Industrial Mechanic tool list

[tatra]

Duff, welcome to the site . In a mtc. position myself and if left to me to determine the lay out and requirements of a shop / tool arrangements , I would want each tech to have their own workbench and to be kept clean and tidy . A smal vice would be adequate for most jobs but anything requiring real torque or hammering , cutting etc , the largest you could acquire in a stand alone area with room to work around . Look at getting an arbour press to minimize damage done with a hyd press on smaller jobs . Have a rotation for shop cleanup and require ALL to attain the same standards you put out there. If tools are to be provided by the company , look at Acklands Westward. Adequate , cheap and gets the job done . Not a fan for the most part but what I have seen in the years we have used them it’s okay . If roll cabs are going to be used , most carts I have seen a pretty sad wheel and frame wise for being pushed around a shop floor unless 100 % flat with no cracks , crevices etc . unless you pay top dollar . Buy a decent roll cab and manufacture a cart with heavier wheels and casters to extend the life of the cabinet . Choose a common cabinet so if a forklift backs into one it’s a plug and play for the cabinet . I’ll add more as I think of it .

 

[larry_g]

Well duff, it kinda depends on what your doing in your plant. When I started as a maint tech a 1/4-20 was the big fastener and some work was done under a microscope. I fixed the microscopes also. So what I might recommend could be different that what the OP might. Give details of the job and be specific if you want anything resembling a good answer.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[-OSIS-]

Lol tell me what tools to bring? I’d be looking somewhere else for a job.

 

[Bacon Man]

At the plant I work at it really depends on your department and how much a person cares

1 guy has about $2000 in tools because he deals with larger equipment.

Another guy has about $150 in tools and refuses to bring anymore in cause he believes the boss is out to get him and his tools.

One company i interviewed at felt it was there job to supply the tools, they provided Proto master kits with the foam inserts and checked on fridays to see if anything was missing. They only had a maintenance crew of 5 though.

 

[Scenicruiser]

Lol tell me what tools to bring? I’d be looking somewhere else for a job.

I used to feel this way...then I got a job where the list was provided. I didn't feel the need to bring a yankee screwdriver.(list hadn't been updated in a while) but it was nice to know what was expected. I had the bases more than covered and bought what was needed for the type of work the company was doing, after I had been there awhile. I now prefer to be provided the list and I ignore it as I see fit.
It's not doing anybody a favor to make them guess what is expected on the first day.

 

[BarrelRoll]

Bumping this up to the top, some how I stumbled upon it. Here's my latest experience.

I work in mining, the mine I'm leaving it's all company tools, you aren't even supposed to have a screw driver from home. Having company tools that aren't regulated it's a disaster tracking stuff down and it eats tons of time. The mine I'm headed to it's personal tools which will be nice not having to figure out where Ed left a tool again and again.

When I interviewed I asked about tools and was told I'd need basic personal tools but it kinda got brushed off. I asked about things like a 3/4 drive set and big wrenches and didn't get an answer. Accept the job offer, ask for a list and finally get it. Oh **** this is going to be expensive, the level I got hired on the list requires combo and angle wrenches to 2", 3/4" socket set and impact, tap and die set, the list goes on and on, probably $10k easy if you didn't have any of it, and the "this is only a suggestion you don't need everything on day 1" message never got sent with the list.

Finally talked to a supervisor, got the low down, they want a "drift bag" for your first hitch (basically common industrial hand tools). The list is basically to stop the guys who constantly borrow tools and never bring their own and not required but a "suggestion". Well I bought most of what was on the list that I didn't have since I didn't get the message everything wasn't mandatory till a week after I got the list. Luckily I had about 1/2 of it. I basically have 2 weeks to get my tools together so I tried to get the ball rolling as fast as possible since things are delayed with COVID. To top it off we are moving to Alaska for the job, packing up the house, and I'd rather buy things shipped to the lower 48 than paying Alaska shipping fees. Luckily I had the money and now I'll have the tools but it was a big shock the way it was delivered.

I like the idea of giving guys a basic list they need to start, a list of things they will need in a x amount of months and then a progressive list based on skillset/ pay grade. The new job does have a $1,000 a year tool allowance which is a nice bonus.

It seems like industry is all over the place as far as required personal tools vs. company provided tools. It's entirely possible a guy worked at a place for years without needing anything out of pocket and then all of a sudden needs everything.

 

[brollona]

This is what I was surprised when I joined GJ and realized that in America, employee needs to bring its own tools on the job. I'm from Croatia and in my country it was always employer who is providing tools for the worker. Not only tools but also working overall, shoes, gloves (if it's bigger workshop or factory). And that goes from simple janitor in school, up to car mechanics, technicians, electricians, engineers, in every industry sector. And I believe that in the rest of the Europe is like also that.

 

[GerMec]

This is what I was surprised when I joined GJ and realized that in America, employee needs to bring its own tools on the job. I'm from Croatia and in my country it was always employer who is providing tools for the worker. Not only tools but also working overall, shoes, gloves (if it's bigger workshop or factory). And that goes from simple janitor in school, up to car mechanics, technicians, electricians, engineers, in every industry sector. And I believe that in the rest of the Europe is like also that.

Yup really weird for us Europeans. But on the other hand I think the tool market in the US is far more competitive and brings out innovative tools.

 

[will335i]

I will never understand companies that have the mindset that you need xyz tool or equipment to do the job but it's on you the employee to provide it. We don't ask office employees to provide their own computers. I think it says a lot about the employer and it will show in the kind of applicants that they get.

If the job requires tools the company should either provide them or provide an allowance for tools. The later needs to be comparable to the cost of tools required. If they don't want to do that they should categorize the employees as contractors or I-9 employees so that they can at least right off the cost as a business expense.

 

[bsaint]

I was always provided company tools for my job except my first job as a road technician. But even that job, at the shop it had all the tools outside of basic tools like big drive stuff, large pipe wrench, etc.


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[ZRX61]

This is what I was surprised when I joined GJ and realized that in America, employee needs to bring its own tools on the job. I'm from Croatia and in my country it was always employer who is providing tools for the worker. Not only tools but also working overall, shoes, gloves (if it's bigger workshop or factory). And that goes from simple janitor in school, up to car mechanics, technicians, electricians, engineers, in every industry sector. And I believe that in the rest of the Europe is like also that.

Not the case in the UK, you buy your own tools.

 

[dutchgray]

Not the case in the UK, you buy your own tools.

Yep, any trades, motor mechanics, industrial maintenance you buy your own tools, specialist equipment relevant to your employers business would normally be provided.
Pretty much the same as the USA.

The tools and the skills you have is why you can get the jobs that pay more than those who are just grunts on the production line.

 

[SeisMec]

I suspect the best way is to make the list(s) by looking at each tool currently in your own tool box. If the particular tool suddenly disappeared from your box and X suddenly needs maintenance or repair are you: A) completely screwed until you've got a replacement, B) significantly slowed but not stopped until you've got a replacement or C) inconvenienced by having to use a different tool?

A) tools belong on the list of tools required on day one.

B) tools belong on a list of tools that will be required after X number of weeks of employment.

C) tools belong on a list of tools they will likely want to acquire eventually.

 

[brollona]

Yep, any trades, motor mechanics, industrial maintenance you buy your own tools, specialist equipment relevant to your employers business would normally be provided.
Pretty much the same as the USA.
.

Didn't know that. From my perspective that looks very... hmm, harsh.

Anyway, just for comparison. Several years ago, I was working as technician for marine diesel engines on yachts, which where mostly caterpillar, mtu, john deere, maybe few cummins. My employer provided all, car with tools, workshop with all tools, overall, all expenses related with job (food, petrol, whatever). Hard to comprehend that somewhere else system is totally different.

 

[Georgewerr]

I’m in a different field ( electrical test and trouble shooting nuclear systems ) I give my men a list of basic tools they need right away and tell them they have 6 months to acquire all the tools they need to accomplish there work. This gives them time to acquire there tools and puts on them to figure out what they need. If I give them a list and then they need to do a job but do not have a tool on the list they have no excuse to not be able to do the job. I feel if you give them a list they will not get other tools other then what’s on the list.

 

[RedneckWelder]

Didn't know that. From my perspective that looks very... hmm, harsh.

Anyway, just for comparison. Several years ago, I was working as technician for marine diesel engines on yachts, which where mostly caterpillar, mtu, john deere, maybe few cummins. My employer provided all, car with tools, workshop with all tools, overall, all expenses related with job (food, petrol, whatever). Hard to comprehend that somewhere else system is totally different.

When it comes to tools our field techs supply everything on the truck that isn’t bolted down except a 1” impact, come alongs, rigging, and torch outfit and normal shop supplies. They can check out specialty tools as needed from the tool crib. Above the normal hand and diag tools the shop techs have the field mechs have to supply 1” drive sockets, 3/4 drive torque wrench, A/C gauges and vacuum pump, large wrenches and so on

 

[Schurkey]

For years, I was the de-facto trainer for most of the new-hires--they pushed 'em through my department until they were damn near ready to do the job, then moved 'em to whatever department that was most-desperately short-handed.

The Company had a tool list for new-hires. Since they were pulling in poverty-case unemployable boneheads from off-the-street (and I had no input into who was hired) the State "Unemployment Service" was buying a minimal tool kit and hand-held box to carry it around in as part of a jobs/retraining/Welfare Handout program.

The State bought the shiittiest tools on Earth. They must have had some bulk volume-purchase agreement with a Communist importer.

Lots of fasteners and fittings got damaged because the open-end wrenches spread under load; I'd tell them to NOT use a 3/8" or 1/4" extension to loosen pipe plugs that had a 3/8" or 1/4" square recess--but they'd do it anyway and broke the tips of the extensions at the drilling for the spring-ball socket retainer.

Don't allow junk tools to infect your workplace. It's not worth the damage to the equipment, never mind the "safety" concern of a broken tool wielded by an un-balanced employee. The wrench slips, or the socket pops, and the employee falls down and breaks a finger--now you've got an OSHA case; and at any rate a work-related hospital visit.

Eventually, the plant voted to go Union. The Union contract continued existing Company policy: Company supplies all "special" tools. "Special" is defined as anything not on the required tool list.

As a result, the company supplied almost nothing except (not enough) air tools. The handle of the torque wrench never got cold, 'cause it was perpetually passed from person to person. What the company did supply was bottom-feeder junk. I'd take broken (unsafe) tools to the tool cage for repair--they'd hand 'em out to the next person that asked for them without ever fixing the thing.

 

[kngelv]

I will never understand companies that have the mindset that you need xyz tool or equipment to do the job but it's on you the employee to provide it. We don't ask office employees to provide their own computers. I think it says a lot about the employer and it will show in the kind of applicants that they get.

If the job requires tools the company should either provide them or provide an allowance for tools. The later needs to be comparable to the cost of tools required. If they don't want to do that they should categorize the employees as contractors or I-9 employees so that they can at least right off the cost as a business expense.

You seem like a good guy who is trying to help his company and not get scrubs. I respect that. I’m an Electrical Leader and Journeyman at a large auto manufacturer. A few things though. Your company is paying in the mid teens but looking for applicants who can do multiple trades work. You mentioned various electrical jobs and your tool list is lacking in what is needed for that type of work. I don’t know how it is in Wisconsin but in Michigan you are supposed to either be a registered apprentice working under a Master or a Journeyman to legally do that type of work. The pay rate is very low when asking someone to do the work of Electricians, Millwrights, Machine Repairman and Pipefitters. Most people who can competently do that kind of work will be looking at the low to mid twenties to start. Legitimate guys will have tools but I agree that the company should supply some tools and a place to put them. Also you need to have applicants do some hands on testing. Most companies have a written test plus four or five different electrical tasks for them to do.

James

 

[victor252]

Didn't know that. From my perspective that looks very... hmm, harsh.

Anyway, just for comparison. Several years ago, I was working as technician for marine diesel engines on yachts, which where mostly caterpillar, mtu, john deere, maybe few cummins. My employer provided all, car with tools, workshop with all tools, overall, all expenses related with job (food, petrol, whatever). Hard to comprehend that somewhere else system is totally different.

Just a few thoughts on why things are different;
When tools are abused or "lost" (stolen) this is a cost to whoever own the tools.
Large companies face higher monitoring costs.
In the US, it may be harder to charge an employee with theft or fire them

Your salary would be higher if the company was not paying for tools, food etc. You would then have the choice to economize on some things (bring lunch from home) and keep more of your money.

Tax laws have changed in the US so that companies have less incentive to provide fringe benefits.

Owning your own tools sends a signal that you are committed to the trade
Apprenticeship may be more common in Europe than in the US and also sends that signal, that you are committed and more trustworthy.

Owning special tools or knowledge benefits employees as well.
Employees who provide their own tools have more options for going independent. Mechanics say "Tool boxes have wheels don't they?"

Both systems have co-evolved with other cultural, legal and economic features so it is hard to say one is better than the other.
But the American Way is definitely better!