Without realizing it I have lost my tools in a crawlspace again. This is the 2nd time in 2 years and that’s utterly frustrating. What tools do you carry into the crawlspace and how do you hold on to them? This is a typical crawlspace for me. Dark, dry and very dusty.
I hated my tool bag that I kept in my back pocket but it worked’ish. I was trying to come up with new plan, however in light of losing my tools again I need a new plan.
The only tools I take into a crawl is a flashlight and camera.
Although I must admit about 8 or 10 years ago I somehow lost my keys in a crawl and had to go back in and hunt them down, another time I lost a camera (Olympus Tough) but left it, I told my client if he ever found it I’d pay for shippiing, a few months later he found it and sent it back, darn thing still had a full charge.
But, if feel you must; make a tool bag with a zipper and drag it around with you. What might you need? Moisture meter, non-contact voltage meter, nut driver/screw driver or probe etc.
I usually carry a moisture meter, a non contact voltage tester, an outlet tester and a small string level. In a second pocket I carry a small backup flashlight. I occasionally misjudge my flashlights battery life. Oops.
I use a pair of Dickies coveralls that has three zippered pockets. I wear a headlamp and keep my camera/phone in my hand. In my pockets are my moisture meter, a non-contact voltage tester, and a backup flashlight. I stage my toolbag at the crawlspace entrance in case I need anything else, but that’s rare. I recall another member who swore by flight suits because they have way more zippered pockets all over, but I haven’t found the need yet. Basically, when crawling, I don’t trust any method that relies on gravity to keep the tool in its container, hence the zippered pockets.
I perform WDI/WDO inspections on 90% of the homes I inspect.
I wear a pair of heavy duty coveralls with oversized pockets that zip.
I attach my body cam to my headlamp. I put a probing tool in one pocket, moisture meter in another pocket and an extra flashlight in another pocket.
I carry my phone in one hand and a flashlight in the other.
Unfortunately where I live we have a lot of dark scary crawlspaces with cave crickets. I hate them. I feel like they’re all staring at me. I’d rather encounter spiders and snakes then cave crickets.
I’m considering buying some drop lights but I only carry a flashlight and a phone on a selfie stick. I’m covered head to to with a helmet, respirator, suit, kneepads, and gloves that extend to my elbows.