Tools for work.

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Hi all,  I haven't been around for a while. I recently landed a new job as a mig welder with a local manufacturing company. I will be doing manual mig as well as running robots. My last job had the tools for me mostly hammers and chisels. It was recommended to me to bring some tools to work. I have an extensive collection at home but I don't want to bring my whole box to work. I'm thinking about getting a cheap roller cab or something like that. What tools should I get that will be helpful but not wasteful. (I don't want to buy $1,000 worth of tools right now.) Are there any tools that any of you find especially helpful in a production setting? Any recommendations will be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Brett
Reply:as a mechanic i mostly use a 100$ harbor freight roller cart, it holds enough to keep going without having to run for a ratchet, socket or wrenchgood luckalso id just ask one of the other guys or just bring the absolute basics in a 5 gal pail then go from thereforney f100 220vmiller thunderbolt 225v a/ccampbell hausfield flux welder 115vcraftsman o/a rig(harris)collosal tech plasma cutter 50amp
Reply:Originally Posted by SPG just bring the absolute basics in a 5 gal pail then go from there
Reply:In my cheap TSC toolbox I used to keep cheap Chinese wrench and socket sets, a square, a combination square, a torpedo level, a 35' tape measure, a striker, a chipping hammer, a torch tip cleaner, a silver pencil, a centerpunch, a medium-sized cold chisel, a 3-lb hammer, and my welding shield.Everything except the shield was cheap.  Especially since I had a rep for shearing off my tape measure twice a year.  Always kept a spare one of those.Your tools really will depend on exactly what you're doing.  If no fab work and only welding, you really don't need much.  Best of luck.
Reply:A good pair a mig pliers and go from there. Good luck with the new job.My toys:Mobile Set Up    Miller Bobcat 225NT    Oxy Acetylene cutting set up    Red D Arc 12VS wire feeder    Spoolmate 3035 spoolgun     Scratch Start TIG DCMiller Elite auto hood
Reply:Originally Posted by tbone550In my cheap TSC toolbox I used to keep cheap Chinese wrench and socket sets, a square, a combination square, a torpedo level, a 35' tape measure, a striker, a chipping hammer, a torch tip cleaner, a silver pencil, a centerpunch, a medium-sized cold chisel, a 3-lb hammer, and my welding shield.Everything except the shield was cheap.  Especially since I had a rep for shearing off my tape measure twice a year.  Always kept a spare one of those.Your tools really will depend on exactly what you're doing.  If no fab work and only welding, you really don't need much.  Best of luck.
Reply:X 2 on the mig pliers.  Get the real deal, Welpers.  The rest are just toys."The man of great wealth owes a peculiar obligation to the State, because he derives special advantages from the mere existence of government."  Teddy RooseveltAmerican by birth, Union by choice!  Boilermakers # 60America is a Union.
Reply:Home depot had some nice husky tool bags on sale. I have a couple of tool bags with basic tools at work basic wrenchs, adjustable wrench, vice grips, few sockets, screw drivers, punch, tape measure, a 5in1 scraper, files, hammer,chiesel, and some allen keys. The first week you will get a feel for what you need.Vantage 300 kubota ,miller 304 xmt ,lincoln ln 25 pro , ranger 305 G, plenty of other tools of the trade to make the sparks fly.
Reply:LOL...i thought i was the only one who done that
Reply:Kobalt at lowes has a hassle free replacement on tape measures. I had one of the cheap $5.00 25 foot ones for a year and a half and it finally sheared they didn't have that model any more and upgraded me for free. They are all I use now since Craftsmen became they worst pieces of crap made.Vantage 300 kubota ,miller 304 xmt ,lincoln ln 25 pro , ranger 305 G, plenty of other tools of the trade to make the sparks fly.
Reply:Funny you mention Craftsman, I had one of those for the LONGEST time as my spare backup tape measure.  I hated it b/c of the stupid release on the underside, which was always getting accidentally hit.  I finally sliced it with the shear a few weeks before I left that shop.I wonder what they'd say at Lowe's if I walked in with one of their tapes that I'd just bought, with 2 inches sheared off the end of it, and the other piece in my hand?  Nah, it just wouldn't be right...besides, since I rarely use a shear these days my tapes are lasting much longer.
Reply:Welpers2 hammer, 1 big, 1 smallspeed squarecombo squaremagnetic torpedo levelrespirator safety glasses (ones that fit well with respirator)That would be for starters.Next on to clamps...Buy American, or don't whine when you end up on the bread line.
Reply:Thanks for all the replies everyone. Looks like I get to do some tool shopping, my favorite!