MUST HAVES in all Industrial sparkys toolboxes?

[wee_ron]

I have just completed my four year apprenticeship (mainly on industrial sites). I love buying tools and am trying to compile a good collection of tools.

What tools are essential to have in all industrial Electricians tool boxes?

Which tools/power tools should be supplied by a firm and which tools do the firms expect a spark to have? Such as SDS drills, grinders, bolt croppers, socket sets etc. Would this differ whether a spark is self employed or on the cards?

I am currently on the cards with a firm. I may have to go self employed in a few months time if I dont get kept on.

WR.

 

[johnboy6083]

it depends on how ou work to be honest mate,. Im currently through an agency, but im treated as one of the cards in lads, as is my mate. we work out of a van, so i dont mind usingy own socket set, laser level ect, as its all to help me out, and im unsupervised most of the time.
If i were to work on a big site, then my laser level would reside in my garage, along with the socket set ect.This is because it would get nicked on site, and theres not a chance that the firm would pay up.

Most firms will supply large crimpers or specialist crimpers,(some jobs will supply all crimpers, all calibrated), some will supply ratchet cutters if theres a lot of larger cables to be installed, almost all will supply drills and grinders (if theyll let you use a grinder).

 

[alarm man]

anything other than hand tools,eg cutters/drivers should be provided by the company.

 

[Mark_Burgess]

not forgetting the insulated mug with lid!!

 

[wee_ron]

Yeah JB my firm has battery/manual crimpers, drills, crops, 1 socket set, few cordless SDS drills, 110v drills,few grinders etc on site. Still waiting on the ratchet cutters ha! The site I am on at the minute is a nightmare for H&S. If a grinder is being used a fire extinguisher has to be beside the user. An operative is only allowed two thirds of the way up steps (even if there is a platform) and a handrail has to be fitted at each side!

So in general sparks are expected to have hand tools and "Luxuries", such as laser levels, only?

What tools should be in all good tool boxes besides the obvious such as screwdrivers and pliers?

 

[mogga]

spanners up to 23mm hacksaw (poss2 with different blades )junior hacksaw , screwdrivers ,pliers,snips,croppers,long nose pliers,gland pliers( small normal XL) , hammers (club claw) box keys for uni bolts and 20,25mm gland nuts level,laser level ,tape measure string line,plumb bob,markers french chalk, pencil coffee sugar insulated mug

 

[Marvo]

I also carry two 3watt LED flashlights (one regular and one headlight for a back-up in case of flat batteries etc) and a magnifying glass which you might want to add to your list.

 

[johnboy6083]

ill secondthe torches. i have a headtorch, and an 18v one that sharesbatteries with my drill. It has come in very handy, especially during shutdowns, when every man and his dog needs light, and thers not much to go about.

 

[netblindpaul]

In my day it was up to 25mm or 1" A/F or the equivalent in Whitworth, which would be 1/2" BSW 9/16" BSF.

 

[netblindpaul]

Oh and employer if on the cards should supply all consumables, drill bits, saw blades etc.

 

[johnboy6083]

the one thing i think every spark shuold carry is an approved voltage tester, locks, notices and a proving unit. Often on big jobs, these are carried by supervisors, but i always have one, as i dont trust anybody but myself, and even then im wary!

 

[topquark]

In my day it was up to 25mm or 1" A/F or the equivalent in Whitworth, which would be 1/2" BSW 9/16" BSF.

10 points to anyone under the age of 30 who can give full versions of the abbreviations without having to look it up

 

[netblindpaul]

I tried to just post a smile but the post was too short so:

 

[netblindpaul]

Oh another thing, all equipment requiring calibration.

There is however a conflict in law between PUWER98 & the tradesman supplying his or her own equipment, as the company is legally obliged to treat the tradesmans tools as their own and inspect and test them as its own.
However, IMHO it would be unreasonable to enforce replacement costs onto the tradesman if they were solely used in the employ of the company and the law can be interpreted in this way also.

 

[thekingiam]

as less tools as posible in tool box 1 and as many i can fit in tool box 2.
tool box 1 is for the swa to be smugled off site.

 

[Deleted member 26818]

Basic tools required, are obviously screwdrivers both flat and cross head, pliers, cable crops, side cutters, channel lock pliers (5 holes), flat file, round file, hacksaw, junior hacksaw, torpedo level, set square, tape measure, voltage tester, a selection of drills SDS and hole saws (not that important, as you should be provided with them and a hammer.
You will after working on a few sites, obtain some stocks and dies, a bender stop, then all manner of keys (square, triangle etc.), more drill bits and hole saws than you will ever need, hacksaw blades (never junior though), earth sleeving, and phase sleeving and insulation tape. Perhaps even a kettle lead to charge scissor lifts etc.

 

[malcolmsanford]

Decent set of imperial and metric thread taps .......................you will be thankful of them

 

[johnboy6083]

dunno about imperial, but definately metric upto m10

 

[mogga]

allen keys torx set as well posibly a "security key set" ffs a transit van to carry this lot its amazing how many tools you "gether" such as em keys fire alarm keys keys for Dbs keys for special fit screws ect ect "That wee thingy you used 4 years ago that would do the job your trying to do perfectly "
as for Voltage indicators tags,locks and notices these should realy be supplied but I prefer my own then noone else has key for them
Iv recently prices replacing my tools n nearly keeched myself at thought of how much is in that wee box