Tool belt

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mspicka

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Colorado
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Journeyman Electrician
Hello all, I am in need of a tool belt. It has been a few years since I have been an electrician and am wondering what people like for tool belts.

Thank you
 
A real small one with just the basic tools you'll be using on that job. If it's to big you'll end up laying it on the ground next to you.

On the belt It'll go like this. Leather tape measure pouch on belt above your right front pocket, then on the right your main small tool pouch enough for about 5-8 tools.
Then a single pouch for a large screw driver for banging goes behind the main pouch. If you need to carry your meter put it in it's own case and slide it on belt to the left side, a ball pin hammer ring beside the meter on left.
A cloth nail apron squeezed in between the tape measure case and the hammer ring. Pencil behind the ear. (y)
 
Buck Parrish said:
A real small one with just the basic tools you'll be using on that job. If it's to big you'll end up laying it on the ground next to you.

On the belt It'll go like this. Leather tape measure pouch on belt above your right front pocket, then on the right your main small tool pouch enough for about 5-8 tools.
Then a single pouch for a large screw driver for banging goes behind the main pouch. If you need to carry your meter put it in it's own case and slide it on belt to the left side, a ball pin hammer ring beside the meter on left.
A cloth nail apron squeezed in between the tape measure case and the hammer ring. Pencil behind the ear. (y)
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Appreciate the reply. My last electrician job we did no have tool belts. Everything was pushed around on a cart and a tool bag. I was thinking something like the small Kline leather tool bags and then just keep on them the tools you are using.
 
Don’t use a belt , I use my overalls with lots of pockets and carry what I need. I use to have a heavy Belt decked out with everything you would need weight like 75 pounds. When I stoped doing resi and went too do industrial the j-man I got paired with looked at me and my belt and threw it in the garbage. said He would fire me if he saw me with a belt again. have all my tools in a rolling bag now.
 
AC\DC said:
Don’t use a belt , I use my overalls with lots of pockets and carry what I need. I use to have a heavy Belt decked out with everything you would need weight like 75 pounds. When I stoped doing resi and went too do industrial the j-man I got paired with looked at me and my belt and threw it in the garbage. said He would fire me if he saw me with a belt again. have all my tools in a rolling bag now.
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Funny. My last run was no tool bag. I enjoyed it. No way I'm putting on overalls though. Maybe some cargo pants?
 
I dont mind a belt if it doesn't have too many tools. I only want to carry what I need. The rest can sit in a tool bag.
 
I gave up the belt and went to tool bag as I did maintenance. Around the home when I get to play electrician, I have a small tool pouch
 
I have 2 belts.
One I would call a residential wireman setup that I'll use sometimes on new rough-ins.
Small pouches - about 5 tools on one side and on the other side I change between staples and wire nuts.
But I'm probably most comfortable with my cargo pants when it's below 60° or shorts when it's above 60°
I use the cargo pockets for staples or wire nuts, and I use my back pockets for screwdrivers, dikes, etc and hang my strippers off my front pocket

My second belt I would call a service setup that I use when troubleshooting or remodel wiring.
All the usual hand tools and then some - crimpers, scissors, testers, tiny screwdrivers...the other side is multiple pockets with staples, wire nuts, tape, drill bits, and more.

If I'm in a lift, belt and pouches get in the way. And I hate bending over to use a bag on the floor. I like using several plastic drywall mud pans that get hooked over the rails. They hold all my tools and lots of goodies like MC connectors, conduit fittings, screws, clamps, etc without having to bend over to the floor a lot
 
I have become rather fond of these over the years. It's a small gardeners pouch that weighs .3 of a lb. Not shown in the pic is a metal clip that I use to clip on my pocket so I can take it off in an instant. Lots of the trouble shooting I did was in real cramped quarters and the pouch worked great for it. I got it in the gardening aisle of an HD store. Like $11 or so.1630772542413.png
 
mspicka said:
I guess I'll need to let the job dictate what I get... hope to be employed soon.
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you shouldn't have a problem finding a job. There are so many EC looking to hire. At least in my area.

I have the traditional electricians belt on my right with one half of a carpenters pouch on the left for what ever I need for that particular project, tape measure in the middle. Tools: wiggies, tape, #2/ #1 square, phillips, two size common, one larger common for beating, small slip joints, needle nose, dikes and linesman.
(When I used to work for an EC a lot of the guys didn't where pouches and constantly asked me for tools... I would usually send them on there way)

When I'm on a step ladder for a period of time I take off the belt and loop it over the top step.
 
Buck Parrish said:
A real small one with just the basic tools you'll be using on that job. If it's to big you'll end up laying it on the ground next to you.

On the belt It'll go like this. Leather tape measure pouch on belt above your right front pocket, then on the right your main small tool pouch enough for about 5-8 tools.
Then a single pouch for a large screw driver for banging goes behind the main pouch. If you need to carry your meter put it in it's own case and slide it on belt to the left side, a ball pin hammer ring beside the meter on left.
A cloth nail apron squeezed in between the tape measure case and the hammer ring. Pencil behind the ear. (y)
Click to expand...
I appreciate you sharing this.

If my 50lb leather bag can't go in the sink or saddle the ladder, client must clear me a workspace on the counters.

My glasses knock the pencil off my ear, which gets lost or broken, forcing me to use a sharpie or scratch tip. The pencil really needs it's own orifice so it stays put.

Glasses really suck because I must swab face with alcohol to keep frames from sliding off, can't see ladder rungs on my way down, miss last 2 steps before landing too hard, and new prescriptions last about 2 months before all scratched up from crawl space dirt & debris.

One advantage to having all my junk in one bag is losing less tools. Even accidental thieves are politely asked what happen to the tool that's not in its place.
 
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I have used the Dewalt tool belt for just a little while now and I have not had any issues with the belt/suspenders combo. I used an outside nail pouch for my tape which takes away from the variety of fasteners I can carry at one time. The cell phone holder is a great idea. It is very comfortable and the extra support is great.
 
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