Acme Tools has launched new Milwaukee tool kits for apprentices and other workers looking for an easier purchasing decisions process.
These tool kits feature a selection of Milwaukee hand tools, accessories, and storage options, such as backpacks, tool belts and pouches, and even Packout tool boxes.
These are all carefully curated collections, rather than bundles, meaning you don’t have to buy everything you see.
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Acme’s product pages list out all of the included tools that can be easily added to your cart and purchased separately. They also make price-shopping convenient, with the model number and price listed for each inclusion.
I really like the way they approached this.
Milwaukee Standard Mechanical Contractor Apprentice Hand Tool Kit
The mechanical contractor apprentice hand tool kit includes general purpose and specific tools for workers starting out out in HVAC, plumbing, or mechanical trades.
There are 20 SKUs with a total of 28 tools, plus the tool bag.
Milwaukee Standard Electrical Apprentice Hand Tool Kit
The Milwaukee electrical apprentice hand tool comes with 17 tools and accessories (14 SKUs), including a selection of Milwaukee’s USA-made screwdrivers and pliers.
Milwaukee JATC Telecommunications Tool Kit
The Milwaukee JATC telecommunications tool kit includes 19 SKUs, with the list said to be approved by the JATC (Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee).
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It includes a range of general purpose tools, as well as low voltage tools needed for telecommunications work.
Milwaukee JATC Limited Energy Apprentice Tool Kit
There is also a tool kit for limited energy apprentices, with this list also approved by the JATC.
This kit focuses on the needs of low voltage and limited energy trades, with several differences compared to the telecommunications kit.
Milwaukee Standard General Contractor Apprentice Hand Tool Kit
If you’re looking for a general contractor apprentice tool kit, this collection features Milwaukee hand tools and storage products plus Empire levels.
It comes with 16 items.
Milwaukee UBC Training Apprentice Bag
This tool kit, approved by UBC (United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America), features a mix of Milwaukee hand tools and storage options with Empire layout tools.
As with the other tool kits, you can add to or take away from the bundle, which features 17 SKUs.
Milwaukee Standard Utility Lineman Apprentice Hand Tool Kit
Finally, the utility lineman apprentice kit, designed for the demands of overhead and underground utility work, comes with 13 SKUs.
If you would prefer Milwaukee’s comfort grip USA-made lineman and long nose pliers over the dipped-grip versions included in this bundle, order it by line item and make the swap.
List of Acme Tools’ New Milwaukee Tool Kits
Milwaukee Standard Mechanical Contractor Apprentice Hand Tool Kit
Milwaukee Standard Electrical Apprentice Hand Tool Kit
Milwaukee JATC Telecommunications Tool Kit
Milwaukee JATC Limited Energy Apprentice Tool Kit
Milwaukee Standard General Contractor Apprentice Hand Tool Kit
Milwaukee UBC Training Apprentice Bag
Milwaukee Standard Utility Lineman Apprentice Hand Tool Kit
The prices vary depending on what you get.
It looks like Acme made an effort to provide convenient starting points for multiple trades. They aren’t the first to offer tool collections and bundles, but it looks like a lot of thought and attention went into these curations.
Jared
That’s a neat idea. I’ve seen kits before, but not packages for specific trades. I think there’s value in just knowing what a kit might include for a specific task or job and it’s a good way to market.
Stuart
There are companies that put together curated tool collections, such as Jensen Tools, but they’re more aimed at one-stop shopping for commercial buyers. It took me a few minutes to track the name down, as I haven’t thought about it in maybe a decade.
Acme’s approach seems more accessible and far more convenient for individual shoppers, and I’m impressed by how far they went to make it easy for customers to customize their kits or shop around.
fred
Jensen and its sister company Techni-Tool seem to cater more to electronics and telecom than other building trades. When I was looking for tools to wire up houses for sound and telephone – now probably more than 30 years ago – I bought my tools from them. Like you. I haven’t thought of them much since.
Jared
I like the idea. I think it would be good for sales too since a person might realize “hey I need that!” when it otherwise wouldn’t come to mind.
The ones I was thinking of were from Proto. They’re thousands of dollars, but aimed at specific jobs (e.g. “Railroad Roadway Mechanic’s Set”). That makes no sense for an individual to buy, but I presume it’s the same idea – intended for the company who employs the person to pickup a complete kit in one go.
There might be value for an employer in these kits too, since otherwise they have to figure out what tools are required as well as the gear to hold and transport them.
TomD
It’s also much easier for the buyer if he has to justify one line item “railway toolkit” – as opposed to being asked about every single line item.
Robert
Good for them. Cool that they got UBC buy-in for the training apprentice set. Obviously, ACME put thought and effort into these collections. Beep-Beep.
Al b
The GC kit is odd. C-clamp vise grips but no prybar or catspaw?
James Herron
The Milwaukee 15″ prybar and 10″ nail puller should have absolutely been included in this kit. This is a miss by ACME, and hopefully, they will correct it.
S
All the kits considered, I think the overall tool counts are lacking.
It makes me wonder if they imposed a ‘less than 20 items’ requirement as they were setting these up to keep the kit approachable without sticker-shocking everyone.
For instance, the electrical kit doesn’t include any volt tick or volt meter . And neither does the HVAC kit. Or the folding rule– I’ve only ever seen one plumber use one, and I was convinced that those were discontinued 40 years ago, around the time drills started being electric powered.
I know the electrical kit specifically calls out being a ‘hand tool kit’, but which one of us experienced tradesmen wouldn’t shudder at the thought of bringing our car to a mechanic, and the only two tools they’ve got is an adjustable wrench and a hammer. To fix a burned out headlight bulb.
To be fair to these kits, the tools included are the absolute ‘gotta have’ tools. And I’ve also always had personal issues with Klein’s apprentice tool kit as well, which is outfitted similarly for apprentice electricians. But importantly, these kits appear to be all set for national electrical needs, and I’ve found that regions all do things differently. An apprentice in Chicago that doesn’t show up to the job with a conduit bender is going to still be looking for a job. But an apprentice that shows up to a job with a conduit bender down south is going to be asked what it even is.
The problem I’ve always had with kits like this is that many people take them as complete end-all solutions, where the kit really only represents less than 30% of the tools any of the highlighted trades actually need to be competent. But to buy everything at once would bankrupt most newbies, if it didn’t shock them so hard they don’t even bother signing up.
Stuart
I’m told that Acme consulted with local JATC and UBC instructors to put the tool kits together.
In a similar sense, the Milwaukee Packout mechanics tool set that was shown off at Pipeline last year is the product of a lot of research and conversations with automotive schools.
If training programs green-lit the tool lists as being suited for their apprentices’ needs, this seems like a good place to start.
These are all starting points. If the idea pans out, maybe they’ll build upon it.
Al
I think a drywall knife should be in all of these trades’ kits.
Wojtek
One big miss I see for the electrician kits is not bundling with the 1000V insulated screwdrivers. Big safety benefit without much added costs.
S
Not really. Newest training protocol is LOTO, and testing/troubleshooting with deenergized circuits everywhere. While there is a use case for high voltage insulated tools, constant use is highly frowned upon.
One thing that they beat into me in electrical apprenticeship is that using a 1000v rated screwdriver everywhere is, as one teacher put it “using your dick on everything and never cleaning it. By the time you go to use it on something important, it’s so messed up from being used and abused everywhere else that the rating is about as useful as toilet paper at Niagara falls.”
Many guys, myself included, keep the high voltage insulated tools clean and wrapped up separately for special use cases that require them.
Dave
No plumber’s kit, mechanical is close but no cigar
Stuart
There’s room for more, these are just the first.
Jronman
Interesting the levels and square are Empire when Milwaukee has Milwaukee versions of those tools.
Will
That is strange, at least paint em red.
Tdot77
Maybe they chose Empire to keep the kit cost a bit lower and not have every single tool be red also. Lol
Alex
Believe it or not you don’t need to pay a $15 premium for a speed square just so it’s red
Wayne R.
Odd to see that the Energy kit has what looks like an RJ45 crimper, but the Telecom kit does not.
Couple different ways to look at that, but still…
eddiesky
I was not impressed they didn’t include a belt pouch like linesman clip on or electrical pouch for “most needed” tools.
I guess they are aiming at Veto but with tools included.
Julian Tracy
That UBC kit is an oddball, if it’s meant for carpenters. never have I ever had a need for a welding clamp or linesman’s pliers, and the snips and drywall knife are a curious choice too for doing anything carpentry related. How about a folding rule, a sliding square, a proper square and a decent smaller tape measure and laser distance tool?
Leo B.
UBC has a lot of commercial work, depending on the area- steel stud framing, drywall, suspended ceiling. Lots of concrete work, too, where you want linesman’s for tying bar. This kit isn’t the best fit for a residential carpenter, but for a commercial union carpenter, it’s not bad.
ElectroAtletico
The low-level voltage apprentice is hauling both a DMM and an AC Clamp (both way overpriced)? Tell them to go on Amazon, get them from either KAIWEETS or ANENG, and save some serious $$$. Likely the Milwaukee meters and the KAIWEETS and ANENG meters came from the same assembly line in China.
Stuart
Use a brand name meter with established safety record and reputation. If a pro cannot afford Fluke, there’s Extech and others.
Milwaukee meters were also quite good, and rumor has it they poached Fluke workers to design them.
Jessie Singh
Millwaukee should bring back there 18″ wheeled tool bag with pockets bag . It was a well thought tool bag .
Mark
Odd the electrician apprentice set doesn’t come with a multimeter or at least a voltage tester.
An apprentice is supposed to personally ensure a circuit is deenergized before working on it.
Brian Wavra
I agree, but a lot of tool kits that I have seen will use a FLUKE meter, and if the Milwaukee meter was not approved by the JATC or the instructor they consulted, it would not make sense to add a Milwaukee meter to the kit.
CMF
Maybe I am being a bit harsh, but I do not see any trades person buying this. Even someone new to the trade would not buy this.
Stuart
As mentioned in the post, these kits can be treated as starting points. Some people could benefit from the convenience of a curated bundle. They’re not for everyone.
Respectfully, please try to be concise. You used 500 words across 4 separate comments to say “I don’t like these kits” in different ways.