A Plumbers Tool Box - HELP

[Chris4489]

Hi guys,

Has anyone got a general list of tools that are essential for a plumber?? I am due to receive my 'free tool kit' from NCS in January and was wondering what I would need to get to add to it.

Thanks
Chris

 

[Avatar]

You do not need to spend £300 a piece for things like jigsaws ect which you simply will not use that much . . . . .

My jigsaw is a £30 job and I have used it a handful of times. I would be annoyed if I had spent a lot on it!

Drills are another matter as you will depend on them and need the best quality.

Save on carpentry saws - I go to a little shop for pieces of wood which they cut precisely for me. This cost is passed on to the customer and they get a better job than I tried to cut them myself anyway . . ..

My list:

- SDS 2kg - absolutely essential! (make sure it has roto stop)

- Drill driver - cant do without! (drilling in wood/metal + screw driving)

- Combi Drill (£300) - makes life so easy but you can do without to start with.

- Power driver (I prefer this to a drill driver as one will fit in your toolbox but not essential)

- Reciprocating saw/jigsaw/circ saw (can do without all of these)

- Bosch Multi-tool (this I really cannot do without as it can do tasks that are nigh on impossible otherwise!)

 

[Robert Tyrrell]

Great thread this, and very interesting to me as I'm just returning to the trade after a 20 year 'Break'. I still have all my tools but I don't have a soldering torch and I was wondering what the best ones are these days? I used to use a Primus 2000 but I haven't seen any of those around for a while. Any suggestions?

 

[plum ber]

Great thread this, and very interesting to me as I'm just returning to the trade after a 20 year 'Break'. I still have all my tools but I don't have a soldering torch and I was wondering what the best ones are these days? I used to use a Primus 2000 but I haven't seen any of those around for a while. Any suggestions?

I use a Rothenberger 2 or something like that it is the more expensive of the two that Grahams sell but it is well worth it...

 

[PlumbBobBob]

that'll be the super fire

 

[plum ber]

that'll be the super fire

that'll be the one.....I am nice and warm in my Log cabin and could'nt be bothered going out into the cold to look at it even though I have tidied the van out this am.....:hurray:

 

[e8plumber]

I like Open tote bags as I think there easier to find tools in. Stanley do a good and there on sale at B&Q

 

[Robert Tyrrell]

that'll be the super fire

Cheers - now all I've got to do is update my Gas & Oil tickets then I can stick the signs on the van and I'm away :teeth_smile:

Funny thing that with all the pushfit stuff around we still need to sweat 'em in, and cheers for the mention of the log cabin Plum Ber. Sounds like something that McCloud would do - enjoy the warm.

 

[plum ber]

Cheers - now all I've got to do is update my Gas & Oil tickets then I can stick the signs on the van and I'm away :teeth_smile:

Funny thing that with all the pushfit stuff around we still need to sweat 'em in, and cheers for the mention of the log cabin Plum Ber. Sounds like something that McCloud would do - enjoy the warm.

It's GR8 it's a Carsare 250 from Dunster house if your interested in seeing it, I will put some pic's on here sometime for your perusal Cheers mad Dan

 

[prince2123]

It depends which plumbing field you are in.

Buy Accordingly.

 

[Avatar]

Screwfix have these on clearance -

Plumbers Tool Kit 18Pcs | NoLinkingToThis

A bit cheap and cheerful, still if you are starting out it would be kicking the ball in the right direction!

 

[Kemble]

The hammer looks too small...

 

[Avatar]

The quality looks iffy on the plumbers kit - I have a friend who has this and the quality of the tools is good actually!

Forge Steel General Tool Kit 47 Piece Set | NoLinkingToThis


Definitely good if starting out:

Add
- nice pair of Bahco's (or similar)
- 15mm/22mm pipe slices
- Water pump Pliers
and so on . . . .

Personally my favorite tool is a demolition scredriver - if I could take just 3 tools on site the screwdriver is right up there!

I have used it to smash tiles off walls, lift up floorboards, lift lids off outside stopcock access holes and so on. It does have to be slotted however. I can even use it on isolation valves as well! The list goes on . . .

Just a bit hard to find right now!

STAN FATMAX XL DEMO S/DRIVER 10MM 067544- Buy STAN FATMAX XL DEM...

 

[plum ber]

There's a lot to be said for a demolition screwdriver but I find the right tool for the job in hand is much better for my pinkies....

 

[erpkid]

Before I forget "armeg jaw dropper" Basically a glorified crows foot spanner for baths and basins but fits a treat and gets to places you would not believe possible and grips the thinnest back nuts.

 

[Keefy]

Telescopic mirror, telescopic magnet, Maglite torch and if you use wire wool - TWEEZERS!

 

[plum ber]

Telescopic mirror, telescopic magnet, Maglite torch and if you use wire wool - TWEEZERS!

You could just wear your PPE gloves BUT I can't work in them either!! you see I pre-empted your answer aswell.............

 

[Keefy]

Almost forgot, masking tape for wrapping round your finger when you give your little pinky finger a fish's gill after failing to keep it straight when using your pipe-slice. The amount of times I gave my little finger a smiley-shaped cut when I was an apprentice doesn't bare thinking about.

 

[Avatar]

I always have a box of plasters in my toolbox for such occasions!

Also pain killers as some customers WILL give you a headache . . . .

The list goes on.

 

[Dannyparty92]

Makita Radio is a must!

 

[Phil]

Makita Radio is a must!

mmm......don't get me wrong I'm the biggest Makita fan going and already this weekend I've bought two 2nd hand Makita powertools that I don't even need off ebay thinking "oh they're a good price I better snap em up"

But the DAB radio is just too expensive and bulky to warrant me buying it unless it was £30 or something.

 

[mike-c]

Is it just me but I detest radios on sites, I like to be able to hear the water in the pipes when I switch on to make sure the flow stops. Normally the radio owner (usually a painter) is reluctant to turn them off even for a few minutes. They must be scared in case they miss something earth shattering or the latest moronic Rhianna song.
Radios are for vans or alarm clocks only in my book.

Bah Humbug.

 

[Gray0689]

No I like the radio on
But has to be off when turning water on
And hate it when joiners have compressor on I always think I hear water running lol

 

[Phil]

I don't know how I'd get through the day without radio, 6 music, absolute, etc and of course the hourly news to keep up with how goosed up the country is.

 

[lame plumber]

Is it just me but I detest radios on sites, I like to be able to hear the water in the pipes when I switch on to make sure the flow stops. Normally the radio owner (usually a painter) is reluctant to turn them off even for a few minutes. They must be scared in case they miss something earth shattering or the latest moronic Rhianna song.
Radios are for vans or alarm clocks only in my book.

Bah Humbug.

love the radio on in the van between jobs, used one when building her some stables a while back, but never on a job, mainly because I avoid site work if at all possible and my oaps have the tv on too loud anyhow when I service/repair their boilers.

 

[dancinplumba]

work much better when radio is on on R2