Must-Have Tools For Budding Electricians

1
Must-Have Tools For Budding Electricians
2

• From screwdrivers and wire strippers, to hacksaws
  and voltage testers, every tool used by an
  electrician has a specific purpose, and most
  electricians know that the work they produce
  isonly ever as good as the tools they use.
• Below are some essential tools that help
  electricians carry out their work safely,
  effectively and with ease, and if youre kitting
  yourself out as a budding or newly qualified
  electrician, try to buy the best brands where
  possible, and never compromise on quality

3

• Wire strippers
• Similar to pliers, these tools help to remove
  insulating outer sheaths from cables, and they
  come in several forms triple action, adjustable,
  automatic and manual.
• Pliers
• Used to bend or twist wires, pliers have a
  slender, elongated tip that can be invaluable for
  intricate tasks an electrician might need to
  carry out, and come in different styles,
  including side-cutting, long-nose, reaming and
  needle nose.

4

• Screwdrivers
• These make easy work of screwing and unscrewing
  fasteners, and electricians typically carry
  screwdrivers that are insulated, and which have a
  magnetic or quick-release system fitted into the
  head.
• Hammers
• Similar to claw hammers, the type of hammer an
  electrician might use has an insulated handle
  made of fiberglass and with a rubber coating to
  keep the user safe.

5

• Electrical tape
• For wires that are used to conduct electricity,
  self-adhesive and pressure sensitive electrical
  or insulating tape is used that is abrasion, heat
  and liquid resistant, and designed to protect the
  core that conducts electricity within the wiring.
  It can be made from vinyl, PVC, copper and glass
  cloth and comes in a variety of colors,
  thicknesses, widths, temperature tolerances,
  adhesiveness and insulating capacities.

6

• Hacksaws
• Saws with fine teeth that can cut through metal,
  the thin blade of a hacksaw can be adjusted in
  the frame, and when the blades break or become
  blunt, they can easily be replaced. Full-size
  hacksaws have blades that are 12-inches in
  length, while junior hacksaws have finer teeth
  for detailed work, and are a lot smaller.

7

• Cable cutters
• With a steel blade to cut through wiring, cable
  cutters cable cutters help electricians quickly
  strip the insulation from wires for crimping and
  other tasks. A different cut is given according
  to the model, and you can buy straight ones
  designed for a range of purposes, ones for flush
  cutting, and models for diagonal slicing.
  Suitable for electrical equipment and
  high-voltage wiring, electricians can invest in a
  fully insulated pair of cable cutters for the
  ultimate in safety.
• Voltage testers
• Sometimes referred to as multimeters, these
  handheld devices can help an electrician detect
  whether a live current is present in a location,
  and are designed primarily for checking cables,
  switches and junction boxes etc.

8

• Voltmeter
• This device is used by electricians to read the
  level of volts transported through a circuit, and
  isnt a device most DIYers would find a use for.
• Setting yourself up as an electrician once
  qualified requires purchasing a range of tools
  and devices, and while this does require an
  initial investment, provided you choose the best
  brands and focus on quality, you shouldnt need
  to replace them often, if at all, throughout your
  career.