Apprentice Electrician, discuss my tools!

[Daniel Oake]

27 years old, come from a domestic general building background; I have taken some pictures of my current tools that I take to site (week 4 as an apprentice)

The electrical company I work for do a lot of everything from domestic, commercial to industrial, I have a small list of tools that I really need but I wanted to know what YOU think are your go to tools when you go to work, can members draft me a small list of tools that they use more often than not when dealing with commercial and industrial please as I would really appreciate your input in building a fair selection of tools for future

IMG 20180826 191933 - https://ibb.co/dd4ML9

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[Andy78]

Can't see the pic for some reason.

 

[Andy78]

See it now through the link.

The gear you have is a good start. I would add......
Voltage indicator
Decent sidecutters, pliers, and long nose pliers. Go VDE for comfort and safety
Adjustable square
Metal file
Junior hacksaw
3.5mm rethreading tool
Spirit level
If you do bashing out, lump hammer, scutch chisel, cold chisel etc

You can add other stuff as you go along. If you have to borrow it twice then you need one yourself.

Suggestions might be.......
specialist cable strippers (tons of types out there)
bush spanners
socket set
rubber/plastic hammer if needed
punch down tool
ratchet driver
allen/hex keys
crimping tool

And if you get bitten by tool tartery, then you'll be buying every week for the rest of your career

 

[Toneyz]

Tool tartery are you referring to Pete there!

 

[Leesparkykent]

2 x water pump pliers
1x CK bush wrench
1x cable shears
1x 6-25mm ratchet crimpers

 

[Deleted member 26818]

Cable croppers (already has side cutters), another pair of slip joint pliers, swap the adjustable wrenches for slim jaw (Bahco type), junior hacksaw, magnetic torpedo or boat spirit level, adjustable set square,, round file, flat or half round file, chalk line plum-bob or laser, red, blue, yellow ratchet crimper, straight tin snips, 10, 11, 13 & 17mm combination spanners, dumpy flat head screwdriver and draw wire.

 

[Andy78]

Tool tartery are you referring to Pete there!

More my own habits, but yeah Pete too.

 

[The Ghost]

Bush spanner
Conduit cutter
Cone drill/stepping drill bit
automatic punch
Security bit set
Metal nibbler
12mm cold chisel
Electricians scissors

 

[telectrix]

if doing domestic, a SDS scutch chisel is a must. sod banging your hand with a 4lb hammer.

 

[Daniel Oake]

Bush spanner
Conduit cutter
Cone drill/stepping drill bit
automatic punch
Security bit set
Metal nibbler
12mm cold chisel
Electricians scissors

im not sure about electricians scissors, when do you use them most?

 

[telectrix]

im not sure about electricians scissors, when do you use them most?

for cutting his hair.he's too tight to go to the barber's..

 

[The Ghost]

I use scissors for all sorts, a lot for cutting labels to size from my label printer. As well I use them for cutting insulation tape so it is all neat. I also find them useful to cut cables when you can't get pliers or side cutters in. They are also used to score flexibles with the crescent in them. Very useful to have on you for cutting strings in cables and lots of other odd jobs. Oh I forgot:Electrician Knife.

 

[telectrix]

I use scissors for all sorts, a lot for cutting labels to size from my label printer. As well I use them for cutting insulation tape so it is all neat. I also find them useful to cut cables when you can't get pliers or side cutters in. They are also used to score flexibles with the crescent in them. Very useful to have on you for cutting strings in cables and lots of other odd jobs.

I use them for cutting insulation tape so it is all neat

i still got my own teeth for that.

 

[Timbo]

I use them for cutting insulation tape so it is all neat

i still got my own teeth for that.

Doesn't the alcohol in your breath disolve the adhesive?

 

[Tes369]

* Flat ------- cut file.

* Half Round ------- cut file.

* ------- cut Rat tail file.

* Deburing tool (Bacho style)

* Engineers Square small, medium and large.

*Centre punch (spring loaded) = stops your drill wandering when drilling trunking etc...

* Wera big flat head screwdriver black and yellow with metal end for hammering home lock nuts. ( found in toolstation)

 

[Deleted member 26818]

I have scissors on my Swiss Army knife, don’t need another pair in my bag.

 

[telectrix]

Doesn't the alcohol in your breath disolve the adhesive?

nope.it helps it to bond.

 

[The Ghost]

I have often found a use for an access camera as well.

 

[Pete999]

27 years old, come from a domestic general building background; I have taken some pictures of my current tools that I take to site (week 4 as an apprentice)

The electrical company I work for do a lot of everything from domestic, commercial to industrial, I have a small list of tools that I really need but I wanted to know what YOU think are your go to tools when you go to work, can members draft me a small list of tools that they use more often than not when dealing with commercial and industrial please as I would really appreciate your input in building a fair selection of tools for future

IMG 20180826 191933 - https://ibb.co/dd4ML9

https://Upload the image directly to the thread.com/a/sDQIlAl

You seem to have a considerable amount of tools there Dan.
If you don't mind advice from an Old Man, buy what you can afford, don't buy stuff just because it lloks nice,"that's rich coming from a self confessed tool tart" that will come later when you have more spare cash than sense.
Seriously, get yourself a decent Electricians knife, couldn't make one out in your picture, there are plenty to choose from.
I found, I think they were CK or draper, Installation Pliers were very handy, they are about 40 quid, but they come with applications as follows :long nosed pliers, cable strippers and croppers for larger cables and a very basic crimp tool that can get you out of difficult situations, if you don't have a dedicated crimp tool.
One of those magnetic, extendable picker upper jobbies for when you drop something and it's difficult to get your had in to pick things up (provided the bit you dropped is ferrous of course, I also have a Klein Tools torch with a magnetic end and can double as a work light, it also has a glow in the dark ring on it to help you locate it in the dark. You'll soon be a tool tart, take it from one who knows.

 

[telectrix]

judging from the length of your post, pete, it's obvious that you are suffering from "not bought a new tool in ages" syndrome. my advice is to get on the tinternet and find some new tool to satisfy your tool tart craving for another week or so. .

 

[Pete999]

judging from the length of your post, pete, it's obvious that you are suffering from "not bought a new tool in ages" syndrome. my advice is to get on the tinternet and find some new tool to satisfy your tool tart craving for another week or so. .

You're right there Tel, I'm saving up my pennies until I go to ELEX, always a chance of a blag at those dos

 

[Squid]

Bush spanner
Conduit cutter
automatic punch

If a tradesman really needs to use an automatic punch then then should retire. Conduit cutter = hacksaw......

 

[The Ghost]

Ok @SWD I will retire then. Oh no second thoughts as I would not qualify as I don't really need to just like to. So do tell how do you stop drill bit skidding? Hacksaw for conduit cutting? Dearie me you need to update your technique if you worked with me I could fix that bad habit though.

 

[Deleted member 26818]

Is that a cutter for plastic conduit?

 

[Squid]

Ok @SWD I will retire then. Oh no second thoughts as I would not qualify as I don't really need to just like to. So do tell how do you stop drill bit skidding? Hacksaw for conduit cutting? Dearie me you need to update your technique if you worked with me I could fix that bad habit though.

Normal punch and a hammer if you need an automatic one then you are either a tool tart or a gaylord.

I forgot I did proper conduit in the day 32mm none of this poncey plastic stuff........ ;o))))))

 

[Squid]

Is that a cutter for plastic conduit?

Spaghetti.......

 

[The Ghost]

Is that a cutter for plastic conduit?

Yeh like the plumbing ones that clip on and turn, perfect burr free straight cut.

 

[Deleted member 26818]

I have a few cutters that can be used for cutting plastic conduit.
One is for cutting car hoses (SnapOn), the other two are for cutting plastic water pipes (Tool Station and Rothenberger).
So rarely use them that I leave them at home and end up using my junior hacksaw instead.
Using a chop saw or circular saw for metal conduit does help with cutting straight, though it’s a lot of extra weight.
Don’t need a de-burring tool if you have a round file.

 

[Deleted member 26818]

This is what I normally carry.

Hole saws and arbours are kept in the big pocket at the back, along with SDS chuck and 17mm boc spanner.

 

[Ian1981]

Automatic punch??
As in what is it?

 

[Pete999]

Automatic punch??
As in what is it?

 

[The Ghost]

Yeh you just push it and it automatically clicks into material and leaves a small indent to stop skidding I find it very helpful on concrete block walls where they are knobbly it will deliver a drill point accurately even on the high point of the texture of the wall as the drill will tend to gravitate toward a depression every time.

 

[Deleted member 26818]

Automatic punch??
As in what is it?

It’s sprung loaded.
Push down where you want the mark and as you compress the spring, a catch releases and the point punches into the material you want to mark.

 

[static zap]

* Flat ******* cut file.

* Half Round ******* cut file.

* ******* cut Rat tail file.

).

Holy Father-less files BatMan

 

[Jason Philip]

Holy Father-less files BatMan

I see what you did there.