Most important tools

[jono1987]

Due to start training as a plumber and want to start building my tools up now to save me spending in bulk at a later date. I appreciate it does take a long time to build up all of the tools needed but what tools are essential kit like pipe cutters and basin wrench etc

 

[Puddle]

Well if I empty out my tool bag
The basic stuff we need are

3 pairs of good quality grips,standard pipe grips

A cheap set of screw drivers with various philips,posy and sloted in

One slotted average size screw driver that you can abuse for many purposes,may get one in set

1 good long philips screw driver

Tape measure

Boat level

Standard Hammer and brick+ wood chisel

Allen keys and maybe security key set

Tap spanner as said

stanly/craft knife

junior axe saw,pipe slices,normal axe saw,do not forget blades

adjustable spanner (I have never used mine,corrodes up first)

Foot prints(again I never use as log as you get good quality pipe grips)

Immersion heater spanner

plier set,with pliers,lond nose pliers and wire cutters

Then you want your jointing compounds,ptfe tape,standard washers for taps,ball valves,silicon greese


Then,in the bottom of the tool bag, to weigh it down a bit and stop any one running off with all your tools, you need bits of pipe ends ,nuts and old olives,maybe the odd old motorized valve body,a few old brass ball valve bodies,a few old solvent weld brushes,about 3 dozen rusty screws and a few crumpled up copies of shower screen instructions,right at the bottom

 

[kirkgas]

Well if I empty out my tool bag
The basic stuff we need are



junior axe saw,pipe slices,normal axe saw,do not forget blades

do you mean hacksaw, or is that what you call a hacksaw?

 

[Puddle]

Well if I empty out my tool bag
The basic stuff we need are



junior axe saw,pipe slices,normal axe saw,do not forget blades

do you mean hacksaw, or is that what you call a hacksaw?

Its been a long hot day but the way I cut through pipework ,I was probably right
you call something silly for long enough ,you start to believe it,sorry

 

[dontknowitall]

And that's just the tool bag. Another three tool boxes to go ...

It's tempting to buy something for every imaginable occasion but it involves a large amount of money and is sometimes a waste.

If I was starting again, I'd buy just the tools I need for the next job as I go along. Best tools so far (apart from basics like pump pliers, screwdrivers, etc) are Jaw Droppers (£45 ish) and Wet Vacuum (around £50+). So that's £100 for starters.

 

[Puddle]

When I started out, the tool I always wanted was a Reciprocating Saw (after me axe saw) but then they were really expensive,then when I got one,never use it much,as now can use modern jigsaws with all blades available,it is more robust when ripping old pipe work out though,never use now but still my favorite tool for some reason
Maybe I was saved by one once when I was a kid

 

[stevetheplumber]

Well if I empty out my tool bag
The basic stuff we need are

3 pairs of good quality grips,standard pipe grips

A cheap set of screw drivers with various philips,posy and sloted in

One slotted average size screw driver that you can abuse for many purposes,may get one in set

1 good long philips screw driver

Tape measure

Boat level

Standard Hammer and brick+ wood chisel

Allen keys and maybe security key set

Tap spanner as said

stanly/craft knife

junior axe saw,pipe slices,normal axe saw,do not forget blades

adjustable spanner (I have never used mine,corrodes up first)

Foot prints(again I never use as log as you get good quality pipe grips)

Immersion heater spanner

plier set,with pliers,lond nose pliers and wire cutters

Then you want your jointing compounds,ptfe tape,standard washers for taps,ball valves,silicon greese


Then,in the bottom of the tool bag, to weigh it down a bit and stop any one running off with all your tools, you need bits of pipe ends ,nuts and old olives,maybe the odd old motorized valve body,a few old brass ball valve bodies,a few old solvent weld brushes,about 3 dozen rusty screws and a few crumpled up copies of shower screen instructions,right at the bottom

footprint are good quality pipe grips they dont rely on your grip like water pump pliers which slip like mad and never seem to be on the right notch

 

[Blackcatgas]

Your best tools are your hands. Become skilled with these and youl be ok with any tools.

 

[dontknowitall]

My hands are fine - I just have difficulties with the grey mass in my head.

 

[oldplumber]

a rechargeable led light to see where you've left all your new tools is essential in my mind. But most important of all buys are a set of baggy work trouser with knee pad pockets and gel pads to enable you to work for the next 40 years.

 

[Ockyvines]

a rechargeable led light to see where you've left all your new tools is essential in my mind. But most important of all buys are a set of baggy work trouser with knee pad pockets and gel pads to enable you to work for the next 40 years.

I agree with Oldplumber, Knee pads are the number one priority!

 

[double d]

Dont forget a decent radio to sing a long to

 

[365drills]

http://www.*********.com/jpgs/365drills_pack.jpg

£49.99 - The pack contains seven drills in five popular plumbing sizes
Toolbox essential !

And if you would like Jenny and Chelsea to show you how they work then they are on standby !

 

[Puddle]

well thank you Richard for drilling home the fact that I am a dirty old man or would like to be anyway

with lasses like that flying around ,no wonder a volcano erupted

imho

 

[stevetheplumber]

http://www.*********.com/jpgs/365drills_pack.jpg

£49.99 - The pack contains seven drills in five popular plumbing sizes
Toolbox essential !

And if you would like Jenny and Chelsea to show you how they work then they are on standby !

now i remember what my most important tool is
after my npen to write the bill

 

[fuzzy]

i knew a bloke who fitted a full steel job of various sizes with only a pair of 14inch stilsons and a hammer!

http://www.*********.com/jpgs/365drills_pack.jpg

£49.99 - The pack contains seven drills in five popular plumbing sizes
Toolbox essential !

And if you would like Jenny and Chelsea to show you how they work then they are on standby !

had em

 

[Puddle]

i knew a bloke who fitted a full steel job of various sizes with only a pair of 14inch stilsons and a hammer!

could not the back of the stilsons double up as a hammer,sounds like over tooling to me

 

[kirkgas]

a rechargeable led light to see where you've left all your new tools is essential in my mind. But most important of all buys are a set of baggy work trouser with knee pad pockets and gel pads to enable you to work for the next 40 years.

100% top advice, remember when us old, tough (now riddled with bad knees and poor hearing) tradesman wouldn't be seen dead in all that namby pamby safety kit

 

[unguided1]

when you walk out the door in the morning always carry yer phone, a pencil, a tape measure, and a sence of humour, youll need em all to get through the day

 

[Puddle]

when you walk out the door in the morning always carry yer phone, a pencil, a tape measure, and a sence of humour, youll need em all to get through the day

Yes ,think the sense of humour and the knee pads are in the lead so far

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

knee or kneeling pads for me,my dads 40 years in the trade shows me how bad knees can get,he once had his own built in set,his knee filled with blood!!! as he puts it my 16 years in the industry gives me plenty of time to start looking after my knees before i catch up with him!also a VERY important tool is a quality dust mask and an awareness of what contains asbestos when my dad started out they were told to just wet it before cutting!!! new entrants to our industry should have compulsory awareness training on asbestos

 

[msw109]

when you have been at it for a while you will realise all you need is a good set of pump pliers. lol

 

[Puddle]

when you have been at it for a while you will realise all you need is a good set of pump pliers. lol

Very true can go days with just a pair of pump pliers and screwdriver with reversible end between philips and slot

My favorite tool at the moment,is my plastic pipe cutter,love if when running the condensate pipe work,find it therapeutic for some reason,sit in van with small piece of pipe,cutting away at traffic lights,imagining it is some of my customers heads or other arts of the anatomy

My least favorite tool is the junior axe saw (hacksaw),every time I pick it up,I get flash backs to the times before pipe slices and you would cut the side of you thumb all the time or index finger leaving a nice and fresh open wound for the acid flux to get into, all water would be turned off in property,so you can not clean out,a little tear would run down your cheek and you would look around for sympathy and the only sympathy is from your reflection in a cracked,dirty window,you feel lonely and vulnerable,the world is against you,the reflection in the pain of glass, turns from a man into a whimpering child,years of struggling and strife to try to provide warmth and shelter for your loved ones is questioned,dark depressive clouds formed above your head........
Anyway thats the reason I gave the wife for going to pub afterwards and coming home plastered,all in my post 'how to change a women's scorn into sympathy in 30 secs,by 'got time for another,bet your smelly cotton socks I have!!!!'

imho

 

[dano78]

puddle that was sooo funny !

 

[andyg0507]

thats a crackin paragraph for the missus, im gonna try that one on friday afternoon.

cheers puddle