CanadianBrad

You could definitely send your tester my way, shoot me a PM about that when that time arises. I love having that stuff kicking around.

My boss bitches to no end when he sees guys stripping with linesmen. He once bought 12 sets of strippers and put them in everyone's pouch, said he wasn't giving raises, but if you were so hard up for cash you couldn't afford a cheapie tool he'd shell out for ya.

bubb_tubbs

I've done both high rise resi and stick frame resi. I just can't stand it.

It's always been either boring, repetitive jobs or custom homes that are interesting but frustrating as hell because the ****** planners/decorators/owners can't make up their minds about layout and you end up doing the same rooms 200 times.

CanadianBrad

Sounds like fun. Back when I used to do brickwork, it used to be the same story. You'd be doing those fake stone exteriors(tons of fun, let me tell ya), and have some homeowner standing over your shoulder, trying to arrange for you.

slovak044

Thanks everyone for the advice. Ive decided to not buy the set and buy individually. Most likely most of it will come from sears( since I get a discount might as well take advantage) I actually work in the lawn and garden section so I took a more thorough look at the tool section which thanks to my fiancé that is a tool consultant at sears showed me that sears has an electrical section primarily of greenlee stuff. But to let everyone know sears sells these brands:

Craftsman, craftsman professional, knipex, channel lock, greenlee, wiha, and fluke

chewy

Get the insulated Wiha screwdriver set, its made in Germany and is real quality. You hopefully wont need the insulation but they really are top knotch screwdrivers.

Frasbee

I know what the Sears has around me. They have Knipex, too. Those adjustable pliers can't be beat.

astrodoggie3000

I bought the insulated Wiha set for 36 dollars at Sears. Use them every day at a copper mine, (real dirty work) and they are the best i have ever seen! The proof is with the PH2... it looks perfect, minus some of the black coating on the tip. My brand new Klein drivers showed twisting after only a few days of use. I was a little worried the insulated drivers would take a beating, but they are more durable than you think.

sayn3ver

I am a union inside wiremen apprentice as well...about 1 year in at the moment.

All I can recommend is to have all the tools on the required tool list with you. I keep all my tools in a CLC 1539 per some guys on this site. i like that it zips up and makes throwing it in a gang box a no brainer. It holds a hack saw with ease and I can carry my whole kit in one bag and don't have to worry about stuff falling out if it gets tipped over. Heavy as all hell when loaded up. I looked at the veto bags but the price and the lack of easy storing bigger items like a hacksaw turned me off. I still might get one in the future...who knows.


The 1st year tool list is kind of a joke, at least mine was. It was about 8 items long or so...something like the following (my list is out in the car with my books so this is a rough guess of what is on it)

1)Pencil
2)Screwdriver set
3)Hammer
4)Knife
5)Side cutting pliers
6)torpedo level
7)slip-joint pliers
8)drywall saw

I was lucky/unlucky with my first job as I got on it early and it is still going on.

I have "disobeyed" and picked up tools listed on the journeyman's tool list too make life easier. I simply was tired of asking to borrow tools to complete tasks my foreman was asking me to complete.

1)Rotosplit. I picked up two. One for smaller MC wires like 12-2 all the way to 10-3 (10-7 depending on who you speak with...3 conductors, 3 grounded conductors and a ground). I also bought one for 1/2-3/4" flexible metal conduit. While I was told this was a contractor supplied item, I picked one up because other journeymen I was working with had them. It also made all the security doors on the job a breeze instead of using a hacksaw. Almost every door on the job needed 4 flexes...about 25 doors or so per floor times seven floors. I like the seatek brand. Made in USA and doesn't have a funky clamp system like the Ideal or some plastic adjustment pin like the Kline item.

2)Open-end box wrenches. I know for most commerical work all one really needs are a handful of SAE sizes but mostly 7/16" and 9/16". I bought a full set of 26 (13 SAE 13 metric) wrenches (one of the last sets of craftsman professionals forged in the USA). I know our journeymen's list requires SAE from 1/4"-15/16" or something to that effect. I know in the future we will be seeing more metric items. Also, the price was only a little more for the full set.

I will be getting a small set of the open end box wrenches with the ratcheting box end in the future in just the most common sizes I use. These are a must for hanging trapeze, tightening conduit straps and most work. These are hard to find Made in USA and I might just settle for the gearwrench brand as they have a good reputation.



Belts/bags/totes...my thoughts so far

Now, I have been using a carpenter's toolbelt setup I was using to do home renovations with a family friend while I was in college. It is a big ol' nylon framing setup with shoulder straps. I used to be the tool mule on that job and would have to haul all kinds of stuff for my boss. IE. We would be flashing windows on the side of a house up on ladders, and I would have several different tin snips, hand brakes, flashing nails, etc etc.

I get my balls busted everyday because of it. I also agree that its too big and too heavy for this job. I just purchased my first nail apron (the new klein item...like a revised carhartt apron). The big tool belt setup is nice when I'm working solo up on a 10ft ladder. I was pulling MC and splicing up floor boxes from the floor below and having everything I needed at hand was nice. However it is big, it is bulky and it gets heavy on my back and shoulders...even with just the few essentials in it.

I am going to try the apron thing out. However, without a cart I dunno how well thats gonna work out. I think a small open tote and my apron might work best and leave the heavy tool bag in the gang box with all the required stuff.

I've been devicing out the last few weeks and the small open tote that sits next to you is real nice for that kind of work.

It seems like overkill but the big bag + small tote + apron might work best for this kind of work for me. Big bag stores all the required kit in the gang box. The small tote holds a variety of hand tools needed for the day but is worlds lighter and keeps them off of me. Finally the apron is there for wirenuts, hardware, pencils and the job specific tools for task at hand that go to and from the tote when done.



Do not get too hung up on brand names for stuff like side cutters or screwdrivers. My kline sidecutters almost need replacing already (mostly from cutting stuff I shouldn't and from using them as a hammer). Screwdrivers wear out no matter which brand. I picked up the kline journeyman 7 piece set for cheap ($35) online. When these are shot i'll try some other brand.

My beater slotted driver is an Ideal I received for free from the Ideal tool rep in class one night. Take a look at them too. Apparently, ideal just bought a bunch of factories here in the USA and all their hand tools will be made here from now on. They apparently had an issue last year with shipments being held up overseas due to politics/the foreign government. So far the thing is holding up like a champ. I've been chiseling, prying, carving, and doing demo with it for 3 months now and it looks pretty good.

slovak044

had my interview yesterday and found out if im accepted that my local will provide a set of tools. not sure what all this includes but i was preety happy to hear that

Dave L

I am hoping thats the way it may work for me. I am trying to get into a power plant and I know they supply everything - I think it might even be a policy. I am in school but that hasnt stopped me from buying pretty much everything that has been recommended on this site - Klien, Ideal, Wera, Wiha, Knipex, Channellock, Felo, Fluke.

slovak044

yea i know how i am ill end up buying a lot of stuff..i enjoy buying an using new tools/toys

CanadianBrad

I think it's pretty standard for heavy industry sites, especially unionized ones, to provide all the equipment. One of our primary sites is unionized by the UFCW, not IBEW, and provides all tools, equipment, and apparel. The only thing the staff are expected to provide are steel-toed boots, and they offer a yearly boot allowance.

However, having purchased my own tools(a full set of basic hand tools, a cordless drill, and an impact driver), I'm glad that I bought my own stuff, and got exactly what I wanted. I also like carrying more than an eight-tool pouch(like the local maintenance guys). It's pretty funny when a maintenance guy gets called to fix something, and shows up while everyone is freaking out because this uber-important machine is down. He shows up with his little tool sling, looks, and has to go back down to the maintenance shop to get a stubby screwdriver because there's no clearance for his 8" Robertson. Then, he comes back, gets the cover open, and has to go back to the shop again because the batteries in his rarely-used meter are dead. When he gets back, he discovers that he needs a certain hex key, and goes to find it. After five trips to and from the shop, and 30 minutes wasted wandering around, he's completed the job.

For the OP: It's nice to have a job that'll provide stuff for you, but I'd seriously recommend picking up stuff as time goes on, just to assemble your own set. Then, should you change jobs, you've already got them. Also allows you to do work on the side. It's a bonus that you don't have that financial burden on your shoulders straight off the bat, though.

slovak044

that's what i plan on doing especially because Ive already started to pick up some small side jobs but like you said its nice i don't have to worry about getting a bunch of stuff right away if accepted

TattooMan

Non insulated drivers - Felo

Insulated drivers - Wera

11 in 1 - Klein

Insulated and non insulated pliers - knipex

Hack saw - Lenox

A nice hard hat with a nice pad is a good investment as well. A strong yet lightweight one will save your neck. Skull guard is a good brand

nolabama

They would run me for that

__________________
“Dammit, Smithers, this isn’t rocket science, it’s brain surgery!”

nolabama

I would go with craftsman pro and the good greenlee...they is some good greenlee left in the sears

__________________
“Dammit, Smithers, this isn’t rocket science, it’s brain surgery!”