Now that the Turkey and Grandma’s famous stuffing is gone its time to start checking off the list for those who were “nice” this year. I’ve put together a short list of tools that we feel would be perfect gifts for just about anyone on the job site. This is not a paid advertisement, these Read more
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Now that the Turkey and Grandma’s famous stuffing is gone its time to start checking off the list for those who were “nice” this year. I’ve put together a short list of tools that we feel would be perfect gifts for just about anyone on the job site. This is not a paid advertisement, these are tools we use ourselves and would buy again based on experience and the value we find in them.
Stocking stuffers under $25
C-RHEX™ Dual-Sided Magnetic Hex Drivers $6.99
These are truly 2 bits in-one. Perfect for the service bag or those that prefer to keep the little stuff in their pockets. This bit switches from 1/4″ to 5/16″ hex drive effortlessly. The bonus is being able to clean the magnet easily and go on with your work. Strong enough for install work but they seem to be a better fit for service in my opinion. Totally worth having a couple in your arsenal.
Milwaukee Cut 1 Dipped Gloves $2.99
I’ve been wearing these gloves since the spring and I can honestly say these are some of the toughest $3 gloves I’ve ever tried. Dexterity is a must when working with your hands but protection should not be overlooked and these cut level-1 protection gloves offer the best of both worlds. I’ve got as long as two weeks of use out of a single pair. Click the link on the “buy now” pic here for the lowest cost we have found.
OLFA LA-X 18mm Fiberglass Rubber Grip Heavy-Duty Utility Knife $10
These knives are impressive! So impressive we gave away 300 of them to our friends and followers on The Hub. Pair this knife with their super sharp 18mm LBB heavy-duty ultra-sharp black snap-off blade and it will likely be the last knife you ever want to buy. I’d recommend buying a handful, you can never have too many knives around!
“Wrap-able” tools $25 – $$$
Felo Flexible Shaft Bit Holder/Driver $25
This is a game changer. It may seem simple and it is but without this flexible shaft driver I would be scrambling often to figure out and make thing work with less than desirable tools. Do yourself a favor, if you do any type of plumbing or hvac service, buy one and put it in your bag right away. You won’t regret it. Watch a video from my service call showing the driver being used.
Milwaukee M18 Heat Gun $129
Here’s a tool I thought was going to be a dud, or at the very least only somewhat useful but man was I wrong. Its not going to replace a corded heat gun entirely but having it on my truck has proven invaluable. I never have to run a cord because I can do literally every daily job with battery power and this is no exception. Click here or on the pic for the lowest price we have found.
PVO1 Pipe Vise Portable Vise $150
This may be my favorite new tool buy of the year! This heavy duty cast iron vise eliminates the fumbling around of two pipe wrenches and helps you finish the job faster, without busted knuckles. The Pipe Vise team consists of long-time plumber and his college age son down in Texas who are putting all their resources into building a useful tool business from the ground up. Not only will you be getting a super useful tool, you’ll also be supporting the American dream. Watch the video here to see what how the pipe vise works.
Makita 36V Right Angle Drill $359(bare tool) – $469(kit)
Long gone are my extension cords. Rough-ins are a breeze without running a cord for this high demand job. I’ve been using this drill for months now and I have nothing but good to say about its power, smoothness and runtime. The 36V capacity not only packs a punch but keeps you working longer between recharge. This is the strongest, smoothest cordless right angle drill on the market. Click here or the pic to find it in stock and at the lowest price we have found yet.
VetoProPac Tech OT-MC $179
If you haven’t owned a Veto then what I’m about to say is worth paying special attention to. Veto Pro Pac tool bags are the best tool bags available. Sure you can buy a less expensive bag but you’ll be getting a lesser bag. There’s no contest here. Buy once and use it for a decade or more, that’s much less expensive than buying a lower cost bag. The OT-MC is my favorite bag ever. It has forced me to cut the clutter and weight but it has made me 10X more organized and a lot more efficient.
I hope this list has been useful, I’ll be sharing more before the end of the year.
When you’ve been in business for over 130 years, you pick up a few key learnings along the way. That foresight for Kiewit Infrastructure Co. translates into dynamic infrastructure, resource facilities, terminals, bridges, and waterways (to name a few) for people to use and appreciate all over the country. The company builds upon its reputation Read more
When you’ve been in business for over 130 years, you pick up a few key learnings along the way. That foresight for Kiewit Infrastructure Co. translates into dynamic infrastructure, resource facilities, terminals, bridges, and waterways (to name a few) for people to use and appreciate all over the country. The company builds upon its reputation with every project—using each as an opportunity to rise above expectations.
It’s that very groundwork and forward thinking that landed Kiewit the Milwaukee streetcar project. The Fortune 500 contractor took on the project ready to deliver and leave behind a transit system its employees can take pride in and people can rely on.
Project in Motion
The Milwaukee streetcar will transport workforce, residents and tourists to the city center’s businesses and cultural and entertainment destinations. A hop, skip and you’re on your way. It’s expected to spur further developments in the surrounding area, from future routes to restored districts and brand new hot spots.
Phase one covers a 2.5-mile radius, taking riders through downtown to the Historic Third Ward to East Town to the lower east side. The City of Milwaukee aims for a mid-2018 completion, meaning construction complete and a concrete timetable. It’s a big job on the fast track. Any little disruption would set back progress a lot.
Kiewit knew it needed the right materials in place to match its team’s capabilities and meet the trajectory.
“We build and manage major infrastructure and transportation projects across North America,” said Zach Green, Kiewit Guideway superintendant. “For the Milwaukee streetcar, we wanted to go with a local company, but other criteria mattered – pricing, overall design, and time to install. Zurn checked our list. They also consulted with us, which we didn’t expect. We were able to talk to a couple engineers and confirm performance and specs.”
Keeping it Moving
Sometimes jobsites require contractors to customize solutions, especially when there are multiple, bulky pieces to the drain system. The streetcar project required 36 trench drain systems along the route. With time on the line, cumbersome build, makeshift solutions, and extra equipment simply wouldn’t cut it. You run the risk of pipe damage, accidents, and hefty expenses.
“The theme here was about making it easy. We’re a company that focuses on safety and quality. With all of our moving parts on the job, Zurn’s trench drain systems added up to less labor, less costs, and less worry. They’re built to the ideal design and dimensions. Our guys had no problems installing them or pouring the concrete finish around them—no rough edges. The pipe connections were very simple. All set and done, they look good too.”
Set in Time
Zurn’s pre-fabricated trench drain systems come in one long-lasting, yet lightweight piece. It took just two workers to carry them around and set them in place. Kiewit estimated its team installed each drain within two to three hours, making them at least two to three times faster than comparable systems.
“We’re already recommending them to other jobs in the works—all over the country. We’re telling our guys ‘Hey, these are the drains we’ve found that are the easiest.’”
Kiewit expects to complete the project on time, while upholding its safety and quality business model.
Cross-linked polyethylene (PEX) is manufactured using three different methods of cross-linking. PEX-A is produced by the peroxide (Engel) method. Common brands sold in North America produced under the Engel method would be Uponor, Rehau & MrPEX. One unique property of PEX-a is its ability to be heated, using a heat gun, and repaired if kinked Read more
Cross-linked polyethylene (PEX) is manufactured using three different methods of cross-linking. PEX-A is produced by the peroxide (Engel) method. Common brands sold in North America produced under the Engel method would be Uponor, Rehau & MrPEX.
One unique property of PEX-a is its ability to be heated, using a heat gun, and repaired if kinked in the handling process which eliminates the need to cut the tubing and install a coupling. This information is widely known by plumbers having experience with this type PEX but for those not familiar I thought I’d take a couple minutes and put it all in a quick video. The total time it took to make this simple repair was about 5 minutes using the cordless heat gun. I edited the video to speed up the process, using a corded heat gun would also quicken the process. No manufacturer condones the use of a flame (torch) as a heat source.
Chicago Faucets, the leading manufacturer of commercial faucets, introduces its new 404 and 405 Series faucets with improved underbodies and new modern-look spouts that meet the rigorous demands of today’s commercial restrooms. The 404 and 405 Series underbody has been improved to accommodate a newly designed spout connection for easy and fast one-person installation. These Read more
Chicago Faucets, the leading manufacturer of commercial faucets, introduces its new 404 and 405 Series faucets with improved underbodies and new modern-look spouts that meet the rigorous demands of today’s commercial restrooms.
The 404 and 405 Series underbody has been improved to accommodate a newly designed spout connection for easy and fast one-person installation. These spouts also offer attention to detail: a new knob rest covers the unsightly pop-up rod hole, and the spout shanks are keyed to prevent rotation.
All current trim accessories such as outlets integrate seamlessly with the new designs, continuing the Chicago Faucets tradition of interchangeability and backward compatibility.
“Our new 404 and 405 Series faucets display fresh, modern aesthetics with two new cast spout choices offering design flexibility for commercial restrooms,” says Patrick Tanzillo, Chicago Faucets product manager. “The new spouts reinvigorate one of our most popular faucet series and demonstrate our commitment to offer designers and architects faucets they will be proud to include in their restroom designs.
Chicago Faucets is a proud partner of WaterSense®, a program sponsored by the EPA, designed to protect the future of our nation’s water supply by promoting water efficiency and enhancing the market for water efficient products, programs and practices.
Chicago Faucets is a charter sponsor of the Alliance for Water Efficiency, a broad-based non-profit organization that is dedicated to the efficient and sustainable use of water. It brings together a diverse range of stakeholders to advocate water-use efficiency and conservation.
Chicago Faucets is also a member of the U.S. Green Building Council. USGBC has developed The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Green Building Rating System™, to measure the efficiency and sustainability of buildings constructed in the U.S. and Canada, and is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).
The Chicago Faucet Company is part of the Geberit Group, a European market leader and global provider of sanitary technology. Since 1901, The Chicago Faucet Company, located in Des Plaines, Illinois, has offered commercial and residential products built to stand the test of time. A combination of the best engineering, finest materials and quality workmanship has made Chicago Faucets the specified choice in many of the finest building projects throughout North America.
As European market leader, the Geberit Group is a global provider in the area of plumbing technology with sales of CHF 2.9 billion and more than 12,000 employees in 49 countries worldwide.
For additional information, contact The Chicago Faucet Company at 2100 South Clearwater Drive, Des Plaines, IL 60018, or call 800-566-2100. You can also visit Chicago Faucets at chicagofaucets.com.
I’m not sure where I first learned of the uni-strut pipe wrench holder trick but after trying it myself I can say its great! Typically I keep my pipe wrenches upright in a 5 gallon bucket, the bucket is heavy and doesn’t last much more than a few months due to the weight and having Read more
I’m not sure where I first learned of the uni-strut pipe wrench holder trick but after trying it myself I can say its great!
Typically I keep my pipe wrenches upright in a 5 gallon bucket, the bucket is heavy and doesn’t last much more than a few months due to the weight and having to move it out of the way often. For now I’m still using the bucket for the larger wrenches as I make space in the truck for their strut hangers but as you’ll see in the video, the smaller daily wrenches are taken care of.
Extra space is a premium on any type of service truck. Having a van and pickup myself I see the challenge from both sides. Organizing everything is important but having the tools you use everyday quickly accessible can make you day much more efficient and honestly, a lot easier. My hats off to the person who first shared this trick, I absolutely love it.
One tip I’ll share is that you’ll want to use the 1-5/8″ strut for wrenches 18″ and longer. I installed the pipe wrench holders in late July and have yet had any of the wrenches fall out of their holder. I chose to use small stainless stove bolts and locking nuts with fender washers, I’d say this hardware was a good choice. Please share a link back to this post with your friends if you find this helpful, I’d appreciate it!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BmBVIJOnIkr/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
I have been using the M18 FUEL Metal Cutting circular saw for over a year now for cutting strut and other metals like this. Its motor and drive system turn the blade at 3900 rpm, the perfect speed for the high torque task of metal cutting. You can find all the specs or get the best price on the #2782-20 M18 saw here: M18 FUEL Metal Cutting Circular Saw