What tools does an irrigation installer use?
The tools to install a DIY irrigation system are available from most good hardware stores . But as projects get more complex we may use specialist tools that are more expensive and more difficult to find. At Ecostream we have each of these tools and more. The estimated cost of tool purchase for an irrigation business is between $50,000.00 and $300,000.00
List of Common Tools:
- Posthole shovel
- Pipe Cutters
- Trenching Shovel
- Multi – grips
- Hammer
- Leaf Rake
- Metal Rake
- Broom
- Trenching Shovel
- Crow Bar
- Poly Pipe Cutters
- Small Multi – grips
- Hammer -Mash
- Hammer – Claw
- 12 inch Foot prints
- Wide mouth shifters
- Large multi grips
- Deburr tool – Copper
- Deburr tool – Poly
- Hack saw
- Spirit level – 600mm
- Tape Measure (8m)
- Wire Strippers
- Butane Torch
- Cable Stripper
- Small butane torch
- Basic multimeter
- Pliers
- Side cutters
- Screw drivers
- Basic 3/8 drive socket set – deep impact
- Copper Tube Cutters up to 50mm
- Paint Scraper
- Panel saw
- Pry bar
- 25mm wood chisel
- Hand trowel
- Rapid Flaring tool for 15mm and 20mm copper
- 5Lt Jerry Can
- Battery tool kit, including:
- Drill
- Driver
- Rotary Hammer Drill
- Recipro saw
- Angle grinder
- Circular Saw
- Sundries and drill bits, including:
- Step Drill – up to 32mm
- Hex drill bit for roofing screws
- Phillips head drill bit
- 5mm,5.5mm,6mm,8mm,10mm and 12mm SDS + masonry bits
- Butane Torch Gas
- Angle Grinding Disks
- Reciprocating saw bits
- Metal/Wood Drill bits
- Earthmoving equipment, including:
- Chain Trencher
- Mini Loader (Like a dingo or Kanga)
- Excavator
- Under Path Boring Equipment
- Safety Gear, including:
- PPE
- Traffic Management Equipment
- Specialist equipment, including:
- Cable locating equipment
- Copper crimping equipment
- Oxy Acetylene Set
- Arc Welder
- Meg OHM tester
- Poly Fusion Welder
- Poly Butt Welder
- Generator
- Poly Rotary Scraper
This list is certainly not comprehensive, but should show that an irrigation business needs some decent equipment to operate properly.
Many of these tools require regular compliance testing such as Risk Assessments, Calibrating and Electrical Testing and Tagging. Owning and maintaining equipment can be expensive. Much of the equipment requires specialist training and certification to use.
In saying that, we find that we use 10% of the tools 90% of the time. In most cases the basics such as a shovel and crowbar with some multigrips and a saw or pipe cutters can be used to do the majority of the installation.
The shovel and crowbar are avoided by us (Where possible), we now have equipment that provides a better work day, with less time at the physiotherapist or chiropractor. We are not afraid of hard work, but over time have learnt to work smarter, not harder.
If you want an irrigation company that owns all the right tools and knows how to use them, Give Ecostream Water Management a call today!
