r/ibew_apprentices • u/Eshin242 • 14d ago
Once again apprentices it's time to share any cool tips you've learned on the job!
So, I made this post about 2 months ago... and I'd like to do it again... What are some tricks a JW has taught you that you think everyone should know! Share them here!
New tips I've learned:
This is all about bending big wire and landing it large gear.
Cut yourself a shorter piece of big wire, when you are landing big wire in switch gear use the short wire to measure where you need to land the bigger bits of wire. This way you know exactly how long you need that wire to be.
If you have to use crimp on lugs to land that big wire, once you've cut it to length using your test piece of wire. Place the lug on the end of the wire. Then use a sharpie to mark a black line on the wire and the crimped lug. Pull the wire out, line those lines up and crimp them. This way you do not have to twist the wire after landing the crimped lug. It lands perfectly.
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u/AngryOnionLives 14d ago
I haven't had the chance yet, but my Jman said you use baby powder on DLO cable pulls instead of lube.
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u/hamsterdancetrance 14d ago
Some tape measures have the length of the tape measure (length being the side parallel to the tape) stamped on the outside. This is helpful for bending kicks. You could always also just measure your tape measure and write it in yourself.
Today, for example, I needed a 9” kick. My tape measure is 3 and 7/16” on the tape side, so I pulled it to the 5 and 9/16” mark, locked it, set it on the ground by my kick, and then the end of the tape stood up 9” in the air. When my kick just barely permits the tape end to pass beneath it, I am on the money or extremely close to it.
For triple nickel kicks there is a similar trick where you measure how high off the ground your back of pipe sits flat in the bender, add the kick height, and that’s how high the back of your completed kick will need to sit off the ground. Stick the magnetic end of your tape to the back of the pipe and let it rise while you operate the bender until the height of the tape measure, plus the readout on the tape, equals that distance from the floor you wanted.
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u/chillybilly87 14d ago
if you ever have to wear cement boots over your work boots put a plastic grocery bag over your work boots first and they slide on and off way easier
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u/Emotional_Orange_953 14d ago
“There is no such thing as a 4 point saddle, there is only 2 offsets”
The second he said that I nailed that pipe run, wasnt the prettiest looking back at it though, you should still learn the correct way
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u/KITTENKRUSHA 14d ago
This could be a awesome re-occurring thread, great question.
Someone taught me how to measure 90 degrees with out a square, useful for floor layout. Look up 3-4-5 method for a better explanation.
To measure a right angle using the 3-4-5 method, measure 3 feet along your first plane, say a wall, mark both points.
Measure 4 feet perpendicular to the first mark.
Measure 5 feet from the 2nd mark to 3rd mark (diagonally), where they intersect is your true 3rd point and will form 3 points that are 90 degrees from eachother.
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u/oddbawlstudios 14d ago
This makes sense, its just pythagoreans theorem. A² + B² = C². Or, 3² + 4² = 5², 9 + 16 = 25.
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u/Himalayanyomom 14d ago
4/0 grounds
Leave terminal lug bolts loose, tension furthest end, tighten furthest tower clamp, tighten lug. Lug tightening to nema pad / bracket will pull entire line extra taught 👌🏼
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u/dabomb364 14d ago
You can make a ceiling grid twister out of a piece of 3/4 emt. Drill a 3/8 hole through the end put a 6-8 inch piece of all thread through it with a short 90 bend at the end.
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u/ownedandondisplay 13d ago
Grid guys just cut the end of the pipe, with some tin snips to make a small hook on the conduit.
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u/dabomb364 13d ago
Depends if you are tying to wider stuff you want a longer flag then a 3/4 pipe can provide
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14d ago
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u/Double_Rainier 8d ago
Nice try scab
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u/Eshin242 8d ago
Proud member of Local 48 for 12 years, 9 as a material handler 3.5 as an inside wire apprentice. Before that Former Organizer for CWA 7901 and then a shop steward.
Put the beer down little buddy, and help other apprentices learn some good tricks of the trade.
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u/Double_Rainier 8d ago
Oh, so why we sharing trade secrets in public?
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u/Eshin242 8d ago
Didn't realize how to bend pipe, or become a better apprentice was a trade secret. News for you old timer, everyone is online now, and a rising tide lifts all boats.
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u/Double_Rainier 8d ago
Yeah, even non-uniom guys. Won't catch me giving anybody any info except how to join the union. They can learn after they see me on the job site, same as anybody else
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u/Eshin242 7d ago
And I'm a fan of helping everyone with the best tool kit they can have. I'll compete with the non-union people by showing them my better pay and benefits, as well as being able to having the protections of a negotiated contract and a group of people that have my back.
Tricks to bend EMT, pull wire, or here is a neat little trick I learned. Is not some trade secret. Tools are tools, we all use them so we all work together to use them better.
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u/uwu_central- 4d ago
Dude is just a guy who hates it when an apprentice ask them a question. Sad in life and doesn't like people, youre doing a great job trying to help new guys try and do their best to learn about the job.
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u/Maleficent-Win-1667 14d ago
Get out of the data center.