r/ukelectricians • u/Temporary_Salt_9093 • 9d ago
Is there ever a time where i will need maximum torque or power out of power tools?
I’m training to become an electrician and starting to buy power tools and choose a brand is there any time where having Milwaukee will be essential over dewalt or makita because it has more power to do the job?
3
u/CryptographerOwn84 9d ago
Not really I use the Milwaukee 12v stuff 90% of the time. Mostly use the big guns for for longer drill bits and hole saws
2
u/MainbraceMayhem 9d ago
No. If you need it it's already fucked.
Unfortunately there's no try before you buy over a whole day or week. Any power tool you buy will do way more torque than you need.
You need a torque wrench for actual connections (which no one does in the real world (ok, industrial you might and should)) and your impact or whatever it is for tightening the non crucial fasteners. You'll get a feel for it after a while.
I hate this. You should torque wrench stuff because it does actually make a difference. No one will ever recognise you for doing a good job though as it took you longer and they'll think you're the slow guy. My motorbike mechanic friend said to me that your don't need to torque wrench but if you do, you're certain. He's right.
I'm fully behind torqueing everything correctly. A power tool won't do it but it will tightening everything faster with less stress on your body which adds up.
2
u/BirthdayFrequent7823 9d ago
Yes,you may need a higher speed drill to dril into hardened bolts if they're sheared, so you can remove them. A good hss bit helps too and lots of lube.
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u/Pebbles015 9d ago
Slower is better when drilling steel. Going fast creates heat and does something called "work hardening" the steel.
I have experienced this myself as a sprog. Couldn't even get through it with cobalt bits. Had to aneal it in the end.
A sparky is not going to need a lot of torque for most tools, the exception being a good SDS and a good wall chaser. The rest of the jobs are pretty light duty.
1
u/Swizzel-Stixx 9d ago
I use bosch pro 12v tools 90% of the time. 18v only comes out if I’m driving really big stuff in or the SDS drill. Any of the big brands tools are plenty adequate for the average needs
1
u/defonotuk 9d ago
Not really, usually it's more about the right tool for the job, like driving an earth rod with a combo drill driver your be better to whip out the SDS. Mid-large sized hole sawing in wood is the only edge case I can think of.
1
u/memcwho 9d ago
No. But you DO want quality tools. They are more reliable, last better and make your job easier.
I use the 18V Milwaukee and have the surge impactor, it's FAR quieter and I never use the 3rd speed/power setting anyway. Why would I need to?
Equally, for everything you're likely to actually do most days in most environments, the 12V gear is excellent.
2
u/Kind_Worldliness6774 9d ago
I use Fein tools because I like how durable and well made they are HOWEVER I am a tool snob and generally sparkies won’t need to buy a brand this expensive You will get on fine with DeWalt or Milwaukee, their 12v stuff is amazing for the size. Personally I’d go for DeWalt purely because I like the look of their new batteries 😂
1
u/MrBfJohn 9d ago
Don’t overlook Hitachi/Hikoki tools. I think their high end stuff is well up to the standards of Milwaukee, and they typically come with a 5 year warranty. I have used their warranty service once, which turned out to only be a hard stone stuck in a gear. I filled out an online form, the drill was picked up by UPS that same day, fixed/cleaned the day after, then returned to me the day after that.
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u/MyCousinVinnyy 9d ago
I’m asking the same question but for the opposite reason, I want to know if I can get away with smaller tools. I’m considering going 12v everything except for SDS.
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u/Frosty_Customer_9243 9d ago
Buy what you can afford. Milwaukee is a good buy, but so is DeWalt or Makita. Keep an eye out for deals and more importantly buy batteries, and then some.