ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade General Discussion Area what are your must have tools??

just wondering what tools people like to use and must have before leaving to a job. im not talking about the basic screwdrivers, hammer, lineman plier, etc..

My favorite for about 6 months is a cordless Panasonic metal saw. Next is a Panasonic flashlight. Next is a cordless Panasonic drill (screwdriver).

Dave

A fishing pole and my Rapalas...you never know when you'll have a job from hell turn into a sweetheart - with a nice trout stream nearby!

I have a list I call my "List of the best $20 I ever spent."

Tools on this list include my hand truck (dolly), my angle grinder, and my extension pole.

Other tools, which cost quite a bit more, but have prooven themselves to be worth their weight in gold, are:
- my sawz-it-all;
- my port-a-bandsaw; and,
- my SDS roto-hammer chisel/drill

I've become a real big fan of the Dewalt cordless flashlights.

finally broke down and bought a klein 10-1. i've come to regret not buying it sooner. my pants stay up much better with only one screwdriver in the back pocket.

My Surefire E1 flashlight and my Fluke non contact probe.

My rubbermaid cart.
I'm getting to old to be a pack mule.

Tool pouch containing the following, linemans, dykes, needlenose, klein strippers( one yellow regular, and one romex stripper), one phillips and one flat screwdriver, one 1/4 inch and 1 5/16 nutdriver.
One knife in pocket(klein), tape, wirenuts, inductive tester.
According to job, one torpedo level, and a drywall saw.

I know where every tool is and can find them in the dark, I am very posessive of my tools, and learned not to lend them out unless I make sure I get them back.

i have the klein 10-1 and it saves weight in the belt. not bad for the price either (9.99). also like the klien romex stripper 14/2-12/2, alot easier than the razor blade method.