1000 denier coated Cordura is a nylon fabric with 3x more strength than No. 7 Duck (canvas used on line tool bags) at a little more than half the weight. Cordura nylon is a textured nylon for a natural spun-like appearance with excellent resistance to fading, abrasion, rot and mildew. It is quick drying and water repellent. This is the reason it is used on knife sheaths and motorcycle jackets.
Strength
1000 denier Cordura has a grab strength of 750-850 lbs. It has a tear strength of 95-100 lbs. Grab strength is if you were to hold the fabric on each end and pull. Tear strength is like trying to tear a piece of paper. For you fishermen, think of trying to break #100 test big game fishing line. I chose this fabric also because of its excellent abrasion properties, as in work boots. Its texture prevents hand tools from ejecting easily from the bouncing of a bucket truck. Kevlar, polyesters, vinyls and cheap vegetable tanned leathers just don’t fit the bill.
Additional Reinforcement
In addition to multiple layers of Cordura, we also sew in nylon webbing and High-Density Poly Ethylene (HDPE-cutting board material). These are added to the Journeyman’s Edge tool boards for exceptional strength, body and function. Because of the ability of my sewing contractors, and the horsepower of their industrial sewing machines, we are able to punch through many layers of Cordura, nylon webbing, and HDPE. The reinforcements that I designed into our tool boards are overkill, but worth it.
Performance Tested
Performance testing of many materials for snagging, melting, etc., on chainsaw teeth led us to newer user friendly chainsaw guards. Ballistic nylon and durable webbing combined with our HDPE (cutting board material) ensures that our toolboards are built to last.
Grommets
As you know, the grommet edges on your typical tool apron are sharp. They eventually cut whatever material they encounter. Journeyman’s Edge tool boards use what is called a Rolled Rim Grommet. They are expensive but much more stout due to the rolled edge (doubling over of brass). We even use ¼” Rolled Rim Grommets throughout the tool board components for rain water drainage.
Rolled Rims
Rolled rims are critical for supporting our tool board by bucket hooks. Extra caution is taken by adding reinforcement patches of Cordura and sewing them appropriately to prevent tearing, sagging and wear. Knowing how these tool boards need to function with 40 lbs. of seldom cleaned out nuts, washers, and garbage in the lower pouches influenced a major portion of my design decisions. I spent many nights loading up prototypes with absurd weights. I studied the stresses and strains of the fabric and how it reacted from the Rolled Rim Grommets downward. I’m proud of this research and design. This is tedious work but, having the right beverage in hand helped immensely.
Gussets
Gussets are standard on all of our material pouches. They prevent spillage and distribute the wear on stitching. This ultimately provides an efficient and very long-lasting pouch
Drill Bit Holders
Drill bit holders are built into my toolboard designs. Journeyman’s Edge tool boards are designed for both the distribution and the transmission work that we encounter. One 1½” I.D. PVC holder which accepts highline bits easily and two 1” I.D. PVC holders for distribution bits. They are drilled out in the bottom for rain water drainage and the holes are offset so that the tip of a freshly used hot bit doesn’t melt its way into the drain hole. Throw a coin in there and the hot tips won’t be an issue. Often, I use the 1½” for my 3-lb. single jack or drift pin.
Shock Cords
We added shock cords (elastic/bungee type) to assist in holding water bottles, voltmeters, etc… I personally use them to hold bolts vertically when my grunt sack is too full. HDPE is sewn into the body of the tool board to assist the shock cords operation in both lower pouches.
Personal Pouch
This doesn’t seem to ever get personal. Intended for eyeglasses and such, someone always litters it with sockets, eye levels or tape.
Small Tool Workstation
They work the same way as inverting your screwdriver and slipping nuts, washers and hardware onto it for easy access. Some think it is just a good place for Sharpies or cotter keys. You’ll decide.
Long Tool Pockets
How many times have you racked your sack on a 15” Crescent wrench that sticks up too far above the tool board while climbing into or out of the bucket? Anyway, the pictures speak for themselves. Long tools need long pockets.
HDPE Backboard
The HDPE backboards on our hardbacked products are dual purpose. They provide more rigid structural support to the entire unit and act as a tough as hell chainsaw scabbard. This prevents sharp chainsaw teeth from chewing up your investment.
Short Tool Pockets
Plenty of room for the essential hand tools. Webbing is sewn into the upper interior of all pockets (long and short) for additional strength and body. These pockets typically “hug” most tools, preventing them from wanting to jump out.
Crafting Our Boards
Providing the highest quality and finest crafted toolboard is personal to me. I use them as do many of my friends and co-workers. That's why I only hire local industrial sewing contractors and craftsmen to cut, sew, sand and set each of the components on my lineman tool boards. These men and women, right here in Oregon, have proven their abilities to me. They are good, hardworking Americans with families. They earn and deserve a living wage, just like us. If the day comes that I can’t afford to pay them fairly, then I won’t build them anymore. Journeyman’s Edge is going to be a company that my family is proud of. Overseas sweatshops are not an option to me - EVER!
