What Personal Hand Tools Should an Electrician Have?

Any electrician's tool bag will show a wide variety of tools. Some are there for convenience but some are a necessity if the job is to be performed correctly.

Screwdrivers

Wiring and installing devices, connecting wires to circuit breakers, attaching cover plates and tightening connectors are some of the things an electrician will need a screwdriver for.

Pliers/Strippers

Most electricians will carry a few pairs of pliers in their tool bag, including side-cutting and needle-nose pliers. Some pliers come with notches built in to allow for stripping the jacket off standard gauge wires, but many electricians will also have one or more pairs of wire strippers.

Fishing Equipment

Any time an "old work" (already existing construction) job needs to be done, wires will have to be pulled or "fished" through walls. Whether it's steel fish tapes, fiberglass fish poles or a spool of poly-line, there will be some way to pull wires through walls on every electrician's truck.

Measuring Tools

Accuracy is key in electrical work. Putting a hole for a box in the wrong place or mismeasuring a run of wire could result in a lot of extra work and wasted materials. Good measuring devices such as a tape measure and/or a laser measuring device are a must for anyone doing electrical work.

Cutting Tools

Installing a new light switch, receptacle or fixture where there was none before will require a tool to make the appropriate-sized hole. Many electricians carry jab-saws, drywall knives or keyhole saws to allow them to get through drywall or plaster walls quickly without making too much of a mess.

References

• Electrical Contractor
• College Grad