Electrician Hand Tools

Tool Pouch

There are a number of tools that an electrician’s helper carries, mainly consisting of screwdrivers, pliers, cutters, and strippers. A measuring tape, an adjustable wrench, a hammer, electrical tape, and perhaps a utility knife of some sort are also essentials.

The one thing to remember is that these tools must be equipped with insulated handles for safety reasons involved with working around electrical current. This would include other tools that are used such as stepladders.

Voltage Tester

[insert image pg 42]

The K-60 Voltage Tester is a simple, yet vital, device which should be found in every electrician’s tool belt. It is used to detect the presence or absence of voltage prior to working on a circuit.

Stripper/Cutter

Double-dipped comfort grips with curved handles, cuts, strips, loops and gauges 20-30 AWG solid wire and 22-32 AWG stranded wire, cleanly shears 6-32 and 8-32 screws, coil spring provides fast, self-opening action

Screwdrivers

Screwdrivers are an essential tool that you will find in every electrician’s pouch. With a high degree of safety in mind, most electricians’ tools have insulated handles.

They are required in all shapes and sizes, so you will find a good assortment of drivers in any electrical toolbox.

Nut Drivers

Another type of driver used extensively is the nut driver. Designed for hex-head fasteners there are also many different sizes available.

Cutters

Cutters are another often used tool. Used mainly for cutting lengths of wire, the handles for these tools are always well insulated.

Lineman Pliers

Linesmen pliers are used for making joints in wires and cutting cables among other things. In commercial or residential environments this is one of the most commonly used tools.

Needle-nose pliers are good for fine detail work or shaping small wires or just working in small spaces.

Benders

Benders are used to put bends in conduit piping. They are available in sizes that match available piping (conduits).

Fish Tape

Fish Tape is an indispensable tool that is required to pull wire through the conduits after they are in place. Their use involves a long flexible flat tape-like line that is passed through conduits, and fastened to the wire to be pulled through.

Power Drill (angle)

Drills are used to drill passage holes through the framing materials. These drills have ½” chucks, and use a variety of different bits in extra lengths up to 18”.