Organisation

[Sanke]

Hi
As a newly qualified plumber I have started to trade and am slowly filling up my van with tools and stock. My question would be to ask if any of the more experienced plumbers have any advice as the best ways to organise what I am carrying in my van
Regards
Steve

 

[dontknowitall]

Safety first. If you bump into something there's a pile of stuff just itching to clobber you in the back of your head (unless you have a bulkhead or net).

It's up to you really, but I feel it sensible to keep things I use frequently near the door(s). You'll find it's more important to organise your toolboxes properly which will save popping out to the van just to get another tool. While with many jobs it's impossible to take everything in/out in one trip it's less professional to keep running out just to get one item. Also, it's important to keep things neat and tidy with everything having a home so you spend less time looking for something.

I have a general toolbox for wrenches, screwdrivers, stanley knife, pencils, pipe slices, etc, another for soldering, another for demolishing/making holes/carpentry, etc. I have toolbox organisers to keep my fittings (15mm in one box, 22mm in another, HEP2O in another, etc., large plastic containers full of traps, washers, solvents, etc.

There's a fair amount of space in the front to use too. On the front seat, paperwork including brochures, the last three weeks of newspapers, empty sandwich cartons and sweet wrappings, coffee soaked banana skins and the windscreen holds an impressive display of around 300 post it notes ...

 

[Phil]

Have you been in my van dontknowitall? You've just described it perfectly.

Stock up here and save £££'s B.E.S Ltd, Plumbing and Gas supplies

 

[Sanke]

That gives me a good idea. I am working on the collection of wrapping and post it notes for the front

 

[Hugh]

your van should be your tool box on wheels, keep everything to hand and keep it tidy,

 

[helpsy]

Make sure you get tool/stock cover on your insurance.I paid £49.50 for a year for £4000 of cover.That's covered 24/7 in the van.

 

[Jimbob]

i find it handy to have buckets... which unless ur cocky, you should have anyway. But use them to carry tools if you know what you will require, saves lugging tool bag around.

Other than that, im seriously unorganised. considering to actually not work tomorrow and sort the van out.

 

[secret squirrel]

And towels, not used as dust sheets but for puddles......, I have quite a few, towels that is not puddles.....HONEST.

I try and keep 15mm, 22mm, separate and then plastic separate. I don't solder on all jobs so that stuff is on its own. I've got a box labelled toilet and theres the doughnut washers, syphons etc.

Two stop ends always in my pocket now.......

I've got 2 tool boxes one is an open bag, so you can see everything, containing regularly used tools then another one for stuff you need but not as often. I also carry spare batteries for my head lamp torch.

 

[Winston]

I will get a picture of my van lol its cramped but tidy. Two tool cabinets with file, drill bit, holes saws, chisels, spanners even spare pencils inc sharpener. 3 box high cabinets at back toilet gear 32 & 40 waste fittings spare & fluxes heat mats. One of each immersions 11 & 27 Box for drain clearing chemicals plungers rods jet wash and snake. 2 cordless drills, one big corded and one smaller drill. jigsaw electric planer, grinder, dremel.

Sometimes even I am amazed at what I have in my tardis, trouble is it is so small I have to get stuff out to get to what I want

 

[helpsy]

Yeah.Went to use my headlamp today when needed it most.....got about 2 seconds of light.I must have knocked it on when I put it away.Always notice these things when you need them most!!!

 

[Winston]

Head lamp round my neck keep it safe its a life saver.

 

[secret squirrel]

Totally agree with you Winston, nightmare in a small van, at the start of the day its all packed in nicely. Then I need to get the drill, its always at the back along with the lead, invariably my battery drills have gone flat or not enough OOMMMPPPHHH......

I've got a little space for odd cuts of copper, I never throw it away because I know I'll need that little piece sooner or later.

I do at the end of the day I take out all my power tools though, just in case. Oh, I carry a fair few bin liners........ I had to clean out a nasty drain rinsed the rods off but not happy still, long live the bin liner.

The list is endless isn't it.........

 

[dontknowitall]

Head lamp? I prefer a bird in a cage when sorting out a toilet ...

 

[justlead1]

Hi. Invoices that are of no carbon required triplicate booklet, made out and presented prior to leaving the job, this way you walk away with the money. And they don't take up much room. Good luck

 

[unguided1]

if you dont have a waste carriers licence like me leave yer van in a mess then the law wont know if yer carrying waste or not, mind you if i need me tools I have to unbury them, i have also found that if i cant find me tools in there neither can potential thieves!!!!!
regards
Mike

 

[Alanka]

I have been using a 'random' van storage method for the last 7 years, with great success.

I have a load of about 12" x 18" semi-transparent plastic boxes - the sort that stack with lids - labelled A, B, C ... (I'm now up to 'V'). The labelling is very big and noticeable, done with fat felt-tip pen on all faces of the box and lid, so you can identify it wherever it is in the van and which ever way round the box ends up. In each box are my bits and bobs - not pipes obviously! - in no particular order, but I do try to keep like with like where possible. The boxes happen to be in assorted colours.

Key to the system is my index, which I now keep on an Excel spreadsheet and print it out from time to time, and laminate it so it can knock about the van unharmed. This lists all my stock in alphabetical order, showing which box it is in (including its colour - to help identify it quicker).

This 'random' storage method is particularly useful when you may only have one or two of a particular item, which does not therefore warrant its own individually labelled box. When you acquire a new item, you just throw it into any convenient box and add it to your index!

I do also have some little drawers where I keep small copper fittings etc, when I may have handfuls of each item. These are labelled conventionally with what's in them, like in a shop. And of course I have several toolbags and tool rolls.

Simples!