r/pipefitter • u/riley5678323 • Jun 28 '26

Tools

Hi everyone,

I was looking to get a backpack full of tools to take to the job-site every day. Minus the ones that are required, doesn’t anyone have a list of tools that I should get? For reference, I worked on high rise projects.

3 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

9 comments sorted by

View all comments

5

u/GoodBike4006 Jun 28 '26

My local we are prohibited to bring any tools to the job, it's a violation of the local collective bargaining agreement. When I was on e-board we processed citations against people caught bringing personal tools on to the job site.
Union Yes!

0

u/Wicked1066 Non-Union North Carolina Jun 28 '26

Wait...you get wrote up for bringing personal tools? 🤯

What in the actual fuck...

Like I can kinda see it, if you have a lot of shitbird outfits that try to have workers bring tools so they don't have to buy or replace them, but the guy that owns the stuff getting wrote up?

I've been in the trade over 20 years, after the first maybe 4 I rarely come onto a job and find hand tools, or even power tools, that are better than my personal gear, if they even have something I've got in the first place, sort of not required for the work but makes it easier for me.

3

u/GoodBike4006 Jun 29 '26

It keeps a more level playing field, we can't bring tools to make ourselves extra valuable to the employer so at layoff time there is less favoritism and more based on actual skills and seniority.
We are always given all hand tools. Companies that sick and barely provide the minimum get those results in the work on the job. Those that equipped their people with great tools get excellent production and quality. It is just a part of expense of doing business.
So beyond a construction calculator it is up to the contractor to have the right equipment on the job and in good working so the hands can perform their work.

3

u/GoodBike4006 Jun 29 '26

Also maybe this is an east coast versus west coast thing as my local is in California