Do you have rated insulated tools?
- Thread starter Bluedog225
- Start date
pollenface
Solar Addict
If I'm really worried about safety, i wear gloves
Suijkerbuijk
I cannot be held responsible for this information.
This is about the same price and offers more sockets.
The screwdrivers are great as they are interchangable with the torque screwdriver and the blades are reasonably priced when you wear them out. Also the insulation doesn't protrude so they fit into tight terminals.
I'd be curious to know if @Will Prowse 's tool tastes have changed, as time has gone on and his channel has grown, he's obviously started to buy better stuff like the fluke meters and wiha screwdrivers(not that great anymore since they moved manufacturing to Vietnam).
The Top brands for me personally, anything fastener wise I tend to buy wera, the steel is really high quality and I find I replace far less screwdrivers and hex bits.
Cutters and pliers it has to be knipex the channelock style adjustable wrench was a game changer for me no marring or slipping ever on nuts.
Meters has to be fluke I still have a very early multimeter that I was given from my boss when I started my apprenticeship it gets calibrated every once in a while and works flawlessly.
Power tools I'm reluctant to say Milwaukee it's always been pretty hardy stuff for me but I changed over to the 12v stuff a while back and the batteries are a bit hit and miss, from what I can work out the BMS is in the tools/charger rather than the battery so they regularly have balance issues when I hotwire them to speakers or flashlights.
Not sure what other brands I can suggest alot of stuff I've accumulated over decades and some stuff just isn't available anymore lucky I bought large quantities when I had the chance. I have boxes of drill bits with W_Germany markings which I highly doubt are available any longer.
The Top brands for me personally, anything fastener wise I tend to buy wera, the steel is really high quality and I find I replace far less screwdrivers and hex bits.
Cutters and pliers it has to be knipex the channelock style adjustable wrench was a game changer for me no marring or slipping ever on nuts.
Meters has to be fluke I still have a very early multimeter that I was given from my boss when I started my apprenticeship it gets calibrated every once in a while and works flawlessly.
Power tools I'm reluctant to say Milwaukee it's always been pretty hardy stuff for me but I changed over to the 12v stuff a while back and the batteries are a bit hit and miss, from what I can work out the BMS is in the tools/charger rather than the battery so they regularly have balance issues when I hotwire them to speakers or flashlights.
Not sure what other brands I can suggest alot of stuff I've accumulated over decades and some stuff just isn't available anymore lucky I bought large quantities when I had the chance. I have boxes of drill bits with W_Germany markings which I highly doubt are available any longer.
Electrical wise I haven't bought to many new tools for just that purpose. That said the right tool makes ALL the difference so if it was something that would make a job easier I would be all over it.
Examples :
Today I installed the covers for the outdoor hoses on a mini split I had just finished installing. I didn't have bits for my hammer drill to drill the small holes needed to screw the covers into the brick wall so I used the normal masonry bits in my Milwaukee M18 drill. I spent nearly 2 hours trying to drill out ONE HOLE. So I said screw this I went inside to order bits for my hammer drill and found I had already bought some and forgot about it. I went and looked and sure enough a brand new set of Makita SDS+ bits were sitting in the drill bit drawer....
Slapped the bits into the Milwaukee hammer drill and off we go.
I drilled 7 holes in under 60 seconds total drilling time. The right tool makes ALL the difference.
But a fancy tool you never use is beyond useless
Example :
I bought one of those fancy solar panel testers. You know the ones with the mc4 connector cables and the built in mppt controller. I never use it. It has been connected maybe 5 times total.
Does it work? Yep.
Does it do exactly what it claims to do? Yep.
Is it accurate? Yep.
So why don't I use it? Because the voltage limit on the stupid thing is so low you can't test anything but a single panel and every time I need to test solar panels its to see if the STRING is working or has cabling issues which is over the 60 volts or whatever the thing can handle.
Fancy tool and waste of money.
-------
Spending a bunch of money for separate tools that I could create on my own by dipping them in a can of liquid tape stuff isn't worth it to me
Examples :
Today I installed the covers for the outdoor hoses on a mini split I had just finished installing. I didn't have bits for my hammer drill to drill the small holes needed to screw the covers into the brick wall so I used the normal masonry bits in my Milwaukee M18 drill. I spent nearly 2 hours trying to drill out ONE HOLE. So I said screw this I went inside to order bits for my hammer drill and found I had already bought some and forgot about it. I went and looked and sure enough a brand new set of Makita SDS+ bits were sitting in the drill bit drawer....
Slapped the bits into the Milwaukee hammer drill and off we go.
I drilled 7 holes in under 60 seconds total drilling time. The right tool makes ALL the difference.
But a fancy tool you never use is beyond useless
Example :
I bought one of those fancy solar panel testers. You know the ones with the mc4 connector cables and the built in mppt controller. I never use it. It has been connected maybe 5 times total.
Does it work? Yep.
Does it do exactly what it claims to do? Yep.
Is it accurate? Yep.
So why don't I use it? Because the voltage limit on the stupid thing is so low you can't test anything but a single panel and every time I need to test solar panels its to see if the STRING is working or has cabling issues which is over the 60 volts or whatever the thing can handle.
Fancy tool and waste of money.
-------
Spending a bunch of money for separate tools that I could create on my own by dipping them in a can of liquid tape stuff isn't worth it to me
Sanwizard
Solar Wizard
- Joined
- Feb 2, 2021
- Messages
- 2,733
Those Wera screwdrivers with the laser etching on the tips really help grip the screws, especially when working with old standard slotted screws.
I learned my lesson a long time ago about tool safety. My one incident with a screwdriver was when I had a long one in my back pocket while working on a DEC RPO2 disk drive in a data center. Those drives had very large capacitors in them. I was kneeling in front of the drive working on the power supply.
Power was disconnected. I spun around to grab a part, and somehow the screwdriver in my back pocket hit one of the caps. Puff of smoke, and Halon system energized. I had 20 seconds to run to the entryway of the computer room and disable the halon alarm.
Very embarassing day, and ALMOST cost millions. Ever since that day, I always leave my tools in front of me so I know where they are, take off all jewelry and my watch, and use coated tools( or taped tools) when possible.
Better to be safe than self assured. Murphy finds a way.
Yes I never knew you could improve a slotted screwdriver so much
That's a good point and another recommendation I forgot. Veto tool bags especially for a technician, probably the best form of tool storage I've ever found, you mainly pay for the amazing warranty/service but I've had mine years now and don't know how I managed without it.
Damn Murphy he always does find a way especially with me. Though I've only come close to hundreds of thousands so far, never millions.
timselectric
If I can do it, you can do it.
- Joined
- Feb 5, 2022
- Messages
- 19,983
My Veto bag is about 15 years old.
It's one of those things that once you finally get it, you're never going to want anything else.
It's one of those things that once you finally get it, you're never going to want anything else.
timselectric
If I can do it, you can do it.
- Joined
- Feb 5, 2022
- Messages
- 19,983
Absolutely yes.
Sanwizard
Solar Wizard
- Joined
- Feb 2, 2021
- Messages
- 2,733
I Just looked up the Veto bags. Nice! (But expensive!).
I have been using the same leather tool bag since 1979. I have no idea of the brand, but it was given to me as a new computer technician for Digital Equipment Corp, and came with a fluke meter that I still use. The zipper was built like a tank, and it still works perfect. I guess this was from the era when when "Made in America" meant something.
Oh, and NONE of the tools were electrically safe, but back then, even seat belts were optional. ( And now a Braveheart yell. Freedom!)
Attachments
This is what I carry my electric tools in.
Amazing how much stuff you can put in this thing.
Amazing how much stuff you can put in this thing.
Veto bags are pretty much this but on steroids, my wife hates me using mine as regularly stuff it with around with 40lbs of tools before going to fix stuff I might need 1 screwdriver and a pair of linesman's for but it's better to be prepared for any eventuality.
No, I make them myself……So yes, I have them….but I can never seem to find the one I need ,so I use a regular one….so Yes I do have them , but never use them…but I would if I could find them.
J.
Similar threads
