I am kind of in between jobs at the moment and looking around at my options, I have decided my last resort will be to go back to any equipment rental shop. My last job did lots of work on rentals and other peoples equipment, and I just about had half of my house at work with everything I brought and bought along the way. I see a lot of plant maintenance jobs that pay way higher than shop pay, but I never worked in those kinds of settings. I know there has been threads on "show us your tool box", but I am more curious as to what different job titles require you to provide. I would LOVE to find a good repair job that only requires a small carry bag because for me, the equipment line of work was eating me up with the big stuff I was expected to keep buying. I know we got people in many different lines of work on this forum...so what does your line of work entail you to provide???
how many tools does your job require????
- Thread starter mech-tech
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General Geoff
Well-known member
My job requires me to carry a cell phone, small laptop, a few ethernet cables, a phillips/flathead/punchdown combo tool, cable tester, multimeter, utility knife, and a binder of CDs and a flash drive.
I have other tools in my car but those are the ones I use 99% of the time. I'm an IT field technician for residential, small business, and sometimes large/corporate work.
I have other tools in my car but those are the ones I use 99% of the time. I'm an IT field technician for residential, small business, and sometimes large/corporate work.
crewchief888
Well-known member
all the const eq dealerships i've worked for over the last 30 years required you to have basic hand tools
sockets and wrenches up to 1 1/4" or 1 1/2"
test light and voltmeter
oil filter wrenches
hammer
screwdrivers
pliers, wire strippers
none required any power tools
some shops provided larger wrenches, 3/4" & 1" dr sockets, impacts, and OEM specific special tools.
from what i've seen mentioned here at GJ, for some industrial type maint guys, tools are provided.
personally, i have a LOT more stuff than the "average" mechanic at any of our stores, but i've been wrenching for 30 years.
sockets and wrenches up to 1 1/4" or 1 1/2"
test light and voltmeter
oil filter wrenches
hammer
screwdrivers
pliers, wire strippers
none required any power tools
some shops provided larger wrenches, 3/4" & 1" dr sockets, impacts, and OEM specific special tools.
from what i've seen mentioned here at GJ, for some industrial type maint guys, tools are provided.
personally, i have a LOT more stuff than the "average" mechanic at any of our stores, but i've been wrenching for 30 years.
bobcatdan
Well-known member
I think in general most modern mechanic's tool boxes are very bloated. I know my main box in the shop is. I have a krl 1022 with a kra 62c backed full with overflow in a Kennedy rollaway. I do the same work on the road with tools that fit in 26" wide, 12" deep craftsman top and middle box. In five years on the road I have removed more tools then I have added.
mudflap
Well-known member
At the county garages we do everything from PM the police cars and emergency apparatus to repairing dump trucks/snow plows/ large mowing equipment / back hoes / large pumps / commercial salt spreaders / bobcats / etc. So we must have BIG tools. Up to 2-1/4 in for sockets and wrenches, big hammers, etc. But i have loved every day on the job, its just like playing in the sand box when i was a kid, except all the toys are life size now............!
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exophyusical
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I maintain a mill that makes plywood and dimensional lumber, most of what I need to do I can do with what is in my tool bag. This includes about a 1/2 dozen wrenches from 9/16 to 1 1/4, a hammer, prybar, file, scraper, 10" crescent, side cutter, chanel lock pliers, pick, a punch and a chisel. Between this and a 1/2" impact I can do about 90% of the work I need to.
For the other 10% I've got combination wrenches in doubles up to 1 1/2, singles up to 2" (company is supposed to supply anything over 2", but when four guys all need a 1 7/8 its nice to have your own) pipe wrenches up to 24", crescents up to 24", 1/4 through 3/4 ratchet sets, welding equipment, precision measurement tools, a collection of home made chain pullers and belt stretchers, pliers, screw drivers, electrical trouble shooting and repair tools... My box is not "bloated" I always try to keep a toolbox that can accomplish the most work with the least tools. I do consider it fairly "well stocked" but once in awhile I do find I'm missing something, a few nights ago it was a 2 3/8 wrench.
Running a service truck as an oilfield millwright my tools were usualy supplied by the company.
For the other 10% I've got combination wrenches in doubles up to 1 1/2, singles up to 2" (company is supposed to supply anything over 2", but when four guys all need a 1 7/8 its nice to have your own) pipe wrenches up to 24", crescents up to 24", 1/4 through 3/4 ratchet sets, welding equipment, precision measurement tools, a collection of home made chain pullers and belt stretchers, pliers, screw drivers, electrical trouble shooting and repair tools... My box is not "bloated" I always try to keep a toolbox that can accomplish the most work with the least tools. I do consider it fairly "well stocked" but once in awhile I do find I'm missing something, a few nights ago it was a 2 3/8 wrench.
Running a service truck as an oilfield millwright my tools were usualy supplied by the company.
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volvo92906
Well-known member
As crewchief888 said.. In H/E shops we have to have stuff up to 1-1/2 and the basics (pliers, screwdrivers, wrenches, sockets). The shop is required to provide 3/4" and 1" stuff as well as power tools and all specialty tools.
Most guys buy that stuff anyhow because of the convenience to have your own. But since youre asking required tools..
Most guys buy that stuff anyhow because of the convenience to have your own. But since youre asking required tools..
scaron
Well-known member
i work in IT as a UNIX sys admin. at the office, i can pretty much get by 99% of the time with a klein 11-in-1, a RJ-45/12/11 crimper, a twisted-pair outer jacket stripper, needlenose pliers and a pair of dikes. now, to service all my different hobbies, that's another story!
davesnothere
Well-known member
Working at an indy shop requires me to have a lot of tools.
I work on small high speed document scanners up to small to mid level size industrial equipment. Only thing my company provides me is a company car and fuel card. My job title: Field Service Technician. Or better description would be Electro-Mechanical Tech.
I use everything from small precision hand tools up to 1-1/2" wrenches and sockets, up to around 30mm on the metric stuff. My main box I work out of is one of those attaché type boxes you get from Jensen Tools aka Stanley Supply Services. One of these days I'll get around to posting pics of that box and what I carry in it.
I have several other tool bags and boxes for the stuff I only use once in awhile.
Also have to provide my own power tools as well.
Only thing I'm reimbursed for is consumables such as drill bits, taps, dies, etc. you get the idea. Also reimbursed for all hotels and meals and so on.
If I can find it, I'll post a copy of the minimum required tool list for my job. It's pretty damn extensive. With that said we don't hire many greenhorns straight out of some tech school or community college. During the interview process, we show a greenhorn the minimum list and they run for the door.....LOL. It also kind of helps us to weed out the bullshitters. Not full proof, but it helps.
I use everything from small precision hand tools up to 1-1/2" wrenches and sockets, up to around 30mm on the metric stuff. My main box I work out of is one of those attaché type boxes you get from Jensen Tools aka Stanley Supply Services. One of these days I'll get around to posting pics of that box and what I carry in it.
I have several other tool bags and boxes for the stuff I only use once in awhile.
Also have to provide my own power tools as well.
Only thing I'm reimbursed for is consumables such as drill bits, taps, dies, etc. you get the idea. Also reimbursed for all hotels and meals and so on.
If I can find it, I'll post a copy of the minimum required tool list for my job. It's pretty damn extensive. With that said we don't hire many greenhorns straight out of some tech school or community college. During the interview process, we show a greenhorn the minimum list and they run for the door.....LOL. It also kind of helps us to weed out the bullshitters. Not full proof, but it helps.
Laptop.
Yeah, my last job I regularly used up to 2" sockets and all my large wrenches, plus pipe wrenches up to 36" and big impact sockets. I'm trying to get an idea of other maintenance lines of work and see what they require. I just can't afford to keep buying this stuff!!!!!!!!!! 
bobcatdan
Well-known member
I have several mills as customers and most of the millwrights have the HF 26" tool box on a cart. From the looks, everything besides the most basic hand tools are provided. A couple guys have the little 20" craftsman ralley boxes.
kiatech
Well-known member
Not too much any more since im a industrial electrician. I can carry all I need in a small hand box. I need a flat bed wrecker when I worked on cars...
Yeah, my last job I regularly used up to 2" sockets and all my large wrenches, plus pipe wrenches up to 36" and big impact sockets. I'm trying to get an idea of other maintenance lines of work and see what they require. I just can't afford to keep buying this stuff!!!!!!!!!!
It does get expensive. For me acquiring tools is all about saving time and or making the job easier. It's all about access and clearance to the task at hand. I've got some tools that I may need only a few times a year. It can be painful on the wallet if it's a big ticket item.
jeffmoss26
Well-known member
Same as scaron and geoff. I am in IT so my day job requires very few tools. Heck, most of the computers these days I don't even need a screwdriver to replace parts!
Everything else on the other hand, lol
Everything else on the other hand, lol
Zeke
Well-known member
Carpenter and builder. If I took all my tools out at once it would take 3 pick ups. Just to hang a door takes about $1000 worth of tools and jigs. If I'm not hanging a door, I leave the planer, stands, lock boring jig, hinge layout jig, router and 1/2 drill at home. I still will have my Skillsaw, level, cordless drill, belt sander, pad sander, and all the hand tools with me.
It's interesting that when I framed houses I could have a Skillsaw, square and bags as the whole set up. Other than the level, I could put it all in the front seat of a compact car. To be modern, add in a nail gun and compressor. Still fits in a compact car. I know a roofer that can get to work with his tools on a bike.
But once you start doing drywall, painting, plastering, plumbing and electrical (plus more), you need a bread van.
It's interesting that when I framed houses I could have a Skillsaw, square and bags as the whole set up. Other than the level, I could put it all in the front seat of a compact car. To be modern, add in a nail gun and compressor. Still fits in a compact car. I know a roofer that can get to work with his tools on a bike.
But once you start doing drywall, painting, plastering, plumbing and electrical (plus more), you need a bread van.
ZRX61
Well-known member
6 Rollaways, 3 carts...
Chadwilliam1
Well-known member
I am industrial maintenance (pipe fitter & millwright). I am not required to provide any tools. I have brought a few tools in though. they will order tools I need from Grainger or snap on but some tools are a pain to get ordered in. I bought on own flashlight and a have bought a few impact sockets off cripe. I am very fortunate though I work for a company that doesn't let people bring tools in but if you take them out you could be accused of stealing so once their in they now belong to the company.
exophyusical
Well-known member
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- Aug 11, 2013
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Yeah, my last job I regularly used up to 2" sockets and all my large wrenches, plus pipe wrenches up to 36" and big impact sockets. I'm trying to get an idea of other maintenance lines of work and see what they require. I just can't afford to keep buying this stuff!!!!!!!!!!
If you've got all of that then you should be set. Most of my stuff fits in a regular 27" roll cab and top box. The big wrenches hang on the wall in my "locker", pretty much a big walk in closet they give each of the millwrights to lock their stuff in. I've built a few shelves in there for some misc stuff. We get a tool allowance so in theory once you've got all your tools you eventualy get paid back for it, in reality you just blow it on more tools.
Bobdog
Well-known member
I've got an E250 van and a 2 car garage packed full of tools for my trade.
After 20 some years, I've finally got most of what I need.
After 20 some years, I've finally got most of what I need.
shoggoth80
Well-known member
I work as a parts replacer/auto tech. I need it all. Lol.
bobcatdan
Well-known member
This isn't very scientific. Every trade will require a different tools and how many. With in eash trade you will have a guy who owns and uses every tool sold in a 100 mile radius to change a light bulb to the guy who can completely rebuild a V16 diesel engine with a vise grip and a pocket screwdriver.
davethorik
Well-known member
I work in a machine shop and most basic tools and supplies are covered by the shop. The problem is I like using nice tools that werent beat on by the less than careful. So i have my own 0-6 set of carbide faced, tenths reading micrometers. I have my own set of 24" scherr-tumico made in usa vernier calipers that are light years ahead of the chinese made shop sets, and my boss is jealous of them.
DieselSaves
Well-known member
I work on a farm and do the majority of the wrenching, everything from chainsaws to combines, otr trucks, and tractors. On top of that, I collect vintage cycles that come to me in boxes and rebuild VW cars for the family to drive. I use this as an excuse for every tool purchase I make, but I do require and use almost every tool I own. This board has been a great help in itemizing and editing my yet-to-buy tool list.
Many, many …..waterpump pliers, pipe wrenches, saws, adjustable wrenches, screwdrivers, ratchet sets, hammers, chisels, wrenches, press machine for pressfittings, thread cutting machine, reciprocating saw, hammer drills, angel grinders, cordless drills and a lot of special plumber tools.
scaron
Well-known member
ain't that the truth! i just totally rebuilt a dell PE R810 a few days ago and the only tools i needed were my two hands. it's mostly only big servers that are built to this level of modularity, though.
mickeyone
Well-known member
I work on movie and tv sets have several klein bags,a veto,and a couple of fibre phone co cases full of hand,battery,and corded tools.Most of the day a pouch with a cobra plier,10n1 screwdriver,8 inch crescent,volt meter,leatherman,gloves ,and dykes get the job done.
richfinn
Well-known member
I get supplied a tool kit and a van to do my job as a roadside assistance technician. It's pretty basic mechanic tools plus a laptop scan tool and a multimeter a current clamp and a midtronics battery tester. I also carry auto locksmith tools.
I supplement it with my own stuff to make me more efficient and get a better fix rate.
I supplement it with my own stuff to make me more efficient and get a better fix rate.
sberry
Banned
2mJps
Well-known member
I have had several jobs that requied me to have my own tools and i have been self employed so i own alot of tools. Wright now i am working part time for a company that has a shop with the basic tool one set that i can use with 5 other guys that use them also. I need to put a set together to use their. It would be made up of one set of metric and sae wenches 3/8 drive sockets and screw drivers.
Exactly. I'm a land survey field tech, so my list of 'traditional' tools is pretty short... A couple of SAE Allen wrenches, a couple sizes of combo wrenches, a couple of hammers, a rotary hammer drill. But for field specific tools, I have an E350 van pretty well packed. Multiple tripods, bipods, range poles, rag tapes, steel tape, level rods, digital level, optical level, robotic total station, data collector, laptop, various battery chargers, two way radios, street signs, tribrachs, prisms, peanut prisms....
Of course, the boss pays for most of it (thank God, a new total station can run better than $60k...)
exophyusical
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This deserves repeating, I think I have about $2000 into my tools. Theres guys that have about half of that invested and still get by pretty good. Then theres a guy we call "the snap on kid" who's got over $25 000 into his toolbox. He carrys around a tool bag that weighs about 50 lbs and generaly still runs back to his toolbox to grab "the right tool for the job", I cant say that he does a better job than anyone else.
I'm a loom fixer, which is a specialized equipment mechanic in a textile mill. Fixers keep textile mills efficient. There are fixers in each department, be it yarn production (working on nylon extruders), yarn treatment (working on the simplest machines doing gear changes and a ton of plumbing work), or any other department of a mill. Fixers differ from industrial maintenance crews (mills have both) in that fixers deal ONLY with the production equipment. The closest the maintenance guys, who do up-keep on the building, mostly, get to the equipment is the power supply.
Being a loom fixer, there's a finite number of tools I need to do my job. The equipment doesn't change unless the company buys new stuff. New equipment is nearly always made by the same manufacturer, so any new tool purchases usually aren't necessary. I work out of a 27" top + bottom roll cab, and I probably have less than $5000 locked up inside of it. I've also got a desk in a 'clean' room (which isn't exactly clean, it just happens to be where I rebuild gearboxes) with a few more tools (big stuff), and a company tool crib in it.
Being a loom fixer, there's a finite number of tools I need to do my job. The equipment doesn't change unless the company buys new stuff. New equipment is nearly always made by the same manufacturer, so any new tool purchases usually aren't necessary. I work out of a 27" top + bottom roll cab, and I probably have less than $5000 locked up inside of it. I've also got a desk in a 'clean' room (which isn't exactly clean, it just happens to be where I rebuild gearboxes) with a few more tools (big stuff), and a company tool crib in it.
KPSquared
Well-known member
Let's see. The tools I provide are all in my mind. I apply liberal ammounts of genius to ensure the safety and well being of all my airborne friends. . . 
Everything I need for work I pack in my head!
Everything I need for work I pack in my head!
bobcatdan
Well-known member
I think k it varies from company to company. I would say if you already have a decent tool set as a mechanic, you would have pretty much everything you would need to be say a millwright.
Bobdog
Well-known member
This is true. Allow my to expand my answer.
75% of the time I get by with what's in my Veto and an electricians tote. Probably have $2500 worth of tools, meters and drill/impact drivers in there.
I have an 8 drawer Craftsman (biggest ripoff ever) bottom box, several tool bags and a couple of shelves worth of specialty tools, testers and power tools in the van that get used as needed.
My garage is full of heavy tools for jobs I don't normally do all the time....cutting torch, gantry crane, chainfalls and straps, BIG pipe wrenches, pipe vices.....you get the idea.
When I worked as a union mechanic, there was a list of hand tools that totaled about $1000.00 we had to have. Everything else was supposed to be provided by the company. It's roughly the same in the open shop world, but they will try to get away with as much as they can in either case and sometimes it's just easier to own the tool than to drive 100 miles roundtrip to get the company tool from another guy on another site.
I've always just bought the tools of trade as I could, finding them at flea markets, pawn shops, here, or from guys who were retiring or moving into something else.
My brother is a Plant guy who works in a tire plant. He has a 48" bottom box on wheels with a benchtop on it that he wheels around the plant. He owns all the tools in the box, everything else is provided by the plant.
crewchief888
Well-known member
agreed,
a millwright or plant maint guy may need a few more precision type tools, depending on the scope of work.
one place i know of provides their mechanics with proto, armstrong, williams and SO tools, & proto toolboxes, milwaukee and dewalt power tools.
as an outside contractor i have to provide them with a detailed tool inventory of my service truck, and am subject to a search at any time while on the property
pawn shops are full of tools ...
NAPPY
Well-known member
i work on rv's. inside and out. i have tools for plumbing, electrical, carpentry, chassis, fabricating, and basic hand tools. the more tools i have, the more variety of work i can do. hell, i have 6 different staplers/nailers. some guys i work with don't want to spend the money. they get the boring jobs.