Courtesy of Oxtoolco.com
All your personal tools should be marked with your name. Ideally all tools should engraved permanently
somehow. Assumes starting with zero experience. Some of the classic toolbox items are becoming
obsolete with the ready access to online resources. My recommendations are starting with industry
standard references such as Machinerys Handbook then branching out to proven accepted online
resources. This list makes the assumption that you are spending some portion of the money you earn
and re-investing in your career. These tools should serve you for your entire career and will take care of
you if you buy good quality and take care of them. The assigned work you get and nature of the work of
the shop will guide some of the priorities of the purchases on the list.
In no particular order
Day 1
Utility knife. Have your own so you dont have to hunt one down when you need it.
Twelve foot (3.5m) tape measure. Get in the habit of having this clipped you your belt at the beginning
of the day. Every time you save a trip to go get one makes you faster than the other guy.
2x 6 inch (150mm) scales Inch reading and metric reading can be combined into one scale. Wear shirts
with a pocket so you can have this with you at all times in the shop. It makes you check your work more
often and not guess.
Markers like a sharpie. Black, Blue, Red
Notebook (Yes a paper notebook) Small pocket model. People tell you things. Write them down. This
should be in your pocket as well. Guys that write things down make less mistakes.
Mechanical pencil and ball point pen.
Small Flashlight.
Calculator with trig functions. (Can be substituted by phone with scientific calculator function) Your
phone is a tool not a toy in the shop. Treat it as such.
Safety glasses you like and will wear.
Leather gloves
Work clothing. You should look the part. Eager and neat. If you look like a slacker that lives under a
bridge you will be treated accordingly. Work shoes you will leave at work. Stuff on the floor of the shop
should not be tracked into your house.
Three Months
Small Locking tool box something like a Kennedy 520. Keep your tools organized in a box. Stick to a
layout that works for you. Organized people get more work done.
Allen wrenches in inch and metric sizes. Ball point
Small ball pein hammer. 8-12 oz (225-350g)
Screw drivers. Multi bit type or flat blade and #2 Phillips
6 inch mill smooth file with handle
Six inch and eight inch (150mm 200mm) Adjustable wrenches.
Six Inch calipers. Good quality digital so they can serve as inch and metric.
0-1 Micrometer
Six Months
Three corner scraper made from old three corner file or commercial
Rotary de-burring tool (Whirly Gig) Noga, Royal,
Aviation snips or tin snips. For Cutting strapping and shim stock.
Soft faced hammer. 16-24 oz (450- 675g)
Hacksaw frame with bi-metal blade.
Center punch.
Six inch needle nose (chain nose) pliers. Chip pliers.
Diagonal cutters.
8 inch mill smooth file with handle
Three corner file 6 inch or 8 inch.
Tapping guide block. Most folks make their own but there are commercial models available. This is a
good project for lunch time or after work if the shop allows it.
Tweezers precision splinter type.
Vise grip locking pliers.
This first year and a half kit will serve you for many years to come. The motto to guide your tool
purchasing is what was told to me many years ago by one of my mentors. You can borrow a tool as long
as youre still buying tools. What this means is you pretty much never stop buying tools. It comes with
the career.