What's your favorite tool that is best known for it's use in another trade?

For example, my favorite non-electricians tool is the C-grip which is usually used by welders. It uses the vise grip action but instead of a pleirs end, it forms a big C. They're great for holding a panelboard in place while you reach for the screws & your cordless screwdriver. Also handy for holding conduit to beams & girts while you dig around for a strap. I refer to my pair as my third hand.

Tom

I have a cheap 4x4 remote control toy monster truck. It was the result of a brainstorm when I was pulling several runs of Cat5 cable in a drop ceiling in a large office. Just tie the cable to the roll bar, stand on a ladder with my head above the grid ceiling and drive the truck to the desired location. It climbs right over lay-in fixtures and other cables. Once you get to where you're going, just move the ladder to retrieve the truck and fish the cable down the wall. The truck even has headlights!
I had a hard time convincing my kids it wasn't a toy!

RC... That's very cool!

I fly RC, but I've never actually used it for work in any way. I've got a truck too, and I'll keep that idea in mind if the situation ever occurs for me. The slower Radio Shack 4x4 models would work great!
www.kellyelectric.electrical-contractor.net/Planes/Plane.htm shows some of my aviation exploits including some aerial photography via RC.


[This message has been edited by sparky66wv (edited 05-07-2001).]

Fred,
Cat-5 cable is to be kept 12" away from light fixtures.
Don(resqcapt19)

[This message has been edited by resqcapt19 (edited 05-07-2001).]

Don,
I know and I do. I was just saying that the truck can over-come most obstacles found in a grid ceiling. The network engineer at these offices provides the Cat5 cable and it is usually shielded/plenum cable wether it is required or not. None of these ceilings have been plenums so far. We stay away from the lights anyway.

i have an AM/FM circuit tracer, the other trades simply call it a 'radio'

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Fred:
[B]I have a cheap 4x4 remote control toy monster truck. It was the result of a brainstorm when I was pulling several runs of Cat5 cable in a drop ceiling in a large office.

Best idea that I've heard in a long time......

I like the little "A" clamps that most carpenters use on their "plumb bobs". I do keep a plumb bob in my bag. I can't tell you the number of times that I have laid out fixtures on the ground, and used a plumb bob to transpose the locations up to the ceiling.

Yeah, I'm a plumb-bob user too. Especially when installing vertical runs of pipe, masts etc.

I have a 'rasp', a heavy file i use for pvc

A magnetic tool retriever and some small jack chain... go fishin'!

Works great in voids of cinder block; almost pours in like sand...

Good for fishing into shallow walls such as ones with furring strips too.

Cinder Block was popular here in the 40's and these tools help remarkably for old work.

Today i thought of this thread, had to reterminate an ailing meter. So i used my 1/2" pipe cleaner ( plumbers tool) , which did the trick !

I'm a plumbobber too!
Jackchain is great too.
I like to use masons' line (colored string) in hot pink or similar color so it stands out from evereything else.

Anybody use a studfinder? what type?
How about the new 'chubby' rulers?
Rotozip?


Bill

HAS ANYBODY EVER USED A PEN LASER POINTER TO CHECK FOR OBSTACLES IN A CONDUIT RUN?

Hello From Colorado!!!!!
I Know I don't post very often, But I do read almost everything. WHAT A GREAT SITE!!!!
I use the "Roto Zip" for almost everything! It is great for reaming out those terrible cuts in tile backsplash, and I have never had a better hole saw for recessed cans in my life.
I have been an electrician for quite a few years now and after wiring an average of 225 houses a year for three years straight, I can Honestly say that my "RotoZip", and my "Laser plumb bob" are the best two tools I have ever invested in!!!!

I use a Dremel attachment similar to a rotozip...

My stud finder is my knuckle or screwdriver handle, and a finely tuned ear.

I find a rotating "burr knife" usefull in de-burring sheet and large pipe. This tool has a pen-sized handle and a free-spinning bent tip. They can be found at industrial parts houses.

I love my Zircon laser level. You can measure 2 points, and find any point in between. Great for laying out for continuous rows of fixtures, hangers, etc. to about 300'. A real time saver.

I use a Gardner Bender stud finder. It usually comes in handy but sometimes doesn't indicate a stud or joist when I know there is one.
This happened last week - I was preparing to cut a hole in a bathroom wall to add a box and GFCI receptacle. The studfinder didn't indicate anything but I knew there was a stud in the area because I was in the attic and saw 2 nail heads in the top plate.
I picked a spot for the box that I thought would be ideal for the receptacle. Then, I drilled a series of small holes to make sure there was not a stud. Finally, I marked a box outline and cut the drywall with a keyhole saw. Guess what, there was a copper pipe running horizontally where my box was going! It was approx. 1 1/4" diameter and appeared to be a vent connection from the sink drain to the main vent that ran in the wall behind the toilet. It was only 2" behind the drywall so I didn't have clearance for my box. I had to cut a new hole.

A magnetic tool retriever and some small jack chain... go fishin'!

Man, I thought jack chain was an electricians tool!!
The only way to fish stud walls IMO.

GJ

A reply to Sam: I've used "pen lasers" for
conduit runs with mixed results. Bet bet is to spend some $$$ for a laser level; the cheap $10 lasers are neither clear nor bright, and the beam often angles off to one side. Oddly enough, the lasers are most often used to trace conduit and point things out to others- very usefull.

I've seen guys make some nice pipe bends with their steel toe boots.

I used the bell end of a 1" pvc pipe to bend 500 MCM's the other day.....

I use a nail set instead of a punch I find they last longer..

I use an angler's hanging scale (digital) that weighs in pounds and ounces up to 50 lbs.

I weigh my rolls of wire to keep control of inventory on small jobs. A 250 ft. roll of 12-2-G weighs about 22.5 lbs...



[This message has been edited by sparky66wv (edited 07-04-2001).]

66',

I would doubt the veracity of any scale that has to do with weighing fish caught by a sportsman.

Tom

[This message has been edited by Tom (edited 07-04-2001).]

True, but I find it more accurate than my guesswork... I've found that my guesswork exaggerates more than the proverbial fisherman!

[This message has been edited by sparky66wv (edited 07-04-2001).]

That's not too uncommon..

One outfit i worked at would 'wiegh-in & wiegh-out' thhn on a state dept of wieghts & measures calibrated scale.

just a few doors down from the dept. of silly walks

Sparky,

Didn't realize we had any Monty Python fans here.

Keep your stick on the ice.

Tom

[This message has been edited by Tom (edited 07-06-2001).]

Where is that in relation to "Abuse" and "Arguments"?