When you think of plumbing and pipes, do you see images of men in dirty jeans and work boots wrestling with your kitchen sink or bathroom faucet? Not likely. Most plumbers use high-tech tools that make their jobs easier and safer. With so many tools and gadgets, it's easy to forget about some of the basic tools that all plumbers have at their disposal. In fact, many of these tools have changed very little since they first appeared in the 17th century. Some tools have evolved and been modified over time as technology has improved, while others have remained virtually the same for centuries because they work just as well now as they did then. The common tools of the plumbing trade have changed very little over the years, but they do offer some important advantages over a handheld tool that you might find on an episode of “Murder, She Wrote.”

Clamps and Straps

Clamps come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and are used to secure pipes, fittings, and other objects while you work on them. Some types can be opened and closed with a lever or a grip mechanism. Straps are used to secure objects that are difficult to clamp, such as pipes that run through walls. Pneumatic rubber-cannons, such as the one shown above, can be used instead of a wrench to tighten a faucet or another fitting. Caution: Pneumatic tools are extremely powerful and can easily snap pipes or other objects in half if you don't use them carefully. It's best to use them only on fittings that are made from plastic or other soft materials.

Trickle or drip-catching devices

A drip-catch device is a piece of pipe or plastic tubing that is connected to the main water line coming into your house. Drip-catch devices are used to catch and divert water that is leaking from a pipe before it goes down a floor and makes a big mess. Drip-catch devices can be as simple as a length of plastic or metal pipe attached to the wall near an outlet, or they can be more complicated, incorporating additional components to divert the water to a bucket or other container so that it doesn't drip on the floor.

Pipe bender

A pipe bender is used to create a permanent curve in a piece of pipe. This is necessary when you are joining together two pieces of pipe that are not the same size. A pipe bender can also be used to create a curve in a large piece of PVC or plastic pipe so that it fits into a specific space, such as around a corner or under a kitchen countertop. Pipe benders are usually adjustable to allow for different pipe sizes.

Electricians' tape

Electricians' tape is commonly used by plumbers to cover exposed pipes when the walls are being patched or drywall is being installed. This tape protects pipes from paint, mud, and other construction materials. Electricians' tape is water-resistant but can be easily damaged if it becomes wet. Some electricians' tapes are even treated with chemicals that repel paint and other substances.

A plug to unplug

A plunger isn't just for cleaning out a toilet or a sink. It can also be used to unplug a hot water tank or a gas line. Most water and gas lines are encased in a PVC pipe, and a plunger can help you open these pipes without having to dig them up. Before you use a plunger to unplug a water line, be sure to turn off the main water supply to the house, and unhook any hoses or other attachments.

And finally...

A voice-activated tape player, an old favourite of plumbers.This tool has fallen out of use since the 1980s, but there's still one around if you can find it. The voice activated tape player had a microphone attached to it and was plugged into a power outlet. The operator would press a button on the device and then say the words "Turn on hot water". The device would then activate an electric timer that controlled the flow of water through a faucet. The device was easy to use, but it was inconvenient to have to plug the device into an outlet each time you wanted to use it.