“Being an electrician is an interesting and rewarding job,” says Mario Martinez, an electrician at Marsh Electric in Oceanside, Calif., specializing in both commercial and residential work. “As you become more experienced, you find ways to do things faster and more efficiently, but there is always something new to learn.” Martinez finds the biggest challenge day to day is doing things right the first time. “One mistake can undo everything you’ve done so far,” he says. “Time is money, so both customers and contractors want quick job turnarounds with high-quality workmanship.” Tools play an important part in an electrician’s speed and efficiency. “There are many tools out there, but not all are professional grade,” says Martinez. “A low-quality tool may help you finish a single job, but then it will stop working. Get tools that are as good as your work.”
Ideal Vol-Con XI 61-086 Voltage/Continuity Tester. “Ideal is one of the brands I come back to the most. This particular tester is very reliable and not as complicated to use as other brands. We use it to check for current in commercial and residential environments.”
Greenlee 350 MCM Model 718 heavy-duty cable cutter. “When I do commercial work, I use a batterypowered cable cutter provided by the company, but this manual tool is my go-to cutter for regular residential jobs. It is lightweight and the perfect length.”
Bosch 11304K Brute breaker hammer. "We use this powerful tool to break structures for installations. The great thing about it is that it doesn’t require a generator to work, making it a very versatile and portable tool." Southwire Romex SIMpull NM-B Wire. “This nonmetallic sheathed cable is great for residential wiring. It has two to four conductors available and is color-coded."
Klein Tools J203-8N 8-inch Journeymen heavy-duty long-nose pliers for side-cutting and stripping. “A lot of my pliers and cable cutters are from Klein. These particular Journeyman series pliers are very versatile and can be used for clean wire stripping and cutting. They are very comfortable and provide a firm grip."
Makita 18V LXT406 Lithium-Ion cordless 4-piece combo kit. “This is by far the best one I have ever had. Aside from being a great value, the tools are lighter than others I have used. In my job, I am constantly climbing up and down 10- to 12-foot ladders, all while carrying my tools, and I can certainly feel the difference in the weight. These tools also have a super-long battery life. I particularly like the electric hammer drill. It is great for drilling holes and pass pipes through the wall."
Klein Electrician’s Tubing Cutter 53730. “I have always used Klein Tools. They last for years and years. I have tried other brands but this is the one I feel most comfortable with because it doesn’t damage the wire and it is very easy to use. You simply tighten, cut and snap.”