Lessons on washing a vest

I washed mine once with a 1-1/2" Mag nail in one of the pockets. I would trade you the paper roll for a Mag nail.

It is not sacrosanct around here, in fact it is a requirement because it turns sours and smelly quite fast and you can't stand to be around yourself.

I would like to dump the vest, especially the reflective tape on them. All I need is a couple of pencils, field book, pocket tape, compass, and map.

Not the word you were looking for:
Sacrosanct: extremely sacred, not to be entered or trespassed upon, above or beyond criticism, change, or interference

Probably intended:
Sacrilege:?ÿ violation?ÿ of what is sacred, gross irreverence

Like the average Tshirt, not one to need a safety vest as wildlife do not heed them.

A work garment has lived beyond its useful age in less time as we expect.

The elements are hard on most of their manmade materials, that and exposure to sun and smog.

I've got two main "seasonal" vests. One is a thicker "Winchester" flo-orange hunting vest and the other is a lighter (but still thick cotton) summer vest that is so old the label says "Leitz". They get washed and dried every couple of weeks during their season.

Cold wash with detergent and hot tumble dry. They'll probably last longer than I will. I learned to take out the PK nails when a big one got lodged through a hole in the washer basin. When it started to spin it trashed the agitator mounts. Hence, new washer.

Posted by: @dave-karoly

All I need is a couple of pencils, field book, pocket tape, compass, and map.

Working from memory (and left-to-right, top-to-bottom, front-to-back, outside-to-inside), below is a list of what I typically carry in/on my Filson:

1. Large Sharpie
2. 0.75' SS ruler (custom made; I had to modify the vest to accommodate this)
3. Colerase carmine pencil
4. Carbide scriber w/magnet (I usually have a couple of tacks on the magnet)
5. Negro lead holder (this is a throwback to my construction staking days, I rarely use it anymore)
6. 0.5mm mechanical pencil
7. Screen stylus
8. Key-bak (clipped to a buttonhole I made in the vest)
9. Hotel key card or credit card with a white back (serves as a straightedge and laser-plummet aid)
10. A few concrete nails
11. Small pry bar (used for digging and as a very small emergency hammer)
12. Yellow keil (I can never remember how to spell that and always have to look it up)
13. Roll of pink flagging
14. Carbide-tipped tile scribe (more robust than the other scriber, for marking control points in concrete)
15. 25' pocket tape
16. Topo shoe for my prism pole
17. Hand pruners
18. Field book

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@jim-frame

You are right, forgot the flagging and sharpie. The rest of the junk I carry around...never use.  Like my two briefcases (one is employer owned stuff, the other is my personal stuff). Standard statement at hotel check in, "I prefer ground floor if you have it." Usually they do. If it's a hotel with elevators and carts it isn't as critical but two story motel style I want the parking lot level.

@just-a-surveyor

I recently did a track geometry job in Austin.  I walked 38 miles of track in 100+ heat index.  After the second day i could not stand  the smell of my mesh vest or the band in my hard hat.  Had to start taking it in to the hotel every night and rinsing it out.  I will take the west coast dry heat over humidity any time.  

I still have a couple of vest but don't wear one anymore and all you describe fits in my tool belt and I try to avoid that as well.

In reference to cold washing, correct me if my recently acquired knowledge is wrong, but I now understand that cold wash detergents are significantly more harsh than their hot wash counterparts. I acquired this knowledge because I recently read the label on one of my pairs of padded bike shorts as I was curious as to why they were disintegrating, label said "don't you dare use cold wash detergent". Being an all year hot climate here, the plumbing is cold water for the washing machine, and shops only sell cold wash detergent. All my vests, particularly the retro-reflective parts are suffering, undergarment elastic too.?ÿ

I use a $20?ñ game shell pouch belt slung over my head and shoulder.

Can take it off and hang on a limb or fence post when I reach a destination.

Will wrap around my instrument backpack or whatever is on the ATV and can use whatever bag arrangement I want.

@jim-frame

I couldnƒ??t function without my vest.?ÿ

It carries so much. Going off memory as I sit in a waiting room:

0.7mm drafting pencils (2)

indelible marker

13ƒ?? pocket tape (m&f)

extra R10 batt

loose level for holding against rod (for shots on tall stuff)

bug dope?ÿ

flagging

snack

headlamp

gloves

small bungees for lashing tools for carrying?ÿ

suunto sighting compus w/ dec. adjustment?ÿ

leatherman

InReach transponder (when working remote)

in back pouch:

folding hand saw

kukri knife (better than machete)

estwing rock hammer

nail pouch with MAGs, spikes and fuzzies

collapsible ?ÿshonstat

field book

1 gallon ziplock bag with field maps for the day

...and while not actually part of the vest, a chest harness with my .44 magnum (soon to be .454 casull)

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Whats a fuzzie?, another word for feather?

Whats a fuzzie?
Stake chaser,used with either a hub red topping or a 60-D spike. I call them fuzzies as well.

@williwaw

I call hub whiskers fuzzies in my field notes. They are great for spike cp’s  Much easier to find on a future visit. 

@aksurveyor

Rooster combs 

Tack them on top of blue tops stakes for grading. Grader will keep dragging dirt until the comb is gone or gets tilted.

Regarding vests va alternatives:

early in my career, I was one of two green chainmen. About a week in, I donned the vest, while my coworker just stuffed markers and flagging in his pockets. The party chief looked at him, and said “are you a surveyor, or are you a P***Y?” I have worn a vest ever since. 

Regarding smell / fading / wear

While more expensive (and warmer... and less breathable) cordura or heavy weave nylon vests last much longer, and don’t retain odors nearly as bad as cotton. I was wearing out cotton vests in a year (stitching being blown out, and nails wearing holes in pockets), and cordura vests usually last 5-6 years before the yellow is sun bleached white. 

You know it is time when putting on your vest in the AM causes an involuntary gagging.

Fact is, after a few weeks of rain, the vests seem to never get properly dried out, and then there is a lingering smell forever, no matter how many times you wash it.