*
If you could only choose 6 items to put in your tool pouch , what would they be?
Discussion Forum
Discussion Forum
Up Next
Video Shorts
Featured Story
Lighting up an exterior isn't just about ambiance— it's also about code compliance. Here is what the code says about safety and efficiency when it comes to outdoor lighting.
Featured Video
Highlights
"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.
Fine Homebuilding Magazine
Fine Home Building
Follow
-
Fine Homebuilding
Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.
Start Free Trial Now -
GBA Prime
Get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.
Start Free Trial Now
- Home Group
- Antique Trader
- Arts & Crafts Homes
- Bank Note Reporter
- Cabin Life
- Cuisine at Home
- Fine Gardening
- Fine Woodworking
- Green Building Advisor
- Garden Gate
- Horticulture
- Keep Craft Alive
- Log Home Living
- Military Trader/Vehicles
- Numismatic News
- Numismaster
- Old Cars Weekly
- Old House Journal
- Period Homes
- Popular Woodworking
- Script
- ShopNotes
- Sports Collectors Digest
- Threads
- Timber Home Living
- Traditional Building
- Woodsmith
- World Coin News
- Writer's Digest
Replies
*
Since I'm an electrician, they would be:
Flat blade screwdriver - Klein cushion grip
Phillips #2 - Klein cushion grip
Long, skinny flat blade screwdriver
Linesman's pliers
Wire stripper (automatic)
Knife
All those items are IN the pouch; I'd dangle electrical tape and a flashlight outside it!
TPB
*
If I'm framing:
25' tape, chisel, speed sq., chalk box, razor knife, hammer.
If I'm doing trim:
25' tape, chisel, combo sq. (small), nail set, razor knife, scribe. ( the hammer goes in the loop of my overalls).
If I'm doing cabinets: same as above except with a large combo sq.
My tool box will never be too far away though.
*
I'd choose a 5-in-1 painter's tool; a hammer; a 4-in-1 combination screwdriver; a locking pliers (Vise grip type)with a cutter; a tape measure; and a utility knife that holds extra blades. That group of tools ought to allow for most tasks at hand. Squares and levels add to quality, but aren't absolutely needed. IF a tape measure was made that could accurately show level over the distance of a foot, or so, it would be handy, too. A pencil might be handy, but I often scribe with a nail or knife edge anyway.
*
...a beetroot and onion sandwich, my thermos flask, some cake,an apple,a choclate bar,packet of chips.
*Mark, Your hired. Be proud to have you on my crew anytime.
*Ed, with Mark's "beetroot and onion" breath what are you going to do? Use him for paint removal?
*Carl, the job varies from day to day but...30' Tape, Stanley Utility Knife, Starret Chalkline, 12" Combo Square, Lineman Dykes, and a #2 or #3 nailset. (Bottle opener's on the keychain.)Separate bags for sparky stuff, or for framing and roofing.
*I suppose it all depends on what neighborhood you're working in for the day in question.Pete
*Pete, good point! Tough trying to load strips of 12Ds when you've a hand full of 9Mikes.
*Like the Blue man, I go as light as I can. Framing - inhaler (I'm asthmatic), 25' tape, chalk box (sometimes2), speed square, knife, extra sharpened pencils (so when I drop one, there are more at the ready)Trim - inhaler, 25' tape, knife, combo square, nail set(s), pencils...and like Ed, I always have at least one hand tool box close enough to trip over.as long as we're talking about daily tools, I really like those orange plastic handled knives with blades you snap off to get a new point. (super for insulation, makes me shiver just thinkin' about that stuff) and those goofy lookin' hammers with the real long snout and short claws.A buddy of mine used to joke about what the newbies should use for an apron - for foundation work he thought they should wear one of those newspaper carrier bags with two big pouches that goes over your head, then they'd fill up one pouch with cleats or snap ties and the other with shoes! Man, that guy was fun to work with! - jbHEY CARL!!! - what's in your bags?
*
Don't forget your condom....
*
I used to carry a lot more,but this is all I carry 90% of the time: 25'tape,chalk line(blue chalk),straight knife,hook knife,tin snips,roofing hatchet. Technically the snips and the hatchet are on the belt and not in the pouch so I will fudge the rules to allow a 7th tool ,the CELLULAR PHONE.
George, Exactly what is a linemans dyke and how does she fit in your tool pouch?
Good Luck,Stephen
*They're small, 9" long; feisty, equipped with a hardened cutter and serrated gripping surface; usable as a "electrician's hammer" as well as for straightening those hot, bent recip blades. Generally a good vinyl-handled substitute for the Lineman's Plier, albeit with an attitude.My "Dyke" can beat up your plier anyday.
*
I guess my tool pouch would be my pants pockets which consists of a utility knife, nailset and carrying around money. Maybe this is why I get so frustrated trying to find things on the jobsite. But in my line of work anything falling from a tool pouch can be detramental to a prefinished hardwood floor.
Which leads me to make a point for any professional electricians, specifically punchout. I've seen prefinished floors that are even covered with "craft paper" that have extensive damage from SCREWS. Just because the floor looks protected... pick up after yourself. Some builders don't sweep a jobsite out every day. And I've actually gone back to jobs just to do just that after the end of the day...if I'm nearby. Repairing prefinished floors take so much careful time and I'd rather not want to do unneccssary repairs.
Same goes for the appliance guys or the plumber. Wow, I guess I'm gonna chew everybody out LOL. Hey, if you guys have to pull out a refer or put one in and I'm not there carry a couple of pieces of masonite board. I've seen soooo many scratches, dings and gouges from appliance movement and just after the floor was installed.
Hey, I don't mind doing repairs, but when it can be prevented it won't cost your insurance. Appliance delivery guys. Wheeeew! I take it we won't see these guys in this forum. Far too many times they just think they can slide a W/D into it's place. Ding, ding, scratch, scratch.
Thanks for the Soap Box guys
*
Most of my work is general carpentry, so 30' 1" tape, knife, chisel (doubles as a screwdriver, don't you know), speed square, hammer (light, finish kind).
What kind of pouch? Soft of hard. I have Klein for electrical and I find if very uncomfortable bouncing against my butt. Maybe electricians are hard ....Well, maybe not.
Dennis
*Changes from day to day, but one thing that is always in there is a 'restorers catspaw'; has sort of a curved fishtail thing on one end, tapers to really thin to get in anywhere and pry. One of the first tools I ever bought and it's still going. only thing is, it slows me down trying to get it back from every other guy on the job who also thinks it is just the thing for whatever they are working on. Tape, pencil, knife, nailset, comb. square.
*graffiti on a condom vending machine at a university.... Don't buy this chewing gum, it tastes awfull. Some other wit had added underneath... Yes, but it lasts all day.
*25oz california frammer, 25 foot tape, speed square, 2 or 3 pencils, catspaw, knife, cell phone,everything else is within 50 feet most of the time
*I hate those tool pouches. I love my overalls. If im framing 1)Framing square 2) Pencil 3)35' tape measure 4)Cell phone 5)Hammer 6) Skil saw (tied to my overall straps by the cord)If I am trimming out 1)Pencil 2)Comb. square 3)Nail set 4)Sandpaper 5) Cell phone 6) Coping sawIf I am fishing 1)Pocket knife 2)Chewing tobacco 3)Mosquito dope 4) Sunblock 5)Ham sandwich 6)Bottle of beer
*
25'tape,pencil,utility knife,speedsquare,torpedo level,and stanley pry bar. For doing basic trim.
Do you guy's have the buckle or tape side of the pouch up front ? I prefer the buckle.
One of my competitor's wears an apron, looks kinda like Jepedo from pinnochio.
*
I may just be a hick from Texas, but I keep seeing this"LOL". Would someone please tell me what this stands for? Ed.
*Adrian, An old man that I used to work with called his cats paw an "eraser". Got to love those old timers. Ed.
*Brian, Me too. Love my stripes from J.C. Penneys. They stopped making them, but they said they may bring them back. That's what carpenters have been wearing since before you and I were born. I submitted an article about that to FHB. If any of you guys know Sean, ask him what the hell happened to my article for me. I would appreciate it. Thanks,Ed.
*Ken. how 'bout some preventitive advice.Leave some of that masonite sliding material, with a note on every finished floor.Leave a note to all trades to pick up their screws, and assign a backcharge for errant screws left behind.blue
*Good topic Carl.I gotta have a hammer. Any kind. I used to swear by rockets, but not any more.my second tool is the tape. I use a stanley 30'. It is far superior to the 25' model. Lufkins and sears don't hold up as well.I gotta have a utility knife. I can shave, chop, but mainly I just sharpen my pencil.how many is that?Oh I also will always include a nail puller. The snobbish framers say that the only ones who carry them make a lot of mistakes. I do. I also say that the only on who makes mistakes are the ones doing something. I do things, so therfore I muck some things up! I do a lot of things with the nail puller.Do pencils count? I carry my main one (flat, unchewed, and neatly sharpened). You can tell a lot about the quality of a man's carpenter skills by the way he sharpens his pencil! I always carry one, I repeat one backup! I once saw a crew where every one had a bulging bunch of spares. Ten or more! Is the y2k gonna create a shortage, or what?I lost count.I carry a hard cased, small, dual powered calculator. I also clip my pager, in there near the calculator.Hmmm??? Oh yeah, I always carry one or two permanent black magic markers (a specific brand works very well). I layout most "O. C." stuff with the big black center marks, and use the pencil for the exact edge layouts as needed.Thats it. Five spikes or so will do me just fine. I carry two seperate pouches for strip nails. They are designed for somthing else, but work perfectly for strips. I refill with about 8 strips (four in each, that are hiding behind me. they actually act as a counter balance to my side tools. My tape is in left front. my pencils to the left. everything else is on my right. My five nails are on my left.Oh yeah, the dreaded chalkline. I sometimes (usually, but not today) carry a chalkline. I don't use the bulky speed types. Give me a basic, slim one (red chalk only). I snap as few lines as possible.Oh yeah, my trusty light plastic torpedo level! Its there with my "right side" tools.Sorry I don't work with only 6 tools. Never have, and never will.Who's got the lightest framing rig?Mines getting heavier than in past years, but it is balanced and doesn't affect me like it used to.Trim? Same as above.Wait! I also carry a through punch! I guess I have had to take apart too many windows/doors. It also clears the jammed guns. I'm unloading it tomorrow. Since I have a new toolbox that will house it.blue
*
George,
Your Dyke might beat my Pliers , But my BUSH PILOT will send that Dyke Running!
*Little old Ladys
*
Adrian, charge a rental fee, and those bonne wee New Scotsmen will be forthwith in the use and return.
*Ed - Laughing Out Loud. Man, you guys are hard on the young bucks. - jb
*There's an idea George, I'll give her a hook. BTW, remember the blade in backwards thing Booger stumbled onto? I left him alone last week for a while. A new router bit came in to cut tee-moulding slots, so he set it up and started in on a stack of MDF panels for a job I have on. Spent a couple of hours on it, couldn't figure out where the smoke was coming from (new bit and all). Yup, backwards. it was an anti-kickback model too, so he was using the little wings to burn, melt, and abrade his way through the MDF. never seen anything quite like it.
*...no question about that one. You guys can keep those nylon bags, young bob is sticking with leather. Have always liked Nichols - 4 pockets each side. - jb
*Dude, are you saying you have a reversible router?...or he had it in upside down?...or what? - jb
*It was in a router table; you would normally feed INTO the cutters right? He was feeding in the opposite direction. Never went over to the other side of the table to see if it worked better that way. Now, to give him his due,we had diassemble the bit to flip the slot cutter over to get the best setup, but that isn't rocket science.
*...no offense to Booger intended, but that is exactly the kind of situation that makes me "nervous" about working with guys just starting out. I always wonder how much I should explain, say too much and I insult them, say too little and pretty soon router bits are flying through the shop at waist height. I am starting to believe more and more in working with another pro, preferably one whose skills compliment mine. It's just pretty hard to find the right match. - jb
*I would blame it on the idiot who trained him in trade school, but that would be me, so that's out. I know what you mean about finding another pro, but i don't have much choice here, so I went the route of training a motivated guy out of a two year program. And I couldn't ask for a better guy, if he would just keep his eye on the ball. Anyway, why don't you like nylon pouches? I need a new bag, and I was thinking about nylon, or these new really long leather ones that seem to be brand new out there.
*I have one of those cotten duck aprons for in the shop. Works really well.
*
Hmmm, I thought I new what my new boss wanted and I was wrong. A 20 oz. or heavier framing hammer, carpet/razor knife, 25 foot tape measure, good work boots/shoes, safety glasses, gloves, and high top boots for when we get into the manure when working on "pole barns". Everything else is provided, except the cell phone and your favorite hat.
*
Adrian, it took me all the YB replies to stop laughing... Booger's a prize. You should keep him away from a shaper for sure!
*Well, first off, I'll admit that leather can get heavy when it's wet, and we work in the rain a lot here. But it also "forms" to whatever you always carry in that pocket (kind of like a shoe forms to your foot) and it gets real soft so gravity kind of pulls your bags down and kind of flat against your hips (I wear separate bags, directly on my hips) which makes you narrower. I tried nylon bags, thinking they wouldn't absorb water and be lighter, but they were way too "poochy" and I kept having to turn sideways to walk through doors. And they are kind of stiff to reach into, and nails kept jumping out of them whenever I tipped too much. Man, am I set in my ways, or what?
*Adrian, does Booger have an apron too? Is it tied in the front or back? Is he wearing it like a cape?Juuuust asking...
*Good for you! Leave that phone at home when fishing!That's the ticket.Rich Beckman
*stacked leather 3 and 4 pocket bags with wide loops that clear a single d-ring safety belt. 25 ft. tape in back, 16 ft. on side, kamaguchi bar in added leather loop, estwing tenderizer of choice. Speed square, torpedo level in added inside loop. pliers snips or wrench somewhere behind. Rt bag slightly forward, metal hammer loop towards rt.rear, left bag adjustable depending. Change any componets as needed or not. Belt fastens in front. Geared chalk line. Added drill holster if and when. Holes punched selectively to let the weather drain.
*...chuckle, chuckle...thanks GWC, that felt good. - yb
*Dave - no 'spenders? That sounds kinda heavy to pack without suspenders. - jb
*Dennis,The only problem is that when you are done using your chisels for screwdrivers and prybars and such and you finally need a chisel....you gotta use your screwdriver.Pete Draganic
*
According to a friend, in order to work a roofing crew in Las Vegas you need: A handy pipe to get you in good with the foreman when he shows up with the crew's crystal meth for the day, a pager for when your dealer calls (apparantly you send a "crack ho" to go get it, she'll come back with it and won't get beat up by the dealer), THE KEYS TO THE VAN because you JUST NEVER KNOW, and a hammer. Leave your wallet at home because it will be empty of all that cash you were supposed to go out to Vegas to get, but carry in your pocket 1.) your bondsman's card 2.)local de-tox center's card.
*Clay:That sounds like the local labor pool to me. I had the opportunity LOL to work in one for a few months when I was collecting unemployment years ago.. They don't tax labor pool personal. No need to file.I would get there at about 5:15AM when I didn't have a continuing ticket. Man..some of the stuff going on..Hardcores...Mostly drinking and gettin' high..I can't imagine the other stuff but I worked with a few that were completely void of what was going on. Using equipment like a push broom that could cause bodily harm. Lunchtime! Quart of beer and who knows what else.
*
Jim, plus identical mix and match set-up with leather
Occidental suspenders for framing. Earlier post was
for scaffold work on big union jobs, full harness
under w/monster hook and shock lanyard-I peel off all
but one pouch, hammer, tape and torpedo and can work
for weeks-throw in a few nails and a folding saw and
climb to 200 feet and still attach the odd toeboard/
plywood hole cover. With everything removeable it's
easy to strip to minimum weight for squeeze, crawl,
hang. Re-gear at tool shack each coffee as job
changes. Add flashlight for night shift/confined
spaces and canister mask for chlorine gas leaks or
sintered lead exposure.
*I'm a trim guy, but I have recently acquired 2 new tools I cant do with out: a small sliding square from Stanley, and a 9mm mechanical pencil. I just love'em!!
*Hey.... am I the only guy around here that still wears carpenters striped overalls?
*Just discovered this thread. . . six in the pouch eh? Well that would be pencil, 25'Stanley tape, 'nother pencil, utility (pronounced uta-litty with a slight yodel) knife, nail set x 2. Leather bags from (Mark's gonna love this) Kangaroo hide, slung over the left hip with the buckle in front, and hammer hangin from steel loop ona right. Everything else scattered within reach. . .whether I'm framin or trimmin. Thanks to Karate stretching I no longer have back problems, and don't intend to get them again. I ain't no pack horse. 'Sides, if the opportunity arrives I can be first to the coffee (?) truck. (hasn't been a coffee truck near here in 10 years but I'll be ready by gum)-pm
*...man, I know lots of guys who really like coffee, but a truck full? That's a hell of a lot of cafiene bro...
*jb/yb. . . got some serious catchin up to do!!You finished ". . . Great Notion" yet ??-pm
*Damn. I was heading to the libary, knew I had something to get, at the same time I knew I didn't know what it was. That was it, based on your recomendations. Damn damn damn...
*AdrianEasy boy, easy. . . take a deep breath. . . it'll be there tomorrow, or whenever your local is open. . . you'll probably have to order it in anyway. . . let your fingers do the walkin!!!-pm
*we used to use kangaroo hide for our bags but found they jumped around too much!!
*No sweat Dallas, I'll ask him for you."Hey Sean, Where is Dallas' article that he sent to FHB?"I'll let you know what he says.Pete
*
a cheeseburger....my broom...and my poster of Cheryl Tiegs would be the 5 things Id carry in my tool belt.
*
Hey, how about pants? I recently got a pair with built-in, removable knee pads. While they are hot, they are heaven on the body since somedays I spend more time praying things will work than working. Anyhow, if yo push something with your knee, or bump into something, no problem. When you kneel it is always a soft floor. As a bonus, mine have large pockets, with places for pencils, etc. They have to save years of wear and tear on the body.
Dennis
*you're a worry. A trim guy with a 9mm pencil?? That's around 7/16ths by my calcs???
*jim,aka young bob, I tried suspenders last season. i ended up with the most painful back (lower) problems that I could remember. It hurt!The suspenders transfers the load to the top of the spine. If you wear a hip hugging belt, the load is below the lower spine, carried by the legs.suspenderless,blue
*I...well, I'm sorry, guys. Wound a little tight these days I guess. And getting forgetful in me old age.
*My Six Things1. The tool thats still in the left side toolbox.2. The tool thats still in the right side toolbox.3. The tool thats still in the shop.4. The tool thats on the other job.5. The tool that was borrowed last week.6. The tool I saw in the new catalog last night.
*PCI,That really rings true.LOLEd. Williams
*Number 7 would be the tool that I apparently lost yesterday and will find the day after I replace it.Rich Beckman
*
1)20 OZ. (ST)HAMMER
2) THE LOVELY ESTWING WRECKING BAR
3) 16 FT. TAPE (25FOOTER POINTLESS EXTRA WEIGHT FOR A SPRITELY SMALL RENOVATOR LIKE MESELF SIR)
4) NAIL PUNCHES (X2)
5) OLFA KNIFE
6) GINSENG (TRUST ME...MAKES EVERYTHING BETTER)
-PENCIL IS BEHIND THE EAR
PLIERS AND SCREWDRIVER (FLAT OR ROBERTSON DEPENDING ON THE GIVEN CELEBRATION) IN THE APPROPRIATE CREVICES OF ME OVERALLS
*
If you could only choose 6 items to put in your tool pouch , what would they be?