The older guys used to carry a doctor's satchel containing (in order or priority) their lunch, a Simpson 260 VOM, and a few wrenches (God help you if they caught you using an adjustable wrench) A small screwdriver was always clipped to their jacket pocket.

They assured me that it was experience that enabled them to get by with just these things.

Of course, that was just before the days of Dolby stereo.

I was wondering what other technicians carry in the way of tools for general and emergency service calls. Also what brand of tools are you using?

As Randy alluded to, in another post, no decent technician would ever be seen with a soldering gun. (Personally I use an iron with replaceable elements that allow me to select the heat and tip I need for a specific job.)

In my area, we have a mix of American and European equipment which means carrying both s.a.e. and metric tools (allen keys and wrenches).

Do you carry every possible tool you may ever need in your tool-box? If so, your carrying arm, like mine, must be considerably longer by now.

Do you sort tools in the trunk of your car according to the theatre you are at and the equipment therein?

Do you (like most of us) invent some of your own tools for specific jobs?

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The Excellites are handy though, only because you dont have to carry a handle for every bit, which would make it necessary to put wheels and helium balloons on my tool box. Anyone ever try getting these hardened at a machine shop?

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I have a case full of various and sundry hand tools, just as others have mentioned. I also collect other tools as needed. For instance, just last week I had to remove a flywheel from a projector and I found out that it was rusted on pretty well. I tapped on it and sprayed some WD-40 on it but it wouldn't budge. I didn't want to use any more force on it for fear of trashing the bearings. I ended up going to Auto Zone and getting a gear puller. It worked like a charm. So, now I have this thing clunking around the trunk of my car. I probably should have saved the receipt and packaging so I could take it back and get a refund. I guess I'm just too honest. At least this way I have it in case of another emergency like that. I like to collect tools too, so this is just another piece for my collection.

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PS: Stay away from those "junk tools" like the Pocket Socket or the Zip Wrench! They are cheap, they don't work and you'll usually just end up rounding off your bolt heads. Stick to the good, old fashioned SIX POINT box end wrench. I don't even use eight point wrenches unless I'm up against an oddball bolt with a square head, for instance.

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I buy all my own hand tools. The company would have bought me a set if I asked nicely enough. I prefer it this way. If I "need" a certain tool I don't have to ask permission to buy it, only to have the boss say, "No, you don't need it." Furthermore, if I want to do something like work on my car, I don't have to worry about the boss accusing me of using company property for personal reasons... the tools belong to ME! I can do what I want with them!

I have an agreement with the boss that if I lose or break something while on the job, the company will pay to replace it as long as I submit the receipts. Of course, I have 90% Craftsman tools so breakage is a moot point. (And, YES! I have taken an occasional Craftsman tool back for replacement. Usually, it's no hassle at all.) If I need a specialized tool, such as a serial cable to connect my laptop (company provided) to a digital processor, all I have to do is submit the receipt and an explanation of why I need it. I have only had one request get rejected. It was for a pair of toenail clippers. It was the only tool I could think of to cut the jumpers off those Comp. Eng. preamp/analog readers without disassembling the whole thing. It wasn't a big issue so I let it drop. I figure if I fight the small stuff, they'll give me a harder time when it comes to someting else.

As for the rest of my stuff, the company provides all that:

• Laptop computer
  
• B&K oscilloscope
  
• Ivie RTA /USL MUX box.
  
• SPL meter.
  
• Fluke DMM.
  
• Pink noise generators, and the like.
  
• Test films. (Requisition as needed.)
  
• Platter tachometer.
  
• Alignment guages for projectors.
  
• Other, various and sundry small things like test leads.
  

The only thing that I don't have that I think (know) that I need is a photometer. We researched the prices on those and the cheapest one we could find was about $1,800. When you have a dozen guys all around the country, that can really add up. Again, I think if we pushed the issue we might be able to get some but then when it came to other things, we wouldn't be able to "afford" them.

Getting a little off the subject, speaking of small stuff, whenever I grab a coffee while on the road, out-of-town, I always grab a receipt and submit it. When asked why am I being so "cheap" about coffee, I replied;

"Have a look at that report I just submitted. It says I went to Kingston Saturday, (250 miles round trip) did the emergency service, and came home again. How do you know I didnt just solve the problem over the phone, put my feet up, have a couple of beers and watch the ball game and bill you anyways? Because you have these receipts with date and time that shows where I was."

Anyways, getting back to topic, it is a whole lot more fun getting on a short-haul flight where you carry on your own luggage these days.

I currently am using a lineman's case, similar to Gord's and find that more and more I am having to pack the damn thing very strategicaly, or be unable to close the lid without sitting on it.

BTW, re: wrenches, why six-point and not 12?

That's sad, but not surprising. Interesting that thousands of dollars for the test films and sound test gear are accepted as the "price of doing business", but a meter to be sure you have the correct screen luminance is considered extravagant.

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John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment Imaging
Eastman Kodak Company
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7419
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: 716-477-5325 Cell: 716-781-4036 Fax: 716-722-7243
E-Mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com
Web site: http://www.kodak.com/go/motion

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