Proper Tractor Attire

[HunterdonPaul]

OK it sounds dumb but I am still rather new at this - I'll learn....

Last weekend I put in some hours on my B2910 mowing my pasture - I love my tractor decision. The weather was nice. It was sunny and cool. Its kind of interesting that I never really gave any thought to what I should be wearing when I use the tractor. Naturally I wore fairly new shorts, a polo shirt and shoes without socks. This wasn't the best decision.

First of all trees hurt when they swipe you in the face and upper body, especially oak trees - its OK, I will heal. I did hear a rip but don't see a hole in my shirt - oh well. At least the tractor wasn't scratched. Also picking up debris in the field (stones, branches, etc.) would be easier and less painful with gloves. A hat is nice for the sun - canapy doesn't help much really. The canapy was the only decision that I am not happy with... (so far).

So next time its -

jeans,
old shirt,
work boots or old tennis shoes with socks
hat - Dad bought me a Kubota hat for my birthday
and definately gloves

Paul

 

[chim]

Mine usually consists of old (long) pants, old shirt, long sleeved shirt or jacket for brush encounters, gloves and a wide-brimmed straw hat. Shoes range from work boots to an old pair of loafers, depending whether I need to be kicking around in the brush/dirt/debris.

You'll notice "old" appearing in most of the descriptions. That's because I often manage to get into some grease along the way. I got into the habit of gloves because I'm often swapping attachments. At present the tractor is stored inside, but there's not enough room to let the RFM attached. Plus, I swap between a new RFM and an old one when I get into the rough stuff.

I had to chuckle when the dealer was telling me about a neighbor. When I gave the dealer directions to my place for the delivery of my tractor last Spring, he said he knew the area because he remembered making a number of deliveries to my neighbor. The dealer said that the guy "wasn't a REAL farmer, heck he even wore gloves when it wasn't even cold outside"................chim

 

[hazmat]

If the trees are really out to get you, I'd wear some safety glasses too.

Another thing to consider is hearing protection. Even though the tractor isn't as loud as a chainsaw, & MAY not "require" protection (I haven't busted out the decibel meter to check). I've found that by wearing the ear muffs, my fatigue level is much lower especially when mowing.

 

[WVBill]

Paul:
I agree with your list of attire - that's pretty much what I wear. Except I always try to wear work boots instead of tennis shoes - particularly old ones. I can speak from experience that old tennis shoes when wet from the dew on the grass are very slippery when mounting the tractor. My shin is still healing.

I might add sun screen and bug repellent to the list of attire.

Even though I really like my TBN baseball style hat, I always wear a broad brimmed hat over my SPF45 sun screen to give me as much protection from the sun as possible. I'm fair skinned and have no desire to tempt fate and the "C" word.

The bug repellent might help protect me from West Nile Virus carrying mosquitoes. They've also found them carrying malaria not too far from me.

 

[Trev]

<font color=blue>Even though I really like my TBN baseball style hat, I always wear a broad brimmed hat over my SPF45 sun screen to give me as much protection from the sun as possible.</font color=blue>

Good idea. Besides, the TBN hats will be collector's items, especially if they have Muhammad's sig on them! I don't wear mine.. I just like to have it. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[Egon]

Could depend a lot on what you are doing. I recently found a hard hat resuted in an " Dam " rather than "OUCH".
Hearing protection should be considered.

Of course if you live in a prestigious locality it may be social protocol to dress in a manner approved by the local socialites.

Hey Bob, been hibernating all summer???

Egon

 

[Trev]

Hey Egon,

Maybe I could fashion a hard hat with a straw covering.. hmm. I read somewhere that all of ****** Hussein's hats have Kevlar liners.. bullet-proof.. he's such a popular guy these days. /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

All of the socialites around me are apple farmers, and they all have sealed cabs so they can tow around those big spraying units without breathing the stuff. They probably are wearing tuxes, but I can't see them so I'm just guessing. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Not really hibernating, more like ducked down in a trench riding out the adjustment period of our about-to-be-adopted foster kids. /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

 

[GarageSmoker]

Still too hot here in Florida for jeans and long sleeve shirts BUT.... my scratch marks make for interesting discussions on Monday morning at work.

I have found the sun shade has helped a lot to remove the sun and eliminate the need for a hat. Hats make me hotter, or at least I feel like I am hotter. I wear head bands and wrist bands to keep the sweat out of my eyes and off the tools. Regular glasses or sunglasses to protect the eyes from those stray branches you have discovered.

Sneakers if I am sure I am not doing much off tractor work, otherwise boots. Always socks. Always bug repellant (deep woods) and just recently Peltor work tunes ear protection/ear enjoyment.

One thing you will find out of you haven't already. Tractoring is not a clean sport. At it's cleanest, it's dirty, and gets worse from there. I leave my shoes at the door, enter through the laundry room, exit that room in the buff, and head right for the shower.

Enjoy;

GS

 

[Egon]

Bob:

Kevlar hard had liner?? Should I maybe thinking of a kevlar vest too?

Egon

 

[Trev]

<font color=blue>Kevlar hard hat liner?? Should I maybe thinking of a kevlar vest too?</font color=blue>

Probably not necessary, Egon... unless of course you happen to be the dictator of a small country which has ticked off most of the rest of the planet. I haven't gotten that impression from your posts here. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif I suppose it might also be helpful if you are located someplace where New York City hunters go to shoot cows (which they think of as "deer.") /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

No offence intended to NYC dwellers! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Bob