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J

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 :confused:
 
My lease used tool is the Rems Amigo III I bought for doing a sprinker system job 2 years ago. Used for 1 job only and tbh it was a pain in the bum having to lug a cable and transformer all over and went back to using my ratchet diestock.

Anyone interested in a Rems Amigo III? :D
 
sorry chaps but I just had to bring this back again

Rawlplugs Mason Master. We used to call it a rawlplug jumper. Its truly cordless and all apprentices should be forced to use them until there thumbs are a bloody pulpy mess!!!. Sorry bout that I hate the damn things but have secret pleasure of watching someone else in pain.
 
Are those the things you had to hit repeatedly with a hammer to make a 1/4" hole?

Inherited a couple with my grandad's toolkit, along with his plumbers turnpins and drift plugs them but not old enough to remember seeing anyone use one.

I do remember being shown how to use a turnpin and drift plug when I was about 12!

I also inherited a kind of device which was used to generate acetylene for lead burning but I've no idea how it was used. Anyone on the forum ever used one?

I also have a fancy paraffin blowtorch which was my grandads. It does actually get used, but only to get the barbecue going!

I guess the above must be my least used tools as I've NEVER used them!!
 
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Here are some of the tools not already mentioned that you will probably want;

Blow torch- I recomend the rothenberger superfire2, +fire extinguisher (powder type), plus flux, solder(lead free), gas (map gas prefarably) and a flux brush.

Small mirror- either an extendable one or simply a little make up mirror. Very useful little thing to have in the toolbag.

Camera!- the one on a phone is fine (I like to take before and after shots but maybe thats just me^^) also good if you look at a job but wont be returning for a while to do it, much quicker than making a diagram. Calculator on the phone can be useful too.

Box spanners for taps (monoblock and regular) and an adjustable spanner, like this one- although not this one as it looks cheep and nasty but you see what I mean: Adjustable Basin Wrench - NoLinkingToThis, Where the Trade Buys
Having these makes life a lot easier when access is difficult.

I love my multitool! - pliers/wirecutters, knifes, saw, file, screwdrivers, alan keys, and various other random spikey bits all on your belt- best bday present I ever got!

Stop ends(2x15&22 min.)
Rad key and rad bleeding key.
Mastic gun, floorboard saw, emery strips/wirewool, round and flat files, garden hose and hose clips, scraper (the sort with replacable blades), wd40 or similar, tubs for catching water and a towel for mopping it up, gloves (disposable and riger type), safety goggles, ear defenders, stubby screw drivers. Toilet/kitchen roll for testing for any weeping joints. Dust sheets and dustpan and brush.

Stud/metal detector, multimeter, approved voltage meter, temp. earth bonding clamps (jump leads will do).

Steps/ladders.

Then later when you have more money: Pipe bender, Drills (combi and sds and bits- masonry, wood, holesaws), jigsaw, circ saw, angle grinder (I have 2 a standard makita one and a dremal for tight spots, both with diamond blades).

Hope that's of some use, you wont need it all at once though so like someone already said get what you need for the jobs you have to start out.
 
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I am just about to finish my 4 year apprentaship and in that time ive bought most tools imaginable, and most have now been relegated to the dark corner of my garage.

most important

1. Hammer
2. Plumbers chisel (big flat head screwdriver)
3. 15mm & 22m pipeslices, dont scrimp on cheapos off ebay, they dont last.
4. pair of decent pump grips (12'' rothenberger & a smaller, cheaper one)
5. Adjustable spanners Spanners (bahco wide mouth £17, 8'' bahco,and mini adjustable spanner £4 on ebay)
5. Junior hacksaw
6. long stanley fatmax pozi 2 screwdriver (main screwdriver)
7. extendable basin wrench
8. footprints
9. blowtorch
10. stanley
11. set of screwdrivers
12. pipe bender (dont buy cheap one)
13. tape measure
14. box spanner and mini box spanner set
15. radiator ratchet wrench (a must have luxury)
16. rasp file (if youre going to be installing poo pipe)
17. duck tape
18. jet blue paste
19. mini tube cutters
20 3 amp fuses to impress the boss
21. insulation tape (blue and red)
22. a handfull of 15mm and 22mm speedfist stop ends
23. torch
24. a stupidly big tool box
25. tin snips
26, decent brass rad bleed keys

ect

things ive regretted buying

olive puller
toilet seat gizmo (wtf?)
cheap pipe bender
cheap pipe slices
waste pipe cutters

theres probably plenty more ive blocked from memory. Its not cheap, and has taken me years to accumulate, and restock.

good luck
 
Don't know if an angled screwdriver has been mentioned :D

[DLMURL="http://www.NoLinkingToThis/search.do;jsessionid=1KCULYJK4EHNECSTHZOSFFY?_dyncharset=UTF-8&fh_search=angled+screwdriver"]Angle Screwdriver Set 12Pc - NoLinkingToThis, Where the Trade Buys[/DLMURL]
 
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Another tool of mine that I use fairly often, is my Dremel. It comes out every 3 weeks or so, for some akward job, that would take twice as long without it.

I got so much stick from the guys I work with when I bought it, but now they borrow it. Diamond blade on it...double handy. I used it on Friday to grind down a horseshoe from a monoblock tap. The bidet had a fault in the porceline and the horseshoe didn't fit. 5 mins later, job done.

The other thing I love is the wet vac. I also use a tool called a Rad Wrench. Which is a powder coated tool, for supporting rad valves, as you loosen the unions. When I picked it up from the merchants, another plumber snorted 'that's what grips are for'.

True, but in posh houses, valves on a ladder rail easily cost £100, and I don't wanna risk scratching them.
 
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Danny

You got a link for that Rad Wrench thingy?

Graham

Get one of those cheap head torches.Very handy in lofts when your hands are full, and there is no light and you have just blown the last bulb that fits your lead lamp.

Also good for seeing in to CWSC's instead of using the light of your mobile phone and dropping the fecker in the water:mad:
 
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Danny

You got a link for that Rad Wrench thingy?

Graham


I don't have a link for the one I've got, but a quick check of google bought up something very similar.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-pVDIzpptE]YouTube - IsoRad Rad Wrench Radiator Remover Tool - How to Remove a Radiator[/ame]

The one in this video is made of nylon, which I suppose makes sense....but mine's made of powdercoated steel. So it's stronger but still doesn't scratch rad valves. One end is sized for standard valve, other is for thermostatic. Handy tool!
 
Hi guys, can you tell me what kind of wet vac you use. I need to get myself one of these.

Cheers

Mutley


Mine is from Wickes... £50. Pretty good. If you check the Wickes website and search for it, there are a few reviews. Very simple machine, basically a bucket, and a blower! LOL.

It could do with a carry handle though. I don't know what I did before I had it, and it's one of those few tools, that when it starts to play up, I'll bin it and buy new immediatley.
 
Depends what your going to be doing really.

I bought a tap box spanner, good buy. Most modern washbasins have inset taps and tightening them up is difficult. The problem being getting the head of the tool your using to tighten the back nut with into the recess.

Even the jaws on a bear hug look too big for some washbasin recesses, so do crows foots and swinging arm crowfoot's can be awkward if its a deep recess. The box spanner acts as an extension to the back nut so you can at least get at it easier.

I also had a washbasin gizmo that fitted in the waste grating to hold it as you tightened the back nut up, but it seems to have gone a walk about. Anyway apparently you can now get a waste mate washer which is said to be okay, have not tried one yet.

I would also advise a good Conex spanner, they fit virtually anything and are very compact so handy for getting into confined spaces. Pump gland pliers or grips are good as well. So are footies and adjustable spanners.

But try second hand tool shops as well as buying new. I have had plenty of good stuff from them. And you get the bonus of looking like somebody who has used the tools.

As I said though a lot depends on what sort of work your going to do.
 
Where do you get a good conex spanner these days? we have one of the old ones that you're talking about, bloody great it is, found it years ago. Fits all kinds, comfortable to use and compact, good weight to it too.
 
As an apprentice, I just asked my Boss which tools he thought I should look to buy and in which order.. I ended up with;

  • Large open tote tool bag (Not realy a tool, but quite an important peice of kit i find
    icon10.gif
    .
  • Silicoln Swivel Knee pads - Do not underestimate their importance
    icon7.gif
  • Tape Measure, Penciles (with sharpener and 2 Sharpie pens (One Blue and one Red)
  • Boat Level
  • Stanley blade (Get an irwin one)
  • Set of adjustable spanners (Spend as much as you can afford, because cheap ones are
    icon13.gif
    )
  • Cheap set of sloted and philips Screwdrivers you dont mind abusing
  • Hammer and large sloted screwdriver for lifting floorboards
  • Filtered dust mask (you never know and they are fairly cheap)
  • Pipe slices 15mm and 22mm (Preferably Rothernburger ones or the forge steel set from screwfix if you dont have much money)
  • A set of bahco or rothernburger grips (One big and one small set if you have the money)
  • Junior hacksaw and possibly a toolbox saw for waste pipes
  • Sponge
  • Handfull of 15mm and 22mm pushfit stop ends
That will be enough to get you going for first few weeks/Months as an apprentice, you will obviously add more specialist tool such as Blow torch and pipe benders and accumilate things like radiator keys and decorators caps etc. as time goes by. (but you should definetly aim to get a good cordless combi drill (Dewalt or makita) as soon as you get enough money)

If you are working with another guy and will be borrowing his tools, make sure you get some WD40 and a load of sandpaper, to clean his metal stuff with. This will hopefully allow you to spend a little less time sweeping up, cleaning the van out or messing around in the lofts (because he wont hate you so bad)
icon10.gif


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

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

26038_376015397013_617362013_3798632_3566816_n.jpg


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


Do you think she realises that there isnt a battery in her drill?
I Know im missing the point slightly, but just made me laugh :D
 
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One of the best things i ever purchased was a drill pump from a car spares shop , two bits of rubber tube and away you go , great for getting dregs out of heating systems , hot and cold water systems invaluable with pipeing under the floor
Mark
 
As an apprentice, I just asked my Boss which tools he thought I should look to buy and in which order..
http://www.*********.com/jpgs/365drills_pack.jpg

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

26038_376015397013_617362013_3798632_3566816_n.jpg


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


Do you think she realises that there isnt a battery in her drill?
I Know im missing the point slightly, but just made me laugh :D


Of course she realises that's why she's asking the photographer to put one in:D.
 

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