Best Tools For a Startup Electrician

[Marvo]

When it come to tools and testers I'm a complete brand ----. I spend good money on a few select, high use items but with lesser use tools I buy whatever looks decent and is reasonably priced.

I have mostly Bosch 18v Li-ion cordless but also a couple of Makita 18v items as well. Screwdrivers I have Wiha and side cutters are Knipex just because they're my favourites and I use them on just about every job. Most other items like knife, files, pliers, LED torch, vernier, small hammer, tape measure, small level, etc are relative cheapies from all over.

I don't use an MFT and my separate testers are mostly kyoritsu and uni-t with a few other brands you won't have heard of as well. I have a CK tool bag that was reasonably priced and works well for me.

 

[littlespark]

Everyones talking about CK branded stuff. I didn't know Calvin Klein made tool bags?

 

[Adam W]

Tools are very personal ..... think long and hard about battery tools and don’t skimp on the cheap stuff

I am a Dewalt battery tool tart - great bits of kit ....

A very good point, for example I don't rate DeWalt. I don't think they're awful, I just wouldn't buy them for myself again.

I prefer Bosch Professional; expensive but good.
Milwaukee are also good.
If I was starting again I'd probably give Hitachi a try - they seem like a good balance of price and quality.

 

[Pete999]

I only have one item of Wiha kit, that I bought from a now reformed tool tart on these very forums. It's one of their interchangeable VDE drivers. It's pretty dam fine, useful if you're travelling light, but a bit tiresome during normal installation work. PZ2 for fixing screws, small flat for terminal screws, bigger flat for box screws, even bigger flat for big terminal screws.... changing the blades takes time. But as I say, if you're travelling light it's very handy.

Glad you found it useful SC

 

[SparkyChick]

Glad you found it useful SC

It's great, saves carting lots of drivers around. I use it when I'm doing inspections quite a lot. Especially useful up a big ladder.

 

[JAWS]

The electrician I use has a tool bag full of Knipex and Wiha tools and the odd C.K, he swears by these brands.

 

[Squid]

Also learn to look after your tools as they will look after you.

Some of the tools I use today I have since I was an apprentice back it the 80's lol

 

[telectrix]

What you need above everything else is a really good radio. Something that can drown out the joiners choice of Radio 2.

and the apprentice's ghastly radio 1 drivel "music".

 

[telectrix]

radio 1 used to be a good music station. first broadcast september 1967 after that clown wilson had forced caroline off the air. first track was "Flowers in the Rain". The Move.

 

[littlespark]

Radio 1 was good 80's and 90's.... I cant listen to it anymore.
I'm left with the local commercial station. Radio Boredom... I mean Borders. Got DAB in the van, but its hit and miss depending what road i'm on.

I remember having an old radio the size of my toolbox. Would run on 230v and 110v. Soldered a couple of wires to the battery terminals and could run it off my drill battery too.

 

[AJshep]

My personal preference is knipex. I'm happy to pay for qualify and i agree with most of the posts here, both Whia and Wera are great, I favour both these brands over CK.
CK stuff IMO is overpriced it's not the quality of knipex but the price is on par. The only reason I end up CK stuff in my toolbox is because it's generally what the wholesalers stock.

 

[elsparko]

i get by with mostly just snips and a small flathead screwdriver, ive clipped whole houses using the back of my snips, if i need a chisel i just find a flathead that has been relegated

when buying drills pay attention to their torque, the b&q ---- is cheap because youre just aswell doing it by hand

basics i would say are
snips
pliers
long nose pliers
screwdrivers
hacksaw junior and senior
woodsaw
padsaw, both types
tape measure
pencils/marker pens
set square
string and chain to make a "mouse"
adjustable spanners
ratchet set
voltage/continuity tester
a small hammer
a big hammer
a note pad

and of course a toolbox or bag to put these in, should manage to get all this including a drill for around £500

decent drill, screwfix have a deal on the brushless dewalt for 150

 

[telectrix]

my basic toolkit:

for drivers..wiha interchangeables and bahco (irazola) fixed blade
sidecutters..NWS
cordless AEG drill and impact driver
SDS... hitachi 24V and Makita 110V
megger 1553

 

[Toneyz]

Everyones talking about CK branded stuff. I didn't know Calvin Klein made tool bags?

Only need a spare pair when things go ---- up.

 

[telectrix]

or a wet fart.