powerline

just started out as electrician i have tools but i want to upgrade i like kleins and greenlee what would you guys buy as a starter

480sparky

What's wrong with mix & match? My pouch has Greenlee, Ideal, Fluke, Craftsman, Klein and Cresent all day long.

Buy the tools that do the job, not look nice together.

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electricalperson

greenlee and klein both have sets of electricians tools you can buy

Speedy Petey

Absolutely, but that is just a starting point.

electricalperson

my tool bag is a big mixture of klein, greenlee, knipex, fluke, craftsman, channellock, stanley etc. its nice to have all matching tools but it doesnt really matter. i like klein because they are a quality product. craftsman on the other hand has a lifetime warrenty on the hand tools so if one breaks you can replace it for free. the keyhole saws are around 5 or 6 bucks and they get replaced for free

Frasbee

I mix and match too.

I don't even use a reamer tool to ream pipe.

For half inch I use my Craftsman needle nose, they have a round groove that's great for cleanin' the outside, and fit nicely to ream it out. If there's any sharp edges I know how to use the tool to wear it down smooth with it too.

Anything larger, I usually have my channels on me to clean 'em up.

Now, there are some occasions, like when a pipe is already fixed in place but had to be cut for some reason, that a reamer tool would be nice. But generally the less tools I have to carry, the better. Any tool that makes my life harder isn't worth owning, so I try to get the most out of the ones I own.

randomkiller

When I started in the hall Klein was the benchmark new guys were judged on right out of the gate and that was just the way it was for a long time. I have learned to buy the best each company has to offer, meters = Fluke, hammer = Estwing, lineman's = Klein, you will find some items are preference, others are by design. Ask the guys you work with. I like Craftsman for sockets and related items but to buy for their return policy alone isn't the way I like to decide.

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TheIrishSparky

Stay away from greenlee hand tools. I learned a expensive lesson stay away from the hand tools !!!!

76nemo

When you are talkin' handheld/smaller tools,.. I put Greenlee right up there with Gardner Bender, they're junk,....almost all of it. Shoot.....they even look generic

Frasbee

What's wrong with Greenlee hand tools?

I have a pair of their 9'' dipped lineman's and they're working fine.

electricalperson

the screwdrivers and nutdrivers are ok but i dont like the pliars with the big handles

TheIrishSparky

I bought the 28 pc master electricans set.The bag is good all the pliers handles came off and I noticed it was harder to cut stuff then with the kleins. The screwdrivers felt small and bent. The utiltiy knif would always open up. On a positive note the strippers and cable cutter were good. But needless to say I replace them with KLEIN

nolabama

klien linesman only at this point (and rachet cutters)- going to all ideal screw sticks shortly - channell lock on dikes and other pliers - wish i could afford or find a local dealer for kinipex - whiha is nice for insulated screw sticks -kobalt makes decent insulated screw sticks if your on a budget- buy german or american cutting knives (pliers that cut or strip) only - my newest klein wire strippers suck - i waited a bit before i bought them to - they are the ones that strip down to #6 stranded - they suck

as for the new cheapo greenlee stuff - i would like to kick a marketing guys rear end for that stuff - i guess it sells at the big box - just not to me

i love my second newest meter - thanks random for the tip - the t-pro fluke -

next meter is a 1000 amp clamp from triplett and a reconditioned megger

after that the 87v

electricalperson

i have the best clamp on you can get. the fluke 337. its true rms 1000 amp cat3 rated. amazon.com sells knipex and its pretty cheap. if you have an electrical whosalers supply shop near you they carry knipex.

on the comment about greenlee tools, a couple supply houses around me actually stopped carrying klein tools and switched to all greenlee. i dont mind the screwdrivers or nutdrivers but the pliars suck. i have the channel locks and there not that bad actually. they are pretty high quality just not my style. im a dipped handle guy. i have the greenlee ratchet cutters that cut 750 copper. they work wonderful and ill never buy another brand of ratchet cutters.

i used to own a greenlee hacksaw but i lost it a long time ago. i dont even know if you can buy it anymore

electricalperson

i think the greenlee tool set is good for a helper. they havnt developed a feel for tools yet. my first tool set i got for christmas and it was a klein set that came with screwdrivers and linesmans.

electricalperson

you can find nice meggers on ebay. i found quite a bit of cool gadgets on ebay like the GFCI tester from the 80s where you can dial in the trip current. does your supply houses carry ideal tools? no one around here sells them

mattsilkwood

has anybody tried that greenlee cable striper? they look pretty good but i hate to pay 60 bucks for something i havent tried.

electricalperson

what do they look like?

nolabama

im not talking about the real greenlee tools such as rachet cutters and cable cutters and stud punches and the like - btw that 65+- dollar cable cutter is great i will trade you the steel handled kliens for it any day - the cutters you are reffering to we call loppers - i couldnt afford the greenlee ratchet cutters at my greenlee dealer (it was 125 more than the kliens) so i bought klien - i have heard that the greenlee is much better


i am talking about the greenlee's sold at the big box stores - i feel crummy when i see that big stupid looking made in taiwan plier sitting next to a dipped klien that is made in america and the greenlee cost 3 dollars less than the klien - that sucks - a new guy is gonna take on look at them and buy the made in taiwan pliers because they look cooler than the ones made in america - my problem comes into this because the tiawan greelee's should cost 5 dollars instead of 3 less than the kliens

and as for the triplett amp clamp yes the fluke is as good as it gets - but you dont work at my shop - one of the guys had one walk off recently - the triplett will do anything i need it to do for a 100 bucks - and i cant seem to find a true rms ac/dc clamp for that price - and all meters are made with slave labor so the greenlee problem is not a factor - and i have absolutly no need in a 1000 amp ammeter anyway

yes my supply house carrys ideal hand tools and i am starting to like there screw sticks alot - tips seem to be a bit better than klien and they really seem to have a good return policy - i broke a tap in a tap reamer first time out and they guys at the counter said "no problem here you go sir" and i like that a lot when it comes to broken tools that i was useing properly - i cant bring myself to try to return a screw stick that i have beaten the end up - its just not right


EDIT :sorry about the lopper thing i thought you were talking about cutters not strippers - i have absolutly no knowledge of a 65 dollar cable stripper are these them ? http://www.toolup.com/greenlee/45000.html

electricalperson

yea i love those ratchet cutters. mine cost about 215 dollars and worth every penny. but i gained some valuable experience with them. i forgot the messenger off the pole was ACSR. so stupid me tries to cut the neutral on a service drop with the cutters and i ruined them. i got a new pair the next day. that was a dangerous job anyway. i had to remove the lateral, coil it up, and fastsen it to a new pole all while it was energized. the guy wanted an underground service installed and it was all located on private property. from now i use a sawzall or boltcutters to cut that messenger. im thinking of buying the small knipex boltcutters for that