House Painter Forum

Professional Painters => Professional Painters and associated Trades Forum => Topic started by: Bauer on September 09, 2007, 12:19:27 AM

Title: Re: painters whites
Post by: Bauer on September 09, 2007, 12:19:27 AM
I hate painter whites. I wear light tan or khaki pants and shorts (still in the painter/carpenter style) Most painter whites are nut huggers  :P

I also keep a few pair of shoes in my truck. Newer ones start off as repaint or touch up jobs..meetings and such. then they move on to new construction and exterior jobs... then when they get bad i use them as spray shoes.  ;)
Title: Re: painters whites
Post by: BrushJockey on September 09, 2007, 07:49:45 AM
haha- Bauer- me too!  And I have the graduated use of the pants and shirts too.
Title: Re: painters whites
Post by: CarlThePainter on September 09, 2007, 09:01:07 AM
I hate the painters whites too.  It's like wearing pants made of lint...thinnest material ever that the wind blows right through in the winter and chills me to the bone.  Also, the knees rip way too easily.  After you have been painting for some time, you learn not to wipe paint all over yourself, so it really doesn't matter what color your pants are if you keep them clean, they look clean.  I can understand why employers would require their guys to wear them though...kind of a uniform concept.
Title: Re: painters whites
Post by: Lynjowoman on September 09, 2007, 10:12:33 AM
Carl

I don't know where you are getting your painters' pants from, the ones we get a thick & stiff as a board until they are washed a few times. Last a long time too. Maybe you crawl on your knees to much.  ;D(baseboards ugh!)

Lynjo
Title: Re: painters whites
Post by: Jared on September 09, 2007, 11:16:51 AM
FYI - if you folks out there don't like the Stan Ray style with the thin scratchy fabric, try to find the "Centaur" brand of whites - but buy them 2 sizes too big, as they do shrink more than others - but WOW, the softest & heaviest fabric I've ever encountered.  Triple-knees, triple-stitched seams...  can't beat the quality.
Title: Re: painters whites
Post by: Vin on September 09, 2007, 12:29:54 PM
I didn't use to wear whites but i do now . My regular works clothes are messy whites when I'm working on my own I have other pares that aren't as sloopy I always give bids now in clean whites or regular clean clothes its just more professional that way.

I buy my whites 2 sizes large like Jared mentioned I wear shorts year round or until it drops below 50 degreess  ;D

Buy my whites at Gleem plus whatever shirts the paint stores will give up :P
Title: Re: painters whites
Post by: CarlThePainter on September 09, 2007, 05:52:17 PM
Oh I dunno then....all the painters pants I ever saw were made by Dickies and sold at ICI, SW, etc.  Home Depot also has some but the pockets are really weird looking and it's hard to get into them.
Title: Re: painters whites
Post by: TomTom on September 14, 2007, 10:32:10 PM
I agree with Bauer. I never wear painters pants because I've never found them comfortable. In fact all the ones I've had are miserably uncomfortable. I buy all my work clothes from Goodwill. I buy khaki pants for work and white t-shirts especially if they have something on the front that I like. Today I wore a white t-shirt with the Looney Tunes characters on it.;D I've never had a complaint from either a customer or anyone I've worked for about my work clothes, though I do agree that blue jeans don't cut it.
Title: Re: painters whites
Post by: Stever on September 29, 2007, 02:45:27 PM
I don't wear whites either. I hate them.

I always wipe paint on myself. I am my own rag. ;)

On my pants, between the waist and the knee's, is a wonderfull mix of colored finger streaks. Many may find that un-professional looking but i find it artistic looking. Especially after doing a big house that has many different colors in the different rooms.

When meeting clients and quoting jobs I'm wearing nice casual clothes. No signs that I'm a painter.

On some small jobs I sometimes don't change into my painting duds and can manage to paint all day without getting a drop on me, though i have to consciously resist my habit of wiping things up with my finger then dabbing it onto my pants.
Title: Re: painters whites
Post by: Jared on October 03, 2007, 05:28:22 PM
Another alternative for those who feel "constrained" wearing tight painter's white pants:  overalls.  Never overlook the trusty painter's whites in overall form.  ;)  They are, by nature, much looser-fitting, and they somehow carry an air of authority - I have found that when wearing the overalls on a job, the clients seem to perceive me as the foreman - whether I am or not.

Just offering another alternative for those who are not comfortable wearing whites, as there seems to be quite a few of y'all...

EDIT:  That "Centaur" brand of whites I mentioned in an earlier reply - here's a link to the manufacturer.  The ones I like are the Model # PDDK (the first ones listed).  The lower-grade version are just made out of canvas dropcloth material and very much feel like the Dickies or Stan Ray brand, but the heavier ones are so comfortable that I'd actually wear them on a day off if I had no other clean pants.  ;)  I buy 'em locally at one of my independently-owned paint distributors.
http://www.acedropcloth.com/clothing.htm
Title: Re: painters whites
Post by: rmichael on October 03, 2007, 05:53:15 PM
"Dickies" now has a premium grade of whites, 65/35 poly/cotton ... a lot less shrinkage, very soft feel,  and they do not need ironing...  8)

Here's a look:

http://www.allseasonsuniforms.com/di55e.htm
Title: Re: painters whites
Post by: Jared on October 03, 2007, 06:11:37 PM
Holy smackers, take a look at the colors and patterns you can get those Dickies in!  You can buy 1 pair for painting, one pair for your Clown outfit, and one pair to go hit the golf course in style.  ;)

EDIT:  heh, they really only make the painter's whites in white, but it is quite funny to picture the other patterns and colors being worn by pros out in the field.  ;)
Title: Re: painters whites
Post by: 98mustangguy on October 03, 2007, 07:51:51 PM
Sorry to dissappoint you all but I usually just go jeans or jean shorts depending of the temp outside. Never have had whites never will.  Ohhhh I'm such a rebel :D
Title: Re: painters whites
Post by: Hotrod on October 03, 2007, 08:22:51 PM
If im doin interior my whites are usually clean, but i challenge anyone to keep clean uniforms when your spraying/backrolling an Elastomeric on a 20,000 sq foot exterior.
Title: Re: painters whites
Post by: rmichael on October 03, 2007, 08:34:19 PM
The public perception of professional painters wearing "whites" has become so prevalent that it has become a Trademark .... John Q Public sez... "They are wearing white so they must be pros."
Title: Re: painters whites
Post by: Bauer on October 03, 2007, 09:08:16 PM
Sorry to dissappoint you all but I usually just go jeans or jean shorts depending of the temp outside. Never have had whites never will.  Ohhhh I'm such a rebel :D

Oh No! Not the tight Daisy Dukes!  Guys please where loose fitting shorts. Don't sport the John Stockton look.  ;D
Title: Re: painters whites
Post by: rmichael on October 03, 2007, 10:01:13 PM
Sorry to dissappoint you all but I usually just go jeans or jean shorts depending of the temp outside. Never have had whites never will.  Ohhhh I'm such a rebel :D

Oh No! Not the tight Daisy Dukes!  Guys please where loose fitting shorts. Don't sport the John Stockton look.  ;D

LOL  ;D   Daisy Dukes!! ... You hire a kid these days and you are more likely to see a hell-of-a lot more of his boxers than his whites. ...  :-\   ;D
Title: Re: painters whites
Post by: Stever on October 04, 2007, 04:07:04 PM
Sorry to dissappoint you all but I usually just go jeans or jean shorts depending of the temp outside. Never have had whites never will.  Ohhhh I'm such a rebel :D

Oh No! Not the tight Daisy Dukes!  Guys please where loose fitting shorts. Don't sport the John Stockton look.  ;D

LOL  ;D   Daisy Dukes!! ... You hire a kid these days and you are more likely to see a hell-of-a lot more of his boxers than his whites. ...  :-\   ;D

Ha Ha, the boxers stickin out the top of their far too low hung pants, too funny. A silly fad thats being taken too far.
Title: Re: painters whites
Post by: lackamoola on October 04, 2007, 06:45:41 PM
 I've always worn whites. So do my guys. New hires(ones that wear something other than whites) have one week to comply, or it's bye, bye......
Just kidding...couldn't resist
Actually if a guy is working out and just can't afford a couple pair of whites, I buy them and dock his check when he can. 
I agree that general public thinks whites=professionalism. I didn't make up that rule but I've always abided by it.
Title: Re: painters whites
Post by: WALL-PRO PAINTER on October 05, 2007, 10:46:16 PM
Wearing "white" makes you look professional!!  Use a rag not your pants!  I always wear CLEAN i.e. not full of paint, whites. When the get dirty I use them for outside work  The BEST brand most durable and comfortable brarand for me is CARHARTT Painters Drill pants/shorts.  (Some compaines around here do not let there painters wear shorts even in the summer).  Carhartt also makes a double knee for more durability in the knee and the bib overall, yuck!

Also, BIG BEN PAINTERS DUNGAREE are very durable pants.  I still have a pair over 10 years old

One day a friend showed up to work with his new $8 Home Depot white, they ripped within hours!  He had to leave early, he did not have an extra pair in his truck.  Dickies are awful!!
Title: Re: painters whites
Post by: Tubs on October 05, 2007, 11:40:06 PM
I some times ware a pair of tighty whitey fruit of the looms on a hot day if I have a customer who wants to hang out all day yakking with me. Sends them to a back room every time.
Title: Re: painters whites
Post by: Bauer on October 05, 2007, 11:47:47 PM
When I started my own company I burned all my painter whites along with all the shirts with my old employers name and logo on them. From that point I decided that I'll never wear whites again. I dress appropriately for the job. Just never in white. I wear clean clothes. ( not blue jeans) The pants and shorts I buy are kinda like painter whites... but they come in a tan, light tan, and a light gray. I think they are carpenter pants? They have the small pockets on the sides, they fit a little looser in the legs. They are called Wrangler Hero Originals. The shirts I wear are t-shirts that get handed down from street clothes or t-shirts I pick up at thrift stores.

I guess I just don't like the mainstream stereotypical painter look. 
People probably look at my tattoos and piercings more than my pants.  ;)
Title: Re: painters whites
Post by: Bauer on October 05, 2007, 11:48:56 PM
I some times ware a pair of tighty whitey fruit of the looms on a hot day if I have a customer who wants to hang out all day yakking with me. Sends them to a back room every time.

I don't wear underwear.  ???
Title: Re: painters whites
Post by: Tubs on October 05, 2007, 11:59:52 PM
Keep the pants on unless you are painting for the wife or girl friend.

IMHO, ware your stlyle as long as it is not so worn and smelly that when you take the pants off they can stand up on thier own.
Title: Re: painters whites
Post by: jvt321 on October 06, 2007, 07:56:53 AM
I always wear painters whites, but I don't understand the design. That little loop above the side pocket seems pretty useless unless you're carrying a hammer. It seems more for construction folks. It does holds in a scraper fairly well, but the pocket below really keeps in in. Any entrepreneurs want to re-design the painter pants?
jvt
Title: Re: painters whites
Post by: BrushJockey on October 06, 2007, 08:19:16 AM
How many of you wear a tool pouch of any kind?  I have used many and now have a smallish one that holds small knives, nail punch, sanding sponge, knife etc and I don't load up my pants with this stuff. Pants fit better that way ! ;D
Title: Re: painters whites
Post by: rmichael on October 06, 2007, 10:08:42 AM
I always wear painters whites, but I don't understand the design. That little loop above the side pocket seems pretty useless unless you're carrying a hammer. It seems more for construction folks. It does holds in a scraper fairly well, but the pocket below really keeps in in. Any entrepreneurs want to re-design the painter pants?
jvt

In my experience, keeping a rag in a back pocket can be a frustrating thing... about the time you need it you discover that it must have found a new home somewhere along the way, the hammer loop is the perfect place for a paint rag, and it stays put. Some whites have a rag loop between the back pockets, which works well if you can deal with the all the inevitable lame jokes from coworkers....  :-\

rmichael
Title: Re: painters whites
Post by: jackpauhl on October 06, 2007, 04:26:36 PM
yeah no whites for me. White shirts and khaki shorts or jeans.
Title: Re: painters whites
Post by: WALL-PRO PAINTER on October 06, 2007, 10:36:53 PM
I look at it like this; would you have less respect for a police officer if they were "tired" of their uniform and wanted to wear something more comfortable?  Or what about a doctor, postman, or would you care if your food in an upscale restaurant was prepared by a chef wearing jeans and a t-shirt? 

I suppose I am old fashioned.  I respect the trade and the tradition of white.  Actually, as far as I know painters are the only trade to have a 'uniform'.  I believe plumbers used to wear pinstripe bibs, carpenters jeans.

I believe even the public is impressed when the see a painter in 'clean' whites! 

I LOVE MY WHITES ;D
Title: Re: painters whites
Post by: Bauer on October 07, 2007, 02:01:14 AM
I believe even the public is impressed when the see a painter in 'clean' whites! 

I don't beleive that. The public is impressed with the products I produce and thats enough for me. That is my own opinion, but it is a strong one.

When I see a painter in brand new or really clean whites... I think wallpaper hanger or paint broker.
Title: Re: painters whites
Post by: TomTom on October 07, 2007, 02:19:38 AM
Well I don't think you can fairly compare a policemans uniform to that of a painter wearing whites. But anyway, the main reason I stopped wearing painters white paints was the shear un-comfort of them. Uggh! So I wear second-hand khaki's which are way more comfortable and have a double bonus of being much cheaper. Five or six bucks for something I'm comfortable in all day is far more important than a so called uniform in my opinion, and khaki's are only slightly off-white anyway. I could care less whether the plumber I call wears a three piece suit and tie or a pair of cut-off denim shorts and pink silk vest. If he does what I need and does it well that's all that matters. Same with a painter - he may well wear whites but if can't paint it doesn't mean anything. If painters whites were as comfortable as the khakis I would probably wear the whites as I do agree that there is a judgement factor by people on appearances, but the whites are awful (and obviously wouldn't be as cheap as my second-hand khakis!). Just my view, that's all.
Title: Re: painters whites
Post by: rmichael on October 07, 2007, 10:18:43 AM
The public perception of professional painters wearing "whites" has become so prevalent that it has become a Trademark .... John Q Public sez... "They are wearing white so they must be pros."

I absolutely respect the fact that anybody can wear anything they like or feel comfortable in, and it certainly does NOT dictate the quality of their work, but it is just a fact that the public, and many in the profession, have this strong perception based on a very long tradition of professional painters wearing "whites".

If you are driving through the neighborhood and see a crew in paint splattered blue jeans, you think novice or newbies, if they are wearing whites, you think pros... As was pointed out earlier in this thread, we didn't make the rule... but that's the way it is....

rmichael
Title: Re: painters whites
Post by: ProWallGuy on October 07, 2007, 12:02:14 PM
The public perception of professional painters wearing "whites" has become so prevalent that it has become a Trademark .... John Q Public sez... "They are wearing white so they must be pros."

I absolutely respect the fact that anybody can wear anything they like or feel comfortable in, and it certainly does NOT dictate the quality of their work, but it is just a fact that the public, and many in the profession, have this strong perception based on a very long tradition of professional painters wearing "whites".

If you are driving through the neighborhood and see a crew in paint splattered blue jeans, you think novice or newbies, if they are wearing whites, you think pros... As was pointed out earlier in this thread, we didn't make the rule... but that's the way it is....

rmichael
Very well put. I too can't wait to shuck the whites, and throw on some jeans, but that only happens after work. The whites are a must in my company; they are a part of the uniform.
Title: Re: painters whites
Post by: Stever on October 07, 2007, 04:40:37 PM
kahkis work well for me. At one point Levi's made their 501 button fly jeans in white. I did buy a pair of those just for painting. Supper cumfy and lasted a long time. But alas white jeans was a short lived trend available at typical jean stores.

I've only ever worn one pair of whites. I thoroughly hated them. The way their cut makes for a sh!ty fit and the fabric (Dickies) felt like crap against my legs. YuK!
Title: Re: painters whites
Post by: BrushJockey on October 07, 2007, 05:37:30 PM
I think one thing that is almost a trend about this, is that if you have or are in a crew, the "look" is more an issue than the lone painter. I have worn whites for most my career, but have switched to as close to white cargo pants or carp pants the last few years also for comfort. The lone painter has a relationship with the client that is much more personal, and I think that is where the image , as long as professional in appearance and attitude, has more leeway.
I think.
 ;D
Title: Re: painters whites
Post by: Roadog on October 07, 2007, 07:51:22 PM
I wore whites when I was union cause......you have to! The union color coded us all to make sure we were not taking work away from the other trades. Like cleaning up the area....that was laborers pay check. When I went on my own, wore whites for a while then noticed that most crews with whites were just wearing them to look like a painter! My thought is if you are a pro, with a crew, whites may be the way, at least to look like a team or one company, but as a loner, my clients want what I know and know how to do, not what I wear. I do use rags though, not my pants.
Title: Re: painters whites
Post by: Stever on October 07, 2007, 08:04:02 PM
Agreed! Being a lone gun vs. a painting crew makes a huge difference with wearing whites for the image it portrays.
Title: Re: painters whites
Post by: Bauer on October 07, 2007, 10:21:32 PM
That may be it "the lone painter theory".  ;D

I am not a lone painter though. I have a partner and three employees. And not one of us wear whites. None of which wear blue jeans, mostly light colored khakis/cargo's like me. I guess thats our uniform.

I thought of you guys today when I was at target buying some work pants  ;D
Title: Re: painters whites
Post by: Roadog on October 08, 2007, 12:10:42 PM
Thinking of us while you were shopping. LOL......

  I didnt mean that if you were not a one man show that whites were in, but that its a professional look for the crew......even if its jeans and a company t shirt. What ever works. The one thing about whites for me that I think is Unprofessional looking is when the whites have 2 years of colors (10,000) spots of paint cause they dont use rags.
 
  Whites have been traditionally the pro uniform but today its the summer school teacher, the station wagon guy with a ladder, guys here illegally, and more. No matter what they wear, theres someone giving the paint pro a bad name because of there lack of knowledge in the coatings field.
Title: Re: painters whites
Post by: the PAINTSMITH on October 08, 2007, 01:51:42 PM
I've worn whites every day of work since I started in this trade, barring the rare day when I was powerwashing all day and had my rain gear on...The customers definitely notice the uniform...My sometimes partner wears sweats, an old sweatshirt and crocs...The customers definitely notice that uniform too...
Title: Re: painters whites
Post by: Lynjowoman on October 08, 2007, 04:54:50 PM
Most of our clients remark how clean & professional we look in our whites. Of course we use paint rags & not our pants  to wipe our hands. Nothing looks worse than painter whites stiff as a board from painted hands or caulking. We had a guy working for us once that always had a towel in his back pocket, but never used it to wipe his hands or any paint drips. Everyting went on the paints or shirt. Needless to say he didn't work for us long.

Painting white are just like any other over head costs. We go through a lot, but they are tax deductable.

Lynjo
Title: Re: painters whites
Post by: UUjohn on October 08, 2007, 07:11:29 PM
"the good guys always wear white, pilgrim"   ;)

Be Well
Title: Re: painters whites
Post by: D. Berry on October 09, 2007, 02:52:19 PM
Ditto on the professional look, but if a person has plenty of work I guess his/her reputation speaks for itself.  A person can dress the part and be a terrible painter.   I never wear anything but whites.  I really don't find them uncomfortable.  I usually get them from SW on sale. 
Title: Re: painters whites
Post by: Chip McCheckellson on October 16, 2007, 10:24:14 PM
I wear modern military cargo style white/light gray low contrast camo that look off-white from a distance. Not sure if im going to go bid in them...  :)

My

5-in-1        right back pocket
dust brush  left back pocket
razor          right front
cell and smokes(until tomorrow, quitting) right front lower
multi bit light weight screwdriver and pen   left front lower

These are what i really want, just in off-white
http://www.triple5soul.com/shop/style.asp?Style=MFL-3225&Rec=27808&Category=4
Title: Re: painters whites
Post by: TomTom on October 16, 2007, 10:30:01 PM
Quote
These are what i really want, just in off-white
http://www.triple5soul.com/shop/style.asp?Style=MFL-3225&Rec=27808&Category=4

Hey Chip, I'm not sure I'd be going to work in pair of pants that cost $114! Maybe you are in a whole different league of painting and you can afford that. Me, I just bought a pair of off-white pants at Goodwill this weekend. Cost me $4.99. They have side pockets too  ;D
Title: Re: painters whites
Post by: Chip McCheckellson on October 17, 2007, 12:14:04 AM
lol, i meant i'd like a pair like those.  :)
Title: Re: painters whites
Post by: Hixon Painting on October 24, 2007, 05:32:56 PM
I've been wearing blue jeans and white t-shirts for about 13 years now and would never go back to painter garb. I always found it uncomfortable, less durable, and ugly.

My workers have always worn painter whites, but not because I require them too. To each his own I guess  ::)
Title: Re: painters whites
Post by: donwizkid on November 05, 2007, 09:22:58 PM
Old Navy Painters pants are loos fit, durable, comfortable and affordable. 
Title: Re: painters whites
Post by: SixInARow on November 27, 2007, 01:12:38 AM
I am glad that I am not the only one that does not like wearing whites.  I bought a pair of short whites a couple of years ago for the summer, but they were so uncomfortable.  I bought another pair a few sizes bigger and kept them up with my belt, but they were still uncomfortable.  Later I tried the regular whites for 3 days and then stopped wearing them.  I went back to what I always wore, blue jeans.  I don't buy brand new jeans purposely.  I wait until a regular pair I have begins to wear enough or they get a very noticeable stain on them that I don't want to wear them for anything other than working.  Plain and simple they are more comfortable than ANY "work" pant I have ever tried and I have been through many.  If a potential customer decides to pass on my bid because I was not wearing whites for a painter that is then they have issues.  As stated before, who is to say that the guy in whites is going to do a better job?  Make no mistake, by the time I do get a "new" pair of jeans my old ones can pass for a color palette.  I tried keeping rags, but I'd always forget it across the room, or it'd fall out.  My shirt and pants work fine.  They cost money, but so do rags.  And as far as someone passing by and seeing me in my jeans painting outside - why care so much?  The job you do will tell a better tale than the clothes you chose to wear.
Also for the loop - oftentimes not just painters wear whites.  Drywallers do too, and the loops is handy for a drywall hammer.  I do both - so I like having the loop there.  I intend to buy overalls very soon, I'm tired of belts and pulling my pants up.....even with a belt.
Title: Re: painters whites
Post by: MPPainting on January 01, 2008, 06:03:08 PM
I don't know where else this company is located but a couple of the BM stores by me sell them.  The company is called Keystone Workwear and they sell pants in two different colors - natural(off white) and white.  They have double knees which are actually quit comfortable.  They are so baggy when I first purchased them that I have to wash and dry them so that they would shrink.  And they're not even that expensive, I think I pay somewhere around $14.00 a pair.  I found out about them 2 years ago and I still have the same paints.  They also sell shorts in the same color and fabric.  Oh yeah, I live in New Jersey.
Title: Re: painters whites
Post by: PowerPainterUK on January 04, 2008, 06:22:00 PM
i like to wear white overalls like these (http://www.lionindustries.co.uk/images/spraying_with_extension2.jpg) They're very comfortable and have foam knee inserts for kneeling etc.. The ones I wear have zip up front and zip pockets so you don't drop your phone in the paint ::)
Title: Re: painters whites
Post by: rmichael on January 04, 2008, 07:58:40 PM
Hey Phil, are you killing a fly on that wall....  :D  ;D
Title: Re: painters whites
Post by: Bushman on January 06, 2008, 11:57:46 PM
Hey everybody. I've been reading some of the threads here off and on for a few days. Pretty cool getting to "listen" to the thoughts and experiences of some fellow painters.
 
As for whites...over the years i've had many people ask me, "why do painters wear white?". I didn't really have an answer, so I gave it some thought. Best I could come up with is that it identifies who you are. I mean, if the next door neighbor looks over to see some guy peeking in windows, or walking through someone's bedroom, they see the whites and quickly come to the conclusion, "Oh, it's just the painter". Also, I guess, if you happen to get paint on your clothes, no matter what color the paint is, it's very unlikely that it clashes with the "color" white. :P

I do have one pair of khaki shorts I wear. Other than that, it's always whites. Like some have said, it adds a professional touch. At the end of the summer all my whites were shot from the exterior work. So, in the fall I bought a few pairs of fresh whites. I also bought a new red pull-over hooded sweat jacket/shirt. I gotta say, it was a sharp look.

My whites stay fairly free of paint these days after I started to use a rag more often. I suppose the worst place you can get paint is on your a$$ from backing into a painted surface...now that doesn't exactly scream proffessionalism.

I'm having a heluva time with what I thought was going to be a new client. It's a long story, but I will at some point add it to the appropriate thread.

 
Title: Re: painters whites
Post by: rmichael on January 07, 2008, 11:20:58 PM
Bushman,

I think it's a Traditional thing....  ;)
www.painterforum.com/white.html

rmichael
Title: Re: painters whites
Post by: reveti on January 24, 2008, 05:09:19 PM
Our local sherwin williams sells the dickies painter pants here fo 11 bucks a pair (they have the sw logo on the pocket), there not bad, gotta lot of pockets and well, i dont think you can get a pair of pants at walmart for that price
Title: Re: painters whites
Post by: rex on January 25, 2008, 07:42:08 PM
hello.........newbie here.   :)  I've been wearing whites for 26 years and am so much in the habit that I dont think I'l ever change.  My grandfather(who started our family business in 1928) always insisted on white pants and a white Tee shirt.  He was very strict with this and never deviated in all the years that he ran the business.  My father has since taken over(around 1986) and has followed the same dress code ever since.  Now it is just my dad and I working, and we still wear whites every day.  Actually we were never allowed to wear shorts all those years( back in the day my grandfather employed up to 8 men), until recently I talked my dad into it. Now I love it!  Shorts are great  when its 90 degrees out, except when you gotta work around alot of large shrubs.  My legs get really scraped up from crawling around behind those damn bushes >:( I get my whites at MAB paints for around $15 a pair,  Stan Ray brand.   I used to get them at Sears until they stopped selling them.  For a couple years Sears had a one year guarantee on their painters pants. I would wear them out after 6 months and take them back for another free pair!  Good deal  while it lasted.
Title: Re: painters whites
Post by: Marion on February 06, 2008, 02:02:21 PM
My wife and I wear painter whites when on the job.  It's a tradition/pride thing.  And we try to insure that they are clean and bright at the beginning of the day.  We get comments all the time like, "I can't believe how clean you guys stay!  If I were painting, I'd have it all over me and everything else."  If we get paint splotches on them we take "Goof" and a brush to them before throwing them in the wash.  And, as stated earlier in the thread, Carhartt makes good quaility and comfortable paint clothes.
Title: Re: painters whites
Post by: WALL-PRO PAINTER on February 07, 2008, 10:37:37 PM
FYI My Carhartt dealer told me they are discontinuing their Whites...I thing I will switch to Big Ben Brand.  They are very durable.
Title: Re: painters whites
Post by: Marion on February 11, 2008, 11:02:07 AM
WALL-PRO PAINTER, I hope your distributor is wrong.  I ordered a couple pair, last week, from www.dungarees.net.  This morning I checked Carhartt's web site and they still list them.  My fingers are crossed.
Title: Re: painters whites
Post by: Marion on February 13, 2008, 09:58:33 AM
Another maker of good painter clothes is Pointer Brand.  The factory is less than 10 miles from my house.  I'll give them a try some day, especially if Carhartt does actually discontinue theirs.

https://www.pointerbrand.com/Default.asp

Title: Re: painters whites
Post by: MacPaint on February 13, 2008, 11:50:43 AM
I switched from whites about 5 years ago when Carhart started making khaki tan and other assorted colored pants and shorts.
I think they call them carpenter's pants though.

They are soft after the 1st washing and they look great. Nice fit to 'em.
I bought a tan, lt. grey and a light brown pair of shorts as well.
(Olive drab would be a cool color if they made them.)
 They wear well and uh...wear well.  :)

The shorts and pants have all the same slots/pockets and rag loops I've grown accustomed to.
If I don't have a putty knife in my rt. side leg pocket and a rag on my left-side loop, I feel uncomfortable all day while painting. (Like an Old West sheriff - if he moved his gun to the other side of his holster, could he shoot as well?)

I saw a guy at the paint store last week with  80's style mullet hair and a pair of skin tight whites and I almost gagged. He had paint all over the thigh area and a tight sweatshirt too. My gawd....
I'm no fashion slave, but I'll never buy whites again after that.  :o

Title: Re: painters whites
Post by: UUjohn on April 14, 2008, 03:09:12 PM
wore a new pair of painters whites today.. the brand is "Keystone", w/ a spiffy lookin Ben' Moore patch on a back pocket... ahhh, product placement...
anyway...  the right leg tool pocket isn't deep enough for a 5 Way, and they're way too baggy... i look like a hip hop painter... all i need now are plaid boxers to show off as i let the waist line of the whites ride just above my butt... and at my age and not so buff physique that would constitute first degree eye slaughter :)
PULLLLLEEEEEEEZ !!! just a pair of nice whites, okay?

Be Well
Title: Re: painters whites
Post by: rmichael on April 14, 2008, 10:29:59 PM
i look like a hip hop painter... all i need now are plaid boxers to show off as i let the waist line of the whites ride just above my butt...
Be Well

LOL .. I swear... how do those Guys keep them from falling around their ankles, and what about the "shorts" that are so long that they are about two inches from their feet...  what's the purpose...   :D   

I'm patiently waiting for the 50's style Ricky Recardo high draped pleated pants to make a come back... on second thought, maybe not...  ;D