Tools to build your first, and future projects at Olin

At Olin, you will develop relationships with a variety of tools, both ones that the College
provides, and others that you will acquire. If you have a well-loved set of tools, bring them along
in August. If you don’t, you might encounter existing Olin students who make used tools
available for low- or no-cost, after they’ve tailored their set of tools to their current needs. You
may also buy a few or a lot of tools that you expect will serve you well at Olin prior to arriving.
We provide some guidance for the kinds of tools you might consider below, with an
understanding that our recommendations are not
meant to serve as the exhaustive or definitive list -
rather, it is a starting point to help you build your first
(and future) projects at Olin.

When you arrive, some classes will let you know that
you’ll need to acquire a set of books, others will
recommend adding tools to your collection - or at least
ensuring that you have easy access to them, should
you decide to share.

Here is a list of tools that previous first-year Oliners have been asked to acquire or secure
access to. It is important to note that, just like buying new textbooks vs used ones from various
vendors, the price and quality of your tools will vary. You can choose whether to take a wait and
see approach, where you get starter tools and invest in higher quality versions of what you use
the most later, or you can opt to start with brands that have above-average ratings on Amazon.
Many Oliners get involved with student clubs, and those are spaces where first-years often learn
a lot about tools.

Lastly, our hands-on curriculum is always evolving, with the input of students. While you’re here,
we expect that you’ll help build a system of tools that work for you during your entire
undergraduate experience. We look forward to helping you build and acquire the mental and
physical tools to reach your potential as a engineering student.

TOOLS SUGGESTIONS
Tool name Important Supplier Part number Approx. Cost
qualities
safety glasses Z80 safety rating or Grainger 3NTZ2 $3.34
higher (will be
marked on the MSC Direct B0002RI8RS $2.89
glasses), wrap
around protective
shielding

24" ruler imperial and metric Amazon R590-24 $7.50

indication

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 TOOLS (cont’d) SUGGESTIONS
8" scissors Office Depot 375667 $5.99
glue gun full size preferred, Amazon H-270 $9.87
but a mini-glue gun
will do, a kick stand
snap knife at least 9mm Office Depot 977010 $2.19
blades, 18mm
recommended Amazon TOPQ96910 $3.99

hobby (Exacto) blade cover Office Depot 930248 $3.39

knife
6" caliper imperial and metric Amazon 01407A $16.99
indication, digital or
dial are fine, an
ability to zero the
device
16' tape measure imperial and metric Sears 30-496 $5.99
indication
5" needle nose Amazon 84-096 $3.89
pliers
Amazon 84-101 $7.16

6" slip-joint pliers Amazon B0001IW892 $6.27

7" locking pliers Amazon 669200 $11.53
(vise grip)
6" adjustable Amazon 87-367 $7.68
wrench (Crescent
wrench)
6" or 8" flat file pattern can be Amazon 22-006 $4.95
single-cut or double
or cross-cut, tooth
size can be smooth
or 2nd cut, a
comfortable handle
6" x 2.5" quick 12" spread Amazon 39181 $16.08
adjustable ratchet
clamp - order 2
(Quick Grip)
Micro-shear flush Amazon Xuron 170-II $7.37
cutter / diagonal
cutting plier Amazon 84-104 $6.29

10 piece needle Amazon TOPQ6655 $4.80

file set

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 TOOLS (cont’d) SUGGESTIONS
7 piece hex a 1.5mm or close Amazon 70591 $8.99
wrench set wrench in the set
6 piece precision a handle that you Amazon 66-039 $6.68
(jeweler) can secure in place
screwdrivers while rotating the
screwdriver around
it
6 piece mixed flat and Amazon B00002X2B7 $14.99
screwdriver set Philips heads in
small and medium
sizes
wire cutter and Amazon GS-40 $4.19
stripper
Newark PA-1117 $17.33

Multimeter Jameco BP-1562 $10.95

Sparkfun TOL-09141 $14.95

*note that prices and links may change after this page was posted on 6/1/2016

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