The Batkilt.

[Dreadbelly]

So, I am having a custom Rkilt made, with the design ideas influenced by metal smithing and bench jewelry work.

As I progressed in my schoolwork, I realised I needed a tool belt, aprons, etc. And I knew that a kilt could in theory, fit that bill. The utilikilt workman was an option. I learned that I could treat canvas or hemp with oilskin treatment to make a lot of stuff roll off of it. In effect, make an oilskin kilt. But I realised I didn't know what the hardware on the UK was and I was advised to avoid nickle. Some of the stuff I'll be working with with strip the finish off of nickle and leave it pitted. Brass only becomes antiqued. I'll be dealing with acid, glass in liquid states, molten metals, solder, all kinds of stuff that would normally eat a kilt up. I also know that I will be working in both standing and sitting positions. So I needed something to catch stuff in my lap, both good and bad, like an acid dribble or a bit of filed off gold dust. I considered a Freedom Kilt and the oilskin rubdown finish... And then realised that I'd still need leather aprons, and a lot of custom work.

So, earlier this year, I approached Robert and asked him some questions... And he had very satisfactory answers. So I plotted and planned out the summer months and waited.

My idea was a hemp work kilt with a clip on leather work apron. Pockets and storage space on the underside of the apron with no pockets on the outer side to catch drips and allow them to pool. Brass hardware. Extra little pockets for pliers, and probes, and picks, and pen vices, and all those little things. Straps for holding rotory tools, drills, and electric screw drivers. In short, a full blown tool belt. Magnetic pockets.

And when I get it, it gets a rub down with some Drizabone oilskin rub to impregnate the hemp with a fine coat of oil and wax to keep it, and me, safe.

In my head, it is the sort of kilt that Batman would wear, complete with Batbelt, Batapron, Batpockets, and even Batpleats™.

I am gonna hate tearing it up later when working.

[KiltedCodeWarrior]

Sounds great Dread! Can't wait to see it in action. When will you take delivery? Maybe it will be in the works when I visit Robert (hopefully) in January.

[elitekiltedcommando]

I would really like to see some pictures of this kilt when it's done. It sounds like a great idea.

[Tattoo Bradley]

Sounds great. Does the oil treatment leave any sort of residue? I assume not...

[Andrew Green]

Sounds like a different concept... should be neat. Like everyone else says... show some pics a few(?) weeks down the road when it is completed.

[Dreadbelly]

Ever worn an oilcloth duster? If you rub in the right amount, no, it shouldn't leave behind any sticky mess, just a light sheen.

I'd like to get a chocolately brown canvas duc kilt and give it a good rubdown with some Drizabone duster treatment. You'd have an oilskin kilt... And I for one think it would look pretty darn good. In time, you would get a nice patina going, and you would get that aged shimmery sheen that an oilskin duster gets with your kilt.

As for washing a kilt like that, no sticking it in the washing machine. Oilskin is like cast iron. Once you build up the patina, nothing should stick to it. Just turn a garden hose on your favourite duster or oilskin kilt. The pleats also wouldn't stick or clump together. The faintly oily patina would make them slick as a greased nickle, which would in theory make everything fall right in to place with less bunching. They couldn't wad up because of the nearly complete lack of friction.

I don't know if this is a drawback or not, but impregnating 8 yards of cloth with Drizabone stuff would probably make the kilt very, very heavy.

The hard part is, getting the cloth impregnated. Getting that stuff in to every nook and cranny is going to be a challenge. I am thinking I am going to have to smear in a whole blob in between stacks of fabric and then press it down with something heavy to made it bleed through the various layers, wipe up the excess, and spread that around to other places.

The good news is, this stuff would act like PV in time. Once the patina sets in, nothing should ever stick to it. Any spills should just roll off. Eventually, with enough rubs, even things like paint would have a hard time sticking to it.

[Tattoo Bradley]

Neat-o.

[Frank MacDuffy]

Wow, now I want one. This kilt sounds pretty sweet, you're gonna have to post pics when you get it!

[Dreadbelly]

Oh, and thinking about it, I don't think you could ever iron a kilt like this. The oil and wax mixture would melt I think. Or turn tarry. Or something. A little help? Anybody ironed a duster and found out the consequences?

[McMurdo]

My duster got burned on the pipes from my bike, put holes right through on the right side, there I was trying to pat out the flames and keep my motorcycle on the road, it was an experience let me tell you.