Tools and equipment comparison

[Isetech]

Testers, If I cant find a Fluke meter to do the job, I do consider Kyristsu testers. They have proved their worth. When I talk worth we talking 10/15 and 20 years plus that I have used the equipment.

I have a metrel power quality analyser, it has earned a spot in my van.

I have never owned a megger tester, so someone else will have to give a thumbs up or down.

Uni T, I use it to test resistance and small batteires, the leads are too short to be used on site.

[Isetech]

chasing walls... We only use dustless chasing equipment.

My old Hilti vacum is still going strong, unfortunately as we all know HIlti equipment is no longer supported after 5-10 years, so every single Hilti product I own has become disposable, when they break Hilti informed me that they no longer service any of them. I have around R150k worth of Hilti products.

I took my Makita chpper in for a serve 2 weeks ago, it cost around R2000 to replace the armiture. the machine was purchased in 2006. It is the hardest working machine. I was using a Hilti chipper, however I found that it was getting too hot so I purchased the makita as a back up. Now we only use the Hilti chipper if the makita is already in use.

If I compare the makita chasing equipment to the hilti chasing equipment, the makita vacuum is not suitable for masonary work. It cloggs up too quiclky. the Hilti vacuum does the job efficiently.

The little makita chaser is like a toy which has to be treated like a porcelain doll, do more than 5 cuts and you replacing the armature at R2000 a pop. I bought a second chaser to swop when we had multiple cuts, I fried them both the other day.

I have noticed the lads in the UK using ametabo chaser, I am considering trying one of them 3 blade chasers. The only problem is like the Hilti the machine are designed to push along the floor. Who pushes the car to the garage at the top of the hill when you run out of fuel

The old Hilti 230 chaser can swop the dustless hood to allow the machine to use the weight of the machine to cut down the wall.

When chasing a floor, you always push the machine forward.

When chasing a wall it is easier to allow the machine to cut down the wall. Clearly the engineers who designed the chasing machines never actually spent a day cutting walls

[Isetech]

If you are like me and actually work on site and dont drop off teams, or stand around watching teams , you probably own a pair of cresent pliers and have for as long as you have been a sparkie.

The good news is that there is an even a better tool that is on me at all times ... An ME- 22 marvel cutter, if you have never used one of these, I would highly recomendf you get one. I have gone through about 20 of them since I found one many many years ago. I have about 6 of them everywhere, in the toolbox in the van, in the workshop, ther eis even one in my desk draw.

When it comes to screwdrivers, I dont really care much for the cheap kit set in my tool kit, they get abused and replaced ever 6 months. I use them for everything, yip even to break out stuff.

I do have a thin temrinal screwdriver and a numebr 4 gedore screwdriver, the 2 most use screwdrivers for electrical work.

I also carry a wera set in the van which is only used for final terminations. I do plan on gettting a torque scredriver at some point. I do beleive I tend to over tighten terminals, especiall when using cheaper brands of MCB's.

https://za.rs-online.com/web/p/screwdriver-sets/6115855

Then there is the gas soldering iron, I had a weller gas solder iron for years , then something went wrong, it wouldnt ignite, I sent it in for repairs, was told they dont repair them.

Tried a few cheap ones, they failed within weeks.

Bought a demel gas soldering iron, not the greatest but at the time of purchase R500 wasnt abad price compare dto R3000 for a weller replacement. I bought a couple of them and they have earned their spot in the tool bag. I have one for soldering and the other has a hot air tip which is great for heat shrink.

[Isetech]

Then there are the other bits and piece have a spot in my tool bag...

The PVC cover remover, after much embarrassment trying to pop off the covers on the new sockets and switches using a screwdriver, I designed and made a tool which works 100% and cost nothing to make.

Then there is the new improved bosch go cordless scredriver, once you get the hang of this tool, it becomes a keeper. It pays to get the long bits, Not fogetting the differnece between a PZ and a PH. I can bleive that so few people know how to identify the difference. This is why you hear all the impact scredrivers destroying the screw heads on site


One day when I become a real electrician I want to get one of these

https://za.rs-online.com/web/p/torque-screwdrivers/2436299

The level, this thing gets used all day long.

http://upat.co.za/product/pocket-pro-magentic-spirit-level/