What tools do i need?

Question

I'm starting as an electrical apprentice soon can someone recommend some tools i will need.

Answer 1

For starters always buy the best tools you can!
Im gonna list these with a decent make written next to them

Basic stuff is:-
On Site Guide (Dont buy the Regs book! it costs £50 and you'll never use it!)
Sidecutters [Bahco]
Pliers [Bahco]
Screwdrivers: Dont waste ur money on VDE/insulated ones
(U may think u will need them but mine sit the bottom of my box gathering dust -also the flared tips break easily)
Large mediam small and terminal Flat head [Roebuck]
Pozi screwdriver (PZ2) [Roebuck]
Hacksaw [Bahco]
Clawhammer [Stanley Fatmax Antivibe]
Scutch Chisel [Roebuck]
Bolster (With Hand guard!) [Kewteck]
Decent Toolbox [Stanley Toolchest]
Tape Measure [Stanley Fatmax]
Permenant Markers
Pencils
Junior Hacksaw [Bahco]
Boat Level [Stabila]
Stanley Knife [Stanley Faxmax]
Flat File [Bahco]

Other stuff you will eventually need is:
Multimeter [Fluke T-1000]
16mm 10mm Crimp Tool [?]
Red yellow blue Crimp tool [Draper]
2x Pair Pipe Grips [Knipex]
Needlenose Pliers {Bahco}
Large Cable cutters [Bahco]
Chalk Line [Stanley Fatmax]
Compact Woodsaw [Stanley]
Large Level 600mm+ [Stabila]
Allan Keys Imperial and metric [Teng Tools]
1/2" Ratchet set [Teng Tools]
1/4" Ratchet Set [Teng Tools]
Spanners 4mm up to 19mm [Teng Tools]
Lumphammer

You can either go to Electrical Wholesalers in your area ie Newey & Eyre, Edmanson Electrical, City Electrical Factors or you can phone up a company i use called Buck And Hickman and order all your stuff from the catalog that they will send you there number is: 08450510150 or www.bhinone.com

You do not need lead lights, Battery or ne other drills, transformers, overalls, hard hat, gloves saftey glasses or ne other of the sh*t listed above by other ppl; due to the fact that Plant (Drills etc) is provided for you by ALL companies and Personal Protective Equipment (P.P.E) is a legal requirement to be provided for you!

Answer 2

Check with the company that you are going to be working with as to what you'll need on the job. Some companies will have all the tools you'll need to work with for awhile. After awhile you'll find out for your own personal needs, what you want to have. Don't get excited and go and buy alot of tools that you won't use. Just like one of the other answers, check with someone that has been doing electrical work for alot of years, as to what is needed when starting out.
Remember no matter how hard it might get as an apprentice, no one can take that education away from you. The next four or so years could be hard because of school and giving up of the fun toys and times, but when you finish you'll have a good trade and education. Remember not all days and work is easy, don't give up and make the best of everything that is given to you to do. Someday you'll be pick to work at some company because you showed what you could do.
Good Luck with your apprenticeship.

Answer 3

I am not an electrician or even was an apprentice but some electrical tools and advice I have are...

cpr class
copy of 2005 nec, 2008 edition coming soon
fish tape and learn to use it
insulated screwdrivers
volt meter-learn how to use this
continuity tester
live wire tester
good pair of linemans
good leather electricans pouch
hole saw kit
keyhole saw..

quality is the key, take care of your tools and they will take care of you

so many tools to list,

Answer 4

Good Luck in your apprenticeship. The basic tool box/bag, should include: Tape measure, Hammer, Set of screwdrivers, knife, pliers(linesman,diag. needle-nose, and slip-joint) wire strippers, hacksaw and a pair of safety glasses. buy the best you can afford, you will accumulate the rest as you go along. Also buy an alarm clock, don't be late,it's a sure way to stay an apprentice forever.

Answer 5

all trades look after their apprentices up to a certain point then its "feck sake you not got yerself pliers yet" then they start to begrudge lending you tools. so give yourself a head start www.screwfix.com get yourself their own brand assorted screwdriver set and a pair of decent pliers and wire strippers/cutters and a crimping set and a good quality claw hammer and a tool belt. you turn up for your first day training with those your onto a winner, no running about looking for tools when you already have your own. good luck

Answer 6

Get the best you can afford so they'll last you (usually products by DRAPER + STANLEY for handtools, Bosch or DeWalt for powertools.... "Blackspur" I usually find to be a bit borderline when I've seen them in local discount stores)

Pliers - regular, needlenose + sidecutters
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-listing/B000NLQ988/026-4949720-3315662?tag=jdcouk-garden-21&linkCode=sb1&camp=2378&creative=8434

Screwdrivers
http://astore.amazon.co.uk/jdcouk-garden-21/detail/B0001K9X7K/026-4949720-3315662
http://astore.amazon.co.uk/jdcouk-garden-21/detail/B0001K9PXC/026-4949720-3315662

circuit tester
Wirestrippers
toolbox to store them all in
soldering set
http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/cat.jsp?cId=A131772&ts=74842&lnTrack=A131772

Possibly a drill to make screwholes to attach fixtures to walls / ceillings (and most likely cordless so can still use it with the electric shut off so you don't electrocute yourself):
http://astore.amazon.co.uk/jdcouk-garden-21/detail/B0002KHI1W/026-4949720-3315662

Good quality torch for when working in dark, dusty attics so you can see what you're doing.
http://www.mullarkeys.co.uk/fishing/umbrellas-bivvies-and-accessories/accessories/0/shakespeare/1537/
http://www.amazon.co.uk/10-million-candle-power-torch/dp/B000P91POQ/ref=pd_bbs_10/026-4949720-3315662?ie=UTF8&s=garden&qid=1188075289&sr=8-10

Answer 7

I would think that you need to ask the people for whom you are going to work. Thewy may have their own ideas.
It show a keeness to ring up beforehand to ask these sort of questions. It would earn brownie points.

Answer 8

I suggest you wait until you start work then see which tools your instructors recommend as they know from their experience which suit the type of work best.

Answer 9

Congratulations!

You'll probably want to talk with an older electrician. But I suggest a drill, a good set of pliers, a good set of wire cutters, and a set of screwdrivers. And a HEAVY set of rubber gloves.

Good luck!

Answer 10

A good pair of gloves and steel-toed boots,your the grunt.