About This Quiz
Plumbers are more than just handymen. They help to unclog toilets, drill screws in, adjust nuts and bolts and level surfaces. They typically use a variety of tools to get these types of jobs done. Some of these tools includes a pipe cutter, an adjustable spanner, a blowlamp and gas and a stubby screwdriver. A plumber often carries a variety of these types of tools for many kinds of jobs.
Some of the essential tools that a plumber carries include a file set, a spanner set, a screwdriver set and wrenches. A file set, for instance, is used to file and polish a finished job for an aesthetically-pleasing look. On the other hand, spanners and wrenches are used to tighten or loosen nuts and bolts. For sawing or hacking away at hefty materials, plumbers may also use various types of powerful saws. Some of these includes the circular saw, jigsaw or the junior hacksaw.
A plumber is an expert with these types of tools, but let's see if you can name a few of these. Think you've got what it takes? Take our Ultimate Plumbing Tools Identification Quiz to find out!
Adjustable spanners come in large, medium and small sizes and are great for turning bolts and nuts. They can also be easily adjusted to the plumber's preference.
Pipe cutters are used to easily hack through pipes. They're also great for small spaces and come in a variety of diameter sizes.
Telescopic tube cutters are great for cutting pipes in a clean and efficient way. Most of these also come with a built-in deburrer for cleaner pipe cuts.
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Pipes with a rounded surface are no match for adjustable pipe wrenches. These handy plumbing tools are essential for removing pipes that are stuck or for adjusting rounded bolts and nuts.
Slip joint pliers are a must for any plumber, as they are used to grip and hold a variety of nuts and bolts. These also have a pivot point that can be adjusted in size.
Mole grips are perfect for holding things in place due to their gripping power. These are also great for turning rounded bolts and nuts.
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Great for soldering copper pipes together, a blowlamp and gas produces high-temperature flames. The higher the quality, the less likely the soldered joints will leak.
A pipe bender does what its name says: It bends pipes! This handy tool can also bend pipes that are between 15 mm and 22 mm in width.
If you've ever had a clogged drain or toilet, you've probably used a plunger before. These tools are cheap, and are efficient for unblocking just about any clogged toilet.
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Hacksaws are great for hacking at bolts, nuts and pipes. The blade may also be removed for finer and more precise cutting.
These tools come in small, medium and large sizes and are great for measuring how horizontal or vertical a surface is. It's always best to use the biggest spirit level for more precise measuring.
Great for small and enclosed spaces, a junior hacksaw can hack through just about anything. Most junior hacksaws also have a fine-toothed, removable blade.
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Allen keys are a must for removing or adjusting ahex grub screws that hold shower heads in place. They're also great for use in enclosed and small spaces.
Pipe deburrers are like the jack of all trades for plumbing. This tool can snip tins, cut pipes and enhance the final look of a finished product or plumbing job.
Drain rods can be hooked together to help unclog stubborn drains and sewers. The ends can be easily attached and removed by a plumber.
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Soldering pads are fire-resistant and are used to protect the plumber and his/her workspace during the soldering process. They can be easily attached and removed at any time, and won't catch fire.
Radiator keys are essential for unblocking clogged air from a radiator. The keys are considered to be universal and helps to unlock "bleed screws."
The toothed blades of a sabre saw are used to cut plastic, wood, metal and a variety of other materials. Great for refurnishing dated pipework, these saws are both fast and powerful.
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Essential for wire work, long-nosed pliers have strong grips and a long reach for safety and accuracy. A must for any plumber, these pliers are able to bend and cut wire.
Magnetic levels are used to "level" various types of surfaces. Due to the magnetic power of these tools, a plumber can work hands-free while the level "sets" on its own.
Stubby screwdrivers are great for adjusting bolts that are in hard-to-reach places, like under your sink. These screwdrivers also fit nicely in the palm of a plumber's hand for an easy grip.
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Tape measures can be quite handy for measuring things on the go. It can also easily extend and retract whenever the plumber wants.
Useful for plumbing work that is in tight spaces, this screwdriver features a long reach and an easy-to-grip handle. The long reach is also great for keeping the plumber's hands and knuckles out of the way.
For plumbers who work on their knees for extended periods of time, knee pads are great for alleviating pain and discomfort. Each knee pad provides ample amounts of cushion and they are fairly inexpensive to purchase.
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Stanley knives are great for cutting a variety of materials and can easily fit in just about any pocket. The blades are also retractable for safety purposes.
This is called a claw hammer because of its "claw" that is used for prying nails out. The flat end of the hammer is used for hammering in nails.
Spanners are great for adjusting a variety of nuts and bolts. A plumber usually has an open-ended spanner set in varying sizes for a variety of jobs.
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Before doing any work on pipes, a plumber uses a pressure tester to check how much pressure is in the pipes. These are very easy to use and are essential for any plumbing job.
A file set consists of files that vary in shapes and sizes. These are used to help polish the finishing look of almost any plumbing job.
When plumbers are fixing a joint leak, they often place a bucket underneath the pipes to catch any loose drips. Buckets are also fairly inexpensive to purchase.
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Plumbers like to use inspection cameras to see the inside of pipes and drains. These handy cameras are also useful for identifying problems and blockages that may not be seen with the naked eye.
Jigsaws are particularly useful for cutting irregular shapes and patterns. They are also easy to use and consists of a comfortable grip.
This rechargeable drill is essential for drilling in almost any type of screw. These are also used to drill holes into a variety of material, and are considered to be quite powerful compared to most types of drills.
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Circular saws are ideal for cutting through just about any type of material, including wood, plastic and metal. The blades of this tool are also interchangebale.
Known as a "Special Direct System" drill, the SDS drill is used for those tough drilling jobs. These drills also come in a variety of settings, including chiselling and hammer action drilling.
Plumbers use pipe freezer spray to freeze pipes so they don't have to switch off the water supply. This spray can also freeze pipes for an extended period of time without damaging them.
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Plumbers use a variety of tools for work in tight spaces, and the basin spanner is essential for those kinds of jobs. This tool is used to adjust under-sink fittings.
Used for hot water cylinder jobs, the immersion heater spanner is used to fit within various types of immersion heater elements. These tools are often large in size as well.
Angle grinders are used to cut or polish a variety of materials. It also works with sanding discs, grinding wheels and various types of blades.
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Stop cock keys are typically used in outdoor settings to stop the flow of water from the main water supply. Stopcocks are often hard to turn off, which is where the stop cock key comes in!