tools and equipments
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| Course: | damarismbugua.gnomio.com |
| Book: | tools and equipments |
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| Date: | Sunday, 7 December 2025, 2:50 PM |
1. Basic tools and equipments
Tools and Equipment
All plumbers should understand common tools, their uses and tips to get the best out of one’s tools.
A good plumber never blames his/her tools for a job that goes wrong and mistakes made.
The most common plumbing activities involve the following.
Measuring
Cutting
Bending
Jointing
Fixing and installing
There are several tools used in relation to the above activities carried out by a plumber.
Measuring Tools
Most popular measuring tools used by plumbers are
Tape measure
This is a flexible ruler used to measure distance.
7 Steel Rule
This is a strip of metal graduated in inches and fractions of inches to give actual
measurements.
Measuring Square
A square is primarily used to keep things perpendicular.
NB: when measuring length of pipework to be cut, remember to allow for depth of socket on
fittings.
8Cutting Tools.
Variety of cutting tools are used by plumbers to cut and bend various materials used in plumbing
pipework.
Pipe vice
A pipe vice is used to hold pipes when cutting, filling, reaming, bending, cutting threads or any other
operation on pipes.
Pipe vices are designed to grip pipes equally around the its circumference to prevent deformation of
pipe walls.
They are available as free – standing, portable site vices or fixed bench vices
Hacksaw
Hacksaw is mainly used for cutting pipes of various materials but also used for cutting steel bars and
bolts.
There are mainly two types of types of hacksaws.
Adjustable frame hacksaw – uses blade between 250 and 300mm long
Junior hacksaw – uses a blade approximately 150mm long.
A wing nut at the end of the adjustable frame hacksaw always to change the size and increase
tension on the blade.
9Precautions taken when using a hacksaw.
Always check the measurement and markings are correct before starting the cutting
Always stand comfortably with the feet slightly spread to provide a sound base
Always cut slowly with pressures of forward stroke only.
Make sure the blade is at 900 to the pipe and vertically straight on pipe, to ensure a straight
cut.
Always make sure that the blade is fixed with teeth facing forward.
Never used blades that are worn or have missing teeth.
Wheel Pipe cutter
They are used for small and large pipe cutting.
The single wheel cutter has 1 cutting wheel and 2 guide wheels.
The pipe is placed at 900 so that both guide wheels are in contact with the pipe.
The adjustable handle is turned to bring the cutting wheel in to contact with pipe.
The handle turns the whole tool completely around the pipe through 3600 . This increases the pressure
from the cutting wheel until it eventually cuts the pipe.
Pipe Reamer.
This is a purpose made tool used to remove internal burrs from steel or copper pipes.
They are usually cone – shaped with several cutting edges which can either be hand – turned or
machine – turned.
NB: Burrs are rough edges or ridges left on objects after an action of tools.
10Files
Files are used for general shaping and the preparation of pipes before jointing, including removal of
burrs and swarf.
NB: fine chips or fillings of a material produced after a machine or tool operation.
Precaution when using a file
Before using a file make sure that the handle is sure with teeth free from metal swarf. If
necessary, brush the file with a wire brush to clean.
Make sure you are standing in a comfortable position with your feet spread out form a sound
base.
Never use a file without a handle.
Never run the fingers over the edges of pipes to check the cut.
Make sure that the file is cutting on the forward stroke only.
Hole Saws or Hole cutters.
They are used for cutting holes on plastic pipes, steel and plastic tanks and sheet metal.
11Padsaw/ Compass saw
Blades are fixed on one end, in wooden or metallic handle.
They are used for cutting holes in sheet materials and sawing in restricted positions where a hacksaw
will not fit.
Bending Tools
Bending is done to change direction of pipe work.
Using special purpose fitting or joints can be expensive where you need a lot of fittings and some bends
cannot be easily made from available fittings. In this case you will have to bend the pipe yourself.
The method used will be governed by the size and type of pipe used.
In most situation, the easiest way to bend is using a machine.
Hydraulic Pipe Bender
A hydraulic pipe bender bends pipe of various sizes.
12Using a hydraulic pipe bender
Mark the bending distance from the end of the pipe (former mark).
Deduct from the diameter from the measured distance and make a fresh new mark. This gives
an allowance of the centre of the pipe to accommodate the gain in length after bending.
Put the stops and pins in the correct position and choose the correct size horse shoe.
Position the pipe in the machine against the stops with the centre line between the two marks
made (Former and fresh mark).
Close the hydraulic cylinder bleed valve to build up the pressure for pumping.
Pump the machine carefully until the suitable bend is obtained.
When you are satisfied with the bend, open the valve of the hydraulic machine to pump to
lower the hydraulic cylinder.
Safety precautions for hydraulic pipe bender
Always make sure oil in the machine is kept topped up according to manufacturer’s
requirement.
Never leave any machine part on the floor where it could be damaged or cause safety
hazards.
Bending Springs
A pipe bending spring is a strong, flexible spring that is inserted into (or over) a pipe to support the
walls of the pipe when manually bending.
Heat bending
Steel pipe and plastic pipe can also be bent by loading the pipe with dry sand, heating it up in a
furnace or oxyacetylene flame and then bending.
NB: The sand must be clean and dry with no debris or large particles.
Make sure you heat the correct heat length because if you heat so much the pipe radius will be too
big and if you heat too little the radius will be to small and the pipe may kink.
13Jointing Tools
The formation of joints in various materials is an essential part of the installation and maintenance
of pipe work systems and components.
Stocks and Dies
These are used to form threads on the end of steel pipes prior to joining.
The stock is the main body of the tool including the handle.
The chaser contains a set of four dies which cut threads within a certain range of sizes.
Threading Machine
This is a multipurpose machine that includes a pipe cutter, reamer and chase dies.
Threading machines can cut dies on pipe from 6 mm to 150mm diameter.
14Pipe wrenches
They are used for tightening and loosening fittings and pipes.
Stilson pipe wrench
This is a general purpose pipe wrench with adjustable jaws.
Stilson are available in different sizes to suite range of pipes up to 150mm.
Chain wrench
They are used for tightening pipes of fittings because the chain grips right around the pipe, gripping
it against the teeth of the wrench.
15Footprint pipe wrench
This is an adjustable pipe wrench is available in different sizes but is normally used for small diameter
pipe.
Spanners
These are used for tightening or loosening nuts and bolts of all sizes. There three main types of
spanners.
Adjustable spanner
Open – ended fixed spanner
Ring spanner.
Adjustable Spanner
16Open – ended fixed spanner
Ring spanner.
Fixing and installing Tools
The tools are used for fixing and installing including general tools used by plumbers.
Spirit Level and Plumb bob
These are tools used for setting out horizontal or vertical pipe work runs so that when clips and
brackets are fixed will be horizontally level or vertically plump.
They are used to level appliances and component during installation.
17Drills
These are used to make holes in metals, plastics wood and masonry.
They consist drill bits, which actually makes the hole, and the drill itself which turns the drill bit.
Drill bit
Centre Punch
It is used to make an identification in the materials will prevent the drill from slipping when making
holes.
Screw driver
It is used to drive in or remove screws
18Pliers
They are used for general purpose gripping action and remove nails.
Chisel
They are used for cutting holes through concrete, stone and brickwork walls.
Hammers
A hammer is a tool consisting of a weighted "head" fixed to a long handle that is swung to
deliver an impact to a small area of an object
19Mallets
A mallet is a kind of hammer, often made of rubber or sometimes woodand usually has a
relatively large head.