Most important tools

[WHPES]

I have been told that the acetylene generator takes calcium carbide and you set water dripping onto it to make the reaction.

 

[Leon]

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.

 

[princegoose]

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

 

[Plumbstar Tom]

Pen?

Pencil?

 

[dontknowitall]

LOL - and he's got a great eye that he doesn't need a spirit level.

Joking aside, it's odd how you regretted your olive puller purchase whereas mine's got me out of a number of difficulties.

 

[alder]

Don't know if an angled screwdriver has been mentioned

[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]

 

[Dannypipe]

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.

 

[boabgti]

You need a good 10"er (spanner that is) buy just one a bahco iv had the same one for 15 years a little spray of wd40 every 5 years or so and no problems

 

[grahamgas]

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

 

[Dannypipe]

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!

 

[macplumb]

Look on eBay for plumbers job lot tools come up now and then you can keep the good replace the rubbish

 

[mutley racers]

Hi guys, can you tell me what kind of wet vac you use. I need to get myself one of these.

Cheers

Mutley

 

[Dannypipe]

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.

 

[Bernie2]

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.

 

[mike_s]

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.