Attn: Audiophiles--home installers?

Long story short, 6 weeks ago a sewage pipe burst into my brother’s basement apt in Chicago (He said it came out of the shower drain like a geyser hitting the celing) and put down three inches of sewage in his home. He was forced to move out of the apt, he lost his furniture, but his audio equipment (he’s a dj and also sells home theaters) was OK (in original packaging w/ plastic bags). So he got a storage unit but it wasn’t big enough for his tools. A couple weeks after that, he had his tools in his car, and someone broke into his car and stole all of his tools, so he can’t even do side jobs right now. He’s working 7 days a week to save for a new apt lease…He’s paying mortgage on his house, which he moved out of b/c he’s separated from the wife, and he’s paying rent (was and needs to get a new one–he’s living with his estranged wife right now) on an apt and he’s basically broke right now. I asked him about renters insurance, he had it but his deductible was something crazy. Too high to do any good he said. His car wasn’t insured for break ins as it’s paid off and ten years old.

Here’s the Question. I really want to replace some of his tools and stuff but I don’t know what to get him for the purpose of home theater installations. He mentioned some cable cutters or something like that (? no clue what kind, size) and his power drill, but other than that I wouldn’t know where to begin to start a good solid collection of tools that he could utilize. Would he need like metric and american wrenches and socket wrenches? Screw drivers drill bits etc??? Are there special tools that he would need for his trade?

go to parts-express.com and you will be able to look through different install tools. I’d think drill, drill bits, wire fishing cables, strippers, crimpers… they have 1/2 decent priced tools that may not be the ultimate best but could help him get by until he back on top of his game…

Sorry to hear for his loss, back when I was getting started installing radios My truck was broken into and my tool box was stolen… at the time I only owned snap-on, mac, and cornwell tools… I had to get back to work so I stopped by sears, and home depot and bought the cheapest shit I could just to get to work and get things done… It sucks and just getting back to work is what matters…

thanks for the input. He doesn’t want “charity” I asked him if I could send him money but he declined. This is what I think I can do for him to help him out. I appreciate it and anymore input anyone else has.

I know our line techs shop here:

http://www.markertek.com/

The right tools depend on if he’s doing coax, fiber, cat5/6

Coax = http://www.markertek.com/SearchProduct.asp?item=PLAT-90121&off=84&sort=prod

Fiber = http://www.markertek.com/SearchProduct.asp?item=ECL500-023&off=13&sort=prod

Cat = http://www.markertek.com/SearchProduct.asp?item=ECL500-021&off=3&sort=prod

Wont his home owners insurance cover items and trade tools removed from his car regardless of where the car was?

I know while in high school my buddys $400 leather jacket was stolen from another friends car and the friend who lost the jacket His mother was able to turn it in thru homeowners.

Anyways I have a crew that installs home theather, i know they biggest things they use are those listed above by german, the coax strippers, punch downs, and rg6 end compression tool, they use those and Wire Tracer (tone generators) they are key to them being productive.

They carry them in a soft tool bag, with screw drivers, and masonary bits for plugs, a 18v dewalt cordless drill, and so on.

Sorry to hear, thats a f’d up story. Hope all works out

Thanks guys! I appreciate it.

compression tool, the exact one my guys use, http://www.levitonproducts.com/catalog/dept_id_393/model_40989-CPT.htm

Coax stripper- http://www.specialized.net/ecommerce/shop/layout.asp?product_id=304X412

Tone generator- http://outlet.cableorganizer.com/NQP-TTE-2102.html?section=6&catname= LAN+Connectivity+]+Network+Testers

Im not suggesting those exact tools, but those are either the ones the guys use, or similar.
sorry didnt mean to post twice, took me a second to look it all up.