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Austin
Student
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What tools should I get as an apprentice for an electrician?
Im a high school senior and about to graduate in 3 months.
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Liam Rielly
Data Center Technician
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Manassas, Virginia
Updated
Liam’s Answer
Klein tools: 600-12: 3/8-Inch Keystone Screwdriver, 12-Inch Square Shank
603-10: #2 Phillips Screwdriver, 10-Inch Round Shank
1010: Long Nose Multi Tool WireStripper, Wire Cutters, Crimping Tool
D201-8NE: Lineman's Pliers, Side Cutters with New England Nose, 8-Inch
33-730: STANLEY FATMAX 30ft Classic Tape Measure
KNIPEX Tools 87 01 250 Cobra Water Pump Pliers,10-Inch
And a pencil
This will be the tools you use most on the job. The list above is kind of the best of the best and will last you years but it will cost you money to make this as your kit and will require more tools later. If you get screwdrivers the same spec, side cutter pliers, wirestrippers, a tape measure and slip joint pliers (or water pump pliers I guess) that size and style by a different brand they will set you up for a good start but won't last long.
It all depends on what kind of electrician you will be, this is list more standard for commercial or industrial electrician but would work for most other types of electrical work. You may need wirestrippers that are bigger or smaller, a different type of screwdriver, or possibly no slip joint pliers. If someone walked into the room I am in right now though and they had these tools in their pockets, without saying anything I would assume they are an electrician.
Your local electricians union (usually IBEW) will have a list they require for your area if you are a journeyman electrician showing up for work. As an apprentice you will be required to acquire all of these tools at some point but starting off they will ask if you can get as many tools similar to the list above as possible as quickly as possible. I cannot list everything but they will likely require wrenches, smaller screwdrivers, a multimeter or tester of some kind, and maybe a square. Usually on union jobs the contractor (your employer) will have all of the conduit bending tools and power tools (drills, portable bandsaw, sawzall, etc) and you (the electrician) will be required to bring your personal hand tools to every job.
A common thing new electricians buy is a kit similar to above by the brand Commercial Electric from Home Depot. Klein, Ideal, and Milwaukee all make a beginner tool set that all cost under $100 and have the same tools.
Electrician tools are a little bit different than tools for around the house or woodworking. Electrician's tools are made of steel that is stronger than other tools so that you can torque and pry a little bit more. This is also the function of having a square shank flat head screwdriver, that will be either your #1 or #2 most used tool at all. Tools made in the US, Japan, and Germany are usually the best grade steel and have better specification for construction and engineering. They are also the most expensive. The next tier would be tools made in Taiwan, other EU countries, Korea, Mexico, and central American countries. The lower tier would be China, southeast Asian countries, and other countries that are not known for making tools. To be clear: if you go to your big box hardware store and buy their name brand wrenches even if it has an American name on it, it is made in Taiwan. This doesn't mean they are bad, its just not the same as ordering the same tool from a specialty place in the US. The Taiwan made brand is going to cost a decent amount, the US brand is going to cost a whole lot more. Both will turn a screw or a bolt just fine, one you will give to your grand-kids, one you will replace in 10 years or so. Chinese tools regularly get a bad wrap because they are made of cheap steel. My buddy shorted out his Stanley brand side cutters when trying to fix a light and it melted half of the pliers away and shot metal everywhere, I did the same thing with my Kleins and it left a mark on them and were still useful after. Chinese tools are not desired because they made of lighter steel and plastic to be shipped long distances for lower cost. This is not to say I don't buy them at all, if its a tool I expect to lose or break I will buy a cheaper Chinese made tool to suit my need. Don't be afraid to buy any, just try to buy US made from the list I provided up top.
It really doesn't matter what tools you buy to get started, you need to show up to any job with an aptitude to work, a desire to learn, and an awareness of the job at hand. The guy who shows up with a beautiful bag of brand new shiny tools that doesn't do anything is not going to look better than the guy with one tool who is working hardest. I give that list as guidance if you have the money available and if you plan to get straight to work. I would ask your employer what they expect because it may be something different. Your first ever job as an electrician might not have you working with tools at all.
603-10: #2 Phillips Screwdriver, 10-Inch Round Shank
1010: Long Nose Multi Tool WireStripper, Wire Cutters, Crimping Tool
D201-8NE: Lineman's Pliers, Side Cutters with New England Nose, 8-Inch
33-730: STANLEY FATMAX 30ft Classic Tape Measure
KNIPEX Tools 87 01 250 Cobra Water Pump Pliers,10-Inch
And a pencil
This will be the tools you use most on the job. The list above is kind of the best of the best and will last you years but it will cost you money to make this as your kit and will require more tools later. If you get screwdrivers the same spec, side cutter pliers, wirestrippers, a tape measure and slip joint pliers (or water pump pliers I guess) that size and style by a different brand they will set you up for a good start but won't last long.
It all depends on what kind of electrician you will be, this is list more standard for commercial or industrial electrician but would work for most other types of electrical work. You may need wirestrippers that are bigger or smaller, a different type of screwdriver, or possibly no slip joint pliers. If someone walked into the room I am in right now though and they had these tools in their pockets, without saying anything I would assume they are an electrician.
Your local electricians union (usually IBEW) will have a list they require for your area if you are a journeyman electrician showing up for work. As an apprentice you will be required to acquire all of these tools at some point but starting off they will ask if you can get as many tools similar to the list above as possible as quickly as possible. I cannot list everything but they will likely require wrenches, smaller screwdrivers, a multimeter or tester of some kind, and maybe a square. Usually on union jobs the contractor (your employer) will have all of the conduit bending tools and power tools (drills, portable bandsaw, sawzall, etc) and you (the electrician) will be required to bring your personal hand tools to every job.
A common thing new electricians buy is a kit similar to above by the brand Commercial Electric from Home Depot. Klein, Ideal, and Milwaukee all make a beginner tool set that all cost under $100 and have the same tools.
Electrician tools are a little bit different than tools for around the house or woodworking. Electrician's tools are made of steel that is stronger than other tools so that you can torque and pry a little bit more. This is also the function of having a square shank flat head screwdriver, that will be either your #1 or #2 most used tool at all. Tools made in the US, Japan, and Germany are usually the best grade steel and have better specification for construction and engineering. They are also the most expensive. The next tier would be tools made in Taiwan, other EU countries, Korea, Mexico, and central American countries. The lower tier would be China, southeast Asian countries, and other countries that are not known for making tools. To be clear: if you go to your big box hardware store and buy their name brand wrenches even if it has an American name on it, it is made in Taiwan. This doesn't mean they are bad, its just not the same as ordering the same tool from a specialty place in the US. The Taiwan made brand is going to cost a decent amount, the US brand is going to cost a whole lot more. Both will turn a screw or a bolt just fine, one you will give to your grand-kids, one you will replace in 10 years or so. Chinese tools regularly get a bad wrap because they are made of cheap steel. My buddy shorted out his Stanley brand side cutters when trying to fix a light and it melted half of the pliers away and shot metal everywhere, I did the same thing with my Kleins and it left a mark on them and were still useful after. Chinese tools are not desired because they made of lighter steel and plastic to be shipped long distances for lower cost. This is not to say I don't buy them at all, if its a tool I expect to lose or break I will buy a cheaper Chinese made tool to suit my need. Don't be afraid to buy any, just try to buy US made from the list I provided up top.
It really doesn't matter what tools you buy to get started, you need to show up to any job with an aptitude to work, a desire to learn, and an awareness of the job at hand. The guy who shows up with a beautiful bag of brand new shiny tools that doesn't do anything is not going to look better than the guy with one tool who is working hardest. I give that list as guidance if you have the money available and if you plan to get straight to work. I would ask your employer what they expect because it may be something different. Your first ever job as an electrician might not have you working with tools at all.
Thank you, Liam for the advice.
Austin