Full 4 3/4" x 4 3/4" cut.

 

I would say it's about how you use your tools and not what ones you have. I see guys all the time show up with a truck full of tools to do a simple job like lighting retros. They spend most of their time organizing, moving things around, looking for a tool when then one they have in their hand would do the job just fine etc. They waste more time then anything so as far as impressing me they tend to fail.

Just like if you have the best work clothes, are they kept clean so it looks like you're lazy? Or are they filthy so it looks like you hard instead of smart. It can go either way. Get what you need to do the job at hand and save your money in your bank account where it belongs.

 

I like the band saw suggestion a whole lot. Another ''tool'' would be the Mike Holt library on DVD which if put to proper use, will pay for itself over and over.

 

The apprentices now are lazier than they used to be.
They all need a battery bandsaw or sawzall when a hacksaw would be quicker and lighter to carry.

I am tired of the time wasted with the dead batteries and looking for somewhere to charge them.

The hacksaw is quicker unless you are cutting over 1-1/2" pipe.

 

I use a hacksaw for up to 2" metal and a pvc saw for up to 4" pvc.

It let's me eat a breakfast, 6 taco lunch, protien smoothie, and big dinner without getting fat.

 

I've encountered a few that didn't have the best tool of all. Your mind and thought process. Simple pre task planning, visualizing the next step needed to be done before asked to do it.
It appears you have what you NEED as far as your tool bag goes. Wants can come later. Focus on that thought process.

 

Just buy good quality tools as you need them, basic hand tools get the average electrician through his life i the trade.

Union or open shop?

 

I don't work for any union, just an open shop. I feel like I am completely set when it comes to tools for the most part. Just didn't know if there was tools out there that the average electrician doesn't have but it actually really comes in handy. Like I'm considering buying a circuit tracer, a cordless band saw, and a cordless rotary hammer. Might hold off on the band saw and rotary hammer until I am almost a journeyman, because its hard to fit all this stuff in my little car. But the circuit tracer I am probably going to buy asap.

 

I agree with others above you don't want to go too far with this as a way of standing out, you sound like you're bringing more than adequate gear.

One that I'll suggest just because it seems like fewer people are carrying them, a Knopp K-60 solenoid type tester. It's a real good tool, keeps you safe, and may occasionally help troubleshooting if nobody else has a solenoid tester or lowZ meter to see if some oddball voltage is the dreaded phantom voltage.

If you want to stand out in a way that EVERYONE will respect, try to master the ART, and it is an art, of being the guy that has what he needs on him when it's needed as much as possible. I haven't mastered it myself, it's impossible to know just what you're going to need sometimes.

But if you keep

pencil
paper
sharpie
knife
flashlight
pliers
9-in-1
tape
ticker

ON YOUR PERSON AT ALL TIMES you're way ahead of the average cat around here.

 

The thing about my company, is that they will supply power tools to us like the band saw and rotary hammer, or like a grinder. Things like that, but! and let me tell you... its a HUGE BUT... They are corded tools. There is nothing I hate more than lugging around extension cords all day every day! Sometimes I'll be in a place that doesn't even have power yet!! So I rather just buy the damn cordless ones, those corded tools are very time consuming and just an all around hassle.

One that I'll suggest just because it seems like fewer people are carrying them, a Knopp K-60 solenoid type tester. It's a real good tool, keeps you safe, and may occasionally help troubleshooting if nobody else has a solenoid tester or lowZ meter to see if some oddball voltage is the dreaded phantom voltage.

I looked up this tester, won't it serve the same purpose as a regular multimeter? Which is what I have now

 

dont forget, at the end of the day you are still compensated for that unproductive time spent hooking up extensions cords "all day every day"

I feel that unproductive time is more for the employer to worry about lol. I wouldn't sweat it.

 

Somehow we worked for decades with corded tools, some of them are still around. I worked for a shop when I was first sent out as an apprentice in the early 80s, I went back 20 years later and they still had all of the same corded tools, the larder ones but, I could tell they were old and the ones I used as an apprentice.
All of the battery tools seem to come and go based on the battery technology.

 

Its the person more than the tools. The K60 is a great simple tester. Use that more than any of the multimeters on the truck.

 

Get a magnet that attaches to your meter so you can hang it nearby whatever you're trouble shooting and use both hands to works the leads.

 

Ah, that's actually a pretty nice tip. I really like that! Taking your advice up on this one, thanks :thumbup:

Attitude and understanding (not just knowledge)
is what sets apart good electricians and bad electricians.
it don't matter what tools you got
if your a dip stick then no amount of tools
will change that !

Could not agree more, well said.

Its the person more than the tools. The K60 is a great simple tester. Use that more than any of the multimeters on the truck.

Yeah seams like a couple guys in this thread are talking highly of the K60 type of tester, I'm very intrigued. Going to do a lot of research on it now, maybe I'll pick one up on amazon. We'll see after I read up!

And I seriously doubt your knowledge about the trade or union or you would realize for a union apprentice to buy tools outside the union approved list and bring them to work could put a serious damper on his future in the union.

I know nothing about unions, but why would going over what it is expected by you a bad thing in unions? Lets say bandsaw is not on the union approved list, it will be a bad thing for me to bring one?

 

Attitude and understanding (not just knowledge)
is what sets apart good electricians and bad electricians.
it don't matter what tools you got
if your a dip stick then no amount of tools
will change that !

 

If you are union never mind. It will just get stolen anyway.

 

Pull out an old school electricians knife and start stripping wire with it. That will definitely set you apart. :no:

 

That's how I learned ... but I started using my dikes ... still do.

Ground makes a perfect rip cord.

I can do alot without a tool belt. Dikes, tester,flashlight, and a multi. Fits in my pockets :whistling2:

 

No tool sets you apart.
Here is some of what is important. Applied knowledge not just knowledge because any jack ass can look something up on their smartphone but the key is being able to apply it in the field; initiative; listening skills; anticipation; own your mistakes and do not blame others for them;knowing how to lay out using prints and laying out conduit runs so it doesn't look like a complete mess with unnecessary bends; communication skills; not being a gossip whore or **** talker and maybe the most important thing is to not be an a-hole
Just a few things but there are more and they are more important than any shiny new tool

 

Southwire makes one of those magnets too.

 

Lol nom deplume, you're exactly what no electrician from either side of the coin should strive to be. Actually, make that no human being from any walk if life.

 

You are certainly free to do what you want but there is no way that I would have a corded or cordless tool of any kind as an employee or any hand bender.

Your contractor should be providing those tools and if they don't and it slows you down then that is on them and not you. Are you afraid to ask for the proper tools because they might send you down the road?

 

I agree to a point. Cordless drills should be added to any list. They are cheap and an essential tool used every day. Last thing I want to grab is an old beat up drill used by somebody else the day before.

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It depends on what type of electrical work you are in will determine what tools you need to get to get you out of a bind..For example, if you asked me where my drywall saw, sawzall, or utility knife are, I'd have to think cuz I think it's on a shelf in my garage. However, if you asked my where my 1/2" ez out, 5 point socket, VFS screwdrivers or DC clamp on ammeter are I could tell you with fairly good precision..

My first journeyman had a pretty good practice.. If I needed a tool of any kid I could borrow it ONCE.. After that I was expected to have it myself...

 

Toolage does not an electrician make.....:no:~CS~:no:

 

righty o there cs
you can have all the best tools there are but if they show no signs of use it reflects back on you as less knowledgeable:laughing:
the best tool you have is your brain chose tools you are going to use and the ones you use most often carry those!
less often used tools leave in your van tool box( a whole lot less to carry around)

while your young the excess weight may not be a problem but the older you get the heavier your tools get( and you dont want your beer drinking arm to be too tired at the end of the day:thumbsup

 

The best tool I've ever bought is the m12 bandsaw hands down. That is one versatile tool in our trade. Cut pipe, wire, flex, strut, rod, din rail etc one handed in a lift if you have to


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If your running lots of strut and tray the metal cutting saw is a beauty too just a bit loud. Some sort of sds hammer drill speeds up drilling tapcons and concrete anchors big time as well. All of these tools make it harder to put in a real hard days work though. Good and bad depending on how fit you are after hours.


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A wiggy is a limited tool these days. I do not carry one anymore. I use a tic tracer and if that throws me a ghost voltage I get out the fluke 66.

The Milwaukee hackzall has replaced my sawzall as my go to cordless for cutting pipe and all thread. It balances in my hand and is only 100 bucks and the battery lasts through 1-200 cuts depending on material. I used to hold the pipe in one hand and swing the sawzall up with my hip to drop it on the pipe. The hackzall is so much easier.

For new big building work the best tool is the little plastic push cart full of the day's essential crap but that is usually supplied by the company

When you start troubleshooting you will want a sophisticated tracer tool so save your Pennies they cost 800+.

If you have 2 crescent wrenches your compression fittings will look better than most guys since they usually use channel locks on one side.

Drill bits for wood framed buildings are another area. Having many brands and sizes and lengths of the same diameter hole is very helpful since framers like to put 4 studs together in a 12" bay when they are "problem solving". I use a 6" bit to start then a 12" if I can wedge it in. Then an 18" to hit the next stud since no drill will fit. Ah framers.

 

Drill bits for wood framed buildings are another area. Having many brands and sizes and lengths of the same diameter hole is very helpful since framers like to put 4 studs together in a 12" bay when they are "problem solving". I use a 6" bit to start then a 12" if I can wedge it in. Then an 18" to hit the next stud since no drill will fit. Ah framers.

I don't do much residential so I never bothered to acquire many bits, but this tip is an absolute must if you are doing that kind of work.

 

This will make you stand out. But may I ask why? If you have a good tool on a crew more then likely everyone will borrow it until it is broke. Then no one will have claim to see it. If you want to stand out as a apprentice make sure to show up on time,learn, not take part in some of the smack talking,and don't complain. It is not the tools that make the man. Things like the sds drill should be provided by any decent company. I have a bandsaw only because we provide three power tools at my company and my sawzall was heading to a early death. Some of my nice fluke meters have walked off and it was the people on the same crew. Don't have too nice of things. I know a mechanic who can do a faster nicer motor rebuild with a 5 gallon bucket of tools then anyone I met with a 13,000 dollar snap on box. He seriously uses a bucket too.


Living the dream one nightmare at a time[emoji769]

 

This will make you stand out.

I have a number of things like those, including a newer Rigol oscilloscope and a function frequency generator but I can't see how having those would help most apprentice electricians stand out.

Though, he might stand out if he builds one from scratch haha.

 

I love my m12 bandsaw! But my best tool is my brain! Or lack thereof.

 

Maybe instead of focusing on tools work on some odd ball certifications that would help your company out. For example we had an outside company come in and put a zwave home automation system in for one of our nicer homes that we maintain so I am in process of becoming a certified installer and maintainer for it without prompting, don't know if there's something like that or a solar installers cert something along those lines that parallels your companies target customer base and expands on a parallel path to your electrical training.

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