Toolkit

[DrSnooze]

That too! unfortunately h and s has got outta hand with all the personal claims coming through find a risk with almost everything usful , oh well life sucks

 

[WarrenG]

Big D62

The first link are for the Irazola Tekno Plus models and the bottom link is for the Irazola Premium range. The Techno Plus are far superior and as stated by WarrenG have a much better grip on them. If you go to the Toolman Yardley website you can pick up a set of these for £24 quid, bought 6 sets off there last month and they were delivered within 3 days.

Been a major tool junkie I can honestly say I have tried most major brands out there. I started with Wera Slipstops (The grooves soon wore out), then Facom (Broke the head off a few, however replaced with no question by Facom), Bacho (No problems) , CK (Bit slippy) , and now onto Irazola Techno Plus which are in my opinion worth every penny. Great bit of kit.

For pliers/sidecutters etc I would never use anything but Knipex.

My voltage meter is a Fluke T5-1000 and my Multi is a Megger MFT1553, both of which I have no problems with at all.

Hope this helps.

eskimo - sounds like you have my kit there - Irazola, Knipex, Fluke, Megger - except my Meggers an old 1552......lol

 

[OilBeDamned]

absolutly, i dont see the problem with them, from my experience on site there is much more to worry about than a stanley! plant, nail guns, saws etc. My point is that ive worked with many sparks with many , many years experiance and not one uses an electricians knife, stanleys rule!

Their reasoning behind banning stanleys on some sites is that the blade can become stuck in the outter sheath of a cable when your stripping it causing it to "jump" as you drag it along, this makes it more likely to rip open your arm/leg or whatever.

I have worked on these sites and everyone smuggles their baldes in as the locking blade utility knife they provide is worse than useless.

Buy a pair of kelvar gloves though, best bit of safety kit you could ever buy. Will stop you slicing your hand open.

 

[BigD62]

That too! unfortunately h and s has got outta hand with all the personal claims coming through find a risk with almost everything usful , oh well life sucks

Many thanks to all. Passed on these details to the lads on my course and we were grateful for the info. In know feel more confident in not wasting my money. We had our class tonight and three lads said they had joined the site and found it brilliant so again thanks.
PS any hints on the right tool or gadgets for faster armoured stripping? apart from the Kew Technik Cutter which seemed to be inconsistent, fiddly and at £24 Expensive ?
Regards
Duncan BigD62

 

[WarrenG]

Don't think you will find a good one without paying the money. Pretty sure knipex do one as well but a stanley knife and good hacksaw will do the job cheaper.

Here's Knipex knifes

KNIPEX - The Pliers Company. - Insulated Cable Knives - (http://www.pliers-online.com)

 

[OilBeDamned]

Many thanks to all. Passed on these details to the lads on my course and we were grateful for the info. In know feel more confident in not wasting my money. We had our class tonight and three lads said they had joined the site and found it brilliant so again thanks.
PS any hints on the right tool or gadgets for faster armoured stripping? apart from the Kew Technik Cutter which seemed to be inconsistent, fiddly and at £24 Expensive ?
Regards
Duncan BigD62

Stanley knife and a jnr hacksaw/hacksaw.

Just over a quarter of the price and gives you a far better finish.

 

[misterfranki]

Ha ha, I remember this dillemma when starting out, as I am sure we all do. I researched every brand and model and every tool - very sad!!
I have seen many app's go out and buy the C.K Technicians kit for a hundred odd quid. They do have lots of bits and pieces, only problem is the app's tend not to want to use their sparkly tools in their gleaming case. Lol. They tend to borrow mine, and next thing they are missing, never to be seen again. Then I moan to the boss and get a new set!!!!!!Yeah, right.

Everyone is giving great info here, but just put a spanner in the works (no pun intended) I do think the CK tools are probably the better of the average tools, and the tools supplied in the technicians kit is a good starting point for around the ton mark. Hers a link: CK RUCKSACK ELECTRICIANS TECHNICIANS PREMIUM TOOL KIT on eBay, also, Cases Bags, Laptop Accessories, Computing (end time 17-Jan-09 16:26:31 GMT)

I don't know about the rest of you, but most of my tools need replacing on a yearly basis. And, NO, they are just tools and get treated like tools!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[BigD62]

Thanks guys. Hacksaw and knife it is !
Many thanks for all Forum Members for your input retools. Lucky for me its Santa's visiting time soon and with your help, I have sorted out a wish list.

Funny thing,Tools arn't always cheaper on ebay. with the links you have individually sent me I have saved a few quid.THANKS
Its fair to say the knipex VDE 250mm water pump pliers I won on ebay for £10 were a result so it pays to shop around.

merry christmas fellow trainee & qualified sparkies

Regards
Duncan BigD62

 

[WarrenG]

Thanks guys. Hacksaw and knife it is !
Many thanks for all Forum Members for your input retools. Lucky for me its Santa's visiting time soon and with your help, I have sorted out a wish list.

Funny thing,Tools arn't always cheaper on ebay. with the links you have individually sent me I have saved a few quid.THANKS
Its fair to say the knipex VDE 250mm water pump pliers I won on ebay for £10 were a result so it pays to shop around.

merry christmas fellow trainee & qualified sparkies

Regards
Duncan BigD62

And they too will come in handy well done and good choice!

Its each and too their own with tools but you usually find you will be on a job and think to yourself 'ah could do with a....' and go get one. The next time you do a simliar job that tool will be invaluable.

I start losing my mind if I can't find my bradawl. Yet other sparks I know think nothing of using their terminal screwdriver to make a hole. Some I have known use a set screwdrivers from the pound shop.

Not me I use the right tools and look after them it keeps me safe

 

[Marty48]

there is a tool that is soon to launch (approx 6/12) that will make the bladerunner look like a concrete parachute. if you want a tool that cuts the outer layer of insulation and steel strands in both circumferential and axial planes , works on cable sizes upto 50mm (thats the physical diameter of the cable) and can be used on other concentric cables (yy etc) then you might want to save your hard earned till then?
thanks for the comments posted on this thread it is invaluable for market research. hope you like

 

[Sparky_Ben]

Any more information on that new tool would be helpfull. Any links available?
thanks

 

[Marty48]

Any more information on that new tool would be helpfull. Any links available?
thanks

love to say yes but not at manufacturing stage yet. can say that expect to pay around £90 for it. will be a quality tool that you can expect to use for many years and certainly make your job easier.

 

[senor_fabulous]

Quote:
Originally Posted by eskimo39
Big D62

The first link are for the Irazola Tekno Plus models and the bottom link is for the Irazola Premium range. The Techno Plus are far superior and as stated by WarrenG have a much better grip on them. If you go to the Toolman Yardley website you can pick up a set of these for £24 quid, bought 6 sets off there last month and they were delivered within 3 days.

Been a major tool junkie I can honestly say I have tried most major brands out there. I started with Wera Slipstops (The grooves soon wore out), then Facom (Broke the head off a few, however replaced with no question by Facom), Bacho (No problems) , CK (Bit slippy) , and now onto Irazola Techno Plus which are in my opinion worth every penny. Great bit of kit.

For pliers/sidecutters etc I would never use anything but Knipex.

My voltage meter is a Fluke T5-1000 and my Multi is a Megger MFT1553, both of which I have no problems with at all.

Hope this helps.

eskimo - sounds like you have my kit there - Irazola, Knipex, Fluke, Megger - except my Meggers an old 1552......lol

Guys great minds do think alike. I like the knipex stuff, if you cant afford snap on knipex is the next best, I like the cobra pump pliers with fixable ratchet jaw great for doing just about everything couplers, bushes,glands you name it. Might be worth investing in a second pair if you can afford to, second pair dont have to be knipex but will come in handy especially when tubing. Combination pliers and long nose and side cutters (i mainly use mine for trimming cable ties) are also a wise investment. Wire strippers i would not bother with, get some choppers/croppers the wholesaler will know what you want - great for t+e, singles fp. As for screwdrivers I'm a fan of Irazola but what you will use mostly is a decent terminal (insulated) driver, number 2&3 pozi a big flat head for roofing/gutter bolts and a smallish flat for socket/switch screws. So dependin on your budget and what you do, I would go for comfort, magnetic tips are always handy. Keep in mind it is only as a last last last resort that you will be working live so not all screwdrivers, knives, saws etc have to be insulated) a good voltage/continuity tester is a must i have a fluke T3 which is ok but i do like the ones that vibrate when voltage is present (been in a few cramped noisy placeswhere i have not been able to see the led's or the beep )dont go mad as mentioned in other posts build up your tools as you go along, as some will get broken lost or stolen. A good battery drill for screwdriving, hole cutting. Get one with a 13mm chuck to accomodate holesaw arbors, and look for one with a spare battery and can hold a decent charge - look at the Ah and battery type. If first fixing masonry dont rush out and buy a 110v drill or a 24v/28v/36v drill as alot of firms will provide these but if you do think about what you will be using it for and shop around. Make sure its sds and while you are at it think about getting a keyless sds chuck adaptor - e bay is a good place to start, wholesalers b&q diy stores always have deals every now and again. Hope this helps long winded i know, and best of luck.

 

[eskimo39]

How strange only a few weeks ago I sold the 1553 and bougt a 1552 as I didn't need the bluetooth!!!!

 

[BigD62]

Hi guys & Gals if your outv there!
Im half way through the first year of the 2330.Your advice has been great re tools. Warren,I now have Knipex hand tools and Irazola screw drivers and they both perform.Im now at the stage where I want to start practice testing my work, so my new request is for your thourghts re tester, ie Megger or |Robin, Fluke,Martingdale each trainer at our college has their pet products so what are your words of wisdom?