Tag: BX Cutters

Dear Mr. Electrician:  What tool reviews have you written for products you have used? Answer:  Tool reviews of my tools are down below. NOTE: Some text links below go to applicable products on Amazon.  As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.  Using my links helps to keep this website FREE. There are several tools I have grown to love working with because work goes so much better with the proper tools.  Having the right tool for the job increases productivity and helps ensure the work is done correctly.  My tool reviews are based on my actual use of the tools as part of my work as an electrician. I can confidently say that not everything is manufactured to the same standards, and identical services from different companies don't always match up.  Now more than ever, shopping around to find the best deal or product for you and your needs is essential.  Read many tool reviews. One of my favorite tools from my young electrician days that I still use occasionally is my Bright Star 1618-CT continuity testing flashlight(s).  See the photo at the top of this post.  They are convenient for checking fuses and incandescent or halogen light bulbs.  They are also suitable for identifying wires on dead circuits or wires that are shorted together. The flashlight has a jack in the back screw cap that a set of alligator leads can plug into.  After the leads are inserted, the flashlight will only light when the two alligator clips are connected. I saw LED upgrade kits for these flashlights in a store, so I bought one.  The original PR-type incandescent bulb was not that bright. The original manufacturer no longer makes these flashlight continuity testers, but plenty of other types of testers are available. I have always been a tool nut, and when I was much younger, I would buy tools because I liked them and hoped to be able to use them one day.  I have many tools in my collection that I have never or hardly ever used. My current advice is to wait until I need the tool unless a bargain buying opportunity comes along that is too good to pass.  My tool reviews are based on my experiences using them while working as an electrician. Top Of Page TOOL REVIEWS My three Ideal voltage testers have been with me for a long time.  The model on the right also has a built-in continuity tester. I have several small pry bars that come in handy during remodeling jobs. Another handy tool to have is a thread-restoring file. Suitable for when you have to cut some screws or bolts. I love my Klein Lineman Pliers with the built-in crimper. If you want to give a gift to an electrician, this would be a good one.  A Burndy Wire-Mike is suitable for determining wire and conduit sizes. I initially bought the protractor level with a magnetic base to bend the conduit. Top Of Page I have used BX cutters since I was a kid.  Working with my dad in the 1960s, we mostly installed BX cables.  A...