In The Workshop-New Electrical/Technician Tool Pouch

[Phog Allen]

When I did it for a living my saying was,"It's all about the tools". I just love having what's needed when a job comes along. When I had a project and a certain tool was needed, I wouldn't borrow if I didn't have it. I would buy it and have for ever after.

 

[Canadian Mountain Man]

tool porn, count me in!

you have some nice stuff gents! here's my contribution

 

[Phog Allen]

Kal, tremendous kit! Indeed, by the tools you will know the craftsman. Much of what you show I use regularly. And those Klein screw holding drivers are excellent. Have both the slotted and Philips.

While I have no problem with Klein, I have been using a lot of German stuff the last few years. Particularly Knipex combination pliers. I like the narrower jaws for getting into boxes and other tight pkaces.

And once I started using 'mechanics' pliers(long or needle nose in the U.S.) WITHOUT cutters, I can never go back to the models that have them. The first pair was the Klein D314-8 long reach, long nose. Eight inches long but only about 1-3/8 inches of jaw length. And no cutters. A better pair of pliers for control wiring work I cannot imagine. Sadly Klein saw fit to discontinue them a few years ago. I repkaced them with Knipex 28 21 200 model 'long reach needle nose pliers'. Great quality and the jaws are just 1-1/4 inch long so the same fabulous reach-in ability of the Klein. Ultimately, I don't like these as well due to different handle shape but quality is superb. Next up to buy are the Knipex 38 15 200 'mechanics pliers'. Much heavier built for tougher wiring jobs but less girth in the jaws compared to the Klein 8 inch. I am really glad to have all these choices!

I need to update this thread with photos of the Arsenal bag loaded with electronics and datacom tools.

 

[Phog Allen]

And gents, I just had to comment on Kal's kit. That is a PRO level setup in every way. You could do almost any conduit, motor control cabinet, or switchgear install(only need bigger sockets and wrenches for main switchgear) that comes along. And about 95% of troubleshooting and maintenance issues. Tradesmen appreciate guys who show up ready to rock and roll.

 

[Canadian Mountain Man]

Kal, tremendous kit! Indeed, by the tools you will know the craftsman. Much of what you show I use regularly. And those Klein screw holding drivers are excellent. Have both the slotted and Philips.

And gents, I just had to comment on Kal's kit. That is a PRO level setup in every way. You could do almost any conduit, motor control cabinet, or switchgear install(only need bigger sockets and wrenches for main switchgear) that comes along. And about 95% of troubleshooting and maintenance issues. Tradesmen appreciate guys who show up ready to rock and roll.

Thank you very much Todd, those are flattering comments but I'm certainly not a pro....maybe a touch more breadth & depth then the average suburbanite but a home gamer to be sure. My dad was a P.Eng (Canadian equivalent of an American PE designation) and had his machinists & millwright tickets so was a pretty capable guy. As I kid I was very fortunate he exposed me to a lot of different industrial control, mechanical, electrical and hydraulic systems and encouraged me to get my hands dirty and I naturally took to it. Also fortunate that throughout my career I've been able to spend a fair bit of time in the field with the real pros and most have been incredibly gracious in sharing their knowledge.

I'm fairly self-sufficient around the house but when I have had to hire a professional for something I can't tackle I show them respect for their knowledge and the service they're providing. I let them know I'd like to observe, not because I don't trust them, but because I want to learn. Most tradespeople have met the request positively and a lot of the time I end up acting as a helper/gopher.

As for my tool collection, I'll be the first to admit that I don't need "pro" grade or the volume of tools I have but there's reasons for their acquisitions. First, I don't care what it is be it a screwdriver or blender I want the damn thing to work as intended. My experience has been cheap tools don't last, even in a home environment. I've spent wasted enough money at places like Princess Auto (Canada's Harbor Freight) to know you can buy a crappy tool have it fail and then buy a decent tool or just buy the decent tool to start. Second, at some point when I retire I want to move to the cabin full time. A few years ago I had the power upgraded to 3 phase, there's already a big quonset for a shop, an old lathe I want to restore, plenty of room for a milling machine and other equipment. I just want to build stuff, not sure what yet but I'm a creative guy

If you're interested, check youtube for AvE's channel. While I think he's been a little lazy with some of his recent videos if you go back through his older ones he does a lot of tool teardowns. Unlike a lot of other tool reviewers he doesn't get the item from the manufacture, he buys it (with Patreon money) so there's no inherent bias to be positive for something that's actually crap. Its interesting when you can see what is either bad engineering or intentional/planned points of failure. Even with premium brands like Hilti there are some interesting/infuriating secrets to be found once you peel back the plastic shell.

While I have no problem with Klein, I have been using a lot of German stuff the last few years. Particularly Knipex combination pliers. I like the narrower jaws for getting into boxes and other tight pkaces.

I'm a BIG fan of German tools like Wiha & Stahlwille. Have some of their hex, torx and micro drivers and they're awesome....just a little tough on the wallet.

Project bench (I do like my Klein but a little Milwaukee and others)

Assortment of a few things

I need to update this thread with photos of the Arsenal bag loaded with electronics and datacom tools.

I'm an analog boy in a digital world

 

[Phog Allen]

Good stuf Kal. And I will second your notion of just wanting it to work. Years ago I was given one of the best pieces of advise you could ever get; Buy the best tools you can afford.

A crusty old character I worked with told me that and I have seen nothing to dissuade me since. It was practical and smart. Best you can afford likely doesn't mean the best extant. Especially when use or need is factored in. I don't buy SnapOn mechanics tools. Why? I have a perfectly good set of Craftsman wrenches(spanners) and socket sets from the 1980s that do all I need. They are a far cry from the typical import stuff of the time. And even now. Solid. And I didn't have to mortgage my kids to buy them. I would have with Snappy.

The inverse applies for trades type hand tools. I will not use any cheap pliers or screwdrivers for anything anymore. And you can still buy great quality German and American drivers for mostly under ten dollars per handle. Pliers start creeping up fast. Most of the Klein and Knipex stuff I use run 30-50 dollars per pair. For me, worth it. You simply get spoiled rotten using top shelf electrical/electronics tools and it is hard to use any other. Just like the guy who uses Snappy all day. He doesn't want crap tools when he's forced to work on his own stuff at home. Which he likely doesn't want to do anyway after doing it all day at work.

Tools. Great subject. Rabbit trail of spent money. Worth it almost every time.

 

[Alacrity59]

I agree Todd. Mostly for me tools have paid off immediately vs. paying someone else to do something. Clearly there are cases where I know I'm not up to doing a job and am happy to pay to get it done properly.

For Kal. . . here is a Princess Auto snake. I have used long plumbing snakes for years by hand. Their cheap thingamagig is pretty nice.

My old meter died. Found a new one.

 

[Phog Allen]

Mike, good point. Like you I have more than paid my mine off. Probably twice over truth told. Just last week our furnace refused to light. Cycled on off rapidly. Sounded familiar. Internet search revealed a likely dirty flame sensor. Removed, carefully cleaned it up(no real abrasives should be used) with 1600 grit sandpaper which is less abrasive than the recommended $1 bill for the job. Fixed it right up.

Asked HVAC techs at work what the call fee for a service company would cost. Typical for this area would have been around 100 dollars U.S. Plus likely a new sensor which is dirt cheap. So my nice Klein nutdrivers and Wera screwdrivers were both paid for..again...just like last time something came up.

 

[WarrenB]

Mike, good point. Like you I have more than paid my mine off. Probably twice over truth told. Just last week our furnace refused to light. Cycled on off rapidly. Sounded familiar. Internet search revealed a likely dirty flame sensor. Removed, carefully cleaned it up(no real abrasives should be used) with 1600 grit sandpaper which is less abrasive than the recommended $1 bill for the job. Fixed it right up.

Asked HVAC techs at work what the call fee for a service company would cost. Typical for this area would have been around 100 dollars U.S. Plus likely a new sensor which is dirt cheap. So my nice Klein nutdrivers and Wera screwdrivers were both paid for..again...just like last time something came up.

Love these tool threads!
I had to do exactly the same on our boiler yesterday! Flame sensor and ignition electrodes pretty crusty, a quick clean up and 10 mins later all sorted, really common issue. I did 15 years as a boiler/heating tech, we are in a rented property and I get them to send the heating engineers out if it's more in depth or costly as it's covered under the rent charge, makes me chuckle when the "engineer" is poking around looking a little confused, just watching their fault finding process makes me shake my head sometimes, there are some are good ones don't get me wrong, but some really don't seem to know what they're doing!
First rule for me is knowing how something works, if you don't know the process it uses for each task you'll struggle fault finding I truly believe.