Someone along time ago used the phrase “earn your tools”. When your just starting out buy what you need not what you want. As your paychecks grow so can your tool collection. Great content, I enjoy watching it!
Yep sound advice, the old guy I started out with lent me some tools to begin and then told me to buy a tool every week or two for the first year until I had a decent set of my own.
I won't trust advice coming from someone who confuses "a long" and "along" and can't differentiate between your & you're. You haven't even nailed the basics of your native language let alone your trade.
@@KeepFeedingMeImStillHungry You've used an ampersand there as opposed to the word and, but I'll let you off with that as it's an informal message. But no comma after language? Tsk tsk, I have to remove one mark for that. Solid effort, though. You must be a blast at parties.
Nah. I'm an electrician and you definitely need a buy a number of specific tools after the first paycheck of your apprenticeship to not inconvenience your fellow tradesmen. The rule of thumb is that if you need to borrow a tool more than three times, you should buy it for yourself.
Good to see promotion of the electrical trade. We are running very low on qualified electricians good ones are quickly hired. I started out like you and others bending pipe, pulling and terminating wires. Makes your hands very strong. A good thing to do is keep advancing to becoming a Industrial Electrician where you use computer, automation, instrumentation, robotics, sensors, etc. later. You will have the benefit of knowing power distribution as well as how to troubleshoot, improve and maintain the equipment powered. Take PLC, VDF, AC/DC theory while working and you will be working along side Engineers making very good money. 6 Figure +. Put that on your resume and you will work through covid like me, and never be unemployed.
Thanks for the advice sir! im a electrician apprentice at the moment but I want to become a plc technician/ Programmer but your saying to find a industrial electrical company and just learn PLC VDF AC/DC through them? that's perfect hopefully I can find a industrial company that hires apprentices
Good for you. Study applied math specifically algebra. Find a growing company that has capital projects expanding factory floor equipment. All along having AC and DC theory first. Learn materials along the way. There are foundations needed before advancing. Jumping into PLC's and installations will leave little association unless you have a good foundation of what you are doing, and how it works. If weak on math work on that first.@@BoxingIntelligence
Huge difference in tools needed between working union and non union. Im a retired IBEW inside wireman. As an apprentice and journeyman, I only needed hand tools, as all the power tools were supplied by the contractor. IBEW is definitely the best way to learn the trade. 👍👍
In Denmark you are equipped with every imaginable tool you could want, I got a van filled up with all the power tools, equipment and other stuff I could need, all provided to me by my employer.
@@426F6F you don’t need to start making payments till after the 6 years if you want, after the 6 years it will start accumulating interest but it’s still good for when your not making not money at the start
I'm a retired spark-chaser of 35 years, and from my experience, having a tool bag of that size potentially will be so heavy that it'll be more of a burden than an asset. I would suggest a hip-type tool pouch, maybe a medium size tool box to keep your meter and the tools you don't use as often. As time progresses, you'll see what you use the most and what is used occasionally. Avoid the temptation to think you need every tool right up front. Give it time, and you'll figure it out. Residential tools will vary differently than commercial as well as industrial.
Same here i have tons of tools, i only carry a small bag specially climbing ladders and popping out ceiling tiles, i only get what i need and putting it onto this smaller lighter bag..
My back seized up just seeing the size of that bag. I'll admit to not being an electrician but I've been carrying tools around for a long time and the smaller you can make your everyday 'must have' tool bag, the better
@@gregorall9779😂 agree. Ive stripped down my daily carry tools to as generic, as light and as few as possible. I've even started balancing where and what i weigh my hips down with after an uncomfortable confrontation with my aging lower back😂 .
As an apprentice I really appreciate this video, and yeah I've used Klein Tools for years and I really like their quality. Thank you @Karly the Sparky for the advice!
If you are thinking about becoming an electrician it's a good idea to look up the local for the IBEW (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers) in your area. They are the gold standard in the USA.
I’m beyond smitten over how hardworking, dedicated, intelligent, and beautiful you are… Just like the rest of the guys that have watched your videos. Great work!
Just a tip clamp on meters are better in almost every aspect compared to to normal digital multi meters since they have the option to measure amperage which in some electrical applications can be a benefit.
@@boris9305 Only expensive if you buy Fluke. The last time I checked, you could get a very decent clamp meter from a well-known Chinese website for 15 quid (about $20) on a special offer, with free shipping. That wasn't the top model in the manufacturer's line, but still measured AC and DC amperage at true RMS. I had already previously purchased the top-of-the-line model for about £50 ($65). It gives me the exact same readings as my ultra-expensive Fluke 179 down to the one thousandth of a volt. I don't think you're ever going to need that level of accuracy working as a sparky.
Idk I use amp meter often and I'm not an "electrician" lol depends on your work environment I'm in a powerplant and if your doing any kind of diag, instrumentation it's a must
Karly presented a nice collection of must-haves for beginners. 👍 There is also a version of the Knipex Cobra available, that‘s insulated up to 1000V. The Knipex pliers wrench also comes in handy (also available insulated up to 1000V). If your company also does the wiring for e.g. computer networks, you‘ll need a crimping tool, the VDV226-110 by Klein Tools is easy to use and the wiring diagrams for RJ45 and RJ11 plugs are printed on the tool. Also go for a network cable tester (one to check, if the wiring is done right, I don‘t prefer any specific brand). A headlamp is also useful, if you need to work in places that are badly lit (I use the ones from Varta, but that‘s up to you). Tick testers have their advantages, like providing first hand information about live wires, some also about the polarity (like the Benning Tritest easy). Don’t use them as your only measuring device, buy one to get solid information about the electric systems you‘re working on. The multimeter by Fluke, Karly presented here, is a great choice. The T5-1000 by Fluke is also an option to start with, if you don‘t need to use every function a multimeter offers. Just ask your employer, what‘s suitable for the work to be done.
There will be a massive demand for tradesmen in the near future. Not only with the lack of young people getting into the trades, but many of the young people are not taught any skills, so large majority of them will rely on tradesmen. Think about how many 20-year-olds now that would call a service tech to change a receptacle, light, sink faucet, hvac thermostat. Many young people look at tradesmen work as bottom of the barrel, yet tradesmen can do very well. I started as an electrical helper as a young teen, joined the military at 17, got out at 21 and back into electrical work. By age 24 I was a State licensed electrical contractor, by 26 I had started my electrical contracting company doing all commercial and industrial projects. While doing sub-contract electrical designs for engineer's nights and weekends. By age 28 I had average 40 employees with blanket contracts on projects, booked years in advance. At age 40 I had the electrical business working with the guys in the field along with electrical engineering and architectural engineering business.
Some young people think poorly of trades, because their parents raise them this way, wanting a kid with an academic degree to boost their ego. Studying isn‘t the right choice for everyone, being good at a trade is equally valuable and equally useful. But somehow, society forgot about that. Someone needs to keep the infrastructure alive. I first went through an apprenticeship being a mechanic, got interested in the engineering part and started studying mechanical engineering in my mid twenties (got a masters degree), ended up being a research assistant. I didn’t really plan on getting a degree, it just happened, to be honest, after school I was totally fed up with theoretical knowledge. I also think it is sad to see, that some younger people aren‘t even interested in e. g. knowing how plumbing or electrical installations work, I mean, everyone having a house or wanting to have one should at least have some basic insights. I also do everything I‘m capable of on my own, not only to save money, I enjoy doing it, especially the electrical part (not just diy stuff, by the code). But to be honest, I‘m more used to machine controls with or without plc‘s and also microcontrollers. I also had no one really teaching me crafting skills. But if you need a service technician to tie your shoes, something went terribly wrong.
Always good to see people encourage people to trades. I wish I got into one sooner... I kept buying one nice Klein with each pay til I got where I am... the tool bags though... I went through a lot of cheap styles, til I settled on a Milwaukee Packout backpack, and I'm glad I got it. A good bag is definitely a good investment.
This was a great video, as an electronics tech I like your recommendations and explanations of each tool. Some people are saying what you showed cost $1000 but they werent paying attention to when you said you dont have to by top of the line tools to start out.
I’ve been a electrician for 9 years and in 4 different states, I’ve never had a company supply power tools, so I highly suggest to get a drill and sawzall
@@yoozzy2339 so you feel sorry for me because I have my own tools that I bought and am able to take home? Bandsaw, 2 sawzalls, 2 drills, impact, sds drill, multi tool, grinder……. Good day
If you’re young. I’d recommend ibew. Don’t believe what everyone says about it it’s not that bad. Plus you will have a real nice retirement when you get old.
I bought the WERA screwdrivers last year. I love them. The Phillips driver has small flutes on the tip to stop striping out the screw heads. They are insulated 0:18 along the metal shaft too which I appreciate a lot since I tend to have to reach into a live breaker box to test tightness of #2 Robertson screws. No more wrapping screwdriver shafts with black tape.
IDK, but about 90% of what you need to do in residential can be done with very few tools, like a good needle nose pliers, a cutter, 3 sizes of philips screw drivers, and 5 sizes of flat head screw drivers, electrician scissors, and 1000% you need a A clamp meter, not just a normal meter, which also measures amperage(with this, there is no need for a plug tester or voltage tester). Also a tool pouch for wearing around the hip. All this can fit in an average size toolbox for $50. As for parts and pieces that you need to carry, like plugs, connectors, switches, etc. for whatever you encounter that can get crazy.
😊same in uk lots of electricans are retired or at the age of retirement. More apprenticeships needed so great points and helping new young electricians on tools and whats needed.❤😊
Yes I know that a majority of the electricians will agree with me, Almost Everything, you have in your hand, can & will substitute as a hammer, but I think that is the only essential tool you omitted. So glad to see a successful young lady as yourself coming into the trades. Keep on letting the rest of the others that they can be successful also.
Loved your video. Very good and informative compared to just about any other tools to start out with. Only thing i would suggest is don't use a flat head screw driver as a chisel. Use instead a chisel. You can get cheap ones for on most cases the same or less than your flat heads and they are also designed to chop wood.
Love your videos, nice work. Suggestion is to mount the phone or camera to record in landscape mode, makes seeing it on monitors and tvs a lot easier lol
It takes years to master all parts of the trade. At the start you’ll mainly use a shovel - or be running pipe. Employer provides most stuff. First tools are 25-ft tape measure, Sharpie, hacksaw, reamer, TWO Channellocks, and a 10-in-1 screwdriver. Maybe add a pocketknife, flashlight, and small strippers. IF you supply your own drill. / driver, make it a tiny 12V impact (first), 12V hammer-drill ( second). The hacksaw MUST be a quality high- tension model. Meters? Surprise! Electricians are hired because there’s no power. Meters can wait - and are usually company supplied crew tools. Employer supplies the shovel and pipe benders. You supply the boots and gloves. And rain / cold weather gear.
I totally agree with you on an apprentice program but I would have to say to go union because the journeyperson pay for non-union is not much. Plus, the union has an excellent training program where a private contractor could not afford to give. Union journey person makes over $100 per hour. about $65 on the hourly check pay and $45 in benefits. I'm in NYC and did 15 years with the union, got my master electrician license and now have my own business. I cannot pay NYC union wages but ill give steady work.
In NYC most used a Small army tool bag not near as big as that bag she has. We may have to go to different jobs on the subway, train or bus so a smaller kit was more portable.
This vid is pretty spot on with the tools you need to start being a sparky. I found the "Klein Tax" to not at all be worth the cost. Esp when you're just starting out. I much preferred Ideal wire strippers (the Klein's would wreck my hands, Ideals wouldn't, etc). Your side cutters WILL get blown up so don't spend huge $ getting spendy Klein one or Knipex's. Klein screwdrivers are terrible, the tips would never last more than a couple days before they started deforming. I went to Craftsman screwdrivers almost immediately due to the cost and nearly instant breaking down of the Kleins. Yes, i got made fun of for not being a "proper" sparky and going Klein. But the cost and durability of the Kleins wasn't worth it just for a name on the side of the tool.
I started in the trade making 10 bucks an hour and bought all my own hand and battery tools. Also drove over an hour to and from work, paid for my own parking etc. don’t expect anything for your employer. Show up and work hard and you will move up.
I used to be Telephone Repairman for NJ Bell Telephone Company...so, I worked outside on the telephone cable, in the Central Office, & inside both residences & businesses...I made good union wages, & I had a Lift Truck, plus I used my hooks a lot...I always envied the electricians & the Linemen I'd run across on the job...I was always especially intrigued by the Lineman profession--is it harder, & does it pay more than being an electrician?
I have literally tons of tools that I keep in my van. wall chasers and vacs lots of power tools etc etc, but they stay in the van until needed. I wear a tool vest with a gun holder and dewalt gyro screwdriver in it with all my screwdriver bits clipped to my vest, with pockets for knife, tape measure, small level etc etc etc and belt clip for impact driver etc. It's not heavy and I hardly ever have to get any other tools out of the van but they are there if needed. Just a shame the ladders wont clip to the vest lol
When choosing the Klein "Linemans". Get the ones with the fish tape pulling wedge D213-9NETP, it helps me out on those hard pulls. Just don't use it on fiberglass fish tapes. Everyone I work with has a clamp style multimeter. I have a Fluke T5-1000 multimeter. All the cool kids use the Milwaukee fat tape measure with measurements on both sides.
As german I prefer Knipex pliers. Tick tester are not allowed. You are teached to use always a bipolar tester. For an parentis I would recomand a smal bag wich is always much more handy and anough for the task in the beginning. Consurning the style of aprintership in germany. I loved my Electrician belt bag from Tough Build. Now I use a Bag from Velocity Pro gear in the field and in My Van I Have a big Case from B&W International with weels. Here no one uses a Lineman, but we also don't use wirenuts. We prefer WAGO's and before that screw connectoers. Your side cutter from Knipex is allowed here as it is sertivicated to work on electricity., Kline's? As Aprentice I didn't have an own car and went allways with changing kolleges so my mane Idea was to minimise the stuff to carry but be prepared for most tasks. So I found my selfe for instance the Knipex13 96 200, I had a smaler Cobra and a Plier Wrench. In my Cargo trouser I always carry The Zyclob Softbag set from Wera. and at hte Belt a cutter from Würth with an hardend tip wich I can use to lever. I love the screwdriver Set from Wera you have. I'm tinking to get the one from WIHA wich has the Tips in the grip. Thanks for your interesting insights. By the way I work as HVAC and we have here the same problem to find good people are people at all. Wich kind of aprintice did you have in the US? Here it is a dual system 1/3 at school - in block ore once a week - and 2/3 in the job where you get paid. Usually something arround 600€. Staring lower ending higher. Duration 3,5 jears. Only with an degree you`re allowed to work here.
Hi ! I admire your videos, you really know your stuff and your work is really clean and meticulous. I’m currently majoring in electrical, I’ll get my A.S , then transfer to university for B.A in ee. My question is how long did it take you to get where you are and what steps did you take along the way? Thank you respectfully. Edward
@@reccocon3442 I want to continue school as a contingency plan, while waiting for a apprenticeship, I guess it takes awhile to get in, how ever in electrical if you get an associates then a ba in electrical your basically an ee. I just want to become a master electrician, maybe you can answer
Can you do a video on cable tray and conduit please :D, I'm an level 3 electrical improver and I want to learn techniques for tray and conduit installing but not many videos are available I learn better and quicker by watching videos, I hate reading :(
I would suggest getting a comfortable, durable toolbelt WITH SUSPSNDERS. Take some of the weight awkwardly off your hips and more comfortably on your shoulders. Will save you a lot of pain. I don't wear a toolbelt every day in my current position but when I do, I feel it in my hips.
Whats great about that wera set , saves tons of space. And 💯 correct those #3 screwdrivers are everyones blunt chisels most used to beat lock rings, and the hammer your using ? It's called lineman pliers used to beat said screwdrivers 😅
If you haven’t already, you need to try the knipex strippers. Since getting them 2 years ago I can never go back to a normal style stripper again. They’re extremely versatile and will cut almost anything
So I'm thinking about starting an apprenticeship in electrical. I'm, however, already in my 40s and have no desire to work too much over time. Any recommendations for what kinda apprenticeship would be best for an old dude and everyone and their mom is a sparky, can I get a cooler name like El electro?
Great video! I really appreciate the information! I have so many questions. How did you get started? Where? How long has it taken you to get to the point you’re at now? Things of that nature? I’m leaning more and more toward getting into this work once I grow up and get an adult job. 😂 Thanks again!!
IMHO, start out doing residential. The reasons are that you'll learn how to tie things in early on (3 & 4 way switches, panels, etc...). Within 6 months to 1 yr at most it's not unreasonable to expect that you've learned enough to be a proficient mechanic and run work (i.e. work in a foreman role) in residential. After that get into commercial. You'll have an advantage as much of commercial is learning how to run conduit and other installation methods that are required for commercial installations. A lot (not all of course) of apprentices that started in commercial or industrial will learn conduit bending and commercial installations earlier on but don't learn the circuit nuances until later on. At least that was my experience after starting in residential and then going on to commercial and industrial working in both non-union and union shops in the Washington DC metro area and in Southern California. Got my first Master's license right at 6yrs experience. In the states the IEC has a great apprentice program to start with and union shops of course do too. Hope this helps. The electrical trade is a fantastic profession and one it's not something that can be outsourced or otherwise automated and two, it'll give you the background to easily move on to more technical areas such as electronics, communications, networking etc which is what I did.
Like what this guy said. I started off in residential. You will learn a lot of troubleshooting as well which is valuable everywhere. But I was young and dumb so after 5 years of experience I ended up loving to a new state and had to restart from the bottom since my state doesn’t recognize hours if you’re not part of an official apprenticeship. But it is what it is. And if you do start try to go union since they do have great benifits. Jon union shops sometimes have them but it’s rare and far in between. And in the union you have the benifit of multiple shops to work for when you journey out, and you can travel to other places and do big jobs.
I wish I would have just went to Menard’s or some other big box store when I started and bought a cheap starter pack for electricians and finished it out with the cheap screwdrivers. Because chances are, you are gonna get others when you have idea what you want after doing it for a few months.
Hello karly My name is Mark I started out in electronics getting my associates degree and graduated with honors Then I went on to the military got out of there and the company I was supposed to work for had closed the doors one year prior so I went back to square one and got into electrical knew a lot about Tesla and others so that's where I started of knowing electronics and electrical and Klein tools is always been my favorite tool although other tools you'll graduate to because they'll work better for me anyway I'm 64 years old now and electrical was my playground all around I enjoyed going out to play every day and it wasn't for the money anyway I wanted to reach out to you because I like your channel and what you've done I wish you the most and the best of all have a great one oh and I love the new tools that are out now I love new toys and I've always been a Makita guy and now Makita is pushing the top pushing DeWalt out and other makers as well Milwaukee is always been something that I've looked at but I've never used client tools has been my number one tool in all you have a lot of neat toys that's cool I started out buying tool bags that was from Klein that would be from graybar pretty expensive but they've done me through the years and they've lasted forever client tools have a lifetime warranty as long as you don't beat on them I like that anyway karly thank you I love your channel I would like to hear from you if you want congrats.
I’ll start by asking the obvious. Why do NONE of my colleagues look like this? SMH. Also, love the list, I might add a tool belt, a torpedo level and a headlamp.
