Starting the toolset

[Wrekriem]

Firstly, I hope this is in the right place. I considered the 'Beginners Please' sub-forum and 'Lighting' but decided this is more of a general topic.

 

After doing a fair amount of research using the Tools section of the Wiki, searching the forum to try to find similar topics, scouring various tool websites and drawing from personal experience I have assembled a list to start my personal toolkit.

 

I've just got my first big job working for Assembly at the Fringe this year and decided it's time to get some of my own kit, for one the job means I can afford it! So far I haven't needed anything past gloves, hard hat, harness, steelies, headtorch and my leatherman as places I've worked have generally had the tools available.

 

So here is the list of what I'm considering getting so far. I don't want to spend much more, but am very open to suggestions. I'll be working as an LX tech.

 

I currently have:

 

Decent steel toe cap boots

Hard Hat

Helmet

Gloves

Headtorch

Leatherman (Juice)

Set of small screw drivers

Small long nose plyers

 

I am considering buying:

 

Stanley Combination Pliers

http://www.flints.co.uk/acatalog/Pliers__Top_and_Side_Cutters_and_Vice_Grips.html

 

Plain Canvas Zipper bags

http://www.flints.co.uk/cgi-bin/ss000001.pl?PRODREF=BBP5139&NOLOGIN=1

 

Four Way Podger

http://www.flints.co.uk/acatalog/Four_Way_Podger.html#aPODSRF3

 

King Dick 1 for 6 Screwdriver - Insulated

http://www.flints.co.uk/acatalog/Screwdrivers.html#aTOLINS14610

 

Stanley Powerlock Tape Measure 10 mtr (33')

http://www.flints.co.uk/cgi-bin/ss000001.pl?PRODREF=STA033443&NOLOGIN=1

 

Wera Voltage Tester

http://www.flints.co.uk/acatalog/electrical_screwdrivers.html

 

Bahco Adjustable (8")

http://www.flints.co.uk/cgi-bin/ss000001.pl?PRODREF=BAH8071&NOLOGIN=1

 

19mm Wide PVC Electricians Tape (33m long)

http://www.flints.co.uk/cgi-bin/ss000001.pl?PRODREF=TAP1XX&NOLOGIN=1

 

Sprung Tool Lanyard - AR430 - Charcoaly Black

http://www.flints.co.uk/cgi-bin/ss000001.pl?PRODREF=SAFAR430B&NOLOGIN=1

 

Sharpie Marker - Fine Point

http://www.flints.co.uk/cgi-bin/ss000001.pl?PRODREF=PATS81107B&NOLOGIN=1

 

Any tips welcome :)

[timtheenchanteruk]

Bin the voltage tester, all neon testers should be banned, they are the work of the devil.

 

a non contact tester, and something like a fluke T100 is better and safer.

[Doug Siddons]

What no gaffer,cable ties or spare fuses?

[Wrekriem]

Bin the voltage tester, all neon testers should be banned, they are the work of the devil.

 

a non contact tester, and something like a fluke T100 is better and safer.

 

Will do! Thanks. Is there anything cheaper? Just something small I can always carry around. I'm not looking for any contact testing, just contactless to see if a circuit is live and to speed up troubleshooting dead lamps.

 

What no gaffer,cable ties or spare fuses?

 

All good ideas, I was looking at tools rather than consumables though (Other than the sharpie and lx)

[Wilflet]

Mainly a noise person, so a few things wont apply, but its a reasonable starting point.

this is mine, apparently the board wont let me post it as a picture https://lh5.googleus...=w458-h305-p-no

 

Tape messures- 3m for little things, 30m for big things.

Sharpies, pens, highlighters.

quad podger, AJ.

couple of multitools,

2 stanley knives (one old/crap/cheap one for tape etc without loosing a finger, one good one for when you actually need to do carpet)

Screw drivers- flathead, crosshead, a mini ratcheting one with 6 heads, and a set of precision screw drivers.

Pliers: one general set, mini general, mini snips, mini needle nose, set of wire strippers/cutters.

Spirit level

Soldering kit (iron, solder, syringe)

Multi meter

Ultrasonic tape messure (hell if lampies have lasers im using sound)

Hammer

set of allen keys

cable tester

13a socket tester

little glowing light thats built into a 13a plug (ok its a kids night light, but its just enough light to stick into the back of a rack and do some patching [ok I mean enough light to read my comics by during the show])

Few spare batteries, various rolls of sparky tape

2 mic pouches of adaptors for bodging

ear plugs

1 or 2 speakon barrells (yes I know in principle the hire company sends the gear to do the job, but I always want a quick get out of jail with me)

torch

usb to rs485 interface (for controlling xta networks... I supose the closest lampy equivalent is one of the cheap magicQ dongles for testing a rig without needing the desk)

USB Stick for show files.

Spare USB stick for show files after someone borrows mine or I put it down somewhere.

3rd USB stick- completely blank (wiped each show) for if the client wants to give me content/borrow one (ie the one I give them cant possibly contain anything I might not want them to see for any reason as it dosnt contain anything... yes I have seen someone hand over a personal usb stick to a client then remember how much porn he had on it)

PCMIA memory card/usb adapter for that- only goes in if im using a pm5d (lampy equivalent, take floppies if your going to see a really old desk)

 

When youve worked out how it all fits in a case and closes take a photo keep it on your phone, you'll be glad of it when its 4am and your wondering why the dam thing wont close.

[Paul TC]

Suggest you consider how you are going to carry it around, and store it in the workplace.

 

Easiest tool kit to get into gets tools "borrowed" when your back is turned, (for borrow also read "long term loan",recovered one such tool 10 years later :) ).

 

In connection with above, consider how you are going to mark them, as "mine's always the one with nothing on it".

[Jivemaster]

There is NO standard tool kit! If you really need it then it should be obvious to you as a skilled person.

 

After years of pottering on the edge of sound and light I've today had to get a propane bottle spanner! Essential in a couple of days so I needed it, so I bought one.

[ninjadingle]

If you're LX I'd suggest a decent pair of scissors and china graph pencil - makes cutting colour a little easier!

I also find a 17mm combination spanner is useful - gets into places AJ's / podgers can't...

[Young Johnstone]

Sharpies? Yes.. and lots of them! You always loose them or people 'borrow' them!

 

Get a lock for your toolkit too!

[ImagineerTom]

A knife, a proper knife - in this kind of flexible "festival" environment it will be the tool you use the most. The knife on multi-tools isn't suitable, you really need something likehttp://images.knifecenter.com/thumb/1500x1500/knifecenter/gerber/images/GB000668.jpg ie it has an easily replaceable, standard sized blade yet complies with all the knife carrying regs and has all the advantages of a larger knife - decent handle, leverage etc

[nb705]

If you're LX I'd suggest a decent pair of scissors and china graph pencil - makes cutting colour a little easier!

I also find a 17mm combination spanner is useful - gets into places AJ's / podgers can't...

 

+1 for scissors even as a soundie. I've also found that laser measures, powerline ethernet boxes, an airport express and cat5 (and ethercon couplers) are a lifesaver in todays connected world.

[timd]

Decent pair of side cutters. Only tool suitable for removing cable ties quickly and safely.

[Wrekriem]

Suggest you consider how you are going to carry it around, and store it in the workplace.

 

Easiest tool kit to get into gets tools "borrowed" when your back is turned, (for borrow also read "long term loan",recovered one such tool 10 years later :) ).

 

In connection with above, consider how you are going to mark them, as "mine's always the one with nothing on it".

 

This is certainly something I am considering, after splashing out quite a lot of money I plan on looking after my investments. I already have plans to mark my phone number onto everything I can with a sharpie or by engraving. Sound advice though :)

 

 

There is NO standard tool kit! If you really need it then it should be obvious to you as a skilled person.

 

After years of pottering on the edge of sound and light I've today had to get a propane bottle spanner! Essential in a couple of days so I needed it, so I bought one.

 

Oh most certainly! I am looking at the basics here, the idea of what is useful, that is exactly the reason I have posted this in a forum for discussion and not just copied the list from the FAQ and bought it all without thinking.

 

If you're LX I'd suggest a decent pair of scissors and china graph pencil - makes cutting colour a little easier!

I also find a 17mm combination spanner is useful - gets into places AJ's / podgers can't...

 

Something I hadn't thought of! A great idea :)

 

Sharpies? Yes.. and lots of them! You always loose them or people 'borrow' them!

 

Get a lock for your toolkit too!

 

Let me put it this way BUY ALL THE SHARPIES!

 

One of my favorites is a White Light branded mini sharpie on a Lanyard.

 

A knife, a proper knife - in this kind of flexible "festival" environment it will be the tool you use the most. The knife on multi-tools isn't suitable, you really need something likehttp://images.knifecenter.com/thumb/1500x1500/knifecenter/gerber/images/GB000668.jpg ie it has an easily replaceable, standard sized blade yet complies with all the knife carrying regs and has all the advantages of a larger knife - decent handle, leverage etc

 

I actually was thinking of not getting a knife because I thought my multitool would suffice, with your advice I will certainly rethink it.

 

Decent pair of side cutters. Only tool suitable for removing cable ties quickly and safely.

 

Another great idea :)

 

Thanks for all the replies, Wilflet your list is fantastic and I'll be referring to it as I build my kit.

[cedd]

 

I actually was thinking of not getting a knife because I thought my multitool would suffice, with your advice I will certainly rethink it.

 

I have a real hatred of multitools I'm afraid. I understand completely that when you're caught out without a tool kit, they're a very useful thing to have, and even own one myself, but I really don't believe they're a decent substitute when a tool kit is available. Everything about them is a compromise and often the folding knife is a a great way to lose a finger end.

 

My own choice of knife is similar to that in the photo above. Made by Bessey it came from Flints and has an assortment of blades, one of which in particular looks more like a Scythe! As a knife it's absolutely cracking and has blade storage in the handle.

My own fabric tool roll (which comes with me on most shows - the big tool kit only comes out occasionally these days) contains only a small array of tools, but they get the job done;

 

Draper side cutters

Lindstrom small side cutters (very delicate and most definitely NOT for tie wraps!)

Wingnut spanner (undoing only!)

2 x Bahco adjustable spanners

Long nose pliers

flat head terminal driver

cross head terminal driver

pz2 driver

large flat driver

forceps (surprisingly useful for retrieving magnets from within moving heads!)

mini maglite

trimming tool (very specific to my work - don't bother!)

scissors

Bessey folding knife.

 

I make a point of mentioning brand names above, because actually the quality of the tool is really important. Good tools will last you a lifetime, poor tools might just get you hurt.

[musht]

+1 on quality tools, Bahco adjustables don`t self loosen themselves.

 

My Lindstroms don`t leave my bench , have an insulated pair of Knipex for out and about , 8" pair have scars from being used as an emergency off switch.

 

Wera or Wiha for screwdrivers.

 

Old hard drive magnet or other Nd magnet with a bit of string, helpful for holding and fishing for things.

 

Blu-tak, third hand for soldering and assembly operations.

 

Gas soldering iron.

 

LED AAA pocket torch and larger toolbox focusable LED torch, Maglite traditional but long outdated.