2 Tools for Plu mbing

Introduction
So far, we have studied the importance of plumbing
system, its stages and the role and responsibilities of a
plumber. We will now look at the various tools that help
a plumber perform the plumbing activities effectively.
Like any other sector, a thorough knowledge and
working of tools and equipment used in plumbing are
essential for a plumber to carry out the tasks.
A plumber requires several tools for the fitting work
for plumbing, fixing a tap or to carryout repairs. These
tools help the plumber in performing his/her work
properly, and therefore it is important that the tools are
used systematically and handled carefully to avoid any
damage. They should be kept at a designated place after
use. The tools can be categorised as per the nature of
work like holding tools, fitting tools, cutting tools, pipe
threading and bending tools, etc.
The major tools used in plumbing are categorised as:
1. Holding tools
(a) Bench vice
(b) Pipe vice

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 2. Fitting tools Notes
(a) Wrenches
(b) Water-pump pliers
(c) Spanners
3. Cutting tools
(a) Pipe cutter
(b) Hacksaw
4. Pipe bending tools
(a) Pipe bending machine
(b) Threading dies
5. Other tools
(a) Chisel
(b) Hammer
(c) Chain wrench
(d) Rover jumper
(e) Trowel
(f) Screw driver
(g) File
(h) Plier
(i) Caulking tools
(j) Drill machine
(k) Drill bit
(l) Hanger
(m) Measuring tape
(n) Plumb rule and bob
(o) Spirit level
(p) Spade
(q) Shovel
(r) Pickaxe
(s) Mortar pan
(t) Masons' square
(u) Water level tube

Holding Tools
Tools which are used for holding the pipes, pipe fittings
and fixtures for plumbing operations are called holding
tools. Some of the commonly used holding tools are
mentioned below.

Bench vice
A vice is a tool used for holding an object for various
tasks like filing, chipping, sawing, threading, tapping,

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 bending, etc. The bench vice has two jaws, one of which
is fixed and the other is movable. These jaws are fitted
with plates for a better grip on the object during the
task. The vice size depends on the width of the jaw. A
bench vice is fixed to a table or a bench through a bolt.
A vice is opened and closed with the help of a handle
attached to a spindle. In this way, the object is held
tightly. Bench vices hold the objects and allow use of
Fig. 2.1: Bench vice
other tools to complete the tasks (Fig. 2.1).
Pipe vice
It is a tool used for holding a pipe for carrying out
assembly, disassembly, threading, cutting, etc.
Pipe vices are of two types:
(i) Open side pipe vice
(ii) Fixed side pipe vice
Standard sizes of vices are 80 mm, 105 mm, 130
mm, 170 mm, etc., as per the opened size of the jaws.

Fig. 2.2: Pipe vice

Fitting Tools
While holding tools are used to keep the objects in place,
fitting tools are used for carrying out various plumbing
operations like cutting, tightening, fixing and other
small tasks.
Wrenches
These are hand tools used for tightening and
loosening the nuts and bolts. Wrenches hold
slippery or small nuts and bolts for loosening or
tightening them. Mostly, two types of wrenches are
used—adjustable and non-adjustable. These are
useful particularly in case of odd-sized nuts and
bolts. These tools hold a pipe and pipe fittings for
screwing or unscrewing. This is a very common tool,
Fig. 2.3: Pipe wrenches especially for small diameter pipes up to 50 mm.
Adjustable wrench
This type of wrench is used to loosen or tighten the nuts
and bolts of any odd and regular sizes. It is used for
tightening and loosening valves, cocks, geysers, flexible
pipes, etc. It is a good maintenance tool for repair of
plumbing items like valves, cocks, pumps, etc.
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 Fig. 2.4: Different type of wrenches (adjustable)

It has a fixed flat jaw with a handle and a square-

toothed screw (Fig. 2.5). The movable flat jaw slides in
the body of the fixed jaw with the support of a screw.
The gap between the flat jaws is used to hold the object
to be twisted for screwing or unscrewing.

Water-pump plier Fig. 2.5: Adjustable wrench

It is a common plier used by plumbers for holding,

tightening and loosening work during fixing process.
Steel is used for manufacturing water-pump
pliers. These are available in only one standard size
of 250 mm length. The maximum width possible
between the two jaws is 40 mm (Fig. 2.6).

Spanners Fig. 2.6: Water-pump pliers

This tool is used for tightening and loosening nuts and

bolts of standard size. The standard spanners used are:

Ring spanners
These spanners have full circular closed ring at both
ends. It is difficult to slip and cause damage. It is made
through forging process, with a burnished finish or a
chrome-plating (Fig. 2.7a). Fig. 2.7a: Ring spanner

Open-ended spanners
These types of spanners are open from both sides and
are used for tightening and loosening nuts and bolts
(Fig. 2.7b).
A spanner having open-ended jaws slides through
the nut or bolt with square or hexagonal heads. The
bolts or nuts are then turned with the required force to
screw or to unscrew. The two jaws have two consecutive Fig. 2.7b: Open-ended
sizes like 6 mm and 7 mm or 1/4″ and 5/16″, etc. spanner

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 Combination spanners
These spanners are open at one end and closed at
the other (Fig. 2.7c).

Fig. 2.7c: Combination Bi-hexagonal ring spanner

spanner
It has a bi-hexagonal shape at both the ends to hold a
nut or bolt, the head of which is square or hexagonal.
The sizes of the two ends are consecutive like 6 mm and
7 mm, 1/4″ and 5/16″, etc. (Fig. 2.8).

Cutting Tools
Fig. 2.8: Bi-hexagonal Tools that are used for cutting the pipes, fixtures and
spanner bolts, etc., are known as cutting tools. Some of the
commonly used cutting tools are mentioned below.

Pipe cutter
This is a manual tool used to cut a pipe at the work site,
Fig. 2.9: Pipe Cutter especially when it is difficult to use a hacksaw frame.
This tool has a sharp, round cutting wheel which is
pressed with to and fro rotary motion for cutting a pipe
(Fig. 2.9).

Hacksaw
This tool is generally used with both the hands. It cuts
Fig. 2.10: Hand-operated material like plastic pipe, steel rod, angle iron, sheets,
hacksaw iron pipes, etc. It can also be used for cutting the bolt
heads and nuts when they are jammed. Important parts
of a hacksaw are—handle, frame, blade and adjusting
wing nut (Fig. 2.10).
A hand-operated hacksaw is used for site work while
a power hacksaw is used in a workshop for cutting
heavy pipes quickly (Fig. 2.11).

Pipe bending tools

In most of the plumbing operations, pipes are required
to be bent at different angles as per requirement, for
which pipe bending tools are used. Some of these tools
are mentioned below.
Fig. 2.11: Power hacksaw
Pipe bending machine
This equipment is used to bend or turn pipes. The
size and strength of the machine depends upon the
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 diameter of the pipe and the type of the pipe material to
be bent. The mechanical or hand-operated pipe bending
machines are available for 3/8– 1″ diameter pipes. For
higher ranges, i.e., 1/2–2″, 1/2 – 3″, 1/2– 4″ and 2– 6″,
hydraulic hand-operated machines are used (Fig.2.12).
Fig. 2.12: Pipe bending
Threading dies machine

Threading is crucial for joining pipes and fixtures

effectively. A threading die is used for making threads
in a pipe where it is to be joined with another pipe or
fixture (Fig. 2.13).

Other Tools Fig. 2.13: Threading die

Apart from the already mentioned holding, fitting,

cutting and bending tools, various other tools are also
used in plumbing operations. These are listed below.

Chisel
It is made of hard metal and is mostly used for cutting
concrete surface and making grooves in the walls with
the help of a hammer. (Fig. 2.14)
Fig. 2.14: Chisel
Hammer
These are general purpose workshop hand tools used
for straightening of sections, riveting, striking of nails
and inserting the component by striking, inserting
keyways and fitting by striking. The hammer consists
of a head made of hard and tampered steel, and a
wooden handle. The head has a flat striking face and
the other side is called pein. The peins are classified
as per different shapes such as ball pein, cross pein
and straight pein. The hammers made of hardened
steel are known as engineer’s hammers and are
usually used while working with steel components.
A one-kilogram hammer is the most commonly used
hammer (Fig. 2.15).

Chain wrench
The common holding tools do not help much in case Fig. 2.15: Hammers
of large diameter pipes. For these, chain wrenches are
used. A chain wrench consists of a toothed block, a

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 handle and a chain. The chain is round, grooved and
held on the toothed end of the block. The chain grips
the pipe fitting and screws or unscrews. The chain
wrench is available in 3″, 4″, 6″, 8″ and 12″,with the
length 475 mm, 585 mm, 834 mm, 1100 mm and 1360
Fig. 2.16: Chain wrench mm respectively. These sizes are designated by the
maximum diameter of the pipe it can hold (Fig. 2.16).

Screwdriver
This tool is often used by plumbers to fit the screws.
Screwdrivers have a sharp tip which can easily fit into
various screws. Different types of screwdriver are used
for various types of screw. Various types of heads of the
screwdriver are used by plumbers (Fig. 2.17).
Fig. 2.17: Screwdriver
Files
These hand tools are used for a variety of work, like
removing of sharp edges, metal removal, shaping of jobs,
smoothening of surfaces, finishing, producing different
shapes, etc. The file has five parts: tang, heel, face,
edge and point or tip. Various types of files of different
shapes like hand round, pillar, square, three square,
Fig. 2.18: File
half round, flat, knife edge and needle file are used as per
the work (Fig. 2.18).

Pliers
They are important tools used for holding small objects
and for tightening or loosening various parts. Several
types of pliers are used by a plumber during work. Pliers
can be used for cutting purpose also. Various shapes
Fig. 2.19: Plier
and sizes of pliers are available in the market. Pliers of
different types are shown in Fig. 2.19.

Caulking tools
For filling the gaps in the wall, caulking tools are used.
This tool helps in filling and removing material in the
building (Fig. 2.20).

Drill machine
Fig. 2.20: Caulking tools
One of the common but important tools used for making
a hole in a metal or wood, or concrete surface. A drill
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 machine (Fig. 2.21) is fitted with a cutting Drill bit Chuck

tool like a drill bit. The attachment is

tightened with a key.
Torque selection ring
Safety precautions On/Off Trigger
Grip
Before installing the bit in a drill machine, Forward/reverse switch

it should be sharpened. Fig. 2.21: Drill machine

The key in the chuck, a part of the
drill machine used for tightening the drill bit, should be
removed after tightening.

Drill bits
These are the tools used to make cylindrical holes by
cutting the material. Bits are fitted in a tool which rotates
it and make the hole. For non-cylindrical shaped holes, Fig. 2.22: Drill bits
specialised bits are used (Fig. 2.22).

Hangers
The purpose of a pipe hanger is to hold or support a
pipe or a group of pipes from a slab, beam, ceiling or
other structural elements (Fig. 2.23).

Measuring tape
Fig. 2.23: Pipe hangers
It is used for measuring the length of an item. The
measuring tape is manufactured in various material
like steel, cloth and PVC. The length range available is
one metre, two metres, three metres, five metres, 10
metres, 15 metres, etc. (Fig. 2.24).

Plumb rule and bob Fig. 2.24: Measuring tape

This is a useful tool to ensure verticality and uniformity

during construction of walls, columns and wooden
frames like doors and windows. It also helps in levelling
the surface of the floor. It consists of a holding pipe,
thread and a plumb bob made of wood and metal. The
Fig. 2.25: Plumb bob
plumb bob is connected to the holding pipe with the
thread (Fig. 2.25).

Spirit level
It is used to check the horizontality or levelling of the
floor, roof, door, window frame, etc. (Fig. 2.26). Fig. 2.26: Spirit level

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 Trowel
It is used for mixing cement and sand for masonry work.
It is used for plastering the surface (Fig. 2.27).
Fig. 2.27: Trowel
Spade
A spade is used for digging purpose and for mixing
cement, sand and concrete. It consists of a flat form
made of steel with an eye hole to hold the wooden
Fig. 2.28: Spade
handle. The size of a spade is designated by its width and
length of the plank (Fig. 2.28).

Shovel
It is used for mixing concrete and also for carrying
concrete to mortar pans. Shovels are made of steel
sheets. The size is designated by its length and width
Fig. 2.29: Shovel (Fig. 2.29).

Pickaxe
It is made of steel and is used to excavate hard soil.
One end of the pickaxe is flat whereas, the other end is
Fig. 2.30: Pickaxe sharp in design (Fig. 2.30).

Mortar pan
This is used to carry the excavated material, cement
mortar, concrete, etc. It should never be used for
Fig. 2.31: Mortar pan
measurement of mixed cement mortar, etc. Mild steel
sheet is used for making mortar pan (Fig. 2.31).

Mason’s square
It is used to check rectangularity of external and
internal corners. It is made of carbon steel sheet. The
Fig. 2.32: Mason’s square dimension is also marked on both the sides, either in
inch or centimetre (Fig. 2.32).

Water level tube

This tube is used to check and transfer water levels,
etc. Water is poured inside the tube at the time of use.
Polythene tubes of varying diameter from 10 to 15 mm,
and lengths varying as per the requirement are used
Fig. 2.33: Water level tube (Fig. 2.33).
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 Rover jumper
It is used for making a gap in the wall so that plumbing
fixtures can be fixed (Fig. 2.34).

Safety during work

Fig. 2.34: Rover jumper
The following precautionary measures may be taken for
the safe use of the plumbing tools.
1. Use the correct methods given in the ‘Instruction
Manual of tools’ while using them.
2. Use the appropriate tools required for the specific
work or job. For example, do not use pliers instead
of a hammer; use only a hacksaw to cut.
3. Keep the tools in working condition and ensure
the required maintenance.
4. Ensure that the necessary protective equipment
are available.
5. Follow safety methods while using electrical wires.
6. Use kerosene oil for removing dust from rusty
nuts.
7. Do not use tools without a handle as they may
not give proper grip.
8. Remove burrs or stuck material from the head of
the chisel and the edges of tools.
9. Wear safety glasses while using power tools like a
drill machine.
10. Keep metal parts lightly lubricated.
11. Do not apply excessive pressure or force.
12. Inspect the tools regularly.
13. Use or wear safety gear (helmet, gloves, goggles,
safety shoes, ear plugs, etc.).

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 Activity 1
Draw figures of plumbing tools.
Material Required
1. Pen
2. Pencil
3. Plumbing tools
Procedure
1. Collect the plumbing tools available in your classroom.
2. Make a list of the plumbing tools available.
3. Draw figures of the plumbing tools and label them.
Activity 2
Draw figures of masonry tools.
Material Required
1. Pen
2. Pencil
3. Masonry tools
Procedure
1. Collect the masonry tools available in your classroom.
2. Make a list of the masonry tools available.
3. Draw figures of the masonry tools and label them.

Check Your Progress

A. Answer the following questions
1. List down the different plumbing tools and their uses.
2. Differentiate between the fitting tools and cutting tools.
3. What are the different parts of a drill machine?
4. What are the methods adopted for safe handling of the
pipe cutter, pipe bending and drilling machines?

B. Fill in the blanks

1. The bench vice is a type of _________________tool.
2. The instrument which is used to check rectangularity of
external and internal corners is called ______________.
3. For excavating hard soils, ___________ is used.
4. __________________ is a tool used for making a hole in a
metal, wood or concrete.
5. A chisel is used for ________ and joining works.

C. Match the following

Column A Column B
(1) Spanner (a) Holding tool
(2) Hacksaw (b) Fitting tool
(3) Threading dies (c) Cutting tool
(4) Bench vice (d) Pipe bending tool

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