anyone try the occidental barrel bags ? would like to get a new set from them but I’m sold on steel hammer loop on right bag. Im to used to cheapo craftsman leather ten pocket nail bags. seems to be the only set they make that doesnt have a leather hammer hoop, am I missing something.
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I had the Oxy Lite pro framers until stolen on the 6th. Now have their 9500 Pro Framer adjustable bags, which seem very comfy. Like the slight rake to the bags. It's built like a gunslinger rig and I belt below the belt with their suspenders.
I have seen these with leather bottoms, but that is not where I would go. I want all Cordura.
The leather loop on the front of the tool bag works out very well in practice. Finish with hammer, it just finds the loop and drops in .
The ToolBear
"Never met a man who couldn't teach me something." Anon.
I've been wearing my occies for about 7 years now. I tried the beltless for a while but, went back to my old green ones. The lether loop works great, hammer dosn't rattel around and it's always right there by my right hand.
hey toolbear thats what I was talking about I lath alot and siding etc. still like to do a lot of hand nailing, ( dont ask me why lol. ) but i can almost throw my hammer from 3ft away and make into the metal loop, like to get it in and out quick. makes me feel faster. you dont have to wrestle much with the leather?sounds dumb but for the money better make sure its got a little speed to her. Ive been useing the same setup for 8 yrs or so but really like the features i see ( like the high back hammer hoop, and the front mounted higher seems like less banging on the knee front and back. I usually use the front hoop except for when framing. when I lath or side its much faster up front for me.
@@ HAMMER LOOP
What ever works works. This is our version of Iaijutsu, the Japanese marital art of sword drawing (quick draw and reholstering)
When I get new Oxy bags, I take a baseball bat, wet down the hammer loop and drive the bar down into it as far as it can go. When it eases a bit, I drive it some more. Next day the loop will fit my curved handle hammers with the butt swells. Even fit my Stil. alum. handled hammer with a really large butt swell.The ToolBear
"Never met a man who couldn't teach me something." Anon.
Hey toolbear on your set are the bags able to move or sewn in to the belt. I really like that set looks sweet. but Im a big guy, and get bigger with my carharts on, are you able to move the bags to adjust for clothing.
Scotty,
With the gunslinger rig the only adjustment is a sliding belt in the back. The bags are in two sections and in the back Tab A slides into Receiver B. The hammer holster back there covers the joint. There is a strap of stiff nylon and a buckle behind the tool bag to adjust in and out.
The bags maintain their relationship to your hips. You introduce the slack from the back. The nail bag is about 3" behind the buckle. These are just slightly behind the points of the pelvic bone (illiac crest?) on me. Comfy. Slight rake for ease of access. Like a holster.
I am currently a 40 (thereabouts) and I can just make them work. I think that they should make some for the Manly Men.
I belt below my belt and that adds a size in the tool belt. My stolen rig had an XXL belt and the suspenders. Since I move the bags down, my pants stay up without suspenders on them.
If you can't find a pair to play with in a store, the safe move is to stick with the adjustable bags.
The ToolBear
"Never met a man who couldn't teach me something." Anon.
thanks toolbear, Ive been shopping tonight. trying to decide between the oxy lite's and the green liight leather set.
I just replacd my bags about nine months ago with new oxy leathers after 7 years with my first pair. I'm feeling the pain of winter gear sore muscles and thinking I may graduate to the green nylons. I like the black setup but it's just not adjustible enough for what I'm used too. I need to have everything where it goes along with suspenders just to keep my pants on (I have no a@$ or waist).
I almost ordered a set the other night, I'm going to have to find out if someone carries the stuff in minnesota. I would like to try some diffent stuff on and see. I had switched to nylon and switched back because they were to stiff, (craftsman style 10 pocket). The occi's look like its a thinner nylon more like the alta's, not like the dewalts or craftsman. Im really interested in the green leather lite set. just hoping they are not suede (too soft loose to many tools when climbing). Its hard to go wrong with the standard leather, 7 years sounds like a good haul with your old belt.
S -
I have used both the fabric and the leather bags. I'd go fabric. Why?
1. The leather stretches with time. My leather nail bag now has a slight wobble that puts the speed square at an angle, adding a few seconds to draw and reholster. I was thinking of adding a stiffner at the front side of the bag to reshape it.
2. Rain. I don't want to think what leather bags look like after a day of deluge. I was thinking of putting drain grommets in my Lites. Instead I came to sunny SoCal for the winter - and got 31" of rain.The ToolBear
"Never met a man who couldn't teach me something." Anon.
Hey Toolbear, I went out and found a dealer and tried on a few sets. I ended up with the stronghold setup. I cannot beleive how much of a diffrence this set up makes. I actually like the leather better (hammer loop). Its amazing not to take a beating in the leg. those guy's at occidental are genius. I cant belive I worked so long with out it.
I think you said you lived in Minnesota. If you're in the MSP area, what dealer did you go to for the Oxy's -- Thomas Tools?
I bought the green oxylight cordura framer last summer and really like it a lot. I wound up hating the suspender system, and replaced it a $7 set from HD.
The suspender system just kept stretching when I had the bags full of nails and it was very hot and humid (here in S Georgia it gets quite uncomfortable at times). I'd be readjusting constantly and cussing them. I have a whole new respect for draft horses.
If someone wanted them I'd give 'em up for a twenty plus shipping. You'd need to be 5'10' or less though cause I cut all the slack out of the shoulder straps.
Mike,
I agree with you on the occy leather suspenders.
I bought a set for my leather bags----man---just the suspenders weigh a ton---they are hot---it's like working in a kiln all day.
Bought a pair of cheap elastic/nylon suspenders---work great.
I would sell my occy suspenders If I could find a buyer myself!
Stephen
I almost got the leather suspenders, they looked a little stiff. I decided to hold out for the new cordura set from occi. Anybody tried them yet.
I was going to hit thomas tools, but I was working on a job in west metro and the lumber yard in buffalo has occi. Pretty decent selection, got to try on all the bags I was thinking about. The stronghold is really comfortable, I liked the occi light set also, but the bags sit a little higher on you. The stronghold drops the bags a little lower, much better for my monkey arms.
Hey Toolbear - if you have to deal with really large but swells pretty often I would suggest the beltless...
Less water retention around the waist area.
Really makes a difference.
My wife asked me what I wanted for christmas and I was going to get that same tool bag and after a few days thought and reflection and then we got my lionel O ga trains out like every year to run under our tree, it looked great with all the buildings and lights and all the little people around the trains. so I decided not to get the oci dent bags and start a search for another train set and after looking on the web and checking the toy train magz, I found a nice set last week in Peabody Mass while we were down in Mass for the weekend. I live in Maine and there are no decent Train shops up here. A nice steam engine , 5 cars and a caboose with digital sound , whistel bells and chug chug. runs like a dream. and I doubt i'll ever miss not having the bags . and who knows about next year maybe more trains.
Dogboy