Most Common Hand Tools for an Electrician

You can choose from many types of tool belts or bags, but an electrician's tool belt will include pockets to store small parts you're working with on one side and larger pockets on the opposite side for various hand tools. You'll also want a loop for your hammer and a hook to hang electrical tape to keep it handy. Try to find a belt that doesn't add a lot of weight to your body, which will leave you worn out early in the day. You should only need around 4 pockets, plus loops, although you can get by with less if you know you only require a couple of hand tools for the day's work. You'll also want a high quality belt with good stitching and rivets as well as an adjustable buckle to accommodate your clothes.

There are a really dozens of types of pliers out there and you'll need a few of them for electrical work.

• Lineman's Pliers - These pliers are considered the do-it-all version, capable of twist, cutting and gripping wires. They feature a squared edge, a cutting blade in the center and an area to grip located between the handles so you can pull wire.
• Side cutter or diagonal pliers - These pliers are designed to cut wire and have a special edge that extends to the tip of the tool. They're used for getting into cramped areas when you need to trim wire. These pliers should have durable hardened jaws because they're also used to cut through cable, staples and nails.
• Channel lock or slip joint pliers - These pliers can adjust ceiling fan boxes, tighten Romex connectors and remove knockouts from electrical boxes. Chose an 8" pair to start but you may want to invest in a good set with many lengths.
• Needle-nose pliers are always useful, but you'll want a pair with built-in wire cutters for more versatility.

A complete set of screwdrivers is an absolute must for every electrician. Make sure your set includes square tips, Phillips, flat head and cabinet tip flat heads. Because you'll be working around electrical currents, it's vital that you invest in high-quality insulated tools to protect you against shocks. Insulated screwdrivers will be rated to 1,000 volts. Take very good care of these tools and always inspect them for damage before you use them. They should always be kept clean and dry so store them in their own case, such as the Multibox system from Bovidix.

Residential electricians generally don't need socket sets, but they're still good to have. Choose a deep socket set with a wide selection of socket sizes and go with a good brand.

You'll need an assortment of nut drivers to handle a variety of fasteners you'll encounter. You may be able to find an all-in-one nut driver and screwdriver set, but make sure it's well made with a comfortable handle.

Along with these basic hand tools, your tool bag should be equipped with the following:

There you have it, the essential tools for any DIY or apprentice electrician. This list of tools can definitely seem overwhelming when you consider the cost, so focus on the most important tools first and buy the rest when they're necessary. You can skip complete pliers sets and socket sets at first, for example, and just get the 4 basic pliers you'll need in standard sizes. Many of these tools aren't expensive, either, such as measuring tape and voltage detectors. Just make the tools you do buy now are made well and built to last so you won't be replacing them in a few short years and wasting your money.