Tool advice

[Waterboymatt]

Hello

I'm new to the forum and to the plumbing world but I start my course in September and in the meantime I though it would be a good idea to start accumulating the tools of the trade for the future as I'm sure they won't be cheap, so really I just want to know where do you recommend I do my collecting and what are the good brands to look for, when I was a mechanic it was all about snap-on so which brand is the one for plumbing.

Thanks guys

 

[oz-plumber]

If you go to car boot sales and see a 30+ year old shifter that still works - buy it.

I bought a 24" bahco shifter 15 years ago, and still have it.
I don't know what it did before I got it, but if it had a harder life than I have given it - it has stood the test of time

The bloody thing is probably older than me - but I'm going to take it to the grave with me.

 

[plumben]

Pipe débuted never heard of one of them ? 😀

Auto correct is a pain, *deburrer

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Auto correct is a pain, *deburrer

😀 it simplifies things tho

 

[Dai Williams]

one of the best tools i got when i started off last year was a split ring compression fitting spanner (recommended on this forum actually)

you wont get a leak on 15/22 mm compression fittings when using that bad boy. touch wood :dizzy2:

 

[CXR100]

hmmmmm doubtfull if it is the spanner that causes leaks!! more like its the spanner that's using it!! haha

 

[Thomas Graham]

I'm currently doing my level three, but I've got a 4" bahco adjustable, a 6" todays tools wide jaw from tool station and a fat max neon flat head. These are the tools that are always in my elephant ears and i think extremely good value. Apart from that I'd recommend a decent pair of knee pads and bahcos small socket set

 

[ShaunCorbs]

hi,
as a newbie in plumbing you can purchase used tools for cheap rate. And whenever you get experience and proper skills, you can upgrade your tools. According to me, i had purchased used tools from plumbing professionals near my town. I think sites like https://www.nriparts.com sells used tools for cheap rates. If you can afford the cost, then you can purchase new tools.

(uk) :d

 

[PlumbBobBob]

spammer from india has left the building

 

[jldplumb]

an 18v impact driver will see alot of use, other than that good pipeslices( personally i like monument ones), estwing hammer, regin drain down hose, bahco 12' stilsons, flux brushes, pencils and sharpies, 25mm woodbits.

 

[Decy]

an 18v impact driver will see alot of use, other than that good pipeslices( personally i like monument ones), estwing hammer, regin drain down hose, bahco 12' stilsons, flux brushes, pencils and sharpies, 25mm woodbits.

what do you use your impact driver for mostly ?

 

[kris]

Best of the lot

 

[jldplumb]

what do you use your impact driver for mostly ?

anything and everything, hanging rads, boilers, rad tails- got a trv tail driver bit for it(real time saver), noggins, clips, pretty much anything that involves a screw. I work on new builds mostly but i know they can be a bit loud when working in occupied premises especially if its late.

 

[Decy]

anything and everything, hanging rads, boilers, rad tails- got a trv tail driver bit for it(real time saver), noggins, clips, pretty much anything that involves a screw. I work on new builds mostly but i know they can be a bit loud when working in occupied premises especially if its late.

thought that's what you were talking about. My boss doesn't let me use impact drivers for anything as he says they are too rough

 

[Best]

thought that's what you were talking about. My boss doesn't let me use impact drivers for anything as he says they are too rough

Depends how you use them. On ordinary pozidrive screw heads they can be rough, but so can a combi drill. Use the correct and unworn bit for a start. Also you can get an impact driver that has 3 different speed/torque settings & can be as gentle as a normal cordless drill.
Excellent for driving in thunderbolts or coach screws.
Impact drivers are so compact and lightweight.

 

[PlumbBobBob]

also you don't need to run it full on, it will run happily with the button slightly depressed

 

[ih1]

Don't rush out and spend a fortune on every tool u can think off. Start of with the basic like the boys have said above then build it up over time. Buy quality and not quntity

 

[CXR100]

in my opinion you don't need to splash out on an 18v impact driver, I got a 10.8v dewalt one, will happily drive 3" x 12 screws to hang rads , id buy second hand tools to start off with , try boot sales and ebay. I got a credit card out last year, and have been buying power tools on it, buy one tool and this way I can spread the cost , then buy the next one ect.

 

[newcastle phill]

I have the same 10.8v dewalt one. Its one of my fave tools

 

[CXR100]

me to , I got the combo kit, so impact and drill, best 110 quid I spent! drill brilliant for self tapping flues and holes for 15mm and 10mm pipes thru floorboards etc, then I bought the torch to fit them for around 30 quid, that has the most amazing light on, then I got the 10.8v radio for around 50 quid, brilliant 4 items that I always have with me on the van , I also got a dewalt 240v sds, all cost me around 300 together, best 300 I spent!!......on tools anyway!!! haha

 

[Staffy85]

IMO your better off buying a decent regular li-on battery'd 18v cordy, i.e dewalt xr (or makita range) as your also be able to use hole saw kits, you could also buy a bare body Xr impact later on which you would already have batterys n charger for,

 

[Decy]

Best tools to buy are Milwaukee a bit dearer than dewalt and Makina but you pay for what u get

 

[newcastle phill]

Fave drill is my hitachi 36v li-on sds hammer.
Its a brute- it can punch harder than lennox and run longer than farah
But most of all - just love the shade of green