Best Starting Tools And Test Equipment

[BlueFlashAsh]

hi guys was just wondering what you would advise me to get tool wise. i have lots of diy tools which are fine for the little bits i do but as i start to do more ill need better tools. what do you think is the best way to do this get a few good tools CK etc or get lots of middle of the road tools. also what test equipment would you sujest obviousely im not going to get a £1k set but dont think a secound hand half dead £20 is the way to go either. can you also post some link and name so brands that you use. in college we CK and megger testers and iv used de walt and mikita power tools but this is as far as my brand experiance go's

 

[ProDave]

You won't get much of a tester for £20

Sometimes you find older model MFT's on ebay for £100 or you can usually buy individual testers (loop, RCD and insulation / continuity) for peanuts on ebay. Useful to get you going and learning.

Power tools, I've been using one of the "no name" SDS drills bought for £30 from screwfix for over 10 years now.

 

[steptoe]

buy good pliers, after all they are in your hand all day,

my personal preference is Knipex, Ive used them since I started my apprenticeship. I like the feel of them, try and hold some different makes.

hammer, I prefer a 20oz myself, wooden shaft,

the big thing with tools is personal preference, what feels nice for you to hold may not sit comfortable in someone elses hand.

I would start off with a few good tools, then add to it as you find you need something,

I started off with a pair of knipex pliers, a 20oz draper hammer, a CK flat blade and pozi screwdriver, bought with my first weeks wages, and owing my dad some money, the pliers cost almost my weeks wages alone!

I actually ended up with those tools as my dad was a mechanic and that was the brands the motor factors he used sold, that were relevant to sparkying,,,,,,,,,,

maybe thats why I still use the same type of stuff today, old habits and all that,,,,,,,

then every couple of weeks I bought something else, one day my spark came into work and said I owed him a fiver and reached me a new set of VDE screwdrivers, made my day week that did, he could see I was trying to collect tools but just never had the money to splash out on something that expensive, they probably cost IRO 2weeks wages at that time for me. [the fiver was only a token price, they woulda cost a lot more than that]

thinking about it,

general day to day tools in relative value cost a lot less now than they did then,  :|

 

[Evans Electric]

Buy what you can afford , basically. 

If you're well orf , buy a Rolls Royce ...me ?  A Ford.

Just starting out , eBay for a Multi function , but make sure it doesn't trip RCDs on Loop tests.   

 

[BlueFlashAsh]

thanks guys think an sds drill will be my next investment and a tidy pair of pliers after that. iv got a cheap pair atm which do the job but nowhere near as good as the ck's in college. what do you guys use to trace wire's in dry wall rod's etc? i had to trace one for a socket the other day ended up using an old metal coat hanger lol basic but worked but think ill need to get some tidy tools before i can even think of charging.

 

[Evans Electric]

Tools could well be a good idea . 

 

[ProDave]

For fishing wires through places http://www.screwfix.com/p/spring-steel-fish-tape/67849?_requestid=255801

 

[batty]

Coat hangers are good I have around four on my van use them sometimes.

 

[pewter]

coat hangers are good, trunking lid is VDE rated. I think trunking lid is fantastic. Though i do have a set of rods that cost £100.

I was in that awful B&Q last week getting a loft hatch, i got caught by a member of staff and signed up for a trade account. As the pretty girl gave me the patter and showed me the display stand out back with what stuff have savings with a trade account i noticed a CK screw driver set for £20 trade price and normally £35. I went to electrifix a few days later and see the same set for £35, so i think i might go back and get a set.

 

[Robin Spark]

As others have said trunking lid and wire coat hangers (if you can get hold of one) are great.  With trunking lid if there is debris in the ceiling void then you can push the trunking lid through, whereas often the fishing wires just get snagged up on the tiniest bit of builders rubbish that previous trades have hidden down there!

Main thing is, be sensible on what you buy and dont go for all of the different gadgets that you'll never use!

 

[BlueFlashAsh]

well i felt like a right noob when i used the coat hanger but feel loads better now might sound stupid but do you cut a hook in the trunking lip? i was hoping i wouldnt have to fish out the wire the other day but there was a nail or something probably off the skirting board which kept the wire tight to the floor lol

 

[Robin Spark]

Normally for me i just tape the cable onto the trunking lid.

 

[BlueFlashAsh]

ah i see lol would of needed a hook the way i did it but def be using trunking lid in the future. thanks everyone and if any of your are in blaenua gwent let me know if you need a tea boy, tool cleaner general goffer from time to time obviously for free