Annual Tool Allowance

[petersonra]

Gentlemen,

Been out of the loop for a while. Does any EC now-a-dayz require a JW to provide "drill motors, KO cutters, fish-tapes, hand benders, ladders, along with the hand tools"?

If so, it is time to leave the trade, the $180 allowance be durned.

Best Wishes Everyone

I can only tell you about a few ECs I am familiar with around here. They supply all but a few hand tools like screwdrivers, strippers, and pliers. the kind of stuff you probably would have in a small tool pouch.

Even then a lot of electricians seem to prefer using their own tools rather than company supplied tools like benders and fish tapes. I don't think any of them supply their own knock outs or drills. It seems the typical limit of personally owned tools is what you can carry in a 5 gallon bucket. Anything larger goes in the job box, and that is for company tools.

But my sample size is pretty small.

 

[jflynn]

Consider yourself fortunate that your company give;s you an allowance,this is something I would like to see,@ this time we all buy our own hand tools,with the company providing larger equipment..

 

[peter d]

Been out of the loop for a while. Does any EC now-a-dayz require a JW to provide "drill motors, KO cutters, fish-tapes, hand benders, ladders, along with the hand tools"?

The last company I was at actually prohibited worker-supplied power tools for liability reasons.

 

[petersonra]

The last company I was at actually prohibited worker-supplied power tools for liability reasons.

Our shop does not prohibit them but we are hard enough on battery powered tools that I don't think anyone would want to use their own.

Sometimes a battery gets used enough in a screw driver that the guys need a battery in the charger all the time just to keep up. Batteries go bad pretty fast when run down and recharged 4 or 5 times a day.

I know one guy does have his own battery powered screw driver just because he does not like our milwaukee units.

 

[splinetto]

What does your CBA state?....I don't understand an EC that would think power tools, ladders or basically anything other than hand tools would be the responsibility of the employee. Please dont tell me that is what some of you are saying?

 

[amptech]

I always supply a tool pouch full of the necessary hand tools. I also pay to replace these tools when they get worn out or broken from normal use. I'm talking linemans, dikes, strippers, straight blade, Roberson and phillips drivers, reamer, long nose pliers, 6" Knipex, can wrench, 6" adjustable, volt tick, T5-600, utility knife and a mini mag LED. I supply all the corded/cordless tools, benders, KO, hole saws, etc. You can use your own power tools if you want but just don't expect me to replace them when you damage/wear out your own tools when I provide state-of-the-art Milwaukee power tools.

 

[brian john]

The last company I was at actually prohibited worker-supplied power tools for liability reasons.

I also prefer my men DO NOT USE their power tools. Had a guy bring a hunk of junk drill it broke and then demanded a new one. HE GOT a new one, YEAH!

 

[kpepin]

What does your CBA state?....I don't understand an EC that would think power tools, ladders or basically anything other than hand tools would be the responsibility of the employee. Please dont tell me that is what some of you are saying?

We are required to supply our own basic hand tools plus a battery drill. We have a list of tools that we are supposed to have. I usually have way more tools than are required. If it's going to save me time and effort I feel it's worth it.

The big stuff is provided by the company. I do have a hand KO set just because the company's hydraulic one sometimes won't fit where I need it. I bring my cordless sawzall because it's just easier than dragging a cord around. I use my own ratcheting cable cutters because my company provides the non racheting style. I'm not required to have this stuff but it just makes my life easier. Benders, KO's, fish tapes, band saws, etc are on each truck and in every Gang Box.

 

[cadpoint]

I live in the wrong part of the country, I've never worked with any allowance. I replace my personal hand tools by about the same amount yearly... Please Take My Tools...

I've worked for companies that'd replace hand and power tools, broken and worn down. They'd spring for a bag of tools for the cubs, and order anything for anyone, but they'd always withdraw lump sums per "Check"

 

[splinetto]

Maybe Im just spoiled.....If your contractor gives you a corded sawzall and a cordless would help you out and save time, why wouldnt you ask for one?..If the answer is no then in my mind he is OK with the extra time it takes to drag a cord around to get the job done....

 

[480sparky]

One-eighty will probably get you a mediocre cordless drill, not much more.

One outfit I use to work at gave us $250. That would get me a decent cordless, and replace some of the screwdrivers I had lost during the year.

 

[kpepin]

Well, he's not the one on a service call after hours or in some crawl space
or an attic. I don't care if it make him a little more money on a contract job because I saved 15 minutes by not setting up a cord and putting it away when I'm done with it. I also don't care if I cost him the same time by getting a T&M job done just a little faster.

For me it is just a personal preference. I still see guys drill a small hole to punch a 1/2" KO, then punch a 3/4" KO when we have step drills that go up to 1-1/8"

 

[480sparky]

....For me it is just a personal preference. I still see guys drill a small hole to punch a 1/2" KO, then punch a 3/4" KO when we have step drills that go up to 1-1/8"

That's fine for one, maybe two holes. But use a cordless and a VB12 to 'punch' out a whole slew of commercial tubs, and you're buying a new drill for tomorrow.

Personally, I just use a c-punch.

 

[kpepin]

If I have to punch a ton of larger holes, I just use a 7/8" hole saw first.

What I want to try out though is the Cordless Punch and the Cordless Cable Cutter.

 

[mdshunk]

The Caddy metal stud punch makes a pretty good 1" knockout cutter for cans.

 

[petersonra]

why is anyone buying new hand tools when the old ones wear out or break? aren't virtually all hand tools covered by lifetime warranties? even harbor freight hand tools have lifetime warranties.

 

[jdsmith]

why is anyone buying new hand tools when the old ones wear out or break? aren't virtually all hand tools covered by lifetime warranties? even harbor freight hand tools have lifetime warranties.

The lifetime warranty is only for the normal useful life of the tool. If you take in a 20 year old pair of Kleins they're not going to replace them because that's how long they're supposed to last. If you take in a 5 year old pair of Kleins that are broken you should be getting a new one free. Klein recently changed their policy on this to where you have to send the tool in and they will verify that it broke prematurely or something then send you a new one. Any decent supply house will take care of that for you and they'll trade with you at the counter though.

As far as I know Craftsman, Harbor Freight and anybody else that offers a lifetime warranty doesn't make very good stuff in the first place, even though they will replace it if you damage it. Note that if you have a commercial account with a Craftsman dealer or if you buy it on a company credit card or something you don't get a lifetime warranty - the commercial warranty is 1 year or something pretty short.