alternative fabrics for first kilt

**LordDamax** · 14th August 05, 01:22 PM

As for snaps replacing the 'belt/sporran' on a utilikilt... if you DONT wear a belt with a UK it'll fall around your ankles (or at least sag funny), the snaps only hold the apron closed and in a proper position. As for the sporran... wear one anyway.

**yoippari** · 14th August 05, 02:22 PM

Ok, so plaid can be any material that is basicly a blanket that can be worn as a robe or skirt of some kind. Oops, I said the "s" word

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I'm not so worried about whether it feels like a synthetic material but what it does when it gets hot. It melts... to your skin. Besides being a waste of money for a nice kilt that will be destroyed, just like any other non heat resistant material, it would have longer lasting problems than just leaving you with out a kilt on. If I can't find a practical, heat resistant material that will withstand scale and the odd ember bouncing off of it (or sometimes sticking to it), then I simply won't wear it near a forge.

The scale itself is not THAT hot by the time it lands on something. When it hits my arm the pieces are really small, like a millimeter across, and so it only leaves a small welt behind. The kilt might be a bit more exposed to the scale than my arm due to how low it is.

**bubba** · 14th August 05, 02:52 PM

How bout a leather RKilt?

**yoippari** · 14th August 05, 03:11 PM

Because I don't have that kind of money. I also don't want to spend that much on my first kilt, even if I could spare $750CND ($618USD).

**bubba** · 14th August 05, 05:15 PM

For practical purposes you'll want at least a full front leather apron working at a forge or anvil. Clothing under that the best material is wool since wool isn't flamable. There's a blacksmith in my area and his choice is wool trousers and a heavy cotton shirt. Your best bet is a wool kilt and leggings for working at a forge.

**yoippari** · 14th August 05, 05:50 PM

So a heavy wool will not get holes in it from stuff like scale or embers like you might get close to a camp fire? A leather apron is not always practical. During the summer months a tank top and jeans are often prefered. I do have a sheet of leather that just needs to be cut and have straps attached to make a apron. However the leather only reaches from my knee caps to my lower chest.

Originally Posted by bubba

For practical purposes you'll want at least a full front leather apron working at a forge or anvil. Clothing under that the best material is wool since wool isn't flamable. There's a blacksmith in my area and his choice is wool trousers and a heavy cotton shirt. Your best bet is a wool kilt and leggings for working at a forge.

**bubba** · 14th August 05, 07:00 PM

Originally Posted by yoippari

So a heavy wool will not get holes in it from stuff like scale or embers like you might get close to a camp fire? A leather apron is not always practical. During the summer months a tank top and jeans are often prefered. I do have a sheet of leather that just needs to be cut and have straps attached to make a apron. However the leather only reaches from my knee caps to my lower chest.

Yeah, wool can get burn holes, but it will only smolder rather than burn so it won't get holes quite as easily and it won't flame up. The leather apron is to protect your hide from burns and working in a smithy you'll get plenty of them without the apron. Knees to lower chest will prevent most burns. The sparks do fly in a smithy both from the airflow in the forge and from hammering on the heated metal. Smiths have always worn a protective leather apron at the least.