Getting a van!

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aline

Senior Member
Location
Utah
I used to work for a company that required us to supply our own tools.

They had a list of tools we were required to supply and they also listed the acceptable brands and models they would allow so you couldn't just buy the cheap stuff. You had to buy professional quality tools. If you wanted a different brand or model of tool you had to get it approved before buying it.

They gave us a tool allowance in our paychecks each pay period. This allowance could be used to buy new tools, replacement tools or anything you wanted as long as you maintained the required tools you were supposed to have. You could buy cheap tools with the tool allowance for your own personal use at home but not for use on company jobs.

This was an incentive to take care of your tools. If you took good care of your tools you could spend the tool allowance on other things instead of replacing lost, stolen or broken tools.

If you left the company the tools were yours to take with you.
 

nyerinfl

Senior Member
Location
Broward Co.
rustyryan34 said:
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Thats what I plan but I cant right now, when I started they required me to buy a cordless drill, hilti hammer drill, corded drill, fish tape, knock out set thru 1''1/4, fish tape. Here is a list of required tools.

https://www.buildmyownsite.com/secure/faithtech/Pages/Upload/HRDocs/RequiredToolList.pdf

Before they gave you this van, where did you keep all those tools? Did you carry a 1/2" and 3/4" bender around with you? I can't imagine lugging all that around without a van or truck of some type to keep it in.
 

iwire

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Massachusetts
mdshunk said:
LEAD MAN REQUIRED TOOL LIST

I agree a lead man should have most of that, but beyond the basics the company should be supplying them.

I don't think office workers have to provide their own staplers and desks.
 

cadpoint

Senior Member
Location
Durham, NC
electricalperson said:
thats quite a list right there. i dont even think a regular van will have enough room for all those tools and stock
Shoot, I was going to say I'd need a truck cause I have most of that stuff ... :?

I've been with company's that have required 1/2 of the list, but what Marc stated you might as well go free lance and hang a shingle . . .

Congratulations on your raise, your new title, and you new postion ...
 
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wawireguy

Senior Member
Do you already have most of the tools on that list? If so you're probably close to good enough. Buy tools as needed then. I personally don't like working for companies that require monster tool lists like that but.. if the pay is better than normal then you can look at it like your buying the tools for yourself to. If they pay average then I'd start looking for another shop.
 

ultramegabob

Senior Member
Location
Indiana
I dont want my employees supplying any tools other than what fits in a pouch, and possibly a hammer, and a cordless drill driver. Everything else is supplied by me, I dont want people bringing in some kind of low grade home hobby tools, or some old crap they bought at a pawn shop and wear out, break, or lose-get stolen on the job, and then be expect me to replace them with new tools.
 

quogueelectric

Senior Member
Location
new york
mdshunk said:
LEAD MAN REQUIRED TOOL LIST

Tool Pouch Klein 5165 or equivalent
Tool Pouch Belt Klein 5415 or equivalent
Parts Bag or
Canvas Nail Apron As available locally. For carrying wire nuts, cable
staples and conduit fittings on the person.
Lineman?s Pliers Klein D213-9NE or equivalent
Diagonal Cutting Pliers, Klein
Needle Nose Pliers, Klein
Straight Screwdrivers:
Big Klein 600-8 or equivalent
Medium Klein 600-6 or equivalent
Small Klein 600-4 or equivalent
Screw Holding Vaco K38 or equivalent
Phillips Screwdrivers:
#1 Klein 603-3 or equivalent
#2 Klein 603-4 or equivalent
#3 Klein 603-6 or equivalent
Screw Holding Vaco K19 or equivalent
Center Punch Klein 66-385 or equivalent
Wire Strippers Ideal 45-124 or equivalent
Crimpers:
Crimp Sleeves Buchannan C-24 or equivalent
Sta-kons/Fast-ons Greenlee 45500 or equivalent
Cable Hex Greenlee 46801 or equivalent
Cable Snap-n-Seal Thomas and Betts SNS or equivalent
Telephone Ideal 30-696 or equivalent
Lineman's, Burndy MD6-8
Nut Drivers:
9/16 Hollow Shaft Klein 630-9/16 or equivalent
?" Hollow Shaft Klein 630-1/2 or equivalent
7/16 Hollow Shaft Klein 630-7/16 or equivalent
3/8 Hollow Shaft Klein 630-3/8 or equivalent
11/32 Hollow Shaft Klein 630-11/32 or equivalent
5/16 Hollow Shaft Klein 630-5/16 or equivalent
?" Hollow Shaft Klein 630-1/4 or equivalent
Tap Tool Klein 627-20 or equivalent
Power Tap tool Greenlee DTAPKIT or equivalent
Tape Measure, 25? Stanley 33-599 or equivalent
Tape Measure, 100? Stanley 34-790 or equivalent
Folding Rule, 6? Lufkin X46 or Equivalent
Folding Rule, 8? Lufkin X48 or Equivalent
Utility Knife Stanley 099 or equivalent
Coax Stripper Ideal 45-165 or equivalent
Knockout punches Greenlee 7235BB or equivalent
Non-Contact Voltage Probe Fluke 1AC-A1 or equivalent
Neon tester As locally available
Solenoid voltage Tester Wiggington Industries 6610-VT1 or equivalent
Amp Meter Amprobe RS3 or equivalent
Digital MultiMeter Fluke Model 73 or equivalent
Phase Rotation Meter or equivalent
Analog MultiMeter Simpson 260 or equivalent
MegaOhm Meter Biddle Instruments MJ159 or equivalent
Needle Nose Pliers Klein D203 or equivalent
Adjustable Wrenches:
8" (2 pairs) Crescent AC-18V or equivalent
12" Crescent AC-112V or equivalent
Hammer Klein 807-18 or equivalent
Hammer Holder for
tool belt As locally available
Jab Saw Lennox BAS3636 or equivalent
Chalkline Strait-Line 64110 or equivalent
Plumb Bob Johnson 116 or equivalent
Adjustable Pliers
Medium (2 pairs) Channellock 430 or equivalent
Large Channellock 480 or equivalent
Cable Cutters:
Ratchet Klein 63-060 or equivalent
Large Klein 63-041 or equivalent
Hand Greenlee 727 or equivalent
Pipe Wrenches:
14" (2) Rigid 14/31020or equivalent
24" (2) Rigid 24/31030 or equivalent
Hexagon Rigid E-110 or equivalent
Hacksaw Frame Milwaukee 48-08-0320 or equivalent
Squares:
Combination Square Starrett 11HC-12-4R or equivalent
Framing Square Johnson CS7 or equivalent
Levels:
Torpedo Level Klein 931-9RE or equivalent
2? Level Johnson 3824 or equivalent
4? Level Johnson 3848 or equivalent
Fish Tape, 200? Greenlee 438-20 or equivalent
Hole Saws:
Electrician?s Kit Milwaukee 49-22-4086 or equivalent
3-3/8" Lennox Bi-Metal
3-5/8" Lennox Bi-Metal
4" Lennox Bi-Metal
4-1/8" Lennox Bi-Metal
4-3/8" Lennox Bi-Metal
Hole Saw Pilot Bits As locally available
PVC Cutter Greenlee 864 or equivalent
Square Drivers:
#1 Klein 661 or equivalent
#2 Klein 662 or equivalent
#3 Klein 663 or equivalent
Torx Drivers:
T15 Klein 19542 or equivalent
T20 Klein 19543 or equivalent
T25 Klein 19544 or equivalent
T27 Klein 19545 or equivalent
T30 Klein 19546 or equivalent
Rotary Cutout tool RotoZip Solaris or equivalent
Reciprocating Saw Milwaukee 6527-21 or equivalent
Cordless Hammer Drill Milwaukee 0624-24 or equivalent
Cordless Drill/Driver Makita 9.6V or equivalent
Hammer Drill Milwaukee 5377-6 or equivalent
Rotary Hammer Milwaukee 5321-21 or equivalent
Right Angle Drill Milwaukee 3701-6 or equivalent
PortaBand Milwaukee 6232-6 or equivalent
Socket Sets:
3/8" Drive Craftsman or equivalent
?" Drive Craftsman or equivalent
Torque Wrench, Inch pounds Craftsman or equivalent
Service Cable stripper Utility Tool 4x4 Plus or equivalent
Pry Bars (2) Stanley Wonder Bar or equivalent
Files:
Half Round Norton or equivalent
Rat Tail Norton or equivalent
File Handle(s) As locally Available
Stud Finder Zircon 56990 or equivalent
Hex Keys:
L Handle Eklind 10213 or equivalent
T Handle Eklind 53910 or equivalent
Flashlight Milwaukee 49-24-0160 or equivalent
Putty Knife Stanley 28-140 or equivalent
MC cable splitter SeaTek RotoSplit or equivalent
Conduit benders:
?" EMT Klein/Benfield 51211 or equivalent
?" EMT/?" Rigid Klein/Benfield 51212 or equivalent
1" EMT/?" Rigid Klein/Benfield 51213 or equivalent
Lineman?s Butt Set Harris/Dracon TS-30 or equivalent
Punch Down Tool Ideal 35-487 or equivalent
Telephone Banjo adapter Harris 10220-100-6 or equivalent
Tin Snips:
Left Malco AV1 or equivalent
Right Malco AV2 or equivalent
Straight Malco AV3 or equivalent
Offset Bender, ?" Greenlee 1810 or equivalent
Offset Bender, ?" Greenlee 1811 or equivalent
Cold Chisel, ?" Stanley/PROTO 86034 or equivalent
Drilling Hammer, 2lb. Estwing B3-2LB or equivalent __________________
The only change I would make would be carbide cutters greenlee or equivalant 3/8 to 8 inch only because they are sooooooooooooo expensive. Kleins dont cut it only a 1 tooth wonder. Milwaulkee 2 teeth , greenlee 4 teeth.
 

MikeGee

Member
Location
Baltimore, MD
iwire said:
I agree a lead man should have most of that, but beyond the basics the company should be supplying them.

I don't think office workers have to provide their own staplers and desks.


man I gotta bring this up on the next staff meeting.
 

ElectronDance

Member
Location
SE Arizona
rustyryan34 said:
Since I have passed my journeymans test they say they will give me a van at work, so i was wondering what tools you think i will need. I have all the handtools, basic meter, and cordless tools. We mostly do service work and resi. So what tools do you think I will need?


Well, based on your list, I'd say the only other "tools" you need are the stones to tell your employer to kiss off and find a job for a real company that doesn't expect you to provide your own power tools. Anyone who requires you to carry more than a basic set of hand tools is a company not worth working for IMO.
 

celtic

Senior Member
Location
NJ
The company the OP is working for is a pretty large EC outfit...coming in at #16 in the country....1400 employees in 4 States, $225M revenue, etc.

Impressive numbers....but I don't think I would work for them myself.
 

jrannis

Senior Member
rustyryan34 said:
Cool, but where do I start?

Work the trade in program. Buy old worn out tools cheap. Thats where I would start.
I really would look at second hand tools like a Hawg, KO set up to 4", dieless hydraulic crimper, rachet wire cutters, sawzall, chipping hammer/roto hammer drill, small shopvac, skillsaw, portaband
new 1800 watt inverter,
 

jrannis

Senior Member
quogueelectric said:
The only change I would make would be carbide cutters greenlee or equivalant 3/8 to 8 inch only because they are sooooooooooooo expensive. Kleins dont cut it only a 1 tooth wonder. Milwaulkee 2 teeth , greenlee 4 teeth.

If he had all of that all he would need is an ad in the flyer or Angies List.:D
 

rustyryan34

Member
MF Dagger said:
I don't think I would keep working for that company. Do they make you buy your own company shirts?


The give you 4 shirts a year,
I realy dont mind my company and they offer allot of good benefit, they have really good health insurance, they offer alot of schooling and alot of chances to move up in the company. The big problem is that I live in a town of 2000 people and they are realy the only EC in town besides one and 2 man shops, and to work anywhere else i would have to drive at least an hour, which gas prices and everything does sound fun to me. I am still going to send my resume out.

Thanks everyone for your advice, And that list of tools mdshunk
 
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