Chapter 1

Plumber’s Toolbox
 Objectives

• After completing this chapter, the student

should be able to:
– identify and describe the hand tools the
plumber commonly uses.
– use hand tools in a safe and appropriate
manner.

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 Plumbing Tools

• Plumbing tools fall under one of two

categories:
– Hand tools
– Power tools

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 Hand Tools

• Manually operated.
• Not as expensive as power tools.
• Equally important in completing a task or
project.
• Most employers expect a plumber to have
basic hand tools when being considered
for employment.

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 New Residential Plumbers
Tool List
Quantity Tool
1 Retractable tape measure
1 Medium Phillips screwdriver
1 Medium slotted screwdriver
1 Multi-type screwdriver
2 10” angled jaw pliers
1 6” combination pliers
1 7” locking pliers
1 8” or 10” adjustable wrench
1 18” pipe wrench
1 24” pipe wrench
1 Smooth jaw pipe wrench
1 Basin wrench
Quantity Tool
1 12” claw hammer
1 Cat’s paw nail remover
1 Allen wrench kit
1 Wood chisel kit
2 12” concrete chisel
1 5/16” nut driver
1 1/8” to 1-1/8” copper tubing cutters
1 Copper midget tubing cutters
1 Copper tubing cutter up to 2” pipe size
1 Copper flaring tool
1 Copper tubing bending tool
1 Plastic pipe saw
1 Hacksaw
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 New Residential Plumbers
Tool List
(Varies Based on Employer)
Quantity Description Quantity Description
1 Mini-hacksaw 1 Torpedo type level
1 Flexible tubing cutter 1 24” level
1 Inside PVC pipe cutter 1 Torch regulator assembly
1 Utility blade knife 1 Torch striker
2 Straight cut type aviation snips or 1 1/2” Flexible pipe crimping tool
set of three
1 3/4” Flexible pipe crimping tool
1 Pencil
1 Plumb bob
1 Magic marker
1 Chalk box
1 Carpenter’s speed square
1 Adjustable angle jaw pliers
1 Basket strainer tool or internal
1 Smooth jaw adjustable wrench
wrench
1 Pipe wrenches (18” or 24”)

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 Levels

• A level is one of the most important tools

in a plumber’s toolbox.
• A level has tubes partially filled with
colored liquid leaving a trapped air bubble.
• Some levels have a dimensional feature
that can be used for measuring distances.

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Levels

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 Tape Measures

• There are numerous makes and models of

tape measures.
• They vary in blade width and length.
• The retractable type with a pocket clip is
the most common.

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Tape Measures

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 Squares

• The framing square is a tool for laying out

angles.
• It has two edges that form a 90 angle.

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Squares

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 Screwdrivers

• Screwdrivers are available in many

lengths and shank diameters.
• Phillips and slotted head types are two
used by plumbers.

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Screwdrivers

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 Pliers

• Pliers are available in various styles.

• The most common type has angled and
grooved jaws.
• Most pliers used in the plumbing trade
have cushion grip handles.

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Pliers

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 Adjustable Wrenches

• Adjustable wrenches are available in

various sizes.
• Some have a cushioned grip.
• Their jaw opening is adjustable and
smooth.

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Adjustable Wrenches

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 Pipe Wrenches

• Pipe wrenches have grooved jaws

designed to provide grip for working with
metal piping systems.
• The two most common sizes are 18” and
24”.
• All pipe wrenches have an adjustment
range for various pipe or fitting sizes.

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Pipe Wrenches

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 Hammers

• Numerous hammer types are available

with different heads, claws, and weights.
• For a plumber, the type of claw is the most
important factor regarding the selection of
a hammer.

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Hammers

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 Plastic Pipe Saw

• Can be used to cut both ABS and PVC

pipe.
• Available in short and long blade styles.
• Their cutting teeth are closer together than
a wood-cutting saw and farther apart than
a metal-cutting saw.

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Plastic Pipe Saw

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 Plastic Pipe Cutter

• Various designs available.

• Range in pricing and size.

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Plastic Pipe Cutter

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 Metal-Cutting Saw

• This versatile tool is designed to cut

through metal.
• Numerous blade types are available with
various numbers of teeth per inch.

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Metal-Cutting Saw

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 Wallboard Saws

• Two types commonly used are the

compass saw and the wallboard saw.
– A compass saw is designed to cut circular
holes, but is capable of making square cuts
– The wallboard saw is shorter and more rigid
than the compass saw

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Wallboard Saws

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 Aviation Snips

• The most common are offered in three

different styles that cut in three different
directions – straight, left, and right.
• Their cushioned grip handles are color-
coded, indicating their direction of cut.

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Aviation Snips

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 Knives

• Commonly used for cutting wallboard,

boxes, or tape

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Knives

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 Chisels

• Wood chisels are typically used for

notching and splitting pieces of wood
boards.
• Chisels used for chipping concrete have a
blunter cutting edge than wood chisels and
are called cold chisels.

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Chisels

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 Basin Wrench

• Has a spring-loaded swivel head.

• Used to install and remove securing nuts
of a faucet and water supply connections
in confined spaces.

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Basin Wrench

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 Basket Strainer Tools

• Strainer forks are used for strainers and

tub drains.
• An internal wrench is a multi-purpose tool
that allows an installer to tighten or
remove parts to a plumbing fixture.
– The internal wrench has a range from 1” to 2”
internal use.

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Basket Strainer Tools

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 Copper Pipe Cutters
(Tubing Cutters)
• Copper cutters use metal rollers and a
cutting wheel to rotate around the pipe as
a manual handle is turned clockwise to
advance the cutting wheel through the
pipe.

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Copper Pipe Cutters
(Tubing Cutters)

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 Copper Flaring Tool

• A flaring tool flares the end of soft copper

tubing, creating a 45-degree angle to mate
with a compatible brass flared fitting.

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Copper Flaring Tool

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 Copper Tubing Bender

• A copper tubing bender is used to create

bends in copper tube.
• It is useful for tight spaces and for
achieving a professional appearance.

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Copper Tubing Bender

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 Torch Regulator Assembly

• A typical torch assembly consists of:

– A regulator that controls the amount of
flammable gas to be ignited
– A torch-tip with an orifice specifically designed
for the type of gas and the specific torch
assembly

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Torch Regulator Assembly

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 Flexible Pipe Crimping Tool

• Offered in several sizes.

• Most commonly used are for 1/2” and 3/4”
pipe.
• A dual-size tool and a compact version for
1/2” and 3/4” pipe sizes available.
• Requires calibration to ensure an
adequate crimp is achieved.
• A crimp gauge is sold with each tool.
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Flexible Pipe Crimping Tool

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 Plumb Bob

• Provides an accurate method of

establishing a vertical point of reference to
a lower work area from an upper work
area.

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Plumb Bob

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 Chalk Box

• Houses string (called a chalk line) and

chalk powder.
• Used to mark a straight line for layout or to
cut plywood boards.

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Chalk Box

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 Torque Wrench

• Used to tighten clamps used in installing

cast iron pipe and for rubber transition
connectors for dissimilar piping.
• Has a 5/16” socket end.

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Torque Wrench

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 Personal Safety Equipment
• Recommended personal protection equipment:
– Eye protection
– Face protection
– Hand protection
– Knee protection
– Foot protection
– Inhalation protection
– First aid kit
– Head protection

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 Summary
• Hand tools are required to install various
aspects of a plumbing system.
• A plumber may be responsible for
purchasing hand tools.
• Specialty hand tools are required more for
repair than for new installation work.
• Everyone on a job site is responsible for
safety.

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 Summary

• Personal protection equipment (PPE) is

usually provided by an employer.
• Material safety data sheet (MSDS) lists all
safety hazards and medical attention
requirements for a specific product.
• MSDS must be available for all products
and kept on file on the jobsite.

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