Make labcoats not completely useless!

[atomic1fire]

Perhaps with the workbench you should be able to mix materials to get labcoats that are more then just overlays.

Like for instance got a reasonably nonflamable material? make a lab coat out of it and now you can play with all the fire you could possibly want.

Want to go face to face with a wizard? Magic proof your labcoat for science on the run.

Want your lab coat to take a bullet for science related purposes? Weave some metal in there.