Apprentice Tool Kit

[no_leaks_lee]

Hi,
i've got to buy a new tool kit as the bloke i work with is getting on a me. I've been working now with him for a year and he don't like sharing his tools anymore. lol. I want somewhere that i can buy a complete tool kit all at once. So i can sort it once and for all.

We do maintenance work on social housing. My mate has boxes and boxes of tools on the van. What should i get to impress him??

Please Help.

Many thanks

 

[SimonJohns]

spanners/adjustables
grips
screwdrivers (lidls atm)
allan keys (lidls atm)
small box/ bag to put them in

 

[SimonG]

Make sure it's good gear or you could end up paying twice. Aldi and as SimonJohns says above Lidl often have some decent stuff. I bought a wall chaser from aldi about 5 years ago for less than £40 and it's still going strong.

 

[SimonJohns]

adjustibles should always be bacho imo

and grips is personal preference but either knipex or channel lock

screwdrivers and allan keys are so so in quality

 

[tamz]

What type of maintenance work?
If you are looking for a complete kit don't tell me you have got a box of rubbish! That is a major annoyance (putting it mildly) for a tradesman. Every time he turns round for a tool the boy has got it or left it lying at his rse.
You will know the tools you are using most so just buy them. Spend your sunday afternoon searching the internet. Get a couple of pair of decent grips, pliers, decent screwdrivers, pipe slices, allen keys, hammer, level etc etc. Whatever you are using buy it. 100 quid will get you some good basics and you can build it from there.
Think of it as an investment and mark them so they don't end up in his box.

 

[Resolute]

If you've been doing it for a year then you should have a fairly good idea of what you mainly use.

Tend to find that all in one tool kits are cheap and naff.

Whilst I was doing reactive maintenance plumbing I carried out about 90% of jobs with a basic tool roll - containing screwdrivers, adjustables, water pump pliers.

 

[tamz]

Don't waste your money on tool kits. They are junk.

 

[PlumbBobBob]

as already said get the best tools that you can afford and only really what you use regularly

 

[GQuigley67]

as your on an apprentice salary a couple of cheap tools will probably do you to start off with, good quality tools can cost quite a bit and as you progress you gradually replace with better quality tools one at a time, but a cheap kit would probably do you for a quick solution.

 

[adam84]

Start with a small De-walt tool bag £20 at B+Q last time i checked, 10" knipex grips no more than £20 on ebay, set of 6 wera chisel drivers £20 from screwfix, 8" bahco adjustables £20-£30 on ebay, monument red + yellow pipe slices 15+22 about £15 a pair on ebay. these are just basics but i think the best advice is to spend your money well dont buy cheap cos it wont last and you will only be disapointed when they break or dont perform.

 

[Best]

Buy each tool individually, - not a whole kit of cheap scrap.
Some cheap sets of screwdrivers are reasonable however, so take a good look at them. Chinese or Tiawanese no longer means always junk, as a lot is decent.
As others said, buy Bahco adjustables, & good pipe slices & look after them - oil them often & don't lose them. Example being, that a mechanic told me Snap on tools may be garanteed for life, but if you leave one under the bonnet, or someone you have forgotten borrows one permanately, - then you lose them!
One or two of my best tools were cheap. I have a 15" adjustable spanner (unchromed) for many years, that cost £5. It says " made in china" & " Hercules " on each side & is top quality. A local Market trader sells everything for £2, & a lot of the tools are very good.

 

[adam84]

Just an after thought a driving license is a must have nowadays for an apprentice as most employers will require you drive.

 

[scotty plumber]

ive started buying all my tools off e-bay

 

[scotty plumber]

If you've been doing it for a year then you should have a fairly good idea of what you mainly use.

Tend to find that all in one tool kits are cheap and naff.

Whilst I was doing reactive maintenance plumbing I carried out about 90% of jobs with a basic tool roll - containing screwdrivers, adjustables, water pump pliers.

Doe's any plumbers here also use tool-roll's? I know gas-engineers often carry them.

 

[PlumbBobBob]

no i dont. i have an open tool bag which does for me

 

[scotty plumber]

no i dont. i have an open tool bag which does for me

I use an open tool-bag too but thinking of the work i do a tool-roll would also be handy especially in lofts etc

 

[Best]

Doe's any plumbers here also use tool-roll's? I know gas-engineers often carry them.

If I used a tool roll for a lot of my tools, it would have to be a couple metres long! :grin:
Maybe good idea though!

 

[scotty plumber]

i was thinking maybe just storing a set of screwdrivers. adjustable, grips, footy's, ptfe, pliers , small torch etc just to carry in to job on first occasion

 

[Best]

i was thinking maybe just storing a set of screwdrivers. adjustable, grips, footy's, ptfe, pliers , small torch etc just to carry in to job on first occasion

That's a fair amount of tools! That will weigh enough also!
A small tool bag is perhaps better for your need, & also handy to shove extra stuff in when you are leaving, like scrap parts etc. Make sure you don't do what I did, & fill it with every tool that you have, + all junk!

 

[JJayMan]

Go to Amazon and type in Student toolkit" they sell them in 3 levels, overall good value.