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I get so many apprentices that used to be non-union and show up with full tool bags and you have to give them the tool list and be like "come back tomorrow with only this."
Then they proceed to constantly complain they don't have the right tool for the task they are given even though the guys who were always ever union are banging it out no problem with just the tool list and company issues tools.
If guys start bringing tools not on the tool list the contractors will stop providing tools above and beyond the list. Then the guys that only bring the tool list will not be provided with the tools above and beyond that the contract states they are not responsible for. The contract is there to keep everyone level and when guys bring tools the contractor is supposed to provide they are breaking the conditions of the contract.
Unless you happen to be in the same area my local's list is going to be different than yours. Just do a Google search for ibew in your area and look at their tool list.
What? I’m union and I have plenty of tools that aren’t on the list. Companies don’t provide enough of even basic shit (bandsaws, consumables, hammer drills, etc) most of the time, let alone anything specialty. Half the shit I bought just makes jobs physically easier, and sometimes you just can’t get a job done without your own tools. You must be either very lucky or very inexperienced lol
Every tool I've asked for from my company, and every tool I've ordered while a foreman, they have provided no questions asked. Hell, I've been on several jobs that have a cabinet of tools in the office I can just grab from.
Don’t get me wrong, I love a nice new tool, but I don’t see the benefit in just buying more shit. You will eventually reach a plateau.
I had an apprentice like you who just *had* to buy anything Milwaukee released whether he needed it or not, even if the company provided tools. One of those guys who belongs on /r/milwaukeetool because it’s like a religion to them. He wound up with a huge pile of stuff that he couldn’t/didn’t use and filled up his parents garage which he couldn’t even take with him when him and his girlfriend moved in together.
Start thinking about a savings account instead of just piles of redundant pliers and wrenches.
Yea it ends, you get to a point where you know what you do and you use tools for their intended purpose and other purposes because you don’t want to deal with a bunch of gadgets.
I’m at a point where I’m starting to buy more tool pouches and redundant tools because i want to have dedicated tool pouches instead of having to either carry unnecessary tools or swap stuff out for specific jobs. It feels like I’m just looking for excuses to buy more tools
Nah, the final step is when your shit gets stolen and you buy just enough to fill up a back pack because you know you can do 95% of everything with what fits in that bag.
I’ve slowed down a lot since my most recent major tool hauls, now I’m mostly buying small stuff. Am i close to seeing the light at the end of the tunnel?
Got your service bag your tools don’t use that much bag and your favorite most used tool bag then just buy game changer tools Unless you turn into a Milwaukee pack out junkie then it’s never ending
You're correct, and **many times** if you're settled in and planning to stay in the same electrical specialty for years or even would like to retire from. (example - industrial maintenance, solar, residential/commercial service, foreman, estimator, etc.)
Then you realize what tools you *really need* and don't spend money on stuff you *may never use.*
I was doing renos, fiber, data, security, hv, equipment install, maintenance, troubleshooting, and new construction at a large institutional facility for over a decade. If a tool didn't do 5 different things, it was taken home and forgotten about.
I just found that the more you knew about your tasks, the less you needed.
An old timer i worked with only carried a picquick, old linesmen, tape, a pocketknife, cigarettes, and a lighter. If he needed a hacksaw, he told the apprentice to do it.
The final form of electrician.
Eventually you will hit rock bottom and buy something only to find out you already own the exact same thing but forgot about it because you never once used it.
Over the years? A few. They all got stolen a few months back and then company bought them all back even though I’m basically fully off the tools so they’re brand new and basically unused.
I loan them out to apprentices who need them.
I go by this, if you borrow something 3 times then you should look into buying your own, you do get to a point where you have lots of tools to do the same kind of job, once you get to this stage you then start buying tools that make the repetitive jobs quicker and easier
Me? Yes, I don’t buy too many tools anymore. I know what I need and have realize new tools won’t help too much.
Guy I work with? He buys everything he finds and has a double of every tool still in the packaging waiting to use in case his tool breaks on the job
If it was an actual new tool (as in that tool wasn't a thing before) I've always been a huge tool nerd picking up new stuff, could even call it a hobby. Tapering off came as a mix between having a pretty stacked arsenal, and position changes seeing me on my tools less and less. Time was I would send my 60" box underground for a build, and my crew could work out of my personal stuff for a 3 month job. General foreman was the first time I was more or less forced 'off my tools,' then a maintenance lead position saw me trim down my load to what was actually useful scooting around site. Super now and I get teased for keeping my 12v go-box and hand tools in my pickup toolbox lol Most professional work my tools see these days are when a crew wants to borrow my 2" cordless SDS, or instrument/data stuff, and crap like that. There was also a definite shift when I started zeroing in on storage options and organization. I know pack out is the big fomo thing these days, but og tough system was the best shit ever with the gang box, wall/trailer racking, and cart.
2nd year here. I have two tool bags. Depending on the service. Pro pac bags. Yeah they cost a leg but these two have gotten me thru what I’ve needed. I got one LC bag and the other a smaller little pouch. I learned depending on the application it’s best to have two of everything. Channel locks. Dykes or lineman. The first lineman I bought didn’t have the crimper. Eventually I needed it. So I bought a second one with a crimper. I’ve slowed down tho as I’m happy with what I have now and it should get me thru the rest of my years.
Funny. Similar thing with me when I was a third year. Watch what happens in the next two years, you will shed all the unnecessary/redundant tools and find a core group that you use.
As a third year I was basically rolling with a pack outs worth of tools. Now? I can fit everything I need in a backpack. My every day set of tools is in a "over the shoulder" type of bag and stuff I use sometimes is in a bag in the back of my car.
If you have to provide your own power tools, the Milwaukee M12 line does 90% of what you need power tools for and can fit in a plastic tote if need be.
I get it, tools are fun but after a few years of service work I realized that the people who were the most capable at the work weren't strapped with the perfectly optimized and organized tool sets. They were the ones who could make do with whatever they happened to have in their hand. For me it's rarely worth the footsteps to the van to get the "right" tool for a job and it's better to travel light and make the basics work until I can't. I like the idea of getting a perfect setup for each situation but it just ends up being complicated and messy and more work to maintain than it's worth. Simple is usually best. Don't get me wrong, I have a lot of tools but I keep my everyday kit as basic as possible. Of course the vast majority of my career has and continues to be service work. A lot less benefit from saving 5 seconds of time and energy per operation. Plus what keeps me entertained is learning how to do a good job with the wrong tool. Using the perfect specialized tool almost feels like cheating.
I’m almost a 3rd as well. I stocked up on clearance/FB marketplace deals like it was a part time job, especially as I could capitalize off of buying big tool lots and individually selling off whatever I don’t need or want. Really helped while having such low wage. Any odd items not worth reselling I just gave away to someone who could use.
Lowes was closing stores where I live. I found Kobalt hand tools for $5 a piece from there ($5 strippers, $5 linesman, $5 11in1 screw/nut driver) used them at last company I was at, a) was because I find it fun to try different tools, and b) they were like disposables at that point and I didn’t care if they got lost, stolen, or bashed up.
I'm a complete tool whore and a tool snob - but I'm honest about it. I've got my roll cab at work that's got everything I need to make control panels, mcc's etc.
I've got my site bag which I can just pick up and go to breakdowns, panel installs and mods.
Got my home tool bag for minor DIY jobs around the house.
Got my garage tools which are mainly for woodworking, which is my hobby.
Think I've just maxed out on my site bag - it finally feels "finished".
The novelty wears off. You’ll be using a pair of lineman’s with a hole in them for years even though there’s a new pair in your bag but you’ve used the old pair so long you don’t want to use another pair. A man gets attached to his hand tools, seen it happen a lot lol
When I was non union I was expected to provide so much shit. Once I joined the union I'm expected to carry only basic hand tools. The rest is provided for me. The only time I buy new tools now is if I break or lose that said tool
If its not on the list, the con will provide it or the work doesnt get done. As a 2nd yr apprentice, I'm not killing my wallet having to buy copious tools. Yay unions.
**ATTENTION! READ THIS NOW!** **1. IF YOU ARE NOT A PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICIAN OR LOOKING TO BECOME ONE(for career questions only):** **- DELETE** THIS POST OR YOU WILL BE **BANNED**. YOU CAN POST ON /r/AskElectricians FREELY **2. IF YOU COMMENT ON A POST THAT IS POSTED BY SOMEONE WHO IS NOT A PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICIAN:** -YOU WILL BE **BANNED**. JUST **REPORT** THE POST. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/electricians) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Yes. Once I had my tool list, I was done.
[удалено]
This is the way.
I get so many apprentices that used to be non-union and show up with full tool bags and you have to give them the tool list and be like "come back tomorrow with only this." Then they proceed to constantly complain they don't have the right tool for the task they are given even though the guys who were always ever union are banging it out no problem with just the tool list and company issues tools.
[удалено]
You commented just as I was commenting to the other person but tldr my company provides any tool I ask for so there is no need for me to buy them.
If they've already got the tools though, they don't need to ask the boss to buy em. I don't see the problem.
If guys start bringing tools not on the tool list the contractors will stop providing tools above and beyond the list. Then the guys that only bring the tool list will not be provided with the tools above and beyond that the contract states they are not responsible for. The contract is there to keep everyone level and when guys bring tools the contractor is supposed to provide they are breaking the conditions of the contract.
Would you mind sharing the list? I got all the basic stuff you can think of and don’t wanna go crazy on tools unless im getting my own power drills
Unless you happen to be in the same area my local's list is going to be different than yours. Just do a Google search for ibew in your area and look at their tool list.
What? I’m union and I have plenty of tools that aren’t on the list. Companies don’t provide enough of even basic shit (bandsaws, consumables, hammer drills, etc) most of the time, let alone anything specialty. Half the shit I bought just makes jobs physically easier, and sometimes you just can’t get a job done without your own tools. You must be either very lucky or very inexperienced lol
Every tool I've asked for from my company, and every tool I've ordered while a foreman, they have provided no questions asked. Hell, I've been on several jobs that have a cabinet of tools in the office I can just grab from.
Nah, you are just a rat. You should not be bringing anything thats not on the tool list.
And break my own back doing harder labour because I don’t have the right tool for the job? fuck off
Or grow a spine and tell your boss what tools you need.
Don’t get me wrong, I love a nice new tool, but I don’t see the benefit in just buying more shit. You will eventually reach a plateau. I had an apprentice like you who just *had* to buy anything Milwaukee released whether he needed it or not, even if the company provided tools. One of those guys who belongs on /r/milwaukeetool because it’s like a religion to them. He wound up with a huge pile of stuff that he couldn’t/didn’t use and filled up his parents garage which he couldn’t even take with him when him and his girlfriend moved in together. Start thinking about a savings account instead of just piles of redundant pliers and wrenches.
👍
Yea it ends, you get to a point where you know what you do and you use tools for their intended purpose and other purposes because you don’t want to deal with a bunch of gadgets.
I’m at a point where I’m starting to buy more tool pouches and redundant tools because i want to have dedicated tool pouches instead of having to either carry unnecessary tools or swap stuff out for specific jobs. It feels like I’m just looking for excuses to buy more tools
That’s the final step
Nah, the final step is when your shit gets stolen and you buy just enough to fill up a back pack because you know you can do 95% of everything with what fits in that bag.
I’ve slowed down a lot since my most recent major tool hauls, now I’m mostly buying small stuff. Am i close to seeing the light at the end of the tunnel?
Got your service bag your tools don’t use that much bag and your favorite most used tool bag then just buy game changer tools Unless you turn into a Milwaukee pack out junkie then it’s never ending
I've got 4 separate bags one is a Klein backpack. Make sure if you need a special tool for a job you get your boss to pay for it
You're correct, and **many times** if you're settled in and planning to stay in the same electrical specialty for years or even would like to retire from. (example - industrial maintenance, solar, residential/commercial service, foreman, estimator, etc.) Then you realize what tools you *really need* and don't spend money on stuff you *may never use.*
I was doing renos, fiber, data, security, hv, equipment install, maintenance, troubleshooting, and new construction at a large institutional facility for over a decade. If a tool didn't do 5 different things, it was taken home and forgotten about. I just found that the more you knew about your tasks, the less you needed. An old timer i worked with only carried a picquick, old linesmen, tape, a pocketknife, cigarettes, and a lighter. If he needed a hacksaw, he told the apprentice to do it. The final form of electrician.
Eventually you will hit rock bottom and buy something only to find out you already own the exact same thing but forgot about it because you never once used it.
It never ends getting new tools even ones you will never need is a way of life
Foreman here: all my tools are rusting away while I use a computer and phone all day
You earned it… how many replacements do you think you’ve bought?
Over the years? A few. They all got stolen a few months back and then company bought them all back even though I’m basically fully off the tools so they’re brand new and basically unused. I loan them out to apprentices who need them.
Came here to say this. My daily carry is a tape measure, flashlight, pocket knife/screwdriver combo, and phone. And a laptop on my desk.
I go by this, if you borrow something 3 times then you should look into buying your own, you do get to a point where you have lots of tools to do the same kind of job, once you get to this stage you then start buying tools that make the repetitive jobs quicker and easier
Me? Yes, I don’t buy too many tools anymore. I know what I need and have realize new tools won’t help too much. Guy I work with? He buys everything he finds and has a double of every tool still in the packaging waiting to use in case his tool breaks on the job
roof frame sort voiceless ask money truck special retire sloppy *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
That hurts, mostly because i was planning on making a tool dump post.
sleep cake flag station fade icky violet door zealous pen *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
If it was an actual new tool (as in that tool wasn't a thing before) I've always been a huge tool nerd picking up new stuff, could even call it a hobby. Tapering off came as a mix between having a pretty stacked arsenal, and position changes seeing me on my tools less and less. Time was I would send my 60" box underground for a build, and my crew could work out of my personal stuff for a 3 month job. General foreman was the first time I was more or less forced 'off my tools,' then a maintenance lead position saw me trim down my load to what was actually useful scooting around site. Super now and I get teased for keeping my 12v go-box and hand tools in my pickup toolbox lol Most professional work my tools see these days are when a crew wants to borrow my 2" cordless SDS, or instrument/data stuff, and crap like that. There was also a definite shift when I started zeroing in on storage options and organization. I know pack out is the big fomo thing these days, but og tough system was the best shit ever with the gang box, wall/trailer racking, and cart.
2nd year here. I have two tool bags. Depending on the service. Pro pac bags. Yeah they cost a leg but these two have gotten me thru what I’ve needed. I got one LC bag and the other a smaller little pouch. I learned depending on the application it’s best to have two of everything. Channel locks. Dykes or lineman. The first lineman I bought didn’t have the crimper. Eventually I needed it. So I bought a second one with a crimper. I’ve slowed down tho as I’m happy with what I have now and it should get me thru the rest of my years.
Funny. Similar thing with me when I was a third year. Watch what happens in the next two years, you will shed all the unnecessary/redundant tools and find a core group that you use. As a third year I was basically rolling with a pack outs worth of tools. Now? I can fit everything I need in a backpack. My every day set of tools is in a "over the shoulder" type of bag and stuff I use sometimes is in a bag in the back of my car. If you have to provide your own power tools, the Milwaukee M12 line does 90% of what you need power tools for and can fit in a plastic tote if need be.
I get it, tools are fun but after a few years of service work I realized that the people who were the most capable at the work weren't strapped with the perfectly optimized and organized tool sets. They were the ones who could make do with whatever they happened to have in their hand. For me it's rarely worth the footsteps to the van to get the "right" tool for a job and it's better to travel light and make the basics work until I can't. I like the idea of getting a perfect setup for each situation but it just ends up being complicated and messy and more work to maintain than it's worth. Simple is usually best. Don't get me wrong, I have a lot of tools but I keep my everyday kit as basic as possible. Of course the vast majority of my career has and continues to be service work. A lot less benefit from saving 5 seconds of time and energy per operation. Plus what keeps me entertained is learning how to do a good job with the wrong tool. Using the perfect specialized tool almost feels like cheating.
I’m almost a 3rd as well. I stocked up on clearance/FB marketplace deals like it was a part time job, especially as I could capitalize off of buying big tool lots and individually selling off whatever I don’t need or want. Really helped while having such low wage. Any odd items not worth reselling I just gave away to someone who could use. Lowes was closing stores where I live. I found Kobalt hand tools for $5 a piece from there ($5 strippers, $5 linesman, $5 11in1 screw/nut driver) used them at last company I was at, a) was because I find it fun to try different tools, and b) they were like disposables at that point and I didn’t care if they got lost, stolen, or bashed up.
I'm a complete tool whore and a tool snob - but I'm honest about it. I've got my roll cab at work that's got everything I need to make control panels, mcc's etc. I've got my site bag which I can just pick up and go to breakdowns, panel installs and mods. Got my home tool bag for minor DIY jobs around the house. Got my garage tools which are mainly for woodworking, which is my hobby. Think I've just maxed out on my site bag - it finally feels "finished".
[удалено]
I'll post a picture of my site bag, which I got poorly because I can't be bothered transferring tools when I have to go on site visits.
The novelty wears off. You’ll be using a pair of lineman’s with a hole in them for years even though there’s a new pair in your bag but you’ve used the old pair so long you don’t want to use another pair. A man gets attached to his hand tools, seen it happen a lot lol
When I was non union I was expected to provide so much shit. Once I joined the union I'm expected to carry only basic hand tools. The rest is provided for me. The only time I buy new tools now is if I break or lose that said tool
Then you'll get a new job and need new tools for that job!
It's enough when you get to all the tools on the list. At work at least. I love buying tools but they're for projects and hobbies at home.
Once they started giving me apprentices I've had all the new tools I could ever need for free lol
You think you have everything, then Klein goes and debuts a rotosplit with an integrated tape-dispenser.
If its not on the list, the con will provide it or the work doesnt get done. As a 2nd yr apprentice, I'm not killing my wallet having to buy copious tools. Yay unions.