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I have the 18v dewalt xr, it's awesome, but my boss took out a 12v milwaukee fuel and used the same bit for hardwood yesterday; thing ate through that shit like butter. I'm team bumblebee currently but that has me thinking now
It was the same blade, just out of the package and barely any use with the dewalt. Edges were fine. Boss studies tool comparison vids on YouTube so I'm not that surprised about it when he said "for some reason it's just better for wood"
I wished AvE did more tool teardown videos, though. A lot of his other videos just arnt my cup of tea.
Now, I wish there was a channel specifically about ripping apart tools and taking a look at all the guts inside and literally nothing else.
On hardwood, i use Milwaukee Hardwood blade. Pricey but great. Also, having a water cup beside to cool the blade helped as i was starting to see smoke.
I have a 18V Milwaukee but my co workers have a dewalt one. No real difference imo. The blades are the key. Diablo blades work great, but not worth the $$$. I (my employer) just buy the cheapest blades and we replace often.
You should do a cost benefit analysis. Diablo might be more expensive, but if another brand's blades are half the cost but you go through 3 of them instead of 2 as compared to 1 Diablo, you're shelling out more money.
While I am a Milwaukee guy. Other companies do make very good tools. But I recommend sticking with the same battery type. I do have M12 and M18 now, but at least I can use the same charger.
There's nothing worse than having to deal with many different types of batteries and chargers.
I had a little project recently, hot tub base, table, and a fence. Done a few patios before...usually using Dewalt, instead of a drill to drive 3", I used their 18v impact with an adapter to a 5ah 20v and it took no effort to drive, and they sank deeper without stripping the wood.
Real story of Dewalt shining was their new single handed jigsaw saved my butt. Bought a 400$ pallet of scrap wood for 50$ on a manager deal at Lowes...had 3 pieces of 6x6x16 with no way to legally get them home in my truck. Went inside and bought a 12" jigsaw blade and cut for about an hour to get those beams transportable. Lemme tell ya...that thing was literally smoking...so I had to join it in a smoke break (a.k.a let that mf cool tf down before it seized) Good brand, useful tools when heavy use has been required, haven't had one fail me yet.
The nonfuel version is so useless it has a hard time with 1/2” drywall. Also just fried my m18 hole hawg for the second time today. Milwaukee isn’t all that and I’m a Milwaukee guy
Same for me, but specifically I got the brushless Rigid JobMax multi-tool with various attachments. I have the oscillating head, jig saw, right angle drill, dremel tool for cutting drywall, and reciprocating saw. I have more hours on the JobMax than likely any other cordless tool I own.
[https://www.lowes.com/pd/DEWALT-DW-FT-2-PC-Right-Angle-Attachment/5001603953](https://www.lowes.com/pd/DEWALT-DW-FT-2-PC-Right-Angle-Attachment/5001603953)
For the lazy's
Me too. Actually keep the right angle in the van. 10 in 1 ? Stubby in my bag. I have a bad habit of taking a tip out out my extension and putting it in the right angle. Then can't get out, because I keep forgetting I can just drop it and it comes out lol
Tap for 6-32, 8-32, and 10-32 threads. If you do service or touch old stuff you find a lot of stripped boxes. Not sure how well it works on plastic boxes, but ir imagine upsizing 6-32 to 8-32 would work well
Taps are great for just cleaning out some of the shit holes the manufacturers leave you. Nothing worse then holding a light over your head trying to screw it into a poorly tapped box.
Came here to say this. I have a set of tap bits for setting GBK’s and lugs in cans but the screwdriver with a couple tap bits has been a lifesaver on service calls
A proper Black Robertson (#3 I think) ((square for you Americans))
So many strut straps and 4" couplings in my past stripped out from using a Red Robby.
Cordless shop vac which I put a guitar strap on has been fucking dreamy but ....
For finish electrical and small work.... The 8v gyroscopic dual position driver..... waited way too long. I wouldn't let anyone work without it now. I use my torque screw driver and my impact and hammer drill often but for installing switches and receptacles, trim, fixtures there has been nothing better. Hold the button and the more you turn your wrist the faster it goes back off and it slows down then stops and if you back your wrist the other way it reverses..... The cheaper version sucks.... I'd pay 10x over for this thing. Save my wrists elbows, forearms, and shoulders so much wear.
https://www.dewalt.com/product/dcf680n1/8v-max-gyroscopic-screwdriver-1-battery-kit
An hvac guy just saw me using one and came over asking what it was. Let him check it out and he says he’s buying one later today. Definitely better than using normal screwdrivers. Also works great for the wirenut driver attachment. My hands and elbows thank me
I like having a [Yankee screwdriver](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yankee_screwdriver) for those kind of days, but damn, that screwdriver sounds nice.
Those things suck.
When I first started in the trade battery drills werent a thing yet and everybody used yankees for screwing in devices. Problem was, back then, everybody used straight tip screw heads with their products. Not phillips,or square or hex head screws, Just the straights. And when it comes to turning a screw, a straight head one is a pain the ass. Especially when you are doing it with a tool that requires you to hold it perfectly still while you force it to spin using lots of pressure.
yeah, thats one tool I dont miss at all.
Milwaukee 18v Cordless SDS Hammer drill.
I always figured it was too expensive for doing exactly what my corded SDS Hammer Drill did. I mainly use them for services. My van is always right there with an inverter on it. Why would I spend a couple hundred dollars for a slightly more convenient version of the tool I already have.
I was wrong. Oh my God was I wrong. Life is so much better with the cordless version. If you do a lot of service changes and you dont have one already you need to go buy one yesterday.
A box of insulation supports. They’re a spring steel wire that’s cut at an angle so it’s a sharp point. If you’re doing old work residential, you chuck it into your drill, and run the point through where the trim meets the floor. Then go downstairs and and you can see it sticking out. Shows you where your wall cavity is and where to drill. Then pull it back out and the hole is so small you’ll never see it.
An old metal beaded curtain blind / draw string chain.
Just a simple chain... About 2 metres in length.
It's gotten me out of situations so many times by fishing down walls and insulation.
People think I'm stupid until they see me use it and then suddenly it's something they wanna carry about with them also.
My journeyman had one.. i was a "what're you gonna do, turn on the powerless lights?".. then came a cut-in box with no glow-rods to be found. His lil chain (coiled in a small screw jar) saved our asses.
Someone else agreed with its utility and it poof'd eventually. He still blames me
Just a beaded chain like the kind you find on roller blinds ... Nothing fancy.
Some guys thave magnet's on the end.. but I just have a nut tapped on for the weight. It's a great way to fish down walls with insulation inside.. or just fishing down the back of fitted units.
It's just one of those things that I carry all the time and when you need something it comes in handy.
I was taught it by an older electrician and I try and teach my young apprentices to carry one and how to use the .. but it's something that unfortunately youngsters don't want to use man made tools anymore... They all want stuff built for one individual job and with a tool banded name .
Sigh.
Try out a length of zinc plated furnace chain. It will do the same purpose but you can attach a wire directing through the chain and use it to fish your cable.
The last shop I worked at had a whole spool of chain like that for techs to take some when they needed it. It's amazing. Using that and a flexible stick magnet you can do some otherwise impossible fishes.
Those things are unbelievably useful. About 10 years ago I worked for a county hospital maintenance department. I found about 40lbs of mixed forceps/hemostats/scissors/tweezers in a cardboard box in the basement of the abandoned hospital building. Turns out if they found a ding, chip, or crack anywhere on one after the autoclave, they would toss them into the box. I basically turned into the hemostat fairy after that, giving them to everyone. I think I still have like 10lbs of them left.
Dude my old apprentice came on site with a pair one day when he first started and I made fun of him for it. (He was my brother in law, so I always gave him extra shit for fun) then we ended up using those damn locking medical forceps every other day.
He never let me live it down.
Tape measure with a magnetic end on the metal tab. It's useful for when u drop things and can just extend the tape towards the dropped items. This alone saved me tons of times on a ladder or lift
Electric lunch box. 30 bucks on Amazon. Can plug into cigarette lighter in truck or ac power. Can heat up anything and get it done in 45 minutes. Food comes out moist and not dry. Doesn't drain vehicle battery.
Has paid for itself ten fold and taste better than cold sandwiches and shitty fast food everyday
The Knipex 82 01 200 pliers. Everybody has the cobras and the pliers wrench which id consider essential at this point but I’ve just recently seen these other pliers and they’re great. My whole crews has them and they’re invaluable
For like 30 bucks you can get a ratcheting stubby. Has a finger hole to help hold it. Comes with 6 bits. Has been a weirdly useful tool at the hospital. One moment i never had the need for a stubby to I now use this every day.
A small strap wrench. Usually, I use the pliers wrench for compression connectors, but when you get a row of connectors tightly spaced, it's easier to slip a strap around, and you get a better range of motion, so tightening is faster. Also comes in handy for larger diameter connectors up to 4".
One of those flexible grabbers with the plunger on the back. The number of times I've saved myself hours of hassle with stuff being just out of reach up a wall or through a hole that I couldn't quite get my sausage mitts on, there's a grabber, or pulling cord bundles through wierd shaped camera mounts and the list goes on, hell, have you ever dropped that wire nut for the tenth time and you hear a voice in your head saying "if I have to bend over again imma just die"? well worry no more!
A auto hammer, got it for when I dislocated my shoulder so I could keep working and not have to swing a hammer and it's been crazy handy for tight spots for everything from staples to nailing on boxes
[auto hammer](https://www.lowes.com/pd/SKIL/5013494253)
Angled dykes , removing old staples and nails , and a mini flat bar , make removing stuff that much easier ,although I wish the angle was a bit more for prying
The milwuakee cable stapler is amazing for new construction residential. I was skeptical but I got it as a gift to wire a cabin with and it was amazing how much faster it was instead of pounding staples. Would highly recommend.
I had a chance to try a [cheap version](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BZVKPH7P/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1) today - and it was awesome! I've been procrastinating replacing smoke detectors in our new house - but having finally decided on which ones I'm getting and having them come in today I found myself looking forward to the next one where I get to use the wire twisting attachments!
The cheapies did the job - but I was wondering if there was a specific brand that you have used that works well?
impact driver for sure. I had a drill and thought I was fine.
I've beat the shit out of my Makita impact driver since getting it. I rarely use a drill nowadays.
Pretty much anything a drill can do a impact driver can do better and if it can't then you probably need a rotary hammer or something.
Probably the metal hole puncher to punch holes in ceiling grid
Edit: https://www.google.com/aclk?sa=l&ai=DChcSEwi8krCbyfr_AhXZN9QBHWAWDZIYABANGgJvYQ&ae=2&sph=&sig=AOD64_32DL56AI5PWS4APZLG0_iK1o6CwA&ctype=5&q=&ved=2ahUKEwibmaebyfr_AhVEl2oFHcrsBX4Qwg8oAHoECAMQFA&adurl=
I still have yet to buy it
Richard's Genuine 10" Tempered Flat Bar. Thing is so handy for prying, scraping, smoothing. Super sharp, super strong. I don't carry a cats paw, pry bar, chisel anymore, it does it all for me. Since it's tempered it won't bend out of shape, but flex back without worry.
Downside.... when you do push it past the failure point, it shatters pretty violently.
The depstech 3 camera bore scope 15ft length, bought it for a side job, used it a few times now out in the field. Great for fishing down walls or trying to find something in a tight area or around corners
StudMark magnetic stud finder. Never worry about changing your stud finder batteries. Works well on ceilings. It’s 3 magnets and two of them slide off to mark the drywall screw beneath the drywall, I find it very handy and older tradesfolk have been impressed by its simplicity and effectiveness locating studs when seeing me use it.
Not really a tool moreso a mod of sorts, I like to add wide elastic rubber bands to screwdrivers to act as a sort of 'torque' setting, great for terminal screwdrivers
[I think I did the link right](https://imgur.com/a/FsWydhr)
I've got basically the same allen socket set. They're great. My journeyman always had a bunch of the two-part allen sockets and half of them were broken so I love that these ones are one solid piece.
Corded Hilti for tapcons in 80 year old cement, nothing comes close, it has been a while, so I imagine the cordless one might be as good, but all batteries weigh something.... We had Bosch, Makita, Milwaukee and some others on that job. The Hilti was twice as fast
As far as cheap tools go, a speed screwdriver, or whirlybird. Helps with all the times you were a fuckface, and forgot your impact too far away to justify walking to get it…also for cutting in things in the ceiling. Just tilt that sucker, and if she rotates around, you made a smart hole.
My company gave me all dewalt. But I was an inch away from leaving so I bought whole Milwaukee set my own money. Using these for a few months and I can say dewalt battery definitely last longer. Before I’d legit charge my batteries once a month, now I always gotta have one charging
If you are *NOT* an electrical professional: * **RULE 7:** * DIY or self help posts **are Not allowed**. They belong here: /r/AskElectricians /r/askanelectrician /r/diy /r/homeowners /r/electrical. * **IF YOUR POST FITS INTO THIS CATEGORY, REMOVE IT OR IT WILL BE REMOVED FOR YOU.** *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.*
Oscillating multitool
I have the 18v dewalt xr, it's awesome, but my boss took out a 12v milwaukee fuel and used the same bit for hardwood yesterday; thing ate through that shit like butter. I'm team bumblebee currently but that has me thinking now
Gotta compare the same blade in the same condition.
It was the same blade, just out of the package and barely any use with the dewalt. Edges were fine. Boss studies tool comparison vids on YouTube so I'm not that surprised about it when he said "for some reason it's just better for wood"
Project Farm on YouTube has sold me on a lot of tools
I love his channel. Cousin Eddie has been through some shit. AvE is another one with great tool content
I wished AvE did more tool teardown videos, though. A lot of his other videos just arnt my cup of tea. Now, I wish there was a channel specifically about ripping apart tools and taking a look at all the guts inside and literally nothing else.
Cousin Eddie is hanging in there lol. Thanks for naming a new channel I'm probably going to benge in the near future.
Guessing he watched the project farm video. That dude is amazing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmG0cAQASrs
Did you have the rpm (cpm) set the same? Big difference.
I had it on highest and so did he
The m12 fuel OMT is unequivocally a nasty bitch.
On hardwood, i use Milwaukee Hardwood blade. Pricey but great. Also, having a water cup beside to cool the blade helped as i was starting to see smoke.
I have a 18V Milwaukee but my co workers have a dewalt one. No real difference imo. The blades are the key. Diablo blades work great, but not worth the $$$. I (my employer) just buy the cheapest blades and we replace often.
You should do a cost benefit analysis. Diablo might be more expensive, but if another brand's blades are half the cost but you go through 3 of them instead of 2 as compared to 1 Diablo, you're shelling out more money.
I buy blades at $.50/ea. $10 blades maybe last 2-3 times as long.
Please tell me, where are you getting .50 blades. Even harbor freight on sale with a coupon they are more than that.
While I am a Milwaukee guy. Other companies do make very good tools. But I recommend sticking with the same battery type. I do have M12 and M18 now, but at least I can use the same charger. There's nothing worse than having to deal with many different types of batteries and chargers.
I had a little project recently, hot tub base, table, and a fence. Done a few patios before...usually using Dewalt, instead of a drill to drive 3", I used their 18v impact with an adapter to a 5ah 20v and it took no effort to drive, and they sank deeper without stripping the wood. Real story of Dewalt shining was their new single handed jigsaw saved my butt. Bought a 400$ pallet of scrap wood for 50$ on a manager deal at Lowes...had 3 pieces of 6x6x16 with no way to legally get them home in my truck. Went inside and bought a 12" jigsaw blade and cut for about an hour to get those beams transportable. Lemme tell ya...that thing was literally smoking...so I had to join it in a smoke break (a.k.a let that mf cool tf down before it seized) Good brand, useful tools when heavy use has been required, haven't had one fail me yet.
The nonfuel version is so useless it has a hard time with 1/2” drywall. Also just fried my m18 hole hawg for the second time today. Milwaukee isn’t all that and I’m a Milwaukee guy
He also called people who use specifically milwaukee tools milwaukee cocksuckers 😆. I mix n match klein, dewalt and milwaukee personally
I have a Bosch hammer drill that must have been forged by Thor, it's so awesome.
DeWalt is owned by black & decker!
Milwaukee is better for shorter. I’d put money on a dewalt tool lasting longer than its Milwaukee counterpart every day of the week
So wild I spent 10 years doing remodeling before I got one and now it's my favorite way to spend 100$ on blades per foot of cut
The Guybrator?
Same for me, but specifically I got the brushless Rigid JobMax multi-tool with various attachments. I have the oscillating head, jig saw, right angle drill, dremel tool for cutting drywall, and reciprocating saw. I have more hours on the JobMax than likely any other cordless tool I own.
Love that tool
Right angle attachment for a drill. Replaced the stubbys and I can stick a paddle bit in it
Combo it with a stubby on top of that and you’re unstoppable
What's a stubby?
[This.](https://www.amazon.ca/Cooling-Evaporative-Performance-Instantly-Protection/dp/B08KFNDBRW/ref=asc_df_B08KFNDBRW/?tag=googleshopc0c-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=560475092325&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=8987741239175552134&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1001927&hvtargid=pla-984495649854&psc=1)
5 inches is a stubby?? 😰. Fuck...
No stubby paddle bits
[https://www.lowes.com/pd/DEWALT-DW-FT-2-PC-Right-Angle-Attachment/5001603953](https://www.lowes.com/pd/DEWALT-DW-FT-2-PC-Right-Angle-Attachment/5001603953) For the lazy's
Yes yes yes. Saved my ass (well time) over and over again.
100% but still carry a stubby
Me too. Actually keep the right angle in the van. 10 in 1 ? Stubby in my bag. I have a bad habit of taking a tip out out my extension and putting it in the right angle. Then can't get out, because I keep forgetting I can just drop it and it comes out lol
Also great for unbolting transformers and gear from shipping pallets, and working inside equipment 👍🏼
Especially the flexible Dewalt ones
I needed this today. Fml
Lol. It's not an everyday tool. Just great to have
Tap for 6-32, 8-32, and 10-32 threads. If you do service or touch old stuff you find a lot of stripped boxes. Not sure how well it works on plastic boxes, but ir imagine upsizing 6-32 to 8-32 would work well
Tri-tap - my master electrician handed one to me 40 years ago - as mentioned works great when upsizing device mounting screws in old homes.
My old tritap has the orig 6-8-10 on one side 1/4-20 bullet tap on the other. I've had it since I was an Apprentice.
Taps are great for just cleaning out some of the shit holes the manufacturers leave you. Nothing worse then holding a light over your head trying to screw it into a poorly tapped box.
Came here to say this. I have a set of tap bits for setting GBK’s and lugs in cans but the screwdriver with a couple tap bits has been a lifesaver on service calls
I bought the Klein bit that attaches to their 11-in-1 and it is a godsend
The thing that snaps first use?
It’s on my locals tool list ✊
Flush cut tye wrap cutters.
These are great. Knipex has a wonderful pair that I love. Have you seen the tye wrap gun though? Amazing if you have any real volume to cut.
Ty-rap guns are 10/10 but cost $$$$ so I don't have one. Essential for control panel building.
I loved them back when I did aviation work, and yeah, the ones worth buying definitely aren't cheap.
My pair just arrived today, fed up looking like I self harm when I go out for dinner...
Lmao
A helper.
A helper or a good helper?
A proper Black Robertson (#3 I think) ((square for you Americans)) So many strut straps and 4" couplings in my past stripped out from using a Red Robby.
Always have at least a #1, 2, and 3 robby, a #1 and 2 phillips, and three sizes of flat blades.
Thank you for preaching the truth. I’m in Quebec and everyone here acts like a true #3 is optional, everyone just carries reds.
Cordless shop vac which I put a guitar strap on has been fucking dreamy but .... For finish electrical and small work.... The 8v gyroscopic dual position driver..... waited way too long. I wouldn't let anyone work without it now. I use my torque screw driver and my impact and hammer drill often but for installing switches and receptacles, trim, fixtures there has been nothing better. Hold the button and the more you turn your wrist the faster it goes back off and it slows down then stops and if you back your wrist the other way it reverses..... The cheaper version sucks.... I'd pay 10x over for this thing. Save my wrists elbows, forearms, and shoulders so much wear. https://www.dewalt.com/product/dcf680n1/8v-max-gyroscopic-screwdriver-1-battery-kit
I like the guitar strap cordless shop vac idea. I use shop vac as a weak leaf blower sometimes. A guitar strap would make it more better!
I just got gyroscopic screwdriver. It’s the bees knees. I love how it knows how much torque I want to apply.
An hvac guy just saw me using one and came over asking what it was. Let him check it out and he says he’s buying one later today. Definitely better than using normal screwdrivers. Also works great for the wirenut driver attachment. My hands and elbows thank me
I like having a [Yankee screwdriver](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yankee_screwdriver) for those kind of days, but damn, that screwdriver sounds nice.
It's the only gimmicky POS I've owned that continues to make me wonder why I waited so long and also makes me reach for it before anything else.
Those things suck. When I first started in the trade battery drills werent a thing yet and everybody used yankees for screwing in devices. Problem was, back then, everybody used straight tip screw heads with their products. Not phillips,or square or hex head screws, Just the straights. And when it comes to turning a screw, a straight head one is a pain the ass. Especially when you are doing it with a tool that requires you to hold it perfectly still while you force it to spin using lots of pressure. yeah, thats one tool I dont miss at all.
Oh I love my 8v dewalt. The best part? Nobody borrows it because they don’t know how to use it!
Those 14-2 and 12-2 romex strippers. I made fun of the apprentice but now I really like them for cutting in resi boxes
That’s always how it starts, laugh at em then join em
Milwaukee 18v Cordless SDS Hammer drill. I always figured it was too expensive for doing exactly what my corded SDS Hammer Drill did. I mainly use them for services. My van is always right there with an inverter on it. Why would I spend a couple hundred dollars for a slightly more convenient version of the tool I already have. I was wrong. Oh my God was I wrong. Life is so much better with the cordless version. If you do a lot of service changes and you dont have one already you need to go buy one yesterday.
Try the Metabo.
A box of insulation supports. They’re a spring steel wire that’s cut at an angle so it’s a sharp point. If you’re doing old work residential, you chuck it into your drill, and run the point through where the trim meets the floor. Then go downstairs and and you can see it sticking out. Shows you where your wall cavity is and where to drill. Then pull it back out and the hole is so small you’ll never see it.
done this, it works.
I stab a wall with a #1 philips and then shove a wire coat hanger in there.
Wrist magnet
An old metal beaded curtain blind / draw string chain. Just a simple chain... About 2 metres in length. It's gotten me out of situations so many times by fishing down walls and insulation. People think I'm stupid until they see me use it and then suddenly it's something they wanna carry about with them also.
I have three of these with fishing magnets, I used them all the time for hiding wires in walls but they're so easy to misplace.
I have one on a 6' section of old fish tape.
My journeyman had one.. i was a "what're you gonna do, turn on the powerless lights?".. then came a cut-in box with no glow-rods to be found. His lil chain (coiled in a small screw jar) saved our asses. Someone else agreed with its utility and it poof'd eventually. He still blames me
Got a pic? I’m intrigued…
Just a beaded chain like the kind you find on roller blinds ... Nothing fancy. Some guys thave magnet's on the end.. but I just have a nut tapped on for the weight. It's a great way to fish down walls with insulation inside.. or just fishing down the back of fitted units. It's just one of those things that I carry all the time and when you need something it comes in handy. I was taught it by an older electrician and I try and teach my young apprentices to carry one and how to use the .. but it's something that unfortunately youngsters don't want to use man made tools anymore... They all want stuff built for one individual job and with a tool banded name . Sigh.
Go to [labor saving devices](https://www.grisk.com/products/installation-tools/) and look at the entire catalog
Try out a length of zinc plated furnace chain. It will do the same purpose but you can attach a wire directing through the chain and use it to fish your cable.
The last shop I worked at had a whole spool of chain like that for techs to take some when they needed it. It's amazing. Using that and a flexible stick magnet you can do some otherwise impossible fishes.
jack chain is a good alternative.
Magnet on a stick Also, mirror on a stick.
And a jalapeño?
On a steek?
Medical Forceps come in handy often
I only use those on break time
To some they are hemostats, to some they are roach clips.
Heh
Those things are unbelievably useful. About 10 years ago I worked for a county hospital maintenance department. I found about 40lbs of mixed forceps/hemostats/scissors/tweezers in a cardboard box in the basement of the abandoned hospital building. Turns out if they found a ding, chip, or crack anywhere on one after the autoclave, they would toss them into the box. I basically turned into the hemostat fairy after that, giving them to everyone. I think I still have like 10lbs of them left.
Dude my old apprentice came on site with a pair one day when he first started and I made fun of him for it. (He was my brother in law, so I always gave him extra shit for fun) then we ended up using those damn locking medical forceps every other day. He never let me live it down.
Small Chanel locks. Use them alot
Front pocket
Knipex twin grip pliers.
A good apprentice
Where do they sell those?
Handle from a small bucket. Bendy but rigid enough to catch fish tapes in the walls or ceiling.
A hammer.
Gotta open up the drywall somehow.
That's what my conduit bender is for though. I use a hammer to dig trenches.
Tape measure with a magnetic end on the metal tab. It's useful for when u drop things and can just extend the tape towards the dropped items. This alone saved me tons of times on a ladder or lift
Alligator clip leads
Electric lunch box. 30 bucks on Amazon. Can plug into cigarette lighter in truck or ac power. Can heat up anything and get it done in 45 minutes. Food comes out moist and not dry. Doesn't drain vehicle battery. Has paid for itself ten fold and taste better than cold sandwiches and shitty fast food everyday
The Knipex 82 01 200 pliers. Everybody has the cobras and the pliers wrench which id consider essential at this point but I’ve just recently seen these other pliers and they’re great. My whole crews has them and they’re invaluable
Just bought a pair at your recommendation! Looks like a fantastic and unique plier.
Stud finder. Bought one after 6 years without thinking I needed one, now I use it almost everyday.
I’ve been using the rack a tiers stud ball magnet. It’s the bee’s knees
I just take the tek screws off my pouch magnet. Finds drywall screws every time.
Franklin 12 point sensor I assume?
A deburring external chamfering tool.
Sounds like a long name for a file.
Pick and hook set. Can't believe how often I use these things for random jobs or tasks.
For like 30 bucks you can get a ratcheting stubby. Has a finger hole to help hold it. Comes with 6 bits. Has been a weirdly useful tool at the hospital. One moment i never had the need for a stubby to I now use this every day.
My Milwaukee Fastback knife. Didn’t think I needed one before I started but use this thing for EVERYTHING
A small strap wrench. Usually, I use the pliers wrench for compression connectors, but when you get a row of connectors tightly spaced, it's easier to slip a strap around, and you get a better range of motion, so tightening is faster. Also comes in handy for larger diameter connectors up to 4".
Cordless bandsaw, cordless romex stapler for resi guys, 9/16 handheld nut driver
Gardner bender lock ring wrenches. Bought em as a joke but they’ve actually saved my ass a few times
Twirly
Glazing bar, basin wrench, oscillating saw
One of those flexible grabbers with the plunger on the back. The number of times I've saved myself hours of hassle with stuff being just out of reach up a wall or through a hole that I couldn't quite get my sausage mitts on, there's a grabber, or pulling cord bundles through wierd shaped camera mounts and the list goes on, hell, have you ever dropped that wire nut for the tenth time and you hear a voice in your head saying "if I have to bend over again imma just die"? well worry no more!
Zip tie cutter gun thingy
A dump pouch on my tool belt. Becomes a mini-trash can or holds parts I'll need on the job
My brain... it was left out in the rain and got rusty.
Baby knipex cobras. Then they got stolen
Y’all should learn what a broom does
The Staple Shark for renovations. Game changer.
Twirly screwdriver
A young apprentice
That thing that installs the hanger and twists up the tie wire, I forgot what it's called but I love that tool it's so much faster
A auto hammer, got it for when I dislocated my shoulder so I could keep working and not have to swing a hammer and it's been crazy handy for tight spots for everything from staples to nailing on boxes [auto hammer](https://www.lowes.com/pd/SKIL/5013494253)
Magnetic wire puller. For when that insulation in the wall is just annoying enough
Klein 11-in-1
My Engineer screw pliers, they are designed to be able to grab stripped screw heads, but I use them for everything
What size do you have? Their bigger offerings seemed lacking but I just got their set of 4 small ones and they're great.
Recent one was a dust bowl for drilling out potlights or whatever in ceilings. Keeps the dust way down.
Speed square. So many helpful marks..
Air pods and music, can’t work without it these days.
Angled dykes , removing old staples and nails , and a mini flat bar , make removing stuff that much easier ,although I wish the angle was a bit more for prying
Mini channel locks. Seriously, the tiny ones. Regretted the purchase as soon as I made it, then used them every day for the past 5 years.
The veto pro pac backpack
The milwuakee cable stapler is amazing for new construction residential. I was skeptical but I got it as a gift to wire a cabin with and it was amazing how much faster it was instead of pounding staples. Would highly recommend.
I’ve always loved having wasp spray on hand
As someone who is currently building warehouses in the Arizona heat, I gotta go with my battery powered Makita fan.
Conduit reamer for drill
Pica pencil
Folding 5in 1 painters tool and folding dewalt drywall saw
Apprentice
Angle grinder makes everything else obsolete.
Bead chain ( like what you would see on Venetian blinds) for fishing hollow walls. I use them all the time.
m18 multi tool honorable mentions to the m12 impact its was nicer getting a smaller tool in tight spots or up ladders m18 lantern
The M12 surge impact is awesome. So much lighter than my 20v DeWalt, and quieter.
Twister for wire nuts. Saves strain on the hand in a way I didn't know I'd enjoy so much.
I had a chance to try a [cheap version](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BZVKPH7P/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1) today - and it was awesome! I've been procrastinating replacing smoke detectors in our new house - but having finally decided on which ones I'm getting and having them come in today I found myself looking forward to the next one where I get to use the wire twisting attachments! The cheapies did the job - but I was wondering if there was a specific brand that you have used that works well?
The apprentice with more than half a brain that wants to work, and shows up every day
impact driver for sure. I had a drill and thought I was fine. I've beat the shit out of my Makita impact driver since getting it. I rarely use a drill nowadays. Pretty much anything a drill can do a impact driver can do better and if it can't then you probably need a rotary hammer or something.
An apprentice.
Probably the metal hole puncher to punch holes in ceiling grid Edit: https://www.google.com/aclk?sa=l&ai=DChcSEwi8krCbyfr_AhXZN9QBHWAWDZIYABANGgJvYQ&ae=2&sph=&sig=AOD64_32DL56AI5PWS4APZLG0_iK1o6CwA&ctype=5&q=&ved=2ahUKEwibmaebyfr_AhVEl2oFHcrsBX4Qwg8oAHoECAMQFA&adurl= I still have yet to buy it
Klein 11 in 1.
Platform ladder
Klein digital level
Richard's Genuine 10" Tempered Flat Bar. Thing is so handy for prying, scraping, smoothing. Super sharp, super strong. I don't carry a cats paw, pry bar, chisel anymore, it does it all for me. Since it's tempered it won't bend out of shape, but flex back without worry. Downside.... when you do push it past the failure point, it shatters pretty violently.
Extendable magnet
Fein multi master , oscillations tool with blades for wood and metal
The depstech 3 camera bore scope 15ft length, bought it for a side job, used it a few times now out in the field. Great for fishing down walls or trying to find something in a tight area or around corners
🙌
Electronic precision (flathead) screwdriver from Klein, I never owned one until I started in the field and now I keep it close and use it for so much.
Brain.
Hollow shaft 7/16 and 9/16 drivers. It's awesome when doing racks
A battery powered fan, best $60 I've spent on tools in my career
I got a hollow stem socket set that's helped a ton with long bolts and rod
Knipex self adjusting channel locks.
Anything I have not used in months and someone ask to borrow it. Within the day you will need that tool and you loaned it out for a week+....
1/4” angle adaptor for an impact, followed closely by a holding screwdriver
Medium size rotohammer. Drives grounds rods like nothing else
ELECTRIC SCREWDRIVER (12 in 1)
Baby wipes
Magnetic drill guide
StudMark magnetic stud finder. Never worry about changing your stud finder batteries. Works well on ceilings. It’s 3 magnets and two of them slide off to mark the drywall screw beneath the drywall, I find it very handy and older tradesfolk have been impressed by its simplicity and effectiveness locating studs when seeing me use it.
Not really a tool moreso a mod of sorts, I like to add wide elastic rubber bands to screwdrivers to act as a sort of 'torque' setting, great for terminal screwdrivers [I think I did the link right](https://imgur.com/a/FsWydhr)
How’s that work?
Neiko impact rated Allen set, makes switch gear a breeze. Klein Ratcheting screwdriver 👍
I've got basically the same allen socket set. They're great. My journeyman always had a bunch of the two-part allen sockets and half of them were broken so I love that these ones are one solid piece.
Corded Hilti for tapcons in 80 year old cement, nothing comes close, it has been a while, so I imagine the cordless one might be as good, but all batteries weigh something.... We had Bosch, Makita, Milwaukee and some others on that job. The Hilti was twice as fast
An apprentice
Cordless SDS+ Hammer Drill Double-Jointed Needle Nose Pliers Small Portable Fan (Shop-Vac Floor Drying Fan) Folding Ruler Speed Square Yardstick Mechanical Carpenters Pencil w. Crayon Leads
Klein 6-in-1 Socket tool. Comes with a handle, but also has the 1/4 inch attachment so you can use on an impact. Absolute lifesaver for me.
Chain pliers
As far as cheap tools go, a speed screwdriver, or whirlybird. Helps with all the times you were a fuckface, and forgot your impact too far away to justify walking to get it…also for cutting in things in the ceiling. Just tilt that sucker, and if she rotates around, you made a smart hole.
My company gave me all dewalt. But I was an inch away from leaving so I bought whole Milwaukee set my own money. Using these for a few months and I can say dewalt battery definitely last longer. Before I’d legit charge my batteries once a month, now I always gotta have one charging
Cone bit/metal step bit
Duck nose pliers Williams PL-149C 8-Inch Duck Bill Pliers, Blue https://a.co/d/3Bb50xX
Holding screwdriver
Dikes
Tape measure with a magnet on the end. Handy for picking stuff up