Your indispensable tools

[slipnfall]

Hi folks,

I'm always eager to find those hard-to-live-without tools, and I came across one today. I don't know why I didn't see these before. Now this isn't probably anything new to the 'installers by profession, or those who have been doing this for a while, but new to this DIY'er anyway. This is up there on my list, second only to a 72" flexi bit and fishing rods.

A T20/T25 stapler: "Specs" (ha!)

This stapler puts down small, perfectly rounded staples, intended for low-voltage, CATx, and COAX.

The Arrow I bought from Lowes does both the rounded (T25) and flat-headed (T20) staples. They stocked two lengths of staples, 3/8" and 9/16" in the T25 (there is an intermediate 7/16 I believe). I chose the 9/16". I didn't bother looking at the T20's.

Stapler was $25, staples/box around $3.75.

The 'head' has three adjustments for staple depth. I used:
-lowest range for 4x22
-mid range for CATx
-high range for COAX

The tip has a concave cutout to help centering the staples on the wire. I watched an installer use this last weekend and he *flew* down the wire with staples. Imagine a roofer with a pneumatic nailer.

This doesn't mean you don't need proper bundle hangers, trays, etc; rather it works best for those single runs to end devices. I found this a *huge* help when crawling around in the attic where a hammer/staples would have been a huge pain.

A word of caution: become good at hiding it, as the Mrs. is already eyeing it up for upholstery.

List up your must-haves!
Jamie

PS - this is in no way intended to be an endoresement for Lowes or Arrow! I have no affiliations, except for receiving a large fat envelope from Lowes every month!

 

[slipnfall]

Wow, sorry about the subject typo! Should have been "Your indispensable tools".

 

[opie]

I have two that have saved me hours.

The Magnepull and the SeeSnake Micro.

Won't go on a retro job without them.

 

[pkoslow]

Staying on the topic of staplers... I use a slightly different Arrow model that shots plastic insulated staples.

http://www.arrowfastener.com/FMPro?-db=web...=T59&-find=

The one that Jamie links is widely used by telco, security and cable TV guys. The one that shots the insulated staples is more commonly used by guys that do more data and higher-end structured wiring.

Both get the job done!

I'm also quickly becoming fond of my new Bosh PS40 impact driver. It doesn't drill, but for rough-in of wall boxes, speaker brackets, etc. and even installing speakers and wall plates it's a big improvement over doing it by hand which was usually the way I'd install speakers & wall plates. It's also much easier to hold out over my head when up on a ladder fastening speaker pre-construction brackets to ceiling joists!

http://www.boschtools.com/PRODUCTS/TOOLS/P...aspx?pid=PS40-2

Here's a couple other gadgets I use all the time for retrofit work:

http://www.lsdinc.com/content/product_details/62
http://www.lsdinc.com/content/product_details/15

 

[IVB]

1) A multimeter, to tell where & when i've screwed up wiring, check connectivity, voltage, etc. I just realized my bathroom zWave switch was working after all, the circuit is dead for some reason. I wonder if the light fixture itself is hosed, hence not completing the circuit.

2) Endless velcro roll, for easily banding multiple wires together. It's a much heavier version of this: http://www.kk.org/cooltools/archives/velcro_tie.jpg

3) Multiple pairs of wire cutters, because i'm constantly leaving them around.

4) LanRover TP500 network tester, it's got 2 pieces so you can run a long CAT5, crimp it, and test both ends in the actual location that they'll go in.

5) Most importantly, a cocoontech.com favorite link on every laptop and PC, plus IRC so I can jump into chat quickly, ask boneheaded questions, and continue on my way. Saved me hours upon hours, and hundreds of dollars.

 

[CORT]

Here we go:
Milwaukee self feed drill bits run through wood like a beaver chomping in a dry popsicle stick storage shed.

A Greenlee fish tape could pull in Jaws himself. This one is compact, and with the crank on the side, you'll realize that you don't have to curse your fish tape every time you put it away.

With Ideal Reflex Super T-Strippers you'll soon know that maybe the best stripper doesn't take one dollar bills.

I don't care if someone else besides Fluke makes multimeters because I can't imagine a better test instrument. I saved and bought my first Fluke in high school and it is still working. Don't need the fancy one. Just the basic one. Hey, that's my Flukee.

An Ideal Crimpmaster frame with a bunch of different crimping dies. I can crimp everything from flag style faston connectors to itty bitty pins for the Elk keypads. Chomp!!!

Don't laugh. Yes, that's tape. But not just any tape. It's Scotch Super88. I reckon Hall and Oats would still be singing duets if they were held together with Super88. If you spent a long time getting your fish tape through the holes/chase/passageway, don't risk losing your pull of wires to bad tape.

My two year old girl picked a pack of Hellermann Tyton grip ties (Velcro) off the shelf of the local electronics distributor display. She wouldn't let go, so I had to buy them--the yellow ones. I've been hooked ever since. No more zip ties.

 

[slipnfall]

Great list already. I'm an electronics guy, so I never have a DVM too far from reach. Fluke 86 here also. It's like another appendature.

PS - I keep a few junk diodes handy in my road toolbox - it makes (on rare occasion when you need to) discriminating between a pair of unlabled/numbered wires easy: Install the diode at one end, then measure at the other. Mark anode/cathod, then make note on the initial end.

Those Ideal strippers are the best in my opinion - only $14/pair at most to boot! That mini fish reel is new to me - it might just restore my faith in them.

Cheers,
Jamie

 

[Squintz]

EZ RJ45 Crimpers

I love these crimpers because it allows you to easily see the wires. This is very important for someone who is color blind.

Compression Crimper

The compression crimper comes in handy at least once a month for me. It does BNC and F connectors of just about all coax cable sizes.

 

[CollinR]

Wow, sorry about the subject typo! Should have been "Your indispensable tools".

BWAHAHAHAHAHA!!! I Thought that waz great though!

 

[electron]

CORT, do you write those product descriptions for woot.com?

Great list, keep em coming!

 

[BraveSirRobbin]

EZ hook jumpers. I use the type that can go directly into a meter (banana jack) and the hook to hook ones. They are great for prototyping and troubleshooting.

(sorry I couldn't come up with a more clever description like Cort)

 

[pkoslow]

CORT,

You make a good point about the electrical tape. I use the same stuff...

There's a huge difference in a roll of electrical tape that costs $3-4 a roll and the stuff that comes in a 3-Pack for $1.98.

WORTH EVERY PENNY!

 

[pkoslow]

Here we go:
Milwaukee self feed drill bits run through wood like a beaver chomping in a dry popsicle stick storage shed.

CORT,

The self feed bits are the staple of my pre-wire jobs too. A few different extensions added to the short one that comes with the kit provides a lot of options. You can drive some of the smaller self feed bits with a high-power cordless, but the best combo is to match the self feed bits with a Milwaukee right angle drill. These have the weight and torque to drive the bits through almost anything and the power to break all those fragile things like your fingers, arms, hands, head and face!

It's an indispensable tool if you run lots of wire:

 

[slipnfall]

I thought I was the only one who bought quality electrical tape.

There's nothing worse than searching for that 'special' role when you just need a quick wrap.

Jamie

 

[pkoslow]

A few other things to mention:

• Quality stud finder
• Quality toner & tracer (Fluke)

I also have a measuring wheel that I use a lot. It comes in handy for getting quick dimensions on a property so I can better calculate wiring costs. It's also great for measuring and cutting wires... you know when you've only got 3 boxes of CAT5 and want to pull 5 runs to the same or similar locations. You can use the measuring wheel to run up and down the walls and across the floors to get almost an exact length. Once you've found that one run is 67ft and the other is 82ft, you just pull that much out of the boxes, cut it off and then pull all five runs together. I didn't know how much I'd use this tool when I bought it, but I use it all the time now.