National Worship of Tools Day and the Tools of an Electrician
Tools are indispensable for an electrician. These tools help them do their jobs effectively. However, they do not get much-needed credit. They are primarily the instruments that help electricians install, repair, and maintain electrical systems. Thus, appreciating tools is a way of commending their purpose.
Looking at a global scale, machine tools in 2020 had a $66.3 billion production value. That massive demand for tools across various sectors around the world is a testament to the importance of tools.
And yet, tools are only left out in compartments collecting dust, taken out only when needed to build or fix something. The tools of an Electrician, for instance, are vital instruments in our daily lives.
This is why the National Worship of Tools Day is here to remind us to take a look at our tools. Have a moment to inspect your tools. They may also have parts that need fixing, upgrade, or replacement.
National Worship of Tools Day
Although it’s not an official holiday or a recognized celebration, March 11 is considered the National Worship of Tools Day. The reason for this is that tools are vital in our daily activities. These objects are important, especially for electricians. Whether it’s fixing a single part to building complex electrical wiring, tools are the ones that orchestrate the connections of various electrical components.
Tools have already been an essential part of our daily lives. Even as far back as the stone age, early humans started carving out cutting tools from stones. From these basic tools, humans have progressed and developed more complex instruments that make almost any activity in our modern lives way easier. Let’s have a rundown of tools from centuries ago to appreciate them more:
13th century – was the invention of steel by skilled blacksmiths. They were able to produce steel by combining iron and charcoal.
1761 – around this time, cast metal scissors were thought to have been invented. These cast metal scissors are similar to the ones we use nowadays.
1891 – Karl Elsener came up with the Swiss Army Knife, producing them in Switzerland. It has now become a widely-recognized tool.
20th century – as the growing demand for more tools, toolsets, and tool chests came into mass production. These boxes contain almost any basic tool that every modern-day builder needs.
If you look at the development of tools from way back, tools have been the backbone of our progress as humanity. From simply cutting meat to building tall skyscrapers, tools make everything possible.
With that, it’s only proper that these ingenious inventions get the recognition they deserve during the National Worship of Tools Day.
Power Partner MN joins the trades community in celebrating the contribution of electrician tools. Electricians have accomplished so much with these tools. In the repair, installation, and maintenance of various electrical systems, tools are the instruments that help electricians.
Electricians can do a lot with these tools. Handling live currents and installing complex systems have been a breeze. Thanks to these innovative electrician tools, electricians can do their job a lot easier and help them build more efficient electrical systems, which are necessary for today’s modern society to function.
On the National Worship of Tools Day, Power Partner MN takes a moment to define and put a name into these less known tools working in the background.
Here are some of the common tools that facilitate the actual work activities of an electrician.
What Tools Do Electricians Use?
1. Scissors
Electricians use a heavy-duty pair of scissors, allowing them to cut through wires and other components. They are essential and serve various purposes for an electrician’s duty.
The shears that electricians use are multipurpose. It allows them to cut cables or copper sheets safely. They can also use scissors to take off the insulating layer from the wire or even in cleaning electrical boxes.
2. Pliers
Pliers help an electrician modify wires and other components that need to adjust to a specific design to fit in the designed electrical system.
The pliers that electricians use often have a term as linesman pliers. This pair of linesman pliers features a squared-off end. The design is optimal enough to twist wires. It also has a center with a cutting blade for wire trimming purposes. Between its handles is a grip section which is excellent for pulling out wires.
3. Screwdrivers
Whether to loosen up or tighten components in place, an electrician will need to use a screwdriver to either hold or remove them.
As electricians handle live currents, they use a specialized screwdriver with durable non-conductive material to act as insulation on the handle and shaft. This specific type of screwdriver only conducts electricity at the tip to maintain the safety of electricians.
4. Wire Strippers
Wires have a protective layer of plastic to keep them from unknowingly conducting electricity. When an electrician needs to connect them, they will use a wire stripper to strip off the protective layer.
A wire stripper will look like a pair of pliers of scissors as they have handles and a triangular tip. However, the design is primarily for the stripping of wire insulation. The jaws of the wire stripper have slotted cutting blades, assisting electricians in stripping off the insulating material.
5. Cutting/Crimping Tools
Tools for cutting or crimping wires are also essential for an electrician. They don’t need to connect wires manually when they have a crimping tool ready.
Cutting and crimping tools already have built-in stripping and cutting mechanisms. They also look similar to a pair of pliers or scissors, just much bulkier. For electricians, the specific cutting and crimping instrument they use has an added insulating material to prevent direct contact against live wires while doing their duties.
6. Multimeter
A digital multimeter comes in handy for electricians to test various electrical parameters. Electricians can measure the voltage and come up with an appropriate system.
There are at least three principal electrical properties that a multimeter will be testing: namely, in measuring the voltage (volts), current (amps), and resistance (ohms). Some digital multimeters may include other electrical measurements, although these three are what electricians mainly need.
7. Voltage Tester
Another closely related tool to a multimeter is a voltage tester. With a voltage tester, electricians can determine whether there’s voltage passing through and the initial number of volts as well.
A voltage tester is only capable of detecting voltage. The main reason for having a voltage tester is that it’s handier. Voltage testers typically come in a pen design. It allows electricians to find out the presence of voltage quickly instead of reaching out for heavier tools.
8. Circuit Finder
Circuits buried beneath a wall can be tough to detect. Thus, electricians use a circuit breaker finder for more accurate detection.
Electricians use a circuit finder mainly for safety purposes. Instead of manually locating active or live circuits, the instrument allows them to do the job of detecting energized circuits without having direct contact.
These are just a few tools that electricians use while conducting their duties. Early on in the apprenticeship, electricians already undergo training on the proper use of these tools.
If you want to become a proficient electrician that knows how to utilize the tools of the trades, Power Partner MN has apprenticeships that incorporate comprehensive electrician tools training.