What tools are required in your shop?

[sendkeys]

Ok will im looking to get a job here sooner or later. Most if not all require you to have your own tools. Can you guys help me out and post what tools are required in your shop?

[Mitsui Seiki]

Yeah,I'm moving to Long Beach,CA from Sweden in July.
I'd like to know that too.

[Eurisko]

I don't recall what is actually required, but these are the tools I use frequently:

calculator
dial (or digital) calipers, 8 in. (good) 12 in. (better)
depth mikes, 0 - 6 in. (good) 0 - 12 in. (better)
O.D. mikes, 1 - 4 in.
telescoping gages , .25 - 6 in.
I.D. mikes, 2 - 12 in.
dial indicator
offset indicator holder
magnetic base
wiggler, edge finder
hex wrenches, SAE & metric
adjustable wrenches & standard mechanics wrenches, sockets, ratchet

The larger O.D. micrometers and precision bore gages are available at work.

What tools you will actually NEED really depends on the type of machining you do.

Best of luck with the job search

[wizard]

To Add to the list:

Scribers
Double square or
Combination square or both
Soft hammers (brass, & plastic)
Flashlight < can be very important.
Hacksaw
Various deburring tools "Shavis"
Machinerys Handbook
Actually at the top of the list should be a Lockable TOOLBOX.


In any event as Eurisko points out it depends on what you will be doing. Even more so it depends on the facility you are in. You may very well be required, in some shops, to use company supplied and calibrated measuring tools for example.

Note that you can often supply yourself with "tools" out of the scrap bin also. Things like scribes, punches and drifts are just another name for scrap in some eyes.

The important thing to do is to make sure you clear up requirements at the point of job acceptance. You might want to bring it up in the interview, but I wouldn't get to carried away at that point. As a side note I work in an allied trade, and brought the question up and they gave me the wrong answer. It is a good idea to get the right answer from somebody that supervises on the floor.

Dave

[sendkeys]

Thanks for the help kind of gives me something to look at. As of now im still in school but every tool i buy is a tool i can use at school to make my life easier. Problem runs into the cost.

Couple more questions, As you said a toolbox. What is your(anyone?) view on wood ver metal? For a on the job use toolbox.

Another question. What about tool brands. Myself i love to buy name brand tools but If a company gave me a list of tools as above. That could run into the thoudsands. If you showed up with a chinese combination square are you going to get laughed out of the building?

[WayneHill]

Common sense is the only requirement at our place. No toolboxes. All tools and gages required are supplied.

Anyone can buy tools.

Tools do not make a machinist. Knowledge makes a machinist.

[BLAMM!!]

Yes Knowledge makes a machinist but can you set tools with your bare hands? Come on man!

[Mcgyver]

Originally Posted by WayneHill Tools do not make a machinist. Knowledge makes a machinist.

Experience. Knowledge. And several large tools box stuffed the brim with Starrett, B&S, Mitutoyo, Etalon, Moore and Wright, etc etc.

wouldn't be any fun if you didn't collect and make all the stuff

[Pressfit]

Yes. Everything mentioned previously, not limited to but including, your own CMM and a ton of new Carbide endmills Just kidding.

Just be careful with the hammers as it really scares employers when they see a new hire with a 2 pound ball-peen hammer in his hands anywhere around their expensive machinery! I cant' count the times I've seen this.

Actually, my first toolbox was a plastic fishing tackle box with a pad lock on it. Cheap and it worked fine until I could afford a Kennedy.

[WayneHill]

Originally Posted by Mcgyver Experience. Knowledge. And several large tools box stuffed the brim with Starrett, B&S, Mitutoyo, Etalon, Moore and Wright, etc etc. wouldn't be any fun if you didn't collect and make all the stuff

My Kennedy toolbox stuffed with Starrett, B&S, Mitiutyo, etc.. tooling is sitting in the basement workshop. It is the first place I ever worked where a toolbox was not required. I really do not miss not having a toolbox at work. The factory is ISO certified. It makes gage calibration certs much easier if the tooling is company owned.