starting up

[Stefano]

Hi Stefano,

You say you have been in the trade for 10 years. As a fitter?

What tools do you have at the moment?

Are you planning on manufacturing the kitchens or just fitting them?

Snezza.

Hi snezza 31,
At the moment I have all my hand tools, drills, a good trend router and worktop jig, jigsaw, etc, most of the plumbing tools, my friend being a gas engineer has all the other necessary plumbing tools so there is no problems there. Obviously we will need to buy adhesives cleaning chemicals, maybe look into buying some tiling equipment in case we get asked if we can do the tiling for the customer. If you can think of any other tools or consumables that we would need please feel free to enlighten us. we would not be looking to manufacture kitchens to start out with just fitting for kitchen suppliers.
Regards Stefan.

[PJK]

Ummmm I'm bowing out of this one. Good luck Stefan

[snezza]

It seems as though you have some of the basic "kit" that you would need.

Just to enlighten us a bit more to your background. What have you been doing in this trade for the past 10 years?

Snezza.

[chip off the block]

It seems as though you have some of the basic "kit" that you would need.

Just to enlighten us a bit more to your background. What have you been doing in this trade for the past 10 years?

Snezza.

was just thinking the same thing really.

[Stefano]

It seems as though you have some of the basic "kit" that you would need.

Just to enlighten us a bit more to your background. What have you been doing in this trade for the past 10 years?

Snezza.

I started out doing a joinery apprenticeship. got a placement with a kitchen fitter and kept going form there, I left that guy that I started another job with better pay and now that company has gone bust so I'm looking to start up on my own as a contractor. but obviously I have no contacts in the trade due to only working for one place.

[chip off the block]

well i would say from a cowt a quality point of view i would get a nobex saw and save up for a decent saw

[Stretch]

I've been in the trade for the last 13 years and I've owned a rail saw for the last 10 years. It's one tool that no kitchen fitter can do without.

The choice is yours - Festool, DeWalt, Mafell - it's what you feel comfortable using. Personally I don't like the hinged action of the Fes and DeWalt but as I've only ever used and got used to my Mafell it's not for me to comment. Festool prices are fixed, as I'm led to believe so internet shopping is pointless but you can get good deals on other brands.

Mitre saws.....go big, 300mm blade will just about cut 170mm plinths if you ever install Howdens crap but look at shelling out around £600 or so of your hard earned...

I'm surprised you've coped for 10 years with basic kit. If ever a tool makes my life easier then I'll buy it regardless of whether the job can afford it or not as it will pay for itself long term. As my customer said to me this week, "You seem to have a tool for every job". Of course I do...even a radial arm wet cutting saw for porcelain floor tiles. You have to own kit like this to be credible as a kitchen fitter unless you want to sub out all the menial tasks to other trades and then you have to rely on them being there when they say they will.

Good luck.

[Stefano]

I've been in the trade for the last 13 years and I've owned a rail saw for the last 10 years. It's one tool that no kitchen fitter can do without.

The choice is yours - Festool, DeWalt, Mafell - it's what you feel comfortable using. Personally I don't like the hinged action of the Fes and DeWalt but as I've only ever used and got used to my Mafell it's not for me to comment. Festool prices are fixed, as I'm led to believe so internet shopping is pointless but you can get good deals on other brands.

Mitre saws.....go big, 300mm blade will just about cut 170mm plinths if you ever install Howdens crap but look at shelling out around £600 or so of your hard earned...

I'm surprised you've coped for 10 years with basic kit. If ever a tool makes my life easier then I'll buy it regardless of whether the job can afford it or not as it will pay for itself long term. As my customer said to me this week, "You seem to have a tool for every job". Of course I do...even a radial arm wet cutting saw for porcelain floor tiles. You have to own kit like this to be credible as a kitchen fitter unless you want to sub out all the menial tasks to other trades and then you have to rely on them being there when they say they will.

Good luck.

I never had to rely on basic kit because the company I was working for had a big workshop and all the tools I needed and I never thought that they would go bust, so never thought to buy my own tools, feel like a bit of a fool now tbh! but as the old saying goes you need to spend money to make money. So I'll just have to invest, as you said before the tools will pay for them selves over time.
thanks for the advice, I'm sure I'll have more questions in the near future, take care all.

Many thanks Stefan.

[phill morris]

Well said stretch .
I am of the same opinion on tools .. you need the pro stuff to do a pro job . speed is essential these days . Customers want you in an out with the minimum of fuss.

Stefan .. if you worked in the industry for 10 years then you should not need to ask what consumables and other stuff you need , as you should already have this knowledge. If the workshop you worked for had all the tools you needed then surely you would know , however if you are starting out and have not had site experience then there are basic stuff you should have , like public liability insurance , good quality dust sheets , sandpaper , screws, glue , so on . You will find these things out as you progress as some of us do things in a different way to others. I have been building my kit for 30 years now and as stretch says you have to have the big stuff to look credible these days. Good luck with your venture , not easy to get established these days.
Phill