Looking for tool recommendations for.... daughter starting electrical apprenticeship!!

[ecotec]

A DMM is definitely not on the tool list. A regular voltage tester will be. Not necessarily for a first punch apprentice.

 

[ecotec]

If she needs a DMM on a job, the contractor will provide it.

 

[ecotec]

Once she has everything on the apprentice tool list, she should get a copy of the contract with all of the tools required for a journeyman.

Maybe buy one or two tools a month until she has everything on the journeyman tool list… plus the few extra hand tools that she feels make the job easier.

 

[silkman]

Up to until a few years ago, not an apprentice but most regular electricians would show up to your house for repairs with this 3 piece master toolset. I believe some still do.

 

[AgentLadyHawkeye]

Hey everyone. @Chukster's DD here with an update on my progress.

I just started second year and I'm loving it. I've encountered one sexist ******* and a few general assholes but most JWs have been totally willing to take the time to teach me the skills I need (even the assholes). I had multiple people who were surprised when I told them I was a first year and had assumed I was further along.

I definitely appreciate all the tool advice y'all gave here and I've been slowly updating and changing out tools as I find what works for me. In the portaband vs hacksaw realm I actually needed to use my hacksaw on the job about a month ago. I needed to cut some EMT that was already up and the portaband wouldn't fit flush to the surface but the hacksaw would. A lot of the additional hand tools y'all were surprised weren't on the list are listed on the 3rd year or JW tool lists, some of which I've already picked up as useful things to have. Some I've been able to get Dad to let me have or borrow indefinitely.

EG
Apprentice 2, Local 553

 

[isb cornbinder]

I hope your daughter does really well.
If I were to offer any advice, unsolicited, I would suggest she can do well by remaining private. Avoid company romance. I worked in a very large company for 35 years+ In that time. I saw some very sad failures.

 

[redwrench60]

Welcome to the forum ALH. It’s cool to hear from you first hand. Glad you’re progressing well and enjoying your work. Lots of good info in this thread and I remember reading it when it was posted. Good to have a Dad into tools and so excited to see you succeed. Tons of people in the trades here so don’t hesitate to join in the discussions.

 

[MBfreak]

KUDOS to your daughter. And OP
An additional "toolbox" which has the potential to open up more difficult and much better paid work as an electrician is some math and physics, with emphasis on electric and magnetic circuits, some geometry with emphasis on cos, sin and imaginary math to calculate AC circuits.

Best regards!!!

Ola

 

[Chukster]

Hey, everyone -

Thought I'd give an update on my daughter, AgentLadyHawkeye:

She finished her 3rd year of classes in June, and got

TOP OF CLASS!!!

She's having a blast, also active in IBEW Local Union #553, and has a very good reputation at her worksite for being a problemsolver and already mentoring the younger apprentices. Coworkers have got used to her getting that faraway look in her eyes when she's tracking down a problem or coming up with a solution.

Plus, this year she's been invited to test in the Electrician's Apprentice contest at the NC State Fair.

(Pretty damn good for what one person called a 'Princess' who will get tired of it & move on to something less strenuous)

 

[cvairwerks]

Good for her! She's well on her way to making a great living and not having to put up with the corporate BS. Having a good work reputation and being able to mentor the new kids, means that she will be watched and groomed to be a crew lead when she has the experience and the ticket.

 

[mekkanic1]

So, big news in my house. Grown daughter will be starting an electrical apprenticeship on Aug. 1, thru local IBEW. Work for a local company, and do classes mostly Fridays & Saturdays. She's been working in manufacturing, but the company got bought up, new management came in, and the factory culture has changed, very much for the worse. As she was thinking about what to do next this opportunity came along; she's great with her hands, very detail oriented, likes a wide variety of work opportunities, this might be just the thing for her. Girl Scout Gold Award recipient, intellectually engaging, yadda, yadda. She's not a slacker by any stretch.


She got her list of required tools, and I'd like input on brands & such.

Here it is:
- 12" Hacksaw frame
- Pocket knife
- Large Screwdriver - 6" square shank flathead is common
- Small screwdriver - 3" Phillips head, 10 in 1, etc
- (2) Channellock pliers -
- 6 ft wood rule
- Side cutters
- 10 inch Crescent wrench
- Torpedo level
- Tool bag/Tool box
- Wire Strippers
- Tape measure - 25 ft.
- Pencil & marker.

Here's the question:

What brands does the GJ commentariat recommend? I always known Klein is at the top, I've used lots of Ideal, Kobalt, etc. Not much ever used in the Husky brand, and I've gotten an ick about what is called Craftsman these days. And I've generally never had great feelings about Stanley.

Any brands you would never recommend? (& why, if possible)
I'm of the opinion that life is too short to bust your knuckles with cheap-*** tools, but I also know even good tools wear out or get lost and need to be replaced, eventually. So bottom dollar and absolute top dollar are generally out of consideration.

We've got both of the BigBox stores nearby, so it might be just as easy, to hit one or both & load up. Might set her up a CC account, and get that opening discount too.


Comments?

Thanks!

A tester, not a proximity one, an Ideal or Klein tester. use it often on exposed wires.

 

[Ohio Andy]

Now that she is through it, ask her about her preferred wire stripper.

 

[nadogail]

Steel Measuring tapes and energized circuits are mutually incompatible.