How do contractors use their tools?

COMPILED BY JOHN MESENBRINK

chief editor

In the continuing effort to get behind the scenes of contractor operations, Phc News offers its inaugural Tool Usage Survey. You could say that it has been the year of the survey, with Phc News infiltrating market segments with its Truck Use Survey, June/July issue; Contracting Purchasing Survey, August issue; Internet Usage Survey, September issue; and now this Tool Usage Survey. We feel it is of the utmost importance to gauge what contractors are doing, how they do it and why they do some of the things that they do. This survey in particular, we wanted to know: how contractors use their tools, why they purchase certain types of tools and what are their tool usage habits.

The Tool Usage Survey had tremendous contractor participation. Phc News would like to thank the hundreds of contractors that took time out of their busy schedules to complete the survey. Readership feedback is always welcome. Please contact chief editor John Mesenbrink at editor@phcnews.com with questions or concerns. Now off to the results!

As with all of our surveys, we need to ask firm size to find out who it is that actually is participating in our survey. The following responses may hinge on the size-of-company factor.

1. How many people does your company employ?

The largest segment of those responding were companies that employ 1-5 people or 52% of those participating. Eleven to 25 was the next highest response total with 20% of the tallies; with six to 10 getting 15% of the vote; and 25+ getting 13%.

Every contractor is different. By that I mean that every contractor concentrates on different markets, whether it is commercial, residential, industrial, etc. And contractors differ in their expertise -- i.e., plumbing, radiant, hvac, drain cleaning, etc..

2. What is the primary market for the use of tools?

The plumbing market reigned supreme as the primary market with 55% of the respondents. Hvac represented one quarter of the poll takers (25%). Drain cleaning, piping and the radiant markets each collected 5% of the votes.

We asked contractors what specific tools they carried on their truck. This gives us a better idea of the popularity of certain tools for general servicing.

3. What types of tools do you carry?

Common tools such as wrenches (97%), drills (96%), torch kits (95%), pipe cutters (95%), saws (92%) and soft tools such as chemicals, cleaners, etc. (92%) had strong representation in the survey. The next level of tool usage was tool kits (79%), pipe threaders (68%) and drain cleaners (57%). Radiant/hydronics (37%) and drain inspection products (33%) rounded out the category

And of these tools carried, we asked contractors if they kept the bulk of the tools on the truck for every job or if they pulled them for specific jobs.

4. Do you carry the bulk of your tools on your truck?

Eighty-two percent of the respondents claimed that they carry tools all the time. Eighteen percent said that they pull specific tools for specific jobs.

Why do contractors purchase specific tools? Are you listening manufacturers? Here is what we found out...

5. When purchasing tools, for what characteristics do you look?

The highest-ranking characteristic was durability (52%). Contractors want their tools to be rugged, built to last. Thirty-seven percent said the next important factor was whether the tool handles the job. Seven percent said that technology was important. Warranty (2%), ergonomics (1%), and surprisingly, price (1%) were really non-factors.

Contractors have multiple resources to find the latest and greatest.

6. Where is the best place to find tool product information?

Trade publications and trade publication websites lead this category with 41% of the tallies. The Internet represented 21% of the vote, while local supply houses (18%), brochures/catalogs (11%) and manufacturer’s websites (9%) rounded out the category.

Service techs comb the Internet, trade shows, trade pubs, etc., to find the latest trends and technology on tools. Similar to question five, we asked contractors what they look for when looking at trends and technology for new products.

7. When looking at trends and technology for new tools, I look for:

New technological advancements ranked highest with 44% of the respondents reporting. Ease of use represented 34%, while price (7%), battery technology (7%), portability (6%) and ergonomics (2%) rounded out the category.

We always are interested in where contractors purchase their tools.

8. Where do you purchase tools?

Three out of four contractors responding said their local supplier (75%). Big box received 10% of the votes, while Internet (8%), hardware store (5%) and directly from the manufacturer (2%) rounded out this category.

We realize that contractors and service technicians use specific tools for specific jobs. But in general, which manufacturers are popular?

9. Which power tool manufacturer do you rely on?

Ridgid (31%), Milwaukee Tool (28%), DeWalt (23%) and Lenox (18%) led the way in this category. Bosch (6%), Metabo (6%), Makita (5%) and Hitachi (1%) received tallies. Some respondents said that their answer was dependent upon the job. Contractors were also adamant that they carry more than one manufacturer and use multiple tools and some said they use all of the above, according to job specs. The percentage in this category exceeds 100% because some contractors use more than one brand or have all of the above in their toolbox.

And finally we asked contractors what their favorite tool is and why they thought so. Here are some of the responses we received.

10. What is your favorite tool? Why?

Some of the answers were general in nature and others were vendor-specific. Many technicians said that the cordless tools -- drills, hammers, saws, screwdrivers -- were their favorites, with reasons ranging from dependability, ease of use and most times used. Again many contractors said that they use different tools for different jobs. “I enjoy all my tools; there is not one that is my favorite,” said one contractor. But here are some specific responses of what contractors are saying about their favorite tools:

• Channellock 440/442 -- “For over 40 years I have learned to use them and can I do just about anything with them!”
• DeWalt 12-volt rsv -- “Lightweight and dependable.”
• DeWalt Drill Hammer Driver -- “Battery-powered, versatile and durable.”
• DeWalt Battery Torque Driver -- “Flange bolts to tire changes.”
• DeWalt Cordless Drill -- “It has so many options.”
• Makita Cordless Drill -- “Durable and not heavy to work with.”
• Makita 18V Impact Driver -- “Very light, fast, has auto-worklight and a good battery life.”
• Milwaukee Tools V28 4 tool kit -- “Works hard with long battery life.”
• Milwaukee Drills -- “The tool that I use the most, and it lasts the longest and is worth the cost.”
• Milwaukee Tools Hole Hog -- “I have been using it since early 70s. It is a real workhorse and I still have the first one I ever bought.”
• Milwaukee Rotary Hammer -- “If this tool can’t get it done, it won’t get done.”
• Milwaukee Sawzalls -- “It is the most utilized of all the tools we have.”

Ridgid garnered some great responses as well:

• Ridgid See Snake -- “Helps me help the customer understand the nature of their problem.”
• Ridgid ProPress -- “Makes copper water line repairs while lines are still wet.”
• Ridgid RollGroover/ProPress -- “Eliminates soldered fittings in hotel/condo applications during water shutdowns when time is of the essence.”
• Ridgid Pipe Threader -- “Easy to use and saves a lot of work.”
• Ridgid Chop Saw -- “Lasts forever.”
• Porter Cable Right Angle Drill -- “It has the power to turn the big drill bits that the others can’t.”
• Spartan Tools -- “Income-producing equipment.”
• Viega ProPress -- “Portable and saves time.”
• Watts Radiant pex Crimp Tool --  “Price is right and is easy to use.”

And then there were the answers that went in another direction:

• Video camera -- “Sells jobs by letting consumers watch.”
• Computer -- “That is where the money is made!”
• My laptop -- “It’s a businessman’s savior.”

And my personal favorite:

• My pen -- “I need it to give out bills!”