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BigSi

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Just thought it would be fun to start a thread with all your ‘Tips of the Trade’. I’ve worked with a few ‘Old School’ guys over the years, and they always have a few tricks to make life easier. Unfortunately, as these guys either leave the trade or retire, we start to loose their knowledge gained over the years.



"If you need to enlarge a 20mm knock-out to a 25mm knock-out on a metal back box (or any metal box), file the edges of a 20mm brass bush and place inside the 25mm hole cutter. The brass bush ensures the hole cutter stays centre of the existing knock-out and in the right place."
 
first fix downlights before new ceiling is put up. Use red insulation tape on the cable loops for the lights, including the last one, so when you cut the holes, the cables are easily identified and dont get mixed up with any exisiting, new loop or switch cables etc.
 
Just thought it would be fun to start a thread with all your ‘Tips of the Trade’. I’ve worked with a few ‘Old School’ guys over the years, and they always have a few tricks to make life easier. Unfortunately, as these guys either leave the trade or retire, we start to loose their knowledge gained over the years.



"If you need to enlarge a 20mm knock-out to a 25mm knock-out on a metal back box (or any metal box), file the edges of a 20mm brass bush and place inside the 25mm hole cutter. The brass bush ensures the hole cutter stays centre of the existing knock-out and in the right place."
I use a cone cutter
 
If your drill/ driver is flat and you need a hole in a PVC box, heat a conduit bushing with a blow-lamp and melt a hole in to it, then file the edges down!

It's really pikey, but has got me out of a hole (get it?!) a few times!
 
if you are unsure when cutting holes out into ceilings for downlights (this maybe to a plasterer or builder filling with insulation and overboarding onto the cables) cut a hole out into spare piece of plasterboard, remove pilot drill so all you have is the round part of the cutter attached.
Then offer up the template on the spare bit of board, press tight to ceiling when in place and use as the guide so the cutter does not drift all over the ceiling.

This can be used if you also need to make a bigger hole and the pilot does not have anything to drill into as the guide.
 
if cables wont push any more down the conduit or the draw wire has pulled off push it back up and kind of wind it up by holding it with one hand and kind of twisting it with the other and it wraps around the cables and you can pull them out without having to restart.
if thats not working to good as they are proper jammed or theres lots, cut the draw wire and put it in a battrey drill and put it on reverse and it wraps arouund and pulls the cables towards you
 

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