Electricians mate tools

[FoxySparky]

Hi all, I have been looking at a job as an electricians mate, but the employer says that we must have our own tools. I have the basics, Screwdrivers, hammer, tape measure, side cutters, wire strippers, and pliers. Now do I need anymore tools and if so which please, I want to be as ready as possible and don't want anything to stand in my way of a job. Thanks In advance

 

[KAS1]

The company always supplies hole saws of all sizes required in fact they supply all wearable items and any specialized tools

 

[VoltzElectrical]

Well, as a 'mate' i started off running kopex and BT cable, but within a couple of months was 2nd fixing smokes, switches, sockets, heaters, lights etc..

Then I was on tube, trunking, singles, looped fire alarm systems, marking up drawings.

After 2 years I was going to meetings with the site agents/ management, running in 180mm SWA, ordering materials, taking deliveries, running men..

At the end of the day, if you get a good man, then use him. 2 years before I got my Gold Card, I was installing 3 phase plant rooms, with all tray, tube, wiring, lights, power, fire alarm, outside lighting, MCCB boards, and wired a whole block of accommodation on price as well as taking care of OUR accommodation/ cooking etc.

Stop pigeonholing people. Some people have the ability, when trusted to step up to the mark, and then some.

 

[GLENNSPARK]

It's just how trusting the Sparkys are. and whether they can afford to lend you their tools I suppose.

the last time i lent anything out my snips got arc`d..
my tool bags are out of bounds now to anyone but myself....

 

[VoltzElectrical]

I usually tell the labourers to take home any tools they've brought in , they can use the stocks and dies, hold the end of a tape measure, fetch the steps, get stuff from the stores, carry my tools, have a good sweep up, lock the site box and unlock it, run the leads out, fetch the drill and drill where I tell them and if they're a good worker come back the next day and not to ask too many questions as I do all the thinking lol

What are they going to learn from that then?

 

[VoltzElectrical]

No, i wouldn't expect the mate to be making off SWA! But from experience if doing conduit or drilling holes for stuffing glands a 20mm holwsaw is pretty usefull. Thats all..

I would, how else are they going to learn, without DOING it?

 

[Mark1985]

Well, as a 'mate' i started off running kopex and BT cable, but within a couple of months was 2nd fixing smokes, switches, sockets, heaters, lights etc..

Then I was on tube, trunking, singles, looped fire alarm systems, marking up drawings.

After 2 years I was going to meetings with the site agents/ management, running in 180mm SWA, ordering materials, taking deliveries, running men..

At the end of the day, if you get a good man, then use him. 2 years before I got my Gold Card, I was installing 3 phase plant rooms, with all tray, tube, wiring, lights, power, fire alarm, outside lighting, MCCB boards, and wired a whole block of accommodation on price as well as taking care of OUR accommodation/ cooking etc.

Stop pigeonholing people. Some people have the ability, when trusted to step up to the mark, and then some.

Well said.. good to see an encouraging and positive post.

I started as mate a few months back for a BMS firm..spent weeks cutting strut and threaded rod(luckily had a chopsaw)..then onto pulling cables and recently as ive got to know the spark im working with he's started explaining everything we're working on and the terminations of the cables we pulled in etc

Anyways my best advice would be turn up on time an be enthusiastic...it'll go a long way..

 

[GLENNSPARK]

lets just all hold our horses here:

an electricians mate is just that:
go fetch this, go get that etc etc etc
you dont take on a mate do you to teach em owt...
they are there to fetch, carry and pull cable.....
afrer seeing some of the dummys on sites i wouldn`t even trust em with that ....

 

[VoltzElectrical]

lets just all hold our horses here:

an electricians mate is just that:
go fetch this, go get that etc etc etc
you dont take on a mate do you to teach em owt...
they are there to fetch, carry and pull cable.....
afrer seeing some of the dummys on sites i wouldn`t even trust em with that ....

Total bore locks glenn. If the blokes who took you on took that view, the you would still be there with a broom and cup of tea in your hand. A good mate is better than an apprentice, ready, willing and able to learn and then do.

 

[Farmelectrics]

If the mates want to learn are trade that's great then go to college and do it properly

 

[GLENNSPARK]

Total bore locks glenn. If the blokes who took you on took that view, the you would still be there with a broom and cup of tea in your hand. A good mate is better than an apprentice, ready, willing and able to learn and then do.

get a grip will ya....lol...

so what happens when these `mates` suddenly show their not your mate at all and bugger of on a 5 week course armed with the free info you provided em eh?....lol
thus further saturating an already over stressed market...lol...

as farm...

 

[VoltzElectrical]

If the mates want to learn are trade that's great then go to college and do it properly

our, our, trade. And what in the hell did college ever teach you about installing 'on site'?

That is the subject of many a contention on this site, so which way do you want it?

 

[ExArmy]

is there a difference here between a mate and an apprentice? my apprentice mainly does labouring jobs, cos that's all he can do at the minute (just short of a year with me) but i always try my best to explain stuff to him and ask him questions and occasionally i let him loose on some actual cables but that's only because i sort of realised it i just make him sweep up all day he will not be interested in anything and be useless, whereas if i teach him well then in 2 years it will pay off as i will be able to charge him out as a spark but only pay him £6/hr!!
thats the main incentive in making me teach him, i'm sure any other one man band with an apprentice feels the same way it's probably completely different in some big companies or in commercial/industrial jobs though

 

[VoltzElectrical]

get a grip will ya....lol...

so what happens when these `mates` suddenly show their not your mate at all and bugger of on a 5 week course armed with the free info you provided em eh?....lol
thus further saturating an already over stressed market...lol...

as farm...

so what you want is a a 'thick as **** labourer - bitch - tea maker, fetch and carry, suck up to your ---, negro 'yessir'. You and me BOTH would be no-where with that. In fact what we got was decent people who took us on, gave us a chance, saw us grow and absorb knowledge, gain qualifications,then, in your case, developed a swelled head and forgot your roots.

FFs Glenn, you only just got your card! Remember where you came from, and who helped you.

 

[KAS1]

They will learn how to labour, to save an electrician doing the donkey work so the electrician can get on doing his skilled work that he is paid to do and take on the responsibilities he is also paid to do and then pass his skills on to the apprentice and or trainees

What are they going to learn from that then?

 

[Farmelectrics]

Keep it calm lads