So you want to be an electrician? Have you been wanting to try your hand at electrical work, but you aren’t sure where to start? Investing in a new trade can be an exciting time in your life, especially when you are eager to learn a new skill. Calmont Wire & Cable is passionate about electrical work. It’s time to learn the tools of the trade – literally! If you aren’t already familiar with the top tools every electrician should have, read the guide below so you can get acquainted with the basics. An electrician’s only as good as his tools after all. To learn more about working with a wire and cable company, get in touch with Calmont today!

Measuring Tape

Before even worrying about which kind of hand tools you need, you should start with the very basics. This means making sure you have plenty of measuring tape. You’re going to be cutting a lot of wires and ensuring that they reach throughout the house as fully as possible, so it’s important to have your measuring tape on hand at all times. You can purchase them up to 25 feet long!

Pliers

Electrical Contractor Magazine says that the most important and most common tool you’ll find on electricians is a pair of pliers.

But it doesn’t just stop at one. You need multiple pairs of pliers to get the job done fully. Some types of pliers you might want to start collecting include:

• Long-nose pliers
• Side-cutting pliers
• Crimping pliers

And like most retail items, you get more bang for your buck. The best in quality will yield the best in utility, comfort, and longevity.

Wire Gauge Charts

You won’t get far without your wire gauge charts. Our Calmont Wire & Cable professionals can’t recommend this strongly enough. A wire gauge, or specifically in our case, an American Wire Gauge (AWG), is needed to properly measure wires and other units that conduct electricity. Without being able to measure this, you essentially will not be able to do your job correctly. You wouldn’t be able to cut your custom cable in such an efficient or safe way.

Wire gauge charts can be found at your local hardware store or electrical supplier. They are used to convert electrical charges and to determine the amount of power you need for the job you’re doing. This is one of the essentials of being an electrician, so make sure you get ahold of one as soon as possible!

Going Back to Basics

You can never have too much electrical tape. No matter if you’re working a small job or a large one, electrical tape is the glue that keeps your conductors together. Without it, not only will you have unprotected wires, but doing so may result in exposing the homeowners to danger. Keep the currents where they are so they can successfully run power throughout the house or building.

There’s more than one type of electrical tape, however. Your job and the materials you’re working with will dictate how much you’ll need. Get well stocked with:

• Steel tape
• Fiberglass tape
• Zoom tape
• Fish tape

All different types of electrical tape work well for different reasons.

Calmont Wire & Cable is Here For You!

Calmont Wire & Cable doesn’t skimp on quality or professionalism. They offer custom cable solutions to fill all of your electrical needs. If you need a custom job, or you’re looking for some help with your project, get in touch with Calmont today.