(Part 2) Best electrical tools & hardware according to redditors

Get yourself a fishtape.. all your problems with running up or down walls will be solved :)

edit: http://www.amazon.com/GB-FTS-65R-Upperhand-Fishtape-Rubber/dp/B000BR535O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1259874652&sr=8-1

edit 2: If you are going to be pulling ALOT of wire, I would suggest something like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9movZLFc_Zk

I was in the same boat a few years ago. Grab a pack of these bad boys (in white if you want them to blend in better) and call it a day, they work great.

most have been covered, but getting a fishtape
is useful for feeding the wires places through walls

Also, I would get a bigger switch rather than using multiple, and no hubs they are awful.

You would be better off making your own. I've found that a lot of the sets are cheap.

Here's my take on it.

1.Cable tester:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d
/B000P1OA1O?cache=6447edf9df8336c37ffb445471642e6b&pi=SY200_QL40&qid=1412645606&sr=8-1#ref=mp_s_a_1_1

Simple cat5 tester, cheap and works decently.

2. Cable stripper:

Here I've given two options, one is a spinning stripper made for things like taking the jacket off cat5, the second is a more of an electrical stripper for a bunch of gauges of wire with cutters at the back side. If your comfortable with it you can use the cutters to strip just about anything.

2.a http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0099DIV4G?cache=6447edf9df8336c37ffb445471642e6b&pi=SY200_QL40&qid=1412645735&sr=8-1#ref=mp_s_a_1_1

2.b. http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00080DPNQ?cache=6447edf9df8336c37ffb445471642e6b&pi=AC_SX110_SY165_QL70&qid=1412645735&sr=8-12#ref=mp_s_a_1_12

3.punchdown tool :
If your in a spot where you get to do punchdowns it's nice to have, they are cheap and work well,

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000KMFDZ0?cache=6447edf9df8336c37ffb445471642e6b&pi=SX200_QL40&qid=1412646040&sr=8-1#ref=mp_s_a_1_1

4. Cat 5 ends:
Always keep plenty of these, a bag of them is cheap and you will be glad you have them.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B003M5BIII?cache=6447edf9df8336c37ffb445471642e6b&pi=SY200_QL40&qid=1412646222&sr=8-1#ref=mp_s_a_1_1

5: crimper:

Never underestimate a good crimper. I have had no luck with the cutting portion of them but that's why I have other tools.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0000AZK4G?cache=6447edf9df8336c37ffb445471642e6b&pi=SX200_QL40&qid=1412646393&sr=8-2#ref=mp_s_a_1_2

6. #2 philps head.
I like ratcheting screw drivers with multiple heads but this is easily the most used screwdriver in my set.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000NNK9MS?cache=6447edf9df8336c37ffb445471642e6b&pi=AC_SX110_SY165_QL70&qid=1412646575&sr=8-5#ref=mp_s_a_1_5

The flat head out of this set is also nice, depending on your bag keep them all handy.


Everything beyond this point is optional or situational.

8. Power supply tester: if you do any sort of computer repair these are very handy to hold on to.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001MKCALY?cache=6447edf9df8336c37ffb445471642e6b&pi=SY200_QL40&qid=1412646902&sr=8-3#ref=mp_s_a_1_3

9. Tweaker: good for laptop repair or if you deal with any sort of building controllers/ low voltage electrical.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0058I6VNE?cache=6447edf9df8336c37ffb445471642e6b&pi=SX200_QL40&qid=1412647026&sr=8-1#ref=mp_s_a_1_1

I also have a similar sized Philips head screw driver but I use it much less frequently.

10. Electrical tape: some people say it's for those who mess up doing electrical, I call it insurance.

11. Linemans: I use mine to crimp chicklets mostly but they come in handy a lot. I couldn't find the exact ones I use b

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000A0S4XK?cache=6447edf9df8336c37ffb445471642e6b&pi=AC_SX110_SY165_QL70&qid=1412647275&sr=8-4#ref=mp_s_a_1_4


12: a bag:
Personally, I use an old back pack. I find its a lot easier to carry that along with a box of cable. This is entirely preference.

this is pretty inexpensive and has good reviews

Ratcheting-Crimping

I would also recommend a cable tester so for a little more there is a kit like this that also has a punch down tool and a cable cutter

tool kit

but as a beginner defiantly get the tester and more ends than you think you need you will mess up some at first till you get the hang of it, them little wires can be a pain, and being able to test before plugin in is nice and if you do P.O.E. its a must

Your Keystones and Patch Panels both require a 110 punch tool. Something like one of these:

https://www.amazon.com/Flexzion-Impact-Ethernet-Keystone-Network/dp/B076WV326L/ref=sr_1_29?crid=1PGRU2IK9OF4I&keywords=110+punch+down+tool&qid=1573846876&sprefix=110+%2Caps%2C140&sr=8-29

I would probably add that, drop the RJ45 Crimp Tool and RJ-45 plugs, and order a bag of pre-made patch cables of whatever lengths you need from Monoprice or whomever. That way they'll use stranded cable (which handles being messed with more) and be made, saving you time for all the other new house stuff you've probably got lined up. Making patch cables is generally a waste of your time.

But that is just my opinion.

I had to punch out a lot of labels, and this hole puncher for scrapbooking worked for me. I've read online that to sharpen it, use the hole puncher on an aluminum can; I can't verify this because I haven't had to sharpen mine.

Other people have suggested using a leather-punching tool. I used this, and it didn't work at all on cardstock, even after I tried to sharpen it.

Running cables inside a wall is a thing (and not even that expensive if it's drywall). And even if you install it on the outside of a wall, you can install it on the edge to the ceiling with these clips, far out of reach from children or cats.

And again, signal repeater will only work if it's a distance problem, not an obstacle problem.

Good Sir, your plan was sound, but you needed (EDIT: "a tool like this one") too:

https://www.amazon.com/Impact-Punchdown-Klein-Tools-VDV427-805-SEN/dp/B002MSJMXY

Or one like it.

It properly seats the wire, and clips the end off in one punchy motion.

Agreed. I use these at work. The spring will hold the cable, when compressed it opens up enough to slide the cable into. The harder you pull the tighter the spring holds the cable. Usually we still use some elctrical tape to make sure we don't loose it during a tough pull.

This particular one looks a lot like a knock off of the old Greenlee ones.

I used these: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FPAI3Y/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 for my attic cat6 runs and they worked out great. They were also good for holding the coax. The cables can split off from these to their respective headers without any fuss.

Use velcro straps to tie bundles together, never zip ties.

Disclosure - I have been doing cabling and telecom for 10+ years. I am recommending the same tools that I carry in my own bag.

First, that tool is garbage. I had that same kit once upon a time and the teeth in those crimps actually bent.

Since price is no option, get yourself a nice pair of crimps.
http://www.allentelproducts.com/catalog/model_AT680.htm?sid=5053870E92469B0FBDE26B823299C951&pid=2010

Also, since price is no option - Get a nice toner that includes a cable mapper to make sure crimps/punchdowns are okay.
https://www.amazon.com/Fluke-Networks-MT-8200-60-KIT-IntelliTone-Toner/dp/B00N2S6RPY

You will also need a punch down tool.
https://www.amazon.com/Fluke-Networks-10055501-EverSharp-Starter/dp/B000FJCRBG/ref=sr_1_3?s=office-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1475089176&sr=1-3&keywords=fluke+punchdown+tool

Last, do not crimp RJ-45 ends on solid copper cable. Solid copper is for terminating on jacks and patch panels. When you terminate an end on solid copper, the blade is actually not cutting through the wire as intended. Instead its either bending or cutting to side of the wire. This can lead to poor connection and oxidation of the wire over time. You will start having connection problems with no idea why. If you are set on simply using crimps, purchase your cable with stranded copper. With stranded, the blade inside of the RJ-45 end will actually cut through the middle of the wire coating and settle in between the copper strands.

Also, I would skip the Cat-7 and go with shielded CAT-6.

I used this shit with white wire to run along baseboards. Works OK.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MDVSJMQ

> I want to add in-ceiling speakers

You will most likely cut the holes for the speakers from the living space. You can then use many tools to push the wire like these, and you may not need to go very far in the attic at all. Plan it out and go from there. Depending on your attic, it can be super easy, or super sucky. Stick your head up there and see what it looks like.

> internet wire via attic

Same, but quite frankly get wireless and be done with it. There is virtually no reason to run hard wire in your home unless you are moving an unimaginable amount of data all the time. Wireless can easily stream any video, and most computers cannot even handle the full amount of bandwidth that CAT-6 offers - the bottleneck is the NIC or HDD/SSD controllers.

> I possibly have a water leak that I need to confirm in the crawlspace.

Get a good flashlight and a real camera with a zoom. Light it up, zoom in, look around, take a pic if needed.

I'm 6' 4" and was 225 and it's not a big deal. Just dusty, dirty, spider webs, and ugh. Buy a $20 painters respirator to be safe.

did you order one of these to pull your cable?

Fiberglass Running Wire Cable Electrical Fish Tape Pull Push Kit

oh it worked out ok actually. though the charger doesnt have enough minimum weight for it. so just ended up using it for actual potted plants.

i found this other one with "ratcheting locking" this is what i was imagining from the start.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B073R697PS/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s01?ie=UTF8&th=1

and these little ones https://www.amazon.com/KEY-BAK-SECURIT-Retractable-Holder-Retraction/dp/B071P85MDB?keywords=key-bak&qid=1537450485&s=Sports+%26+Outdoors&sr=1-9&ref=sr_1_9 work very well for the middle sections of the cable.

You can get a punch-down tool for $10-15 - https://www.amazon.com/WESTONETEK-Network-Telephone-Terminal-Insertion/dp/B06Y579HRQ

There's some good instructional videos on Youtube if you search for it. My walls were a bit of a pain, but definitely well worth it in the end.

Here's my tool list that I'd recommend:

• Fish Tape
  
• Pull kit, this is optional
  
• Network Termination Kit
  
• Tape

WiFi? J/K. Maybe, fish tape.

Here you go man. If it ain't Klein, it ain't mine. https://www.amazon.com/Klein-Tools-VDV427-805-SEN-Impact-Punch-Down/dp/B002MSJMXY/ref=zg_bs_6396135011_19?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=12JW936NXVSKAR5K1BW2

I Love This Greenlee Drill/Tap set!

And of course my Wera Screwdriver Set. Makes dealing with terminals a breeze.

Everyone here seems to like Milwaukee power tools, but I have a Milwaukee drill/driver, but seriously, I prefer the 12V Bosch drill and impact driver. I was trying to use the brand new Milwaukee to drive a 1/4" lag bolt into my dock, and it stalled about 4 threads in. Grabbed the 8 year old Bosch, and drove it all 3 inches down without a sweat.

ETA: Something I only pull out once in a blue moon, but when I do need it, a good Fox and Hound is an absolute bloody necessity! I have that one for general wires, and my Fluke network test kit one for Coax/Copper Ethernet. I wish there was some way for someone to make one for fiber, but oh well, that's next generation physics.

I guess I should also say, the GreenLee Slug-Buster knockout set is amazing. No time spent trying to pop out slugs from the punches.

Oh, lord, I could go on...

Okay, one last one, sitting on my desk: a Brady printer. I can use that to print wire labels FAST (Real Fast), directly importing from a wire run list in a CSV format, but it also does legend plates, and pushbutton/switch plates. Godly.

Okay, I'm done.

No wait.. .One more, for instrumentation guys: Fluke 4-20mA Clamp on... LOVE IT

Okay, I'm really, REALLY Done

Yeah, you can definitely re-wire the jacks. All you'll need is a punch-down tool.

When I was a field tech, mostly working with structured cabling and networking equipment I took the following along with me, some of these things are no longer needed with VOIP phones though:

• Klein Scissors, great for working with cabling. http://www.amazon.com/Klein-2100-7-Electricians-Scissors-Stripping/dp/B000VL03NC/ref=pd_sim_sbs_hi_2
  
  
• Klein 11-in-1 screwdriver (I actually had two) http://www.amazon.com/Klein-32500-Screwdriver-Driver-Cushion/dp/B0015SBILG/ref=pd_bxgy_hi_text_y
  
  
• Harris puncdown tool ( I think fluke took them over though in quality) the little flip out hook is really useful when doing 66 blocks or panels - something like this http://www.amazon.com/Fluke-D914S-10061810-impact-EverSharp/dp/B000GA6QEI/ref=sr_1_2?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1377872619&sr=1-2&keywords=harris+punch+down+tool (You can get cheaper here, but I burned through the ideal ones pretty fast. The harris ones seemed to last a while).
  
  
• Multimeter (Fluke makes some nice ones)
  
  
• Cable Tester - this will do phone, coax, cat5/6 and isn't crazy priced. You can buy more remotes for it too: http://www.amazon.com/Test-Um-TP300-Resi-Tester/dp/B000J15CEE/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1377872779&sr=8-7&keywords=test+um+cable+tester
  
  
• Tone and probe kit (sends a signal over a cable and you can use the wand to figure out what cable it is. Killer for unmarked cables. You'll probably want to take some jacks and make up your own adapters too) - http://www.amazon.com/Fluke-Networks-PRO3000-Tone-Probe/dp/B000FTADX0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1377872864&sr=8-1&keywords=harris+tone
  
  
• Banjo adapter is nice if you don't want to make your own: http://www.amazon.com/Paladin-Tools-1902-Modular-Adapter/dp/B000099O64/ref=pd_sim_indust_13
  
  
• If you have traditional phone lines to deal with, a buttset (or linemans set) isn't a bad thing to have either.
  
  
• Some coax tools (crimper/stripper)
  
  
• A drywall saw
  
  
• A decent tool bag. I used a generic husky one from lowes.
  
  
• A drill (keep the charger in the bag) and a decent bit set
  
  
• A box of random screws and anchors
  
  
• Bigass roll of velcro
  
  
• Double sided tape
  
  
• ALL the connectors (in bulk)
  
  
• Electrical tape
  
  
• Pull string anytime you fish a conduit or a pain in the ass space, leave a string.
  
  
• Various standard hand tools, spackle isn't bad to have and a putty knife, I had a cheap soldering iron and some basic stuff for it too. Sharpies (a whole pack of them). A level, a tape measure.
  
  
• A label maker! Brother makes a bunch. Label everything!
  
  
• Flashlight. I carried two. One small penlight on myself (streamlight) and one that shared the batteries with my drill.
  
  Obviously this all doesnt go in one bag, but I had mine in my car/truck all the time. It'd be a lot easier in an office.

The stripping tools you can get cheap, and don't really impact ease of use, just make sure the blade is set to the correct depth as to not damage the pairs but deep enough to break the outer jacket. You can get cheap crimpers off Amazon but they aren't the nicest to use. I'm sure you can settle with them if you are just doing your own house, but doing bettering as part of my job, certainly would recommend a proper punch down tool (such as this style and not the cheapies online.

I'm having a new house built and will be using these in the rafters to run my drops.
Gardner Bender Multi Cable Staple

Hope this helps.

I bought this kit which is admittedly pretty pricey, but all of the tools are excellent quality. You can get just the punch down tool here for $55 (get the one that just comes with the 110 blade).

If you ever decide to splurge on a bag get a Veto Pro Pac Tech-LC it really is a great bag for electricians. The tech-LC version has nice wide pockets on the back where you can fit meters, toners, p-touch labelers ect.

Veto Pro Pac TECH-LC Tool Bag https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008AK1ZHE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_j2tSDbXZJ4NFG

Edit: and also look into fluke stuff they really make amazing tools for low voltage work! Like this:

Fluke Networks 11291000 Pro-Tool Kit IS40 with Punch Down Tool https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000E5VB04/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_Y9tSDb3RX2TZV

I've printed out my token images and glued the paper to medium-weight chipboard with spray glue and punched them out with this guy, and that worked really well. Of they weren't double-sided though. I didn't even try to glue sheets of images on both sides and have them line up.

I'd guess a hole punch kit for making holes in sheet metal. Today they are used mostly for making holes in electrical panels to install conduit fittings.

Here is a modern example.