I'm wanting to learn as much as I can about Electrical supplies and tools and the different brands out there. Any suggestions or comments??? :) thanks.
I don't think brands are necessarily as important as finding the tools that fit what you do. Example, I do a lot of replacing outlets, switches, and light fixtures. I have found that I absolutley have to have a good pair of wire plastic cover removers( I had to word it this way for ebays filters to alow it through), staight and bent needle nose pliers, a line tester ( the kind that beeps if the line is hot) and a small interchangable screwdriver. This of course is not the supplies a professional electrician would have, but I do home restoration and rental maintenance and these are my most useful tools.
I find in hand tools that is not so much as who make But what material is in them, e.g. look for high carbon steel for long wear and multi tools . Reserve buying a tool that you only thin you will use, but have yet an application. I have too many hanging around because of that reason.
hey--just a thought,but it helps to be in the electrical industry and have some knowlege about how things work.This makes it alot easier to deal with the supplies and tools.You need to know what to do or somebody can get hurt bad.Electricty must be respected all the time!
Yes, if there is major rewiring to be done, by all means call an electrician. For small jobs like puting in outlets and fixtures it is way too expensive to call a "Professional" every time. I work on rental houses and if I called an electrician for every little thing I would be bankrupt. SO yes, be safe, but don't over do it.
Hello jamie8506 this is in response to your question about different brands of electrical tools. I will state this and it could be argued that as far as hydraulic tools that Greenlee or Enerpac are superior to other if any but not in testers.
In Testers I would choose a Fluke or Ideal which recently has become a great product.
In Hand Tools then a pair of 9" Kleins along with a Channel Lock brand of diagonal pliers and either Ideal or Klein strippers. A Thomas and Betts crimpers with cutting pliers and Channel Lock 426 (baby Channel Lock pliers) Klein nut driver set, 6" square shank straight screwdriver, 4" #2 Phillips, (2) 440, 460, and possibly 430 Channel Lock pliers. Also bit set with torx, square, allen,and assorted phillips tips to fit a 1/4" screwdriver or screwdriving set of some sort.
Of course these are just suggestions from someone in the field that has been doing electrical data and electronic work for 36 years or since 1972.
As an experienced electrician, i have tried many different tool brands. Klein tools are GREAT if you have the ability not to lose them. If they get broken or worn, you can simply take them into an lowes or home depot and they will exchange them for free. This is why Klein tools cost so much. But if you cannot keep from losing them, they aren't worth the $$$. The linesmans are a must, regardless.
I rewired my entire house, it had 1920's wiring I ran all new, and put in new switches, as well as placed every room on it's own breaker, I bought several books on home wiring the best one was from readers diegest it is How to fix dang near everything the revised edition so it has been recently updated , it also gives detailed examples and compairisons of products as well as diagrams for wiring it is a good book for home repairs
as an industrial electrician you get what you pay for ..Klien is the very best ! channel locks are the same but lowes and Home Depot are coming right along with there line of tools (love the life time warranty)
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