Essential kit

[R-fur]

You can get metric only tapes which are great cos you can read off either side. I cant understand why 50 years later we are still using inches. Ireland and Canada both went metric after us and don't use imperial at all. but we are still messing about in the middle.

 

[ipf]

you can still buy imperial tape measures on ebay , i think most american / canada measures come only in imperial inches/feet.
when did we start using cm/mm tapes ?

We used to get them in the '70's...but, to some extent, I never noticed 'em 'till it was forced on us with quoting and measuring for jobs. Since cash went decimal, everything else has gradually, to a degree.
I still work out approx how much fuel is per gallon and, if I can be bothered, miles per gallon. Litres and Km still don't register.
When you think about it, we still buy a 568ml bottle of milk.....but it does cost about 17s 6d a pint

 

[R-fur]

Yes and £6 a gallon for petrol

 

[MJPD29]

Wiha sell a very good kit called wiha competence. It is expensive and I don't have it but if you have a decent budget it's worth a look. Otherwise just buy seperate items.

 

[Zerax]

You can get metric only tapes which are great cos you can read off either side. I cant understand why 50 years later we are still using inches. Ireland and Canada both went metric after us and don't use imperial at all. but we are still messing about in the middle.

The reason is... that feet and inches are very nice sizes to use... far more practical on a day to day basis. I love working in them... but will also use metric where I need to.

What I find really really annoying is when something that is clearly made in feet and inches has to be converted (due to EU rules) into metric to sell it. e.g. Most sheet materials sold as 2400mm x 1200mm are actually 8'x4' if you measure 'em. Similarly, ¼" is sold as 6mm, which it isnt ! etc etc...

One of my ideas to reduce immigration is to return to pounds/shillings/pence... Having 240 pennies to the pound would be such a great deterrent ! Mind you, the millennial snowflake generation would probably need counselling...

 

[123]

And a decent rule for tools...if you borrow it once ok, borrow it twice or more you should have it in your kit

 

[davesparks]

I would say some of the essential hand tools are cutters, pliers, screwdrivers, hammer, hacksaw, combination square, file, grips (shifters, water pump pliers, gland nut pliers or whatever else you choose to call them) adjustable spanners, knife, tape measure, steel ruler.

 

[Risteard]

You can get metric only tapes which are great cos you can read off either side. I cant understand why 50 years later we are still using inches. Ireland and Canada both went metric after us and don't use imperial at all. but we are still messing about in the middle.

Plumbing pipe in the south of Ireland remains imperial to this day.

 

[Timbo]

Plumbing pipe in the south of Ireland remains imperial to this day.

Steel pipe in England is still imperial. And threaded BSP.

 

[Edtwozeronine]

I obtained at least 2 screwdriver kits as a result of buying oil for an oil change from Halfords.

 

[pc1966]

Everyone will have their own preferences and needs, from the top of my head I would list:

• A tool box: not too big so you can easily carry it, probably tough plastic as lighter and less likely to gouge things it you knock in to them. A 2nd tool box for less frequently used or bigger mechanical / joinery tools is a good idea)
• Safety stuff: goggles, dust mask (if you can get one!), ear plugs, riggers gloves
• Safe isolation stuff: voltage tester, proving unit, maybe lockout padlock
• Screwdrivers: VDE insulated set, and maybe a couple of spares (No.1 pozi and smaller flat tend to break).
• Pliers: decent wire cutter or combination pliers, long nosed pliers
• Knife (with retractable or sheathed blade, less accidents pulling out other tools from your box)
• Wire stripper (some like the cutters with stripping holes, other just sharp cutters, automatic strippers get a lot of debate but I find the CK one great for T&E cable)
• Measuring stuff: tape measure for long distances, maybe plastic ruler for details, set square or similar for neat right angles
• Mechanical stuff: hacksaw, files (flat and round), claw hammer, chisel, some sandpaper & cork block
• Spanners (small adjustable, sliding joint wrench for big things)
• Electrical measurement: multimeter that is at least CAT III 300V rated, or mutli-function tester if you have a big enough budget
• Drill bits and battery drill (can get expensive for good brands like Milwaukee)
• Misc stuff: PVC tape, small spare stuff (M3.5 screws for sockets, selection wood screws, Wago terminals, grommets, etc), small notebook and pen.

There are bound to be obvious things i have missed, but hopefully others here will provide their sage advice. Or parsley, if preferred...
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Some other things I remembered:

• Earth sleeving!
• Some non-VDE screwdrivers for small sizes (e.g. No.0 pozi, 3mm flat) where you can't get a sleeved one in and/or its low voltage (e.g. for changing batteries with screw-fixed covers)
• A big---- flat screwdriver for the occasional old wood screw or to abuse as a pry-bar.

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• Torch / site light (rechargeable, ideally plastic insulated body)
• Fuses, probably buy 3A & 5A, and you will find 13A collect anyway as you check / fix stuff and swap out wrong fuses.

Other stuff you might eventually keep in the van are:

• Keeping customer clean stuff (dust sheet, brush/shovel, vacuum)
• Ladder (light, insulated best, e.g. Youngman)
• SDS drill & bits (including channel cutting)
• Extension cable with RCD protection
• Cable selection (for domestic say 1mm T&E for light only, but many just keep 1.5mm as OK for short single outlet power as well, 2.5mm T&E for ring, some prefer 4mm T&E for radial, maybe some 6 or 10 T&E for cooker)
• Pipe bonding clamps, 10mm green/yellow wire for earth bonding
• Spare 13A plugs, spare IEC "kettle" lead
• Selection of back boxes and sockets, light switches. Planned jobs might need to order matching stuff, with repairs some are happy to get anything immediately
• Same for spare bulbs, worth having a couple of warm white LED in BC & ES, and some GU10 or whatever.

 

[richy3333]

Just found this if it helps you at all. Hand tool list that SJIB expect you to have for the apprenticeship in Scotland

http://sjib.org.uk/documents/ToolList.pdf

 

[pc1966]

Just found this if it helps you at all. Hand tool list that SJIB expect you to have for the apprenticeship in Scotland

http://sjib.org.uk/documents/ToolList.pdf

That is a much easier starting guide to follow.

Quite a few of the things I have listed are really for use later on (or at least to be aware of) but having started a list I thought I might as well keep droning on...

 

[richy3333]

@pc1966 LOL. Yeah its a base to start with. Some items are a bit dated and have modern equivalents. For example we keep a plumb bob (and laser level) in the van but I wouldn't expect an apprentice to have one personally.

 

[pc1966]

@pc1966 LOL. Yeah its a base to start with. Some items are a bit dated and have modern equivalents. For example we keep a plumb bob (and laser level) in the van but I wouldn't expect an apprentice to have one personally.

Good point. What is missing from that list is eye protection (goggles) even though it has a cold chisel included!

Folks always have goggles/protective specs (or hard hat + face shield) when doing anything that can throw out debris! (hammering, drilling, chiselling, grinding, etc.) Also should be standard practice when testing live stuff just in case...