Essential Tools for Electricians

Without the right tools,electrical work cannot be well done no matter how experienced an electrician is. The list of electrician tools is getting longer every day because of the improvement of basic tools and development of new specialized tools over the years. There are must-have tools an electrician can’t do without no matter the type of work.

Choices must be made wisely to avoid being loaded with too many tools. To tackle different jobs with ease and efficiently an electrician needs the following hand and power tools.

Hand Tools

Electricians need basic hand tools to perform daily tasks. Today’s basic hand tools are safe and easy to use than their predecessors. They have improved designs that have reduced wrist and hand injuries caused by repetitive movements. You can now easily perform the same motion over and over again comfortably. Here are the basic hand tools an electrician should never lack.

1. Pliers

Pliers are critical tools especially for electricians who cut and manipulate wires. Pliers with contoured and cushioned handle provide a comfortable and powerful grip that allows an electrician to use them with ease. An electrician can have an array of pliers but the side cutting pliers,needle-nose pliers and reaming pliers are must have pliers.

2. Screwdrivers

An electrician should be armed with a variety of screwdrivers and nut drivers for a fast loosening and fastening of various hardware. Professional electricians carry adaptable screwdrivers such as Klein’s 10-in-one screwdriver that have interchangeable bits. Screwdrivers with heat treated shafts and well-cushioned handles are more preferred as they give the electrician an excellent and comfortable experience.

3. Wire Strippers

A wire stripper has a pair of opposing blades just like in scissors and a center notch that lets you cut insulations without cutting the wire. Wire strippers with curved handles are more preferred as they reduce fatigue caused by repetitive movements. Wire strippers with non-strip textured grips and a thumb guide are more comfortable and allow for faster wire stripping.

Power Tools

The ergonomic consideration in today’s corded and uncorded power tools makes them safer and easier to use. Cordless power tools are more convenient and versatile than the corded as they allow the user to move freely making the electrician more productive. Here are the two must have power tools for electricians.

1. Power Saws

The type of saw needed vary with tasks. There are various types of power saws. The portable band saw,hole saw,reciprocating saw,spiral saw,and cut-off saws are the common saws used for electrical works. They differ from one another based on how they operate. When buying an electrician’s power saw go for the one with a higher speed and has the ability to make clean cuts on metals.

2. Power Drills

Electricians like -need power drills when installing fixtures or disassembling the installed hardware to access wires. The drill and the power required is determined by the material being drilled. Multipurpose drills reduces the number of drills an electrician needs. A handheld electric drill with various grips can be used in different tasks. When buying a power cordless electric drill,battery run time and superior ergonomics should be considered.

Modular construction is the practice of constructing or building the building structure using prefabricated,pre-assembled parts instead of individual elements. Modular construction is a very practical,cost effective,and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional construction. It eliminates waste by eliminating the need for materials and labor.

In modular construction uses large pieces of metal. These sections are “assembled” together to form the “frame”. These frames can be made of one material or several different materials. One popular material used in construction of this type is steel.

The frame structure is constructed with screws,which then anchor the assembled sections into place. The holes in the frames serve as entrances and exits for the sections. A variety of industrial methods are used to produce the frames,which can be one or several pieces of steel.

Prefabricated sections can be manufactured for sizes up to six by six feet. When several sections are to be installed,a smaller section is “cut” into two sections and attached to each other. When these sections are secured to each other,they are now called a “column” section.

The next section,the “pan” section,is then attached to the pan section. The pan section can also be joined to the other sections. These pan sections are not used alone but are joined together in order to create the entire frame. All of these sections must be purchased separately.

The use of modular construction uses panels to make the frame. All panels,which are made from a variety of materials,must be purchased before they can be used. Panel fabrication can be done in a variety of ways,such as via CNC machines,through hand-forging,and using sheet metal,aluminum,and fiberglass for the panels. The panels that are constructed from the frame are attached to each other via welds,rivets,or glue. These panels are then fastened into place. Each panel has either four,five,or six threaded inserts that fit into holes on the frame. The inserts then provide mechanical connections.

The vertical connections are made through rivets,screws,and hex nuts. The bottom holes are used to screw in the panels that are used in the frame. The panels can be stored in the sections until they are needed.

Sections can be purchased for all of the panels that have to be constructed. A single panel can be used for the frames,or it can be used for a variety of purposes. For example,the sections can be used to build a loft bed for a small bedroom or bathroom.

The frame and sections can be purchased together or separately. The frame sections,when purchased together,can be used to build a single room or it can be used to build multiple rooms. The frame sections can also be used to build a combination of rooms,such as a bathroom and living room or a bedroom and kitchen.

Once the frame section is built,it can be bolted to the bottom portion of the frame. An outside framing strip can then be attached to the top portion of the frame. A roof can then be constructed using the aluminum strips.

The manufacturing process of modular construction is also significantly less expensive than traditional construction. This process allows for mass production and relatively large quantities. The parts are also able to be assembled and disassembled much more quickly than with traditional construction.

A Mexican ceramic planter is a great way to plant flowers or vegetables in a way that can be both an attractive decoration and a practical addition to your gardening area. In particular Mexican Talavera planters will add charm,color and light to your garden.

While fired ceramic presents some unique problems when it comes to being made into items like roofing tiles because it is porous,this quality makes ceramic pots a great way for plants to gradually absorb water left in a dish that the planter sits in.

Talavera Ceramic pots can be textured or smooth and have a variety of other finishes. If you can bear to water your plant a bit more often,you can find a number of painted ceramic planters that are much more attractive than traditional terracotta’s brownish red. The art of pottery creation has been in Mexico for centuries and passed from generation to generation. The most distinctive trait of a Mexican Talavera planter is its colors: Vibrant,strong and radiant.

A painted ceramic planter will look great indoors or in an outdoors patio area. Mexican planters are hand-made and hand-painted with the same care and tradition of outstanding craftsmanship as Mexican Talavera tiles,both of which,by the way,can be found at Fine Crafts Imports.

You might think of a planter as a fairly large contraption. Planters can come in all sort of different sizes,they can be as small as a bowl,which would be a great place to store flowers at a dining room table or herbs to grow within reach of your kitchen. However,the most common size will be at least 10″ diameter to hold dirt and a plant in your garden. there are also the vertical planter version,which attaches usually to a wall and the plant hangs out of it.

You could also paint a terra cotta planter yourself (not the Talavera type,though). Having children paint a small planter is a great gift idea for Mother’s Day or Father’s Day. Apply water sealant to the planter before applying a base coat of paint. While water sealant negates ceramic’s porous qualities,it is important to apply it so that the paint you apply won’t bubble or crack as water attempts to move through the ceramic. A handmade ceramic planter is nice but for a professional looking planter painted by an expert,it is usually best to buy a ceramic planter that doubles as a piece of art.