Apprentice tool kit help

[Pete999]

A bit more proof than using a volt stick is required UK

 

[telectrix]

strip off a bit of sheath, cut conductors one at a time. shove the ends in lever wagos, trhen use approved voltage tester . saves blowing holes in your expensive cutters.

 

[davesparks]

Just a question for you, you need to cut into the ring under the floor for example, how do YOU go about proving its dead before taking the cutters to it? I know its bad but I use a volt stick and just make sure the circuit is off, but its not really conclusive is it.

Carefully nip the sheath lengthways along the cable and peel it back to expose the cores.
Then carefully nip a little hole in the insulation of the live to be able to test L-E
Once that is isolated you can then access the neutral the same way to complete the tests.

Or else there's the good old fashioned 'choppy choppy bang bang'

 

[Andy78]

Just a question for you, you need to cut into the ring under the floor for example, how do YOU go about proving its dead before taking the cutters to it? I know its bad but I use a volt stick and just make sure the circuit is off, but its not really conclusive is it.

Isolate the whole installation. You have to be really unlucky to snip into a live cable in that case. And isn't always possible.
Mind you, a good pal of mine had just that same situation happen to him. Isolated the whole installation and cut into the cable that was fed from next door's ring final.... :S

 

[shanky887614]

Isolate the whole installation. You have to be really unlucky to snip into a live cable in that case. And isn't always possible.
Mind you, a good pal of mine had just that same situation happen to him. Isolated the whole installation and cut into the cable that was fed from next door's ring final.... :S

if in doubt use someone else's snips

 

[uksparks]

I have to say it's not an everyday occurrence, but occasionally you get faced with the dilemma!

You out know this house I'm doing work in at the moment, used to have two light circuits (up and down) until an extension was built a few years ago. Anyway , so I'm moving all the light switches and centring lights in rooms etc, and if turned out both circuits were linked, not in one, nor two but in three places! Took me 6 hours to find them all and fix. Thank god I had that martingale gadget. Oh they were on old 3036's. I'm changing the board on Tuesday.

 

[Razzmond]

To my shame I bought my hammers from Tesco.

Double Clubcard points as well.

 

[davesparks]

Isolate the whole installation. You have to be really unlucky to snip into a live cable in that case. And isn't always possible.
Mind you, a good pal of mine had just that same situation happen to him. Isolated the whole installation and cut into the cable that was fed from next door's ring final.... :S

Worse than unlucky!

The company where I served my apprenticeship had an apprentice die from cutting through a cable which should have been dead but was actually fed via a dodgy connection to next door.

 

[Jamie]

i don't really think that knipex are all that great for cutters, they seem too bulky and no grip to them... bahco cutters are the best you can get IMO, the 160's.

After all, cutters and screwdrivers are what you will be using your whole apprenticeship, why not get the best (or as best as you can) right now to last? Bahco cutters and a set of Bahco screwdrivers, job done and just look after them.

When I started my apprenticeship I borrowed a couple hundred quid from my parents and paid them back a few weeks later on my first pay day (nearly all my bloody money haha!), the little tools i bought then are the ones i still have now 3 years later (although snips every 2 years is a must imo), nothing wrong with them and I intend on using them for a lot longer....bahco all the way!

 

[shanky887614]

i don't really think that knipex are all that great for cutters, they seem too bulky and no grip to them... bahco cutters are the best you can get IMO, the 160's.

After all, cutters and screwdrivers are what you will be using your whole apprenticeship, why not get the best (or as best as you can) right now to last? Bahco cutters and a set of Bahco screwdrivers, job done and just look after them.

When I started my apprenticeship I borrowed a couple hundred quid from my parents and paid them back a few weeks later on my first pay day (nearly all my bloody money haha!), the little tools i bought then are the ones i still have now 3 years later (although snips every 2 years is a must imo), nothing wrong with them and I intend on using them for a lot longer....bahco all the way!

how are they bulky? get the ones with slim orange/red handles