Onsite Installer Article- The Handiest Tools

[jmenchhofer]

The Handiest Tools

This article should be an interesting read for onsite system professionals.  If you have any other essential tools that are not mentioned in this "top 10" list, please share them here.

[Stuart Meade]

J,

I like the article.  Simple and to the point.  Of course, I'm not an excavator but I do have all those things plus some others.

-A backup rotating laser!
-Theodolite
-Laser range finder (good to within 3mm)
-Electronic locate equipped for finding wells heads, water lines, electric lines and a remote transmitter to find septic tanks
-GPS
-Laptop running AutoCAD!
-Blackberry running simple but necessary spreadsheets
-Coupons for Chic-Fil-A

[Toxic Avenger]

Don't forget some sort of sanitizer!  I unfortunately know several installers that have actually said to me, "I don't even wash my hands because I've become immune to this stuff."  Well, that's all fine and dandy, but the people you come in contact with in the course of you job and personal life probably don't have that same immune system you may have.  WASH YOUR HANDS, PLEASE. 

[LM Excavating]

I have about 3000 pounds of favorite tools that go everyplace with me even almost everything on Stuart's list except I don't have a theodolite or blackberry and doubt I ever will and I try to eat at Subway when out.
My truck also has 8cfm of air @90psi and 20 amps AC power and a toilet (best tool yet). My locators are a Metrotech 850 (think that's the right model) a Schonstedt and an Ardy. I have 3 - 300 foot nyclad steel tapes and 5 - 100 footers for layout and a bunch of electric fence stakes to work with them. The Disto comes in very handy also.