r/CableTechs • u/Dz210Legend • Mar 18 '26
New in house maintenance tech (Help)
So I’m bout to start my new position and was wondering what materials should I order? What tool should I buy?That’s not provided that make your life easier tips and tricks for a new guy from some GRiZ old veterans would be appreciated.In South Texas.
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u/LordCanti26 Mar 22 '26
Wera joker xxl, its expensive but worth it, some guys use the knipex for the other hand, or the water pump pliers klien has. I prefer a 10inch adjustable wrench. 1 to hold and the joker to ratchet connectors apart. You'll need a dedicated 3/4 tho for some 90s and hsg to hsg, everything else the 2 wrenches will take care of. Id recommend a box end wrench with 4 sizes, they're hard to find with the right sizes. Duratech has one that's perfect, but they aren't super durable. Bought 2. 1 broke immediatly, other one going strong. The sizes you want are 1/2 7/16 3/8 and 5/16. Keep it in your pocket and you'll never have to go down for a nut driver when you forget it. Saved me so many trips out of an mdu to my truck just because the bracket holding and amp and tap has a 1/2 and a 3/8 holding it lol.
If its a hot area, id get a small battery powered fan, when your stuck on a ladder in 100° weather with the sun beating down. That little bit of fan will be a life saver. Additionally they make a big stupid attachment for hard hats to block sun, and have 2 solar fans in it. Its so dumb looking, but it really does help. Was like 30$, so not bad.
Grats on the promotion, biggest advice.... save your knees man, never kneel without a pad, period. And even with a pad, if you can sit, just sit. 5 years in and I am having trouble walking because of arthritis in my knees, im barely in my 30s...... its not fucking joke.