How to Outfit an Electrician's Tool Box for Carpenter Skills

Residential housing electricians use carpentry skills when wiring a house for electricity.

Electricians specializing in remodeling and new residential construction jobs routinely use simple carpentry skills. A residential electrician's tool box must be outfitted with carpenter's tools as well as tools of the electrician's trade. Both basic carpenter's power tools and hand tools are used during installation of ceiling fans, lighting fixtures, electrical outlets and wiring for appliances. Sometimes electricians have to remove and replace wall studs or block up the framing structure, so a ceiling- or wall-mounted fixture can be precisely placed.

Things You'll Need

• Power drill
• High-speed worm drill bits
• Wood bits
• 90-degree drill
• Power saw
• Cut-off saw
• Reciprocated saw
• Finish hammer, non-serrated
• Framing hammer
• Pry bar
• Nail puller
• Five-in-one screwdriver/nutdriver
• Sliding T-bevel
• Square
• Steel measuring tape
• Pencil
• Eye goggles
• Safety glasses

Instructions

1. 

   Wear eye protection while operating a power drill.

   Supply your tool box with power tools for drilling holes and cutting boards. Electricians have to drill holes in studs for running wires to locations. A power drill with various bits, such as wood bits and high-speed worm bits are needed. A 90-degree -- or right-angle -- drill is used for those hard-to-reach places. Various power saws make the work easier. Besides a circular saw for basic board cutting, two other saws are very helpful: a cut-off saw that allows cutting close to the wall and a reciprocating saw -- a tool with a long blade that makes a short stroke -- for cutting in tight spaces.

2. 

   Hammers, screwdrivers and basic carpentry tools are needed in an electrician's tool box.

   Add basic carpenter's hand tools to your electrician's tool box. A framing hammer, finish hammer, pry bar and nail puller are used for removing or placing studs and boards. An assortment of screwdrivers and nut drivers, or a five-in-one tool, is essential for removing old fixtures or installing new ones. For precision work, you'll need measuring and squaring tools: steel measuring tape, square, sliding T-bevel for setting and marking angles, and a pencil.

3. Furnish your tool box with safety equipment such as goggles and safety eyeglasses. Wear eye protection to avoid injury while operating power tools or using hammers and nails.

Tips & Warnings

• Put a step-ladder or two in your truck. Having the right size ladder for the job increases safety in the workplace.

References

• Montana State University Billings: Construction Technology: Carpentry Tool List
• Electrical Contractor: Tools Most Used by Electricians
• YouTube: Power Tools and Carpentry Skills: How to Outfit a Basic Electrician's Toolbox
• Tate Baynor; Residential Housing Contractor; Washington, N.C.

Resources

• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Electricians
• Canadian Center for Occupational Health and Safety: Carpenter