Ok, so this may be a stupid question but I’m not finding any answers with the search and you may not tell me anything different but…
I’m switching from residential to commercial construction in the next week or so and was wondering if I’ll need a “different” set of tools. Basically, for those of you who may have made the switch, do you carry different tools in your belt?
I should know this and it may be self explanatory but I’m a little stressed what with moving, changing companies, industries (sort of), etc.
Any help is appreciated.
~TBone
Replies
what brands of what do you have now???
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
Makita Li-Ion cordless (hammerdrill/driver and impact)
Milwaukee corded drill and sawzall
Makita grinder
Dewalt 14.4 screwgun
Bosch sidewinder
Bosch jigsaw
Makita beltsander
Ridgid ROS
etc.Odds and ends really for power tools. Hand tools are more or less whatever I picked up at the time; Stanley, Vaughn, Stiletto, Irwin, etc. All lugged around in a set of Oxy's.
If you are going to metal stud construiction, then you need tin snips and a screw gun or impact driver. Probably need a hard hat. Usually sneakers and shorts are frowned on.
"Put your creed in your deed." Emerson
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
Snips and impact I've got.I figured that about the hardhat and footwear. Are steeled toe generally recommended?
Are steeled toe generally recommended?
More like generally required. Commercial sites got safety inspectors crawling out the ying-yang compared to residential.
Dinosaur
How now, Mighty Sauron, that thou art not broughtlow by this? For thine evil pales before that whichfoolish men call Justice....
And as Norm say's "Don't forget the safety glasses"!
Who's Norm?
Don't answer that....
Dinosaur
How now, Mighty Sauron, that thou art not broughtlow by this? For thine evil pales before that whichfoolish men call Justice....
Glasses. plaid shirt, Yankee doddle dandy!
Crowley in Puerto Rico required the boots, long pants, long-sleeved shirt, gloves, glasses, bumpcap, and a fluorescent work-vest PFD before you were allowed out on deck. We used to joke that by the time you finished getting dressed to go out on deck, your watch was over and you could go back to your bunk. It's a wonder we ever got anything done.
I didn't mind the steel toes, but man, those long-sleeved, polyester, dark-blue Big Bills in Puerto-Rican heat and humidity damn near killed me. Soon as the boat was out of sight of the company dock and the port captain's spyglass, everybody went back to wearing cutoffs, chest hair, and flipflops.
Dinosaur
How now, Mighty Sauron, that thou art not broughtlow by this? For thine evil pales before that whichfoolish men call Justice....
I agree about the safety guys crawling all over the place, & yes i have to wear hard hat, safety glasses, gloves, orange vest or T shirt, but I have never been on a job that requires steel toe.
That really surprises me, Bill. First thing they look at here is your boots to see the CSA certified dot. If you show up without a brain bucket, the boss will usually find a spare to loan you for the first day. But no boots, and you take a walk. Not even allowed on the site.
Dinosaur
How now, Mighty Sauron, that thou art not broughtlow by this? For thine evil pales before that whichfoolish men call Justice....
My state L&I (WA) says footwear must meet ANSI standard Z41-1991, I'm not sure if that is steel toe or not.
My jobs always say "sturdy footwear".
I generally wear heavyduty hunting boots with reinforced rubber toes. My next pair will be Danner SWAT style non steel toe.
I've heard steel toe come up now & then, but never seen it sked to be a requirement on any job trhat I have been on.
Z41 is steel toe. Just bought a set of runners with steel toe, as comfortable as my regular runners.
I wasn't sure if it was, I couldn't find the wording to that standard.
Now I'm not sure if L&I governs the jobsites for that standard or not, most of our site specific PPE requirements are tougher than state regs, but obviously not when it comes to steel toe.
yeah, i don't like the steel toes either, if you can get by without them do it. if your in a pinch you can always go to wally world for a pair of cheapies that will get you by until you can get some good ones.
its funny how some jobs require them and some don't. i think for some places it is easier to just require steel toes for all in the safety manual, than to actually take the time to write out the procedures and conduct (and document) the training so some people who don't need them don't have to wear them.
now for the 64 million dollar question....
what will you be doing???
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
lol...that would've helped, wouldn't it?That's a bit more difficult to pinpoint however. I'll more or less be the jobsite gopher/monkey/whore. Albeit a somewhat skilled one (in residential anyway). That along with apprenticing to the project manager. So perhaps jack of all trades, minus the plumbing, hvac, electrical, masonry, etc.They'll be some metal studwork, some wood blocking, some door hanging and hardware install.Perhaps I've just gone and answered my own question. Show up with what I've got and buy what I need. I just don't want to be completely unprepared for what might get thrown my way in the first couple days.
If you're getting into steel studs a 14" chopsaw is a must for production.
Trackfast or a powder actuated nailer is a must for track to concrete anchoring.
"Steel toes" is very opinionated------ I don't like them.
6" pair of Vise grips is a must http://irwin.com/irwin/consumer/jhtml/detail.jhtml;jsessionid=DX4XHHA35U0TGCQHUB2CGWQKA4QGIJCK?prodId=IrwinProd100302
for the hardware...
real set of cabinate drivers, smaller sizes of ball end allen wrenches in SAE, metric and Torex... easy outs... good set of drills and punches and later a set of taps, screw cutters and a nutsert tool w/ nutserts... A full set of security drivers...
framing...
HS DW gun and MS srewgun... some small quicklok clamps, pony clamps.. vise grips... string lines... felt tips... lumber crayons...(black, blue and red).. offsets.. tin snips in yellow, red and green w/ spares...
a construction caculator.. note pads, mechanical pencils, measruing tapes and spares...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
Just wanted to add to your list,Tajima or mullan reel and plumb bob, Drywall t-square, small surform rasp , drywall saw, and a dywall t-square. For the hardware list i would also carry some beeswax, Tapping fluid, we use anchor lube,files and some silicon spray and white lithium spray grease.
I'll take a stab at it. magnetic level. powder actuated stud gun. metal-jamb spreaders (not a tool, but a plywood template to hold the jambs in place when the sheetrock goes in behind the metal jamb/casing), door dolly (commercial grade oversized solid-core doors are HEAVY). probably a laptop and a blackberry. zantac and advil. hands-off cell phone. View Image “Good work costs much more than poor imitation or factory product†– Charles GreeneCaliforniaRemodelingContractor.com
You're more likely to see metal doors. Wall coverings are more varied -- various types of paneling, various types of wall cloth. Vinyl tile, which you rarely see in residental anymore. Carpet tile. Lots of suspended ceilings. Unless it's an upscale building, vinyl baseboard instead of wood.
What is wanted is not the will to believe, but the will to find out, which is the exact opposite. --Bertrand Russell
With what has been listed in the thread already, you're probably good for the first few days. Pay attention to what the other guys around have and use a lot. If you have to borrow a tool more than once, it's time to buy one for yourself. Better to buy it once for you then to buy it as a replacement for someone else.
The steel toe vs non steel toe debate all depends on the work environment and the company that you're working for. Around here, most guys don't have steel toe unless they're around stuff that is prone to crushing toes. Sneakers, shorts, and cut off shirts will probably be a big no-no for you in commercial. Safety guys will want to see you with safety glasses, hardhat, ear protection, and respiratory protection as required.
Buying after borrowing is how I started out for the replacement reason you stated.And PPE is not an issue. I'm never without safety glasses and hearing protection. The hard hat might take some getting used to though.
wait till you get used to it, and then really bonk yourself while your working a residential side job on a weekend.
once i was leaning some long two by's up on the wall to make room for something, and as i was standing them one started to fall down. i didn't want to lose my grip on the ones in my hand, and it wasn't falling fast yet, so i just caught it with my forehead. like you might see a soccer player do a header on the ball. if i would have had the hard hat on i wouldn't even have felt it.
Commercial is much differnt. Think steel and concrete vs wood.
If your tool box is relatively full, you'll have enough. When I first started a gig in commercial, I just put everything in the truck. Soon, everything was out of the truck and I only carried a screwgun and tin snips and my workbench with the daily tools in the bottom tray.
I did have an impressive assortment of screws, fasteners and other punchist type stuff hidden behind the seat.
Bob's next test date: 12/10/07
Thanks guys. Is much appreciated. Looks like there might be a couple things I'll pick up and then I'll buy what I need as I go along.
Get a 10-in-one klein screwdriver.
Got it. Someone stole my 5-in-1 so I upgraded a few months back.
You probably won't be expected to have many tools to start out, just the basics. I like the 10-in-one screwdriver. We had to get rid of manually opening box cutters at work because of accidental injuries, so they have been replaced with automatic ones. http://www.martorusa.com/
That works well for slitting carboard or cutting tape, but is dang near worthless on a construction site. Can't imagine trying to sharpen a pencil with it. Or shave a slice off a piece of trim."Put your creed in your deed." Emerson
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
I carry my swiss army knife. Shhh
safety shoes are required but if they look steel, they leave you alone. I been wearing tennis shoes for twenty years. Hard hat a must, safety glasses a must. And what nobody said. T shirt must have sleeves and cover the shoulders. you cannot take off your shirt, at all. and lately we been having to wear the day glow color shirt.I got wrote up friday by the safety tweep for not wearing my hardhat while surveying. doesnt matter if the hat hits the instrument, in a 30 acre feild without one person, or equipment.
safety twerp? i know that guy!
I've had to educate more then one "safety tweep"
Here's what OSHA says -
Head protection. - 1910.135Regulations (Standards - 29 CFR)
• Title: Head protection.
General requirements
1910.135(a)(1)
The employer shall ensure that each affected employee wears a protective helmet when working in areas where there is a potential for injury to the head from falling objects. (My emphasis)
If you're in a 30 acre field, what's he think he's protecting you from? Falling aircraft or bird poo! buic
LOL
I got written up when I was working on Seahawk stadium for not wearing my safety glasses------ I was using a builders level at the time shooting floor drain elevations.
I just looked at the guy & said "well if you know how to write then write me up"
In addition to the usual hand tools for framing, some of which you'll dump after the first day:
First thing...ear plugs. Screw gun and holster. Right hand snips, red grips. Pocket flashlight, one you can hold in your teeth. Pencils, a yellow crayon and a felt marker with a small tip. Magnetic torpedo level and/or magnetic 24" level. Plumb bob on a 20' string.
That should get you through the first day. The Hilti and the metal chop saw should be supplied, probably the screw gun too. That's why you'll need the ear plugs, it's very noisy on commercial framing jobs.
If I've forgotten some stuff, sue me. I never liked metal framing or most other parts of commercial work so it's not real memorable.
If you want to save your back and do something slightly challenging, try to avoid doing full board sheet rocking and get the topping out job instead. You'll need to learn it from someone who's good but it's kind of fun and the boss usually leaves you and your partner alone.
PS: The real gravy is suspended ceilings. Very light weight, slightly technical...and a good side job or other type private enterprise. All this from a union guy's POV.
Edited 5/26/2008 10:41 am by Hudson Valley Carpenter
I agree on the ceiling grid. Either work off stilts or a rolling scaffold. Looks like it takes a lot of skill and concentration, so people tend to leav you alone. It's a clean task too. Helps to have some really small rubber tip clamps to hold the mains in place. And a Whitney punch to makwes holes for the pop rivets.
But if they ask you to do a concealed spline ceiling, offer to clean out the porta potty instead."Put your creed in your deed." Emerson
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
I just noticed that you're young. If you're like I was at that age, you probably won't listen to advice about taking care of your body. You feel fine so what could go wrong? With normal awareness, your strength should be enough to keep you safe from injuries, right?
All I can say is what some older guys told me about wear and tear; be careful how you lift and what you lift. Doing commercial framing sometimes means wrestling with 12' 5/8" sheet rock, day after day. Be sure to lift and carry it correctly, with two people. Switch sides, carrying it left and right handed, to avoid building up pressure on one side of your lower back.
My back isn't too bad, considering all the heavy carrying I did but I was able to get away from the heavy lifting at age 50, before those discs wore out completely.
I still need to go lots of stretching exercises everyday to keep my lower back from tightening up and causing me serious pain. And there are many activities that I must avoid altogether, just because of wear patterns on those discs in the lower back. If I do any heavy lifting now, I know it the next morning and for several days thereafter.
I'm not the exception either. Most of the carpenters I worked with have back problems, some very painful and life altering. It's cumulative, only shows up years later.
The only way to avoid it is to lift and carry according to established rules.
The lower back was never meant for repetitive lifting of heavy stuff so do whatever you can to establish yourself in other areas of the trade.
Young, maybe. Stupid, usually not. I'm more than willing to listen to advice about saving my body. My former boss (39yrs old) does nothing but drive around and occasionally lay out plates since he has three ruptured disks and one of my former coworkers (42) can no longer do many of the day to day things after blowing out his wrist. I don't want to be in either of their places in 15 years.And I'm trying to avoid too much of the heavy lifting, no union in VA so I can't quite get pigeonholed (at least that's my understanding) and the company I'm going to work for is going to use me as a carpenter as needed but also "apprentice" me to a project manager and groom me for that.Thanks for the advice.~TBone
You'll be doing punch lists. Bob's next test date: 12/10/07
That's one of my assumptions.
I'm sorry to hear another story about a serious back problem but I'm glad that it's serving to warn someone who is able to envision himself in a similar position, later in life.
It's encouraging to know that you're perceptive and cautious. Gives me hope others will be as well.
Risks should be fun filled and predictable, something to do with athletic challenges which are well mapped out and easily evaluated. Sky diving as an example.
Best wishes for continued success, safe from debilitating injuries.
Yep, send me all the old stuff, and I'll dispose.
Mike
Will do. You got room in one of those sheds for it? :-)
"Sheds" ???
Don't confuse the Junkman with the JunkHound
Yea, but the Junkman is also a junkhound!
MikeInsert initially amusing but ultimately annoying catch phrase here.
Eh, I occasionally get them confused. Seems like most of 'em here are packrats. It's an easy leap to make. :-)
One item that I never ever would have thought of was a small cart (wagon like) to push or haul tools around in. Big enough to include what I need but not so big it wouldn't fit in an elevator or through a door way.
Stabila magnetic jamber set ..................... you can live without it but it sure makes life easier.
Not a tool just a bit of advice. Label everything with colored label tape in a place you can see it when in use. It was the advice I got on a commercial job from a co-worker.
So much potential to lose stuff. You can be hundreds of feet away from a tool you are using when you get material or change jobs.
One thing I liked was that I was less paranoid about losing stuff every time I saw a guy with the same drill, hammer, screw driver etc. The label was all I looked for.
Oh yeah did someone say Steel Toe Boots?
Jon
Russian saying
I've been contemplating that. A lot of my stuff is grip-taped on the handles for ease of use and ID, but it doesn't exactly stand out being black and all.