Basic Tools

[Hannah]

Which is the best place to get good quality basic tools from e.g. Hammers, Pipe cutter etc?

I'm getting myself a tool box together 🙂

Hannah x

 

[CXR100]

personaly i like the CK tools pump pliers! bahco adjustables , and i have a fantastic set of draper expert screwdrivers, but just bought a set in local travis perkins the other day of screwdrivers with a red, green and white handle with a printed welsh drgon on!!! look fantastic !!!

 

[Phil_Plumb]

I have bahco spanners, they are like an extension of my hand, i feel lost without them. monument pipe slices, better than rottenberger. a good level and a permenant marker and pencil are a must!

 

[oz-plumber]

Sorry... I opened this thread and thought it was about apprentices.

 

[village idiot]

Sorry... I opened this thread and thought it was about apprentices.

no need 2b sorry, it is about apprentices who want starter tools:50:

 

[HTG-Apprentice]

Bahco spanners are just the best, no other can match it, if you get 8inch wide jaw spanners they cost but your set for life, ive had mine for 3 years now and I dont know what I wouldve done without them!

 

[dom brennan]

im an apprentice doing level 2, i try and buy one new tool every week and if i don't i put the money away for something more expensive, this is what i have in my bag up to now.
monument pipe slice 15,22mm
3 bacho spanners, 2 six inch and an 8 inch
pipe cutter
3 spirit levels
tape mesure
screwdrivers and an electrical one
bacho grips
bosch multi drill bits
bosch spade bits
back nut spanners
tap spanners
plastic pipe cutter
Stanley knife
junior hack saw
pipe bender
super fire 2 blow torch
Bosch drill
makita impact driver
makita drill,driver
makita radio screw fix have deals on with these three i think i paid something like £150
wood chisels
pliers
wire cutters
small rubber hammer

 

[Koogatubac]

im an apprentice doing level 2, i try and buy one new tool every week and if i don't i put the money away for something more expensive, this is what i have in my bag up to now.
monument pipe slice 15,22mm
3 bacho spanners, 2 six inch and an 8 inch
pipe cutter
3 spirit levels
tape mesure
screwdrivers and an electrical one
bacho grips
bosch multi drill bits
bosch spade bits
back nut spanners
tap spanners
plastic pipe cutter
Stanley knife
junior hack saw
pipe bender
super fire 2 blow torch
Bosch drill
makita impact driver
makita drill,driver
makita radio screw fix have deals on with these three i think i paid something like £150
wood chisels
pliers
wire cutters
small rubber hammer

Very dedicated apprentice! Well done! Uve been robbed of your radio though, makita DAB radio came out and was £120

 

[dom brennan]

makita impact driver, makita drill,driver, makita radio was about £150 for all three

 

[village idiot]

im an apprentice doing level 2, i try and buy one new tool every week and if i don't i put the money away for something more expensive, this is what i have in my bag up to now.
monument pipe slice 15,22mm
3 bacho spanners, 2 six inch and an 8 inch
pipe cutter
3 spirit levels
tape mesure
screwdrivers and an electrical one
bacho grips
bosch multi drill bits
bosch spade bits
back nut spanners
tap spanners
plastic pipe cutter
Stanley knife
junior hack saw
pipe bender
super fire 2 blow torch
Bosch drill
makita impact driver
makita drill,driver
makita radio screw fix have deals on with these three i think i paid something like £150
wood chisels
pliers
wire cutters
small rubber hammer

well done.
now go out and buy an SDS Drill seing as you are on the War Path:shades_smile:

 

[mike-c]

If you have any spare cash for a small extravagance then try to get a 28mm pipe slice. It will probably only be used once in a blue moon but by heck when you need one you will be really glad you do have it in your kit.

 

[Ermintrude]

If you have any spare cash for a small extravagance then try to get a 28mm pipe slice. It will probably only be used once in a blue moon but by heck when you need one you will be really glad you do have it in your kit.

28mm will come into its own when removing old gravity primaries to DHW cylinder. Never leave behind that which can be loot (11th commandment )

 

[plumb_know]

I have found that it is worth waiting a bit longer to get better tools, in the long run it is cost effective as usually last a lot longer and also saves time on jobs as they usually are more robust and don't fall apart half way through a job. Also it is worth keeping a eye out on ebay and amazon for good tools, as I have picked up monument pipe bender new off amazon for £17 as some stores clear there stock.

Hope this helps
good luck

 

[iiplumbing]

Havn't read the full thread but......

I can do 50% of my simples jobs with the tools on my tool belt

Dumpy adjustable spanner, pump grips, posi and flat 4/5mm blade screw driver, 2mm electricians screwdriver, snap off blade knife, 5m tape measure (lol) total cost £20 tool belt £15 I kid you not

then I can do 80% of my jobs with a tool box, the number of items I hold in that box are too numerous to mention but if you want to take an inventory of the tools I carry then will be happy to help

The other 30% of jobs take a car load of stuff that's the nature of the beast

Russ

PS welcome to the world of the building trade I love it and am a bit of an anorak but don't let that you hold anything against me, I hope you find the work varied and interesting, I do and I've been doing it for most of my life

 

[tamz]

I have banned snap off knives after one of the lads nearly lost a finger cutting a sheet of plasterboard when the blade extended. They are all junk and too dangerous as the blades never lock into position securely.

No problem with a stanley.

 

[iiplumbing]

I have banned snap off knives after one of the lads nearly lost a finger cutting a sheet of plasterboard when the blade extended. They are all junk and too dangerous as the blades never lock into position securely.

No problem with a stanley.

Hi Tamz

Yeah know what you mean but Stanley blades are too short to get into silicone sometimes and as the tip keeps getting blunt too expensive to keep changing

Also the cheap snap off blades have a real thin body whereas Stanley are real fat, alright for cutting plasterboard, but as a plumber I don't get to cut plaster board real often.

As a plasterer I cut plasterboard all the time and have never cut myself (erm..........) careful with that axe Ugene as the Pink Floyd lyric once advised us

Russ

 

[kay-jay]

Hi Tamz

Yeah know what you mean but Stanley blades are too short to get into silicone sometimes and as the tip keeps getting blunt too expensive to keep changing

Also the cheap snap off blades have a real thin body whereas Stanley are real fat, alright for cutting plasterboard, but as a plumber I don't get to cut plaster board real often.

As a plasterer I cut plasterboard all the time and have never cut myself (erm..........) careful with that axe Ugene as the Pink Floyd lyric once advised us

Russ

Must be some real rough silicone job if a stanley blade is too short. .......

I agree with tamz them snap off blade jobbies scream art class to me, certainly not something a pro should be using

 

[SimonG]

Stanley for me, them snap offs are a bit femmer

but then I use silicone on wastes 🙂

 

[iiplumbing]

A pro can handle a snap off blade

whereas an apprentice..................apparently not

 

[iiplumbing]

Oh and them snap offs retract back into the tool so they have no sharp bit when not in use

Do the Stanley have a blade cover, and if they have a retractable blade the blade be not able to be locked as it contravenes the law on blades and knives (I think)

So how do the retractable stanleys keep in the "out" position?

 

[tamz]

I feel so strongly against them it is actually a sacking offence to have one at work. Its me who has to deal with the paperwork and mop up the blood so it is not happening.

Snap offs are the weapon of choice for the blade man at the dancing. Easier to conceal and the 4" blade will hit something :shock:

 

[tamz]

The problem with snapp offs is't the retracting it is they extend too far too easily.
Stanley titan retractables can be locked in position open or shut.

 

[iiplumbing]

I feel so strongly against them it is actually a sacking offence to have one at work. Its me who has to deal with the paperwork and mop up the blood so it is not happening.

Snap offs are the weapon of choice for the blade man at the dancing. Easier to conceal and the 4" blade will hit something :shock:

That's fairs enough Tamz, and yes they are dangerous, in fact most of the tools we carry can be dangerous if not used correctly (a flat blade screwdriver used to scrape off paint from a pipe pulled towards yourself instead of away?)

Soooo dangerous but I work on my own and find the snap off to be more useful than stanley

 

[tamz]

Everyone to their own.
Btw i'm not risk averse. I wouldn't think twice about running up a roof with no roof ladder but if i catch anyone else doing it i'd probably kick the shyt out of them :smile:

 

[iiplumbing]

We tend to not take our own safety too seriously that's true

But I have too many experiences and anecdotes of dangerous situations that have scared me and always take safety as a first priority.

My dad has shattered both his knee caps, ladder on roof, ladder slips he falls bangs knees on rungs, he was lucky to actually survive the fall!

When working with engineering appliances (expansion bellows and spirotvent) was told of a man walking down a service tunnel unbeknownst to him the steam main was leaking superheated steam he walked right into the path was blown back onto an exposed bus bar electric, got vaporised, So we were told, so many dangers, so many ways to hurt yourself

To the OP, make sure you work safely, your life and health depends upon it

 

[lame plumber]

escaping superheated steam is awful noisy and warm and 440 tends to melt your innards and outside bits not vapourise one, but the tales dont sound that good otherwise do they 🙂