What are you carrying in your pockets at work?

[Hakeem]

Share what you do, what you carry, and why. Open to all, not just mechanics/tradespeople:

I’m a truck/trailer mechanic for a tow & transport company. New to the field but loving every minute of it.

Compact Milwaukee fastback: I like razor blade utility knives over “real” knives. Much easier to just replace the razor blade and I’m not scared of damaging the blade by prying/scraping. I love the 6in1 fastback but I don’t need the screwdriver for this job so I carry the compact instead.

4” Snapon pliers - I ordered these not realizing how small they are. They are a little awkward to use because of the small size, but it lets me carry them in my shirt pocket comfortably. As cool as the steel handles are, it makes the pliers easier to misplace. Dipped grips might have been a better choice.

Pocket prybar - i thought these were a gimmick but they’re very handy. I use it every day. This one is special to me as it was a gift from my GJ Secret Santa. Cheers to you @zanyad

Milwaukee marker - not sure if I like these better than sharpies. I’ve noticed the marker tip likes to separate from the barrel. They do resist drying out very well.

Ballpoint pen - Company issue

Stream light flashlight - $30 is kinda steep but this flashlight is nice because the switch is designed to be hard to fully depress. It lights up when you press it, but doesn’t click and stay on without a fair bit of effort. Less chance of leaving it on inadvertently and draining the battery.

How about you??

 

[Kscardsfan]

I have a outer carrier and a duty belt, totaling about 20-30 lbs of ****. I need to pare it down some.

 

[OccupantRJ]

I no longer work, so I have two keys and a pocketknife. Before I retired, there were a few more keys on the ring and a shop rag hanging out of a pocket. Sometimes there was a penlight for machine investigation. After that, the roll around box with mounted vise came out onto the factory floor. I was a repair machinist, so also removed, made and installed the broken and usually obsolete parts.

 

[whateg01]

After I get out of bed in my boxers and make it across the house to my desk for work, I guess I still don't have pockets. So, nothing?

 

[liliysdad]

After I get out of bed in my boxers and make it across the house to my desk for work, I guess I still don't have pockets. So, nothing?

You always have one pocket, no matter what you are wearing. This is especially useful in prison.

 

[OccupantRJ]

You always have one pocket, no matter what you are wearing. This is especially useful in prison.

Is that the pokeman game I hear about?

 

[willf650]

I carry a pocket knife, non contact voltage detector, precision pocket screw driver and a set of tweezers on my keys.

Are we playing guess the trade?

I also have a flashlight like the original poster and usually carry it but bought this wedge stream light last week. It’s twice as bright and I’m having trouble seeing in dimly lit areas as I get older. Obviously too the point I always carry a flashlight in my pocket.

 

[gtae07]

House keys, wallet, phone(s). I drive a desk 🫤

 

[SouthernIllinois]

Retired and my retirement gig is 4 hours a day, a couple days a week at Menards as a stocker.
A Milwaukee box cutter and Sharpie is about all I need at "Work".
I look at it more as going to the gym than work.
I end up walking 4-5 miles a day and it keeps me active + I hate working out.

 

[Chipm]

I keep it light in my pockets: Stick-type brake pad gauge, microstream, sharpie.

 

[charbar]

Clipped in the right pocket....Milwaukee Inkzall at the back, Milwaukee 6 in 1 right in front of that and then a Streamlight Microstream in front of that. And if they aren't in that order then it's just like if the old lady moves the ketchup 3 inches to the left in the fridge....cant find it. Camel Menthols and Bic lighter also if I'm not in the shop.

Left pocket is cell phone only. Screen facing in, top down first

 

[Dagny]

I wear roundhouse bibs lots of pockets not typing that much cause the packers are on.

 

[four.cycle]

work?

 

[ATC]

Pocket knife, small prybar/screwdriver/bottle opener on my key ring, and a Streamlight Protac 2AA flashlight.
Sometimes I'll carry the small Knipex pliers.

 

[RoninB4]

-While still working in the shop I wore an industrial type apron that had two slim chest pockets. In this I carried:

1- Starrett 6" scale
1- 3/16 "L" hex key (for 1/4-20 SHCS)
1- 5/32 "L" hex key (for 10-32 SHCS)
1- Small flashlight

After moving to engineering/design it was just house keys, pocket change, pocket knife, and my wallet. Authorization badge was around my neck.

 

[Hal]

Set of keys, some of which even fit locks I currently use.
Multi tool, folding knife, because I need to abuse the knife blade in the multi tool, and still have a sharp blade available.
Flash light, larger than a penlight, with a lanyard on it to pull everything else out of the pocket and dump it on the floor.
Pair of disposable ear plugs, new in package, unless I forgot.
Set of keys for the vehicle I’m not driving.
5/16 nut driver, during maple sugar season.
Miscellaneous small parts and tools that get dumped out when I get around to it.
Wallet.

 

[lardy1]

.380 Taurus and a keyring with three keys on it.

 

[bonneyman]

House keys, wallet, phone(s). I drive a desk 🫤

What kind of desk? A Fiat Pop or Cadillac Escalade?

 

[rust in the eye]

work?

 

[whateg01]

You always have one pocket, no matter what you are wearing. This is especially useful in prison.

I hope I never have to carry stuff in that pocket!