Blue collar work kilted every day?

[Riverkilt]

Check out RKilts leather cargo kilts - perfect for blue collar work. Bulletproof.

I wore kilts daily but in an office environment. When I went to work at detox just went back to jeans to protect my kilts from the various forms of effluviums that an intoxicated person can emit from their various body orifices.

But for knocking around with dirt and stuff leather kilt is perfect - offers protection too. No need to wash, just wipe it off.

[CDNSushi]

Blue collar work, fairly heavy physical labor with the tendency for getting dirty.
Pros and cons, is there better fabric suitable for working in, etc, etc, etc. And pockets, what do you do about pockets?
Cleaing ilts? How often and what's the best way? Dry clean only for wool? Or is there another way?

Undeniably there are members here who do wear their kilts no matter what, including for heavy labour. But this, like everything else in life is a matter of "just because you COULD doesn't mean you SHOULD."

If there were a single tool that could fix anything and everything, I wouldn't have a full toolbox. Of course I COULD use a sledge hammer to tap down a penny nail, but it isn't the best solution.

A few years ago there was an old thread of a list of activities NOT to do while kilted. It was actually pretty good because it reminded folk to keep things in perspective, because there are many cases where a kilt is less than ideal, no matter how much anyone wants to argue the ubiquity of kilts. Case in point, the next time I go scuba diving, I think I will reach for my 7mm neoprene wetsuit rather than my 16oz wool kilt, thank you very much.

If you spend your days fretting about how the kilt you will use for heavy labour will stand up to the task, what material it should be made out of, how to clean it, the presence/absence of pockets, etc... I would propose that you are trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. Stick with your Carhartts instead. ith:

[Thorina]

Undeniably there are members here who do wear their kilts no matter what, including for heavy labour. But this, like everything else in life is a matter of "just because you COULD doesn't mean you SHOULD."

If there were a single tool that could fix anything and everything, I wouldn't have a full toolbox. Of course I COULD use a sledge hammer to tap down a penny nail, but it isn't the best solution.

A few years ago there was an old thread of a list of activities NOT to do while kilted. It was actually pretty good because it reminded folk to keep things in perspective, because there are many cases where a kilt is less than ideal, no matter how much anyone wants to argue the ubiquity of kilts. Case in point, the next time I go scuba diving, I think I will reach for my 7mm neoprene wetsuit rather than my 16oz wool kilt, thank you very much.

If you spend your days fretting about how the kilt you will use for heavy labour will stand up to the task, what material it should be made out of, how to clean it, the presence/absence of pockets, etc... I would propose that you are trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. Stick with your Carhartts instead. ith:

Oh, I know. Today is a Carhartt day, tomorrow, too. The weekend of putting up pallet racks n fork lifts, etc...Carhartt days. Multiple reasons not to even try doing it in a kilt. Some work you just have to do with covered legs. We'll have lathes and other heavy equipment here fairly soon. Also not good without an apron. Doable, but care would need to be taken. You'd better be paying attention. Hammer loops on most industrial apparel is horrible around motorcycle/automotive work.

But, yeah. The pockets on the black kilt are too big. I just need like regular, ordinary jeans/pants pockets. I can wear a tool belt when I need to have nails, etc. Tool belt is more comfortable usually than something tugging on the wasitband.

[Stilletto_Rebel]

Yes! Please!

As promised:

[Frank McGrath]

I have worn my kilt to work two days out of almost four years working here. There are several reasons I will NEVER do it again.
1. Head of HR yells across the shop "You better be wearing underwear"
2. Rude comments by people I thought were friends.
3. Occasional crawling on the floor to retrieve dropped hardware.
4. Women that think they are cute by giving unwanted kilt checks.
5. I work with a lot of stuff that would not wash out of anything, less much wool.

I was offered a different position in the company and was told that I could wear my kilt anytime I wanted. But the last three people that held that position are no longer employed by the company. Not good.

[Thorina]

As promised:

Very cool! Thank you. Did you use just regular RIT dye?
Always good to see everyone's ideas!

[Taj]

I couldn't work kilted if I wanted to, which I do. There's a small matter of something called "NFPA 70E", which states in great detail what kind of garments a workman will wear as protection from elecrtical arc/flash hazards. Kilts are not recognized in the National Elecrtic Code.

Also, someone mentioned kilted at a potter's wheel. Another gentleman and myself both throw while kilted. A workman's Utilikilt and the wheel are a workable arrangement.

[Thorina]

I have worn my kilt to work two days out of almost four years working here. There are several reasons I will NEVER do it again.
1. Head of HR yells across the shop "You better be wearing underwear"
2. Rude comments by people I thought were friends.
3. Occasional crawling on the floor to retrieve dropped hardware.
4. Women that think they are cute by giving unwanted kilt checks.
5. I work with a lot of stuff that would not wash out of anything, less much wool.

I was offered a different position in the company and was told that I could wear my kilt anytime I wanted. But the last three people that held that position are no longer employed by the company. Not good.

I have a different situation. I am the boss, for all intents and purposes. Anyone worried about undergarments would be my "boss"....pretty sure he'd prefer regimental if he was doing a kilt check.
But he's also my significant other.

The commercial on the radio right now about "Dave" the "IT guy". (Staples commercial, I think) I am Dave. IT guy, janitor, stock boy, parts technician, customer service, HR, inventory control....chief cook and bottle washer. The only people I work with are the kids and the dogs when I bring them to the shop. Occasionally we hire a hand, but I'm old enough and not a MIL*, so unwanted kilt checks aren't likely to happen. Gotta watch out for Stan, he'll do a kilt check on anyone....whether wearing a kilt or not. He has a cold nose. You've been warned. (he's a dog )

I generally know what my tasks are any given day, as *I* am the task master. When I was wearing skorts every day, I always have a pair of jeans hanging up in the shop in case I need them. Just some jobs ya NEED to have pants on for safety reasons.
Like what I am doing for the next several days; just not appropriate to even try kilted. Like the fella a couple posts up....just because you can doesn't mean you should. I *can*, no one will stop me, but I know that it's a dumb idea.
I wouldn't object to a hired hand being kilted at all....just gotta wear steel toed boots. If we hired a machinist, I'd have to look at the realities of an employee on a lathe, etc. I know of one machinist I'd allow, no prob, but I know another one who is an OSHA incident waiting to happen in slacks. If he showed up kilted, I'd have to send him home. The other guy, I doubt I'd have an issue if he wanted to work kilted.

I'd never in a million years kilt check an employee (or co-worker). Kilt checking me would get an employee an instant pink slip.
It's work, not a Flogging Molly concert.

[Bugbear]

Also, someone mentioned kilted at a potter's wheel. Another gentleman and myself both throw while kilted. A workman's Utilikilt and the wheel are a workable arrangement.

Yes, a kilt would be fine for throwing on a wheel, as long as it is a kilt that could get muddy without worry. I was also concerned about the kilt material around the kilns, fire, and high temperatures.
I'm sorry, that is OT, so I'll bow out now.

[Taj]

The canvas duck Utilikilt would be no more hazardous near a kiln than cotton jeans. Loading and unloading are done cold. The rest is cone watching, adding salt, and related tasks; unless you do raku or the like.