with modern battery powered tools.

[trof]

30. Whoa.

I just...wow.

[Grantuspeace]

21. I once took an electronics course and 8 out of 12 people were left handed.

I thought that was odd. But it seemed like there were lots or lefties in the program.

And yes, stay away from a loaded tool belt. Terrible for your back!

[TreasonousBastard]

25. A dentist once told me most dentists are lefties....

and I thought back to every dentist I've ever been to, and they all were.

[fortyfeetunder]

23. A more pressing question

If more people are right handed, then why are toilet paper rolls installed on the right side of the toilet stall?

I remember long ago a guy was giving me grief for being left handed and I reminded him of this fact and he ran off to the men's room to see if I was right....

[bigwillq]

24. Can't you at least let left-handers get one thing, damnit!

I mean, COME ON, MAN!!!

LOL