Cost of becoming a tradesman.

[anobium]

Reading a post by Softus about how many tools you need to be a plumber got me thinking.
Just what trade requires the biggest outlay in terms of number of tools to carry out that particular trade and which one requires continuous replacement due to wear and tear.
My thoughts would be a carpenter and joiner, whats yours.
On the other hand which trade require the fewest tools, my answer would be a plasterer.

 

[joe-90]

Motor mechanic.

 

[anobium]

Not many tools wear out due to resharpening, and these days isn't it just a question of plugging something in for the computor to diagnose the fault.

 

[noseall]

multi-trade builder.

 

[Thermo]

well ive got a flippin van load and stable full of tools as a landscaper, covering most trades such as carpentry, bricklaying etc, as well as stuff such as rotovators, strimmers, chainsaws etc etc. None of its cheap, and gets a lot of wear due to the conditions we work in.

 

[noseall]

i worked once for a guy in charge of a gang that installed pre-cast concrete products, Bison beams, concrete stairs etc.

he had a very long Mercedes van that was crammed with very expensive specialist tools. they carry on average £50,000 worth of gear but are insured for a lot more.

the concrete cutting equipment was worth £20k alone.

some of the items pulled by the tow bar, i.e. scissor lifts, cherry pickers, high output generators were also, very costly.

i wouldn't think it difficult for them to run up a bill for close on £500,000 for a fully kitted out team.

 

[mon_ster]

My brother's a carpet fitter his tool kit consists of a stanley,stretcher,hammer,hasksaw and cold chisel.He also has the extra cost of a lwb van.Apart from the small outlay on tools, the work is always inside,no membership fees,no tickets to train for.Most trades need to do a bit of everything to finish a job i.e most plumbers will do alittle bit of plastering,wiring,tiling etc.If he has to move furniture or people want it done tomorrow or sound foreign he charges more.


I'm a plumber and he earns more than i do.All those guys looking to go on a fast track plumbing or tiling course are barking up the wrong tree,get yourself a sprinter and cut a few rugs

 

[noseall]

On the other hand which trade require the fewest tools, my answer would be a plasterer.

and yet, they hang on to those tools like they were heir looms or something, as if renewing them would cost their life savings.

badly worn trowels, splattered mixer-whisks and water butts, grubby radios, tired vans, all these are fairly normal for a spread.

 

[Zampa]

Tool theif...dont buy any tools...use someone elses!

 

[Soggy_weetabix]

Just reading my book on gasmans tools. 739 tools required for basic gas engineering. I have most of them on the van including all the pin vices. The rest are in my lock up if I need them.

Plumbers just throw a few spanners in a bucket and generally charge 30 quid an hour less than gas engineers.

David

 

[anobium]

On a slightly different tack, which is the most physically demanding, I would say a plasterer, which is the easiest physically, my opinion, a plumber.

 

[^woody^]

What tools you need is subjective.

I like to take 3 HGV loads of tools with me in case I need a particular one, and yet I have seen plumbers, sparks, chippies you name it with a tiny little bag of a few items.

One Bison beam guy I recall had a 5ft pry bar as his entire tool kit for laying the floor beams (not including the crane)

Two other chippies on new build houses had a hammer, level tape and chainsaw for dropping the floor joists on.

Many people choose lots of tools, but don't actually need them.

On the subject of demanding trades, a plasterers labourer does 10x more graft than the plasterer - as do most labourers really. My votes for hod carriers and roof tilers second

 

[AtoZ]

hardest
anybody who has to move the furniture

roofing is much harder than plastering.
things are changing tho because of machines.
roofing meant bumping up before, now you have a hoist.
ground work the same.


actually
hardest is the trade that gets stuck with the woman who wont get her kids out of the job site

 

[roughcaster]

On the other hand which trade require the fewest tools, my answer would be a plasterer.

and yet, they hang on to those tools like they were heir looms or something, as if renewing them would cost their life savings.

badly worn trowels, splattered mixer-whisks and water butts, grubby radios, tired vans, all these are fairly normal for a spread.

I would say quite honestly that there is no tool like an old tool. I'm talking about trowels. A trowel that is used by a plasterer from new would be well worn in by him to suit him. He could work with any other trowel, but the one he uses day in day out would be THE trowel. Same with a float,even a shovel, give me one that is worn anyday, rather that a new one. My van is in good order, but I agree about the grubby radio, also my steps, but my shiny new wheelbarrow never goes wrong.

Roughcaster.

 

[noseall]

my comments were self deprecating too, rough'.

i agree 100% about 'broken-in' tools.