Basic tools and which are best

[Gary Lee]

Hi,

Ive just started my level 2 Guilds, already signed up for level 3 and then I'm hoping to do the gas. I want to build my basic tools up over this period. Can you recommend what tools i should get as a basic kit, which ill use at college instead of their rusty old rubbish. And which make/brand do you guys recommend

Many thanks in advance

gaz

 

[Gouldy]

On the subject of start up tools, which is the best budget hose pipe to get for drain downs? I know some of you are sweet on the Regin but at £50 it's a bit pricey when you are filling a tool box as well.

 

[Ch4 plumbing]

Get one from B&Q or similar, chances are it will get cut up driven over pin holed so don't spend too much.

 

[woodytheplumber]

I use wilco garden hose pipes at the min got a 50m cut down 2 10m and a 30m had them about a year now and they are fine for me

 

[dancinplumba]

A pack of matches,small pot of fairy liquid and screwdriver,chisel,crowbar,hole making, scrapper,scouring devise maybe........

Wots that fer ?

 

[Neil K]

Box spanners, every size you can get, best tool in the world

 

[plumben]

On the subject of start up tools, which is the best budget hose pipe to get for drain downs? I know some of you are sweet on the Regin but at £50 it's a bit pricey when you are filling a tool box as well.

Any hose pipe will do, just get one that's long enough and make sure you coil it up so it dosnt kink oh and a handful of jubilee clips too

 

[Stanios]

This is a great cheap set for starting out!
http://www.NoLinkingToThis/p/forge-steel-general-tool-kit-47-piece-set/84541

Its an absolute bargain when most toolbags are 20 quid on their own, you get a great bag with almost all basic tools..
I got this 2 years ago and complemented it with grips, adjustables, rad ratchet, plastic pipecutters & pipeslices. The bag and all forge steel tools are still in great shape after daily use. You really neednt spend a fortune at this stage.

 

[E4gas]

On the subject of start up tools, which is the best budget hose pipe to get for drain downs? I know some of you are sweet on the Regin but at £50 it's a bit pricey when you are filling a tool box as well.

Just bought drain down hose from ray ( Williams & co ) good value

 

[Ermintrude]

Just buy one decent tool a month. U don't need tools when u start out just good ears

 

[Neil K]

Just buy one decent tool a month. U don't need tools when u start out just good ears

Here here Ermi that's what I tell all apprentices

 

[jaydebruyne]

The 2 main tools you'll use are grips and an adjustable spanner.. get decent ones (bahco). I use these every day, among other bits. I'm fairly new to it too mate and I went a tad overboard on the tool buying.. get yourself a decent pocket torch also, you'll be lost without one. Oh and a stubby flat head for isolation valves. A volt pen to test for current in cables. Oh those little 4" bahco adjustable spanners are blooming handy.. rad bleed key, pencil, tape measure, ptfe... apart from the grips and big adjustables I keep all this in my work trouser pockets haha

 

[jaydebruyne]

Any hose pipe will do, just get one that's long enough and make sure you coil it up so it dosnt kink oh and a handful of jubilee clips too

I find the green chequered hose pipe the best. It fits tight on the drain offs and no need for jubilee clips.. think I got mine from gleebay for about £10

 

[Gouldy]

Agree with you on a small adjus. spanner, got the Monument one and it's always in my pocket. So useful for shutting off rad valves, undoing drain offs, getting into tight spots on boilers and under sinks, has got quite pointed tips as well so is handy for persuading out old painted-in bleed valves.

 

[newcastle phill]

What allen key sets and sizes do yous carry all the time.
And also torx.
Think the last logic+ had a t10 torx on p1.
What a faff.

Any recommended sets to replace my basic old allen key set

 

[solutions]

Wera sets are expensive but probably last a life time I like that they have a simple holder that keeps them from getting lost and are color coded so you can find the all important 5mn quickly.

 

[julesverne]

maybe not needed now if your just stating out . but later you will need a decent wet and dry vac.

 

[jaydebruyne]

maybe not needed now if your just stating out . but later you will need a decent wet and dry vac.

http://www.lidl-ni.co.uk/en/Offers.htm?action=showDetail&id=19926

Lidl are selling a wetvac tomorrow for about £35.. grab yourself a bargain

 

[Stanios]

http://www.lidl-ni.co.uk/en/Offers.htm?action=showDetail&id=19926

Lidl are selling a wetvac tomorrow for about £35.. grab yourself a bargain

Purchased that recently, not sure how long it will last but its doing a good job atm plus you can unscrew a cap at the bottom to release the water

 

[jaydebruyne]

Purchased that recently, not sure how long it will last but its doing a good job atm plus you can unscrew a cap at the bottom to release the water

I wish I bagged one, I think I'm gonna be lumbered with replacing a saniplus which is full of bodily waste - so is the toilet.. coulda just sucked it up and thrown it out at that price :/

 

[Ermintrude]

Nice 1/4 drive set on a rail £14 sealy ones from flee bay or £5 from machine mart

 

[tolly]

The lidl wetvac is the same as the wickes one just a different colour, wickes one is in blue and an extra fiver.

 

[DrainMedic]

Plumben is bang on! Ive learnt two important lessons since serving my time. Never lend your tools out and never buy anything with the word 'silverline' on it.

I spend a fortune at toolstation and the staff there don't even get things out of the box if it's a silverline item, they know I will ask them to put it back. As someone else said, buy the best you can afford and don't always buy new - eBay has some great deals on tools and you can pick stuff up cheap. Try spelling Stuff wrong when you search (barco, Bhaco bacco etc) - you'd be amazed at the number of people selling stuff who spell it wrong and then it doesn't come up in searches, so if you spell it wrong too, you find it and win the auction!

I buy only names I can trust (that makes me sound a right n@b - sorry!) but then again I don't smoke or drink so I can afford to. I've got a mate who's always after borrowing tools because he spends his wages on booze and women, then moans that he can't get jobs done without a proper toolkit! And don't forget that you can claim your tool money back against your tax at the end of the year!

 

[plumben]

I find the green chequered hose pipe the best. It fits tight on the drain offs and no need for jubilee clips.. think I got mine from gleebay for about £10

Iv got the green chequered hose pipe, but I've found the after a while it started to get loose on some radvalve drain offs so I always bang a jubilee on takes a second and I'm safe knowing theres not going to be a nice black sludge mark on the carpet or floor when I lift the dust sheets

 

[jaydebruyne]

Iv got the green chequered hose pipe, but I've found the after a while it started to get loose on some radvalve drain offs so I always bang a jubilee on takes a second and I'm safe knowing theres not going to be a nice black sludge mark on the carpet or floor when I lift the dust sheets

I just stick a little towel underneath.. saves the carpet. I forgot to shut the drainoff when refilling last week, lucky for me the towel soaked most of it up, the wetvac got the rest

 

[Gouldy]

Get yourselves one of these drip trays for under the drain off valve/ hose pipe when draining. Also worth its weight in gold when changing rad valves over.

Standard drip tray