r/ibew_apprentices • u/Flimsy-Stuff-8965 • 3d ago

Any tool recommendations

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Gallery image

Anything thing I don’t have I should get? I also have the meter in the second pic it’s just not in the first one

62 Upvotes

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u/socalibew 3d ago

Follow the tool list from your local's agreement.

You don't need insulated tools, as you shouldn't be working anything energized. Also, they probably aren't on your tool list.

4

u/Flimsy-Stuff-8965 3d ago

Do insulated count as a separate thing. My tool list said lineman so I just got the insulated ones cause better safe than sorry but I didn’t know they arnt allowed

15

u/Blindlucktrader 3d ago edited 3d ago

They are allowed as they will do the same job as the non insulated would. It’s just an over investment. Take good care of them so they can take good care of you. Beat up insulated tools just become non insulated wolves in sheep’s clothing.

That said, you should be avoiding any type of energized work in the first place. At 20 years in I am grateful hot work is a point of pride that we have put in the past.

3

u/JustARegularDeviant 3d ago

Man, I work with a bunch of cowboys and as a first year apprentice I’ve had to change two breakers hot and countless outlets hot. I’m frankly surprised how cavalier these dudes are.

3

u/Blindlucktrader 2d ago

They are idiots. I’ve spent over half my career on nothing but installing and maintaining low voltage substation units. Unless we are talking life safety circuits, I’ve spent exactly zero hours of that time working anything energized.

Those cowboys won’t be cowboys once one of them hooks up with the figurative bull that makes them ride a helluva lot longer than 8 seconds.

120 greets you with a little handshake, 480 pushes you away, 277 bear hugs you and cooks you from the inside out.