What the contract says you bring — and what your contractor owes you
Sound & Communication agreements spell out the hand tools a technician has to show up with, and put power tools and test equipment on the contractor. This list is built from the required-tools sections of those agreements, so it's the kit a hall expects — not a wish list. Lists vary from local to local, so check your own hall's agreement before you buy — and if yours is different, send it to us and we'll add it.
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The core list
Every agreement we've reviewed requires S&C technicians to bring these 11 tools:
- Punch-down tool — With 66 and 110 blades
- Tone generator and probe — Sometimes called a toner and amplifier
- Wire stripper — One list names Miller-type; another accepts a ring toolKlein 11055 ›
- Screwdrivers — flat and Phillips — Assorted sizesKlein 602-6 ›Klein 602-8 ›Klein 85074 set ›
- Pliers — Most lists name channel locks, needle-nose and cutters — see below
- HammerEstwing E3-16S ›
- Torpedo level — 6"–8"Klein 935RB torpedo ›
- Drywall sawKlein 31737 ›
- Tape measure — 12' to 25' — a 25' tape covers any of themMilwaukee 48-22-0225 ›
- Adjustable wrench — 6"–10"Klein D507-12 ›
- Flashlight — One agreement accepts a headlamp
Many agreements also require
These show up on some lists but not all. Out of the 3 agreements we reviewed:
| Tool | Required in | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Multimeter (volt-ohm meter) | 2 of 3 | A basic, non-calibrated meter — calibrated test equipment comes from the contractor |
| T&B Sta-Kon crimp tool | 2 of 3 | — |
| Nut drivers | 2 of 3 | Around 3/16" or 1/4" through 7/16"–1/2" |
| Channel lock pliers | 2 of 3 | One list wants two pair; another a 7" |
| Needle-nose pliers | 2 of 3 | — |
| Diagonal or wire cutters | 2 of 3 | — |
| Snips or electrician's scissors | 2 of 3 | — |
| Awl or scribe | 2 of 3 | — |
| Tool pouch | 2 of 3 | — |
Individual agreements also list a coax crimper (RG-59, RG-6), Cat 5 strippers, a utility knife, lineman's pliers or 8" side cutters, a hacksaw, vise grips, a tri-tap, an Allen set, a center punch, a stubby screwdriver, and a locking tool box or bag.
Apprentices: one agreement lets apprentices start with the basic hand tools and add the punch-down tool and tone kit by the start of their third year.
What your contractor has to provide
S&C agreements typically put the rest on the employer, including:
- Power tools, special tools and test equipment. You bring hand tools only — and any meter that has to be calibrated is the contractor's.
- Locked storage for your tools on the job.
- Replacement of your tools when they're damaged on the job — and, in some agreements, stolen from that locked storage.
- PPE and FR clothing, in some agreements — with the employer cleaning it. Where a contractor requires a uniform, it furnishes and maintains it.
Summarized from the required-tools and employer-furnished sections of Sound & Communication agreements. Your local's agreement is what governs — read it or ask your hall.