In this episode, I talk about the top 10 bits every electrician will use on job sites. There are many other bits not included in this video, but these are definitely the most used.
#1 – DRILL BIT EXTENSION
Drill extensions are used by tradesmen everywhere because they’re so versatie for multiple applications. Not only can you put a philips, flat, nut driver, and almost any drill bit in it, but you can use it as a 1/4-inch nut driver in a pinch. You should buy one of these (or 5) when you buy a new drill, because they do wear out over time, and sometimes you misplace one so having spares on you is always a good idea.
#2 – DRILL NUT DRIVERS
The next bit you’re going to use often is the nut driver. You should definitely have a set of hand-held nut drivers to use on a regular basis but also having some that attach to a drill is extremely useful. Especially when you have to screw into materials, or when you have 20 screws to take out of something. Doing this by hand would be a pain in the ass, so havving a drill nearby is a game changer.
#3 – CARBIDE MASONRY BITS
Electricians have to mount boxes, conduit, panels, and all kinds of things to stone, rock, and concrete on a pretty constant basis. Having a set of carbide-tipped masonry bits are necessary because you can’t drill into stone/concrete with a regular drill bit. The carbide tip is extremely hard, so it will last longer than a standard masonry bit. Definitely get you a full set of these, and maybe a few extras of the commonly used sizes like 1/4.”
#4 – PADDLE/SPADE BITS
Having a full set of multiple-sized spade or paddle bits is a no-brainer. Regardless if you work in residential or commercial you’re going to need to drill into wood. I prefer the blue Bosch Daredevil bits you see in the picture but there are a lot of different brands and styles that will work just fine.
#5 – SOCKET ADAPTORS
I love having multiple drives (sizes) of socket adaptors for my drills. You never know when you’re going to need to really torque down on bolts as your building something, plus sometimes you have 100 bolts to tighten/loosen so doing it with a drill makes so much more sense than doing each by hand.
#6 – DRILL INDEX
I’m a fan of Milwaukee’s drill index sets. They’re self-tapping, and designed for use with metal so you can drill through most materials with them. Standard drill indexes are designed for wood-drilling, and those work fine as well. However, going this route you may find yourself buying a separate index just for metal-drilling as well. In my opinion it’s better to just have a set that will cover both.
#7 – UNIBIT/STEPPED BIT
A tool every electrician has a love/hate relationship is the unibit. Some call it a stepped bit. These take small holes in metal, and turn them into larger holes. They have a tendency to be used incorrectly (at full speed) and rain down hot shards of metal on you if you’re working overhead. These are not cheap bits, but electricians are constantly drilling out holes in panels, boxes, and enclosures so having one is absolutely necessary. Make sure you take care of this expensive bit, use oil, drill slow, and try not to drop the damn thing!
#8 – CARBIDE HOLE-SAW BITS
The carbide hole-saw bit is something you may not use often, but will definitely need at some point. This bit is designed for drilling through extremely hard metals like stainless steel. If you work in labs or kitchens with a lot of stainless materials, you’ll find out quickly that a unibit will not work for these hard metals. That’s an expensive lesson to learn. The carbide teeth on this set are designed to be used (slowly) on hard metal, and handle’s cutting through stainless with ease.
#9 – HOLE SAW BITS
A good hole-saw set will get you a lot of places. Whether it be this set from Diablo, or one from Lennox, either way you will use the hell out of them. They can be used for drilling large holes in wood or metal, though when drilling metal make sure you take it slow and easy or you’ll burn the teeth up. The great thing about the kit in the picture is it comes with all of the sizes you’ll use as an electrician, and none of the extra sizes you don’t need. A lot of the time you’ll need bizarre in-between sizes too, but for your wallet’s sake it’s best to buy these as needed.
#10 – FORSTNER BITS
Forstner bits are usually bought in specific sizes depending on the work you’re doing, but what I love about this (expensive) kit is that you get all of the relevant sizes that you’d need as an electrician – with a few extras that may save you in a pinch. The great thing about forstner bits is that they remove material as they cut, rather than how a hole-saw keeps wood in the bit and you have to keep cleaning it out of the way so you can continue cutting with it. Take care of these bits, they’re spendy but worth-while to have around.
TALKED ABOUT IN THIS EPISODE:
1) Drill Extension – https://amzn.to/2nSxPbO
2) Drill Nut Drivers – https://amzn.to/2nMo7rI
3) Masonry Bits – https://amzn.to/2orJFKi
4) Paddle/Spade Bits – https://amzn.to/2mkCSSa
5) Impact Socket Adaptor – https://amzn.to/2n23He8
6) Drill Index – https://amzn.to/2n2Upi2
7) Unibit/Stepped Bit – https://amzn.to/2os7At5
8) Carbide Hole-Saw Bits – https://amzn.to/2nScrDw
9) Hole-Saw Bits – https://amzn.to/2n1v9sk
10) Forstner Bits – https://amzn.to/2mgjwxv
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**Disclaimer – These videos are for training purposes alone, all work done on electrical systems should be done by a licensed and insured electrical contractor. If you are not an electrician, do not attempt any of the work you are seeing in these videos.**
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