I had a random thought today that I wanted to share with you.
Perhaps later, when stuff settles down, you might consider producing/ selling a shop apron with the lovely ganoksin orchid logo on it…?
Maybe in the same colors as the banner…black apron, with white and green logo (I LOVE the logo design, by the way! and such a great brand!)
My personal wishes would be:
to make sure the upper bib part of the apron was large enough to provide adequate coverage (most of the aprons I see in the stores have tiny bibs…I have no idea why?!)
to make the top strap adjustable versus fixed.
(I was just thinking about this because I watch AtTheBench videos all the time, and Andrew is always wearing his logo apron, and I want one!)
I was thinking “hmmm…what would be a good price?”…and $25 popped into my mind…then I popped over to the Revere Aacademy shop to see what their aprons were priced at…$25 too! (Love Revere Academy! I took a bunch of classes many years ago…I spent three weeks in San Francisco…I highly recommend it!)
Interesting! Sure if there is enough interest, I have a friend who does such things… perhaps I can offer some branded merchandise Let me check with him and I will revert back to you.
I like the APRON idea. I have two heavy, old denim type aprons that are pretty shabby now.
I like them because they go in the washer. I need to replace them. I also like big pockets.
Can you print aprons to sell within our industry with a few sterling formulas and instructions ?
I wanted to add a few physics formulas but the format did not hold. Maybe Jim Binnion or Andy C.
or Hans Meevis or Gerald Lewy know how to add these. These might be of interest to those who teach.
This might be less coin out of your pocket. If you don’t think this appropriate, my apologies. For example :
ALWAYS WEAR EYE PROTECTION. ALWAYS ACID
STORE INTO
M S D S CHEMICALS WATER
A A A H IN MARKED
T F T E CONTAINERS
E E A E
R T T NEVER PUT ACID
I Y S STEEL TONGS INTO
A IN PICKLE WATER
L
S
FLEX SHAFT HANDLES FAN MUST ACID
MUST BE ON HIGH INTO
HANG WHEN WATER
STRAIGHT SOLDERING
DOWN
NEVER USE A DUST MASK FOR
NEVER SAWING, POLISHING,
PUT GRINDING,
STEEL IN THE ENAMEL POWDERS,
PICKLE SANDING
MAYBE A FEW ORCHID FRIENDS WOULD LIKE TO HELP WITH
THE COST OF APRONS. I’M WILLING.
I, too like the idea of an Orchid/Ganoksin apron. My specs for this: heavy duty denim or cotton (no synthetic fabric; nice big pocket area, perhaps divided in thirds; nice long ties at waist; adjustable neck strap; wide enough for all body types.
Seth,
YIKES !, the format did not hold. I created a square IN CAPS with guidelines for metalsmiths
working in the studio.
The guidelines were:
ALWAYS WEAR EYE PROTECTION
ALWAYS ACID INTO WATER
CHECK CONTENTS OF PRODUCTS ON MDSD FOR CHEMICALS INCLUDED
NEVER, NEVER PUT STEEL TONGS IN PICKLE
ALWAYS ACID INTO WATER
CHECK CONTENTS OF PRODUCTS ON MDSD
FLEX SHAFT MUST HANG STRAIGHT DOWN
ALWAYS ACID INTO WATER
ALWAYS USE BREATHING PROTECTION FOR SANDING, POLISHING, GRINDING, ENAMEL POWDERS,
ALWAYS STORE CHEMICALS IN MARKED CONTAINERS.
ALWAYS ACID INTO WATER
FAN VENTED TO OUTSIDE MUST BE ON HIGH WHEN SOLDERING
MAYBE A FEW ORCHID FRIENDS WOULD LIKE TO HELP WITH THE COST OF APRONS. I’M WILLING.
THIS MIGHT BE VERY HELPFUL FOR ORCHID MEMBERS WHO TEACH AND THOSE OF US WHO
Probably correct that using an on-line vendor is the simplest thing.
However, wouldn’t it be a joyful thing if Orchid members are allowed to create
a design on the aprons that is meaningful to those of us who live in the metalsmith
world?
Seth could send out a call for information appropriate to a metalsmith apron.
Seth could form a small committee to decide/select the art work.
A space could be left open on the apron for personal favorite vendors and for a
personal statement or school logo with an artist’s brush or calligraphy pen.
Seth could negotiate a price which would include a mark-up for Orchid’s benefit.
We can all purchase aprons through the vendor.
Let’s keep this thread going for collecting all the best ideas.
I totally agree with the apron with Ganoksin logo. OK for other things on it as long as they are understandable. I have an apron at home which has long ties that run through a seam around the neck and back down the other side. Totally adjustable for both neck and waist. Yes on the heavier duty cotton so it will hold up through multiple washing.
I, too, would love an Orchid apron. Simple logo; heavy black cotton twill or denim fabric; adjustable neck and l-o-n-g waist ties; wide bib; 2-3 pockets on skirt part. This would be fabulous!
While I’d like to get a Ganoksin / Orchid shop apron, likely I won’t.
As silly as it may be, I can’t seem to get a shop apron to fit. No
doubt I’m just clueless and it is my fault, but the top always puffs out
in the center, especially when sitting at the bench. It does that
enough to get in my way and I can’t fix it. I’ve bought a few well-made
aprons and that’s the way it has gone. I can’t work like that.
Also, so far everyone who specified it asked for a heavy apron. I
prefer light material so fabric conforms to me and feels comfortable,
especially when I move. So no apron for me.
Here are two suggestions, not in place of a Ganoksin apron, but as
additional fund raising ideas.
Probably I’d be more comfortable with a button-up shop coat, or
perhaps just a supple oversize chambray shirt. I would be happy to
customize one with a Ganoksin patch. Iron on or sew on… There might
be more profit in a patch than an apron, or enough profit to be worth
doing as a second fund-raising item. Depending on its size some might
add it to the front of a baseball cap or find other applications for a
patch.
Mary had an excellent list of guidelines to put on an apron,
especially for teacher and student use. How about a small series of
posters with some attractive graphic design that lists the guidelines.
They could be posted in classrooms or hung by a teacher doing traveling
seminars. The Ganoksin / Orchid web address should be prominent. It
would be a good way for new students to learn about Ganoksin.
I have some impressions of a Ganoksin parts tray, but not clear enough
to say anything about it, and I have no idea what would be involved in
getting them made.
Amazon has a self-publishing book service. Might there be similar
things for posters or other items (refrigerator magnets, who knows what
else.) Upload a graphic, have it made?
Just some thoughts while my shop warms up (from the high 30’s).
One suggestion to consider. My son is a firefighter and one of the major issues in firefighting today is fire retardant fabrics.
These fabrics are found in furniture, floor coverings, pajamas, drapes, aprons, etc. Fire retardant fabrics give off a deadly chemical
smoke when near a burning fire. The fire retardant chemical is in the the family of DDT, I think. Fire fighters in NH take a blood test
to determine if they have the fire retardant chemical in their blood. The Derry, NH, fire department lost a fire fighter last year after
testing positive. He died following a year of chemo leaving a young wife and a son less than two years old.
I love the idea of an Orchid apron; maybe not a fire retardant apron. I can do some additional research if it would be helpful.
Hi @Atwater_Mary - Thanks for the links. I do think an Orchid shop apron is a very cool idea, but candidly I am not sure when we will get around to actually doing this.
Really two reasons…
We aren’t really a “product” company… we don’t design and manufacture things, we focus on content and digital experiences. Many of our advertisers sell shop aprons and various tools of the trade, and frankly, they are way better at such things than I could ever hope to be.
as you can tell just by this thread, opinions about what constitutes a good shop apron vary. Some people want adjustable, some people want high, some people want low, some people want fire retardant, some people specifically want cotton or denim, etc etc. Coming up with a product that sells enough to make it a money maker for Orchid/Ganoksin after you factor in the time we spend on it may well be quite difficult. Especially when one considers that we could spend that time improving our resource library, website, and forum.
Again, an awesome idea, and certainly something I’d be happy to offer at some point in the future, but right now I’m really focused on doing the core things I promised the community I would do. Just didn’t want you to think I was ignoring this discussion or that I thought it was a bad idea
Thanks for a soft spoken, logical and respectful response. I think you are making good progress and I wish Orchid
great success which will benefit all of us.
Let me check with him and I will revert back to you.
has a self-publishing book service. Might there be similar