Tools That a Smart Data Cable Technician Carries

Up to this point, all the tools we've described are specific to the wire-and-cable installation industry. But you'll also need everyday tools in the course of the average install. Even if you don't carry all of these (you'd clank like a knight in armor and your tool belt would hang around your knees if you did), you should at least have them handy in your arsenal of tools:

• A flat blade screwdriver and number 1 and number 2 Phillips screwdrivers. Power screwdrivers are great time-and-effort savers, but you'll still occasionally need the hand types.
• A hammer.
• Nut drivers.
• Wrenches.
• A flashlight (a no-hands or headband model is especially handy).
• A drill and bits up to 1.5″.
• A saw that can be used to cut rectangular holes in drywall for electrical boxes.
• A good pocket knife, electrician's knife, or utility knife.
• Electrician's scissors.
• A tape measure.
• Face masks to keep your lungs from getting filled with dust when working in dusty areas.
• A stud finder to locate wooden or steel studs in the walls.
• A simple continuity tester or multitester.
• A comfortable pair of work gloves.
• A sturdy stepladder, preferably one made of nonconductive materials.
• A tool belt with appropriate loops and pouches for the tools you use most.
• Two-way radios or walkie-talkies. They are indispensable for pulling or testing over even moderate distances or between floors. Invest in the hands-free models that have a headset, and you'll be glad you did.
• Extra batteries (or recharging stands) for your flashlights, radios, and cable testers.

Tip

Here's an installation tip: Wall-outlet boxes are often placed one hammer length from the floor, especially in residences (this is based on a standard hammer, not the heavier and longer framing hammers). It's a real time-saver, but check the boxes installed by the electricians before you use this quick measuring technique for installing the data communications boxes so that they'll all be the same height.

A multipurpose tool is also very handy. One popular choice is a Leatherman model with a coax crimper opening in the jaws of the pliers. It's just the thing for those times when you're on the ladder looking down at the exact tool you need lying on the floor where you just dropped it.

One of the neatest ideas for carrying tools is something that IDEAL DataComm calls the Bucket Bag (pictured in Figure 1). This bag sits over a five-gallon bucket and allows you to easily organize your tools.

Figure 2: IDEAL DataComm's Bucket Bag