What tools to buy next?

[atm-12]

Hi,

I have been working in the electrical industry now for around 4 months as an apprentice. I have got a basic set of tools but am looking to splash out and buy more around christmas time.

Draper Expert Insulated Driver Set
Insulated Side Cutters + Pliers
Water Pump Pliers
Scutch Chisel
Lump Hammer
Claw Hammer
Stanley Knife
Junior Hacksaw
Spirit Level
Tonguing Knife

What would you suggest are the next tools I should add to my collection are?

Cheers.

 

[Mac]

Hi,

I have been working in the electrical industry now for around 4 months as an apprentice. I have got a basic set of tools but am looking to splash out and buy more around christmas time.

Draper Expert Insulated Driver Set
Insulated Side Cutters + Pliers
Water Pump Pliers
Scutch Chisel
Lump Hammer
Claw Hammer
Stanley Knife
Junior Hacksaw
Spirit Level
Tonguing Knife

What would you suggest are the next tools I should add to my collection are?

Cheers.

Basic Electrical Tool Kit

 

[Guest123]

Hi

Pipe grips and adjustable spanners. If your feeling really flush then a half decent multimeter would be my next buy.

 

[Des 56]

Cheap second rate tools of the variety listed by yourself
Much more economical to drop a crappy measurig tape down the cavity than a brand new stanley

You will end up with your favourite basics that are irreplaceable,cutters hammer, hacksaw etc
One tool that few list is a bush spanner with 20 and 25 mm ends

 

[Colin Integrale]

Have you got any boys toys powertools yet?

That there Makita 18V Li-ion stuff is pretty sweet.. Not cheap, but you do get what you pay for.

There's a drill and impacter set that's right bloody handy..

Makita LXT202 18v Lithium Machine Kit Powerful 3Ah Battery - £274.88

Just a quick search on google, but that looks like a pretty good price..

 

[atm-12]

Thanks for the quick replies!

I think I'll get some long nose pliers and an adjustable spanner at some point as they will probably come in handy.

Are pipe grips water pump pliers? Pliers allowing you to adjust the size?

What is a bush spanner? Never heard of one before.

I don't think I need to buy any power tools yet, I'm always with someone who has all the power tools in the van. As I get more experience and start doing guvvy jobs on the side I will have to look into this.

Cheers.

 

[Mac]

Pipe grips are water pump pliers and a bush spanner is what you use to do up bushes on galv conduit.If you're house bashing i think you will be ok without the bush spanner but a PVC pipe cutter comes in handy on domestics

 

[pennywise]

A 3.5mm tap invaluable, and a bashing screwdriver no point messing up the insulated ones all the time I've got the 10in CK 4811 Slotted screwdriver Strike-through has lasted years and it has a million and one uses well only one actually come to think of it

CK 4811 Heavy Duty - Flat Screwdriver - ParkerTools

 

[senor_fabulous]

Have you got any boys toys powertools yet?

That there Makita 18V Li-ion stuff is pretty sweet.. Not cheap, but you do get what you pay for.

There's a drill and impacter set that's right bloody handy..

Makita LXT202 18v Lithium Machine Kit Powerful 3Ah Battery - £274.88

Just a quick search on google, but that looks like a pretty good price..

Great price, about £100 cheaper than screwfix, if it is the same I cant see much difference. Really tempted as I was looking to buy a couple of bosch batteries to replace ones that were stolen. If I a can secure a nice long run of work then I will be buying these, at this price mad not to.

 

[hyperliteliam]

Here you go dude try this site... £4 cheaper

Makita LXT202 18V LXT Combi Drill & Impact Driver Kit (2x 3Ah Li-Ion) - Power Tools (Industrial/Tradesman), Assorted Tool Packs, Makita

 

[pennywise]

Save the money and buy a sds instead combi drills are gutless. as for the impact driver it's designed for large diameter wood screws ideal for a chippy or framer not and electrician, as a sparks you want a really light small drill driver so you can work with it above your head all day long. Makita is good kit and it's a good price but a proper sds wins hands down everytime. Personal opinion though, sure it'll do the job.

 

[Staffie]

As for power tools, I've always used Makita until now. I've just bought the new AEG lithium powered 18v combi, comes with 2x3Ah batteries and a 30min charger. Oh, and a 3 year warranty. It's an absoloutly cracking drill and a steal for 200 quid. Makita's are pretty good, but over rated and well over priced!

Be careful of Makita's such as the lithium powered 18v LXT (bhp451rfe) if they're below £290, a lot of them are non UK spec models, and can present a problem with spares etc!

 

[senor_fabulous]

I hear what your saying pennywise, i have a 24v sds bosch - love it. My 110v sds hardly gets used these days, but its always handy as a back up. The impact is great if you do alot ofindustrial/ commercial containment.

 

[Peter R]

A fluke voltage tester about 20 quid in any elec wholesales check before you cut!

normaly i would tell you to stay clear of diy er type tools but b&q do a 14.4v impact driver in there own brand performance pro range its made for them by Drapper (there pro range) its about 50quid, its such good value (the same tool in drapper colours costs 3x as much!) now by all reports the rest of the b&q own brand performance pro range is to be avoided! but this impact driver is great! espechally as most electrical companys i know buy you the crappist cheep wood screws that are a knightmare to drive!

If there is a branch of Maplins near you there have a great UNIT T digital clamp on multimeter, self rangeing realy good price!

I agree buy cheep measuring tapes, chalke lines, files, bolsters and spend your money were it counts on ur insulated gear! buy the best you can afford then look after them and you'll have em foor years! oh and a good pad lock helps!!!!!

 

[doesnt]

nws 6 in 1 good bit of kit very handy.

 

[lockhes]

that makita deal is cheap i paid more than that just for the combi drill if its same 1 looks similar

 

[eskimo39]

Most important tool your missing is a Voltage Meter, you can get a Fluke T100

for about 30 quid, or spend a tenner more and get a T120 with screen.

As for drills, I learnt the hard way and have honestly spent thousands on different combinations etc from Cordless SDS, SDS Max, 10.8v, 14.4v etc etc, I have tried Makita,Milwaulkee, Hilti & Bosch

I have finally settled on a 2 drill combo, a 36v Bosch SDS cordless and a 14.4v Lithium bosch drill driver for screwdriving etc, they both fit in a small bag with spare batteries etc and save me time not having to lug a transformer everywhere. I still have a 110v corded Bosch SDS but it hasn't been used much this year.

Another thing you don't have listed is a socket rethreader, nothing worse than changing an old plate for a new one to find the screw no longer fits.

By the way, where did you buy a Tongue Knife? Is this for getting floorboards up?

 

[Amp David]

And what about a proving unit to go with your new voltage tester.

 

[eskimo39]

And what about a proving unit to go with your new voltage tester.

Don't forget you can always prove on a known source if you don't have a proving unit to hand.

 

[dragon-av]

Good well Organised tool box...With some felt markers, pens and a box of pencils