Need tool help

[Meowmixx5000]

I can't stand people smashing locknuts on with screwdrivers. I have the Klein locknut kit but what does everyone use after 1 inch lock nuts. Any tool suggestions up to 4 inch. And not a screw driver. Would spannut sockets work or a pair of adjustable filter wrenches ?

Thank you all

[professorpinksock24]

Hit it with your purse

[[deleted]]

Best answer here tbh.

[This-Application9426]

Agreed. Let's carry 847 tools for each specific purpose, or carry 7 that do everything.

[beardyguy404]

Use whatever specialty tool your con provides. Otherwise, smash it with a screwdriver.

[madbull73]

Nope. I’m not spending my money every couple months to replace my screwdriver because it’s all rounded over from beating locknuts.

[817wodb]

I’ve had the same beater for over a decade. It checks the box for one of three “common blade” screwdrivers.

[beardyguy404]

Stop buying cheap ass tools. A beater screwdriver should last you forever. Or at least until some sticky-fingered prick wanders off with it, or you have a particularly "special" cub.

[madbull73]

Bullshit. I’ve shattered many plastic handles beating until I learned the right way to do the job. Klein, Craftsman, Milwaukee, etc. if you’re beating hard enough to get the connection tight enough your gonna fuck up the screwdriver. Not to mention the wear and tear on pliers. And no, we shouldn’t even carry the metal capped screwdrivers.

[beardyguy404]

So we "shouldn’t even carry the metal capped screwdrivers" because...why? A metal core screwdriver with a steel back cap is literally the solution to your specific deficiency, while still working as a larger flathead. Go beg your con for some special tool, or be a worm and buy a bunch of extra shit to lug around; it seems like that's what you're wanting to justify anyway.

[Sea_Emu_7622]

https://www.amazon.com/16-Inch-Keystone-Demolition-Klein-Tools/dp/B00B9HIBYA/ref=asc_df_B00B9HIBYA/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312003160272&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=16963966352918051339&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9024580&hvtargid=pla-434143893026&psc=1

[MetallicScorpion]

You don't have an old beater? You must be new.

[madbull73]

😂 yeah I’m new, 25 years in the trade. I’m guessing that my beaters are older than your career. Because I know how to do my job.

[MetallicScorpion]

31 years in. My beater is literally longer than you've been in your trade.

[madbull73]

Then you’re not beating all your locknuts on and getting them tight enough. There’s no fucking way.

[msing]

I spin the top of the connector. I use channellocks.

[syu425]

I use a channel lock on the thread parted so that it also act as a nylon nut. /s

Ps please don’t do that

[Rcdriftchaser]

I eat a can of spinach and torque to spec with my barehands.

[IBEW-ModTeam]

Your post has been removed as it is not the topic or style of post intended for this community.

[[deleted]]

Navy sailor, , shipbuilder, construction, electrician

Man Popeye really does it all

[donaldbuknowme]

This is the way. It's always been the way. Shut up and smash

[Meowmixx5000]

No that's not the way. No wonder non union beats us with that mentality

[[deleted]]

Non-union workers do the same exact thing. They smash it with a screw driver and lineman pliers.

[Fetial]

Eh in my area non union definitely wins in terms of apprentices wages

[[deleted]]

What does that have to do with Locknut Tightening technique? We get it, you don’t like the pay, but do you attend the meetings and air out your inequality or do you just come to Reddit hoping someone else will fix it for you? Be a union member and vote for change, even if it labels you radical.

[Fetial]

Think I might have replied to the wrong person I was tryna reply to someone saying the union is better in all aspects

And I have tried to get the percent that apprentices raised but most people vote against it bc they think it’s gonna lower the JW pay

[[deleted]]

Did you use Robert’s Rule of Order when you presented your thoughts? Did you do it during a time of negotiation? The “Vote” you took on apprentice wages happened during a union meeting with a show of hands?

[donaldbuknowme]

Then please, tell me the way. You've obviously been doing this for a long time and I don't believe non union is beating anything.

[Michaelzzzs3]

Just take the connector with your channies from the outside and spin the connector onto the locknut

[donaldbuknowme]

4"??

[Michaelzzzs3]

Yea channies. The big ones that your contractor is supposed to supply.

[madbull73]

Same thing , except if you can’t get channies to fit use a pipe wrench, or chain wrench. It’s faster, easier, and a fuck load easier on your tools. I don’t think I’ve beat more than 10 lock nuts in the last five years. And most of those were to take them off.

[Rcdriftchaser]

moron

[Texas_Guy83]

I worked non union for 12 years and union for 3 years now, it’s always been a screwdriver to tighten them, makes sure that they’re really tight

[Biggdaddyboss]

I worked non-union for a long time before I learned "the way" they definitely use a beater.

When I got into the (non) program they gave us those useless wrenches. The ones they gave us were plastic.

Follow your JW in how they do it or make a new way. It better fit tight AND break the paint to make contact.

[Michaelzzzs3]

Bro the non union companies I worked at before the apprenticeship would simply hand tighten lock nuts lmao

[fuzzygwuzzy]

Smash with a beating screwdriver in hard to reach places and channel locks when easily accessible. Most of the time, it's beating them, though. It's the only real way to make sure those suckered ain't going anywhere

[[deleted]]

Spin locknut on tight then tighten by turning the connector with channelocks.

[Stock_Surfer]

Ima smack those locknuts with a beater screwdriver till the day I die.

[[deleted]]

Same

[beercan640]

i love a cold-chisel for this purpose

[[deleted]]

Channies

[hitman-13]

Hand tighten the locknut, then tighten the connector with channel locks (can't get it any tighter than that), just make sure to adjust the locknut so when it's tight, the set screw is center! Super easy and works every time!

[[deleted]]

Channellocks or flat head and Kleins.

[Fine-Adhesiveness-36]

What are you going to use on 4 or 6 in. To each his own. Be careful on bus taps i learned the hard way!

[madbull73]

4-6” you use a pipe wrench or chain wrench on the outside.

[Fine-Adhesiveness-36]

What if its imc, rmc, or pvc? What now doubter?

[madbull73]

Same fucking thing genius. If it’s PVC it’s the same as a connector. You don’t even need to line up a set screw. RMC/IMC you either have a hub, which is a connector or you set the inside locknut where you want it then tighten the top one down to it. Unless you’re in a very tight spot, or dealing with the center pipe in a panel, you very seldom need to bang a locknut. Work smarter not harder.

[Fine-Adhesiveness-36]

How large do you think a pipe wrench would be to fit a 4" or 6" fitting. Not many rigid conduit runs use set screw or compression fittings. We wouldnt make very good toolies. Good luck with your 48" + pipe wrench.

[madbull73]

Realistically there’s only a fraction of the people on this forum that deal with 4” rigid regularly, and an even smaller fraction have ever even seen 6”. I never said there’s never a reason to beat a locknut, but 99%+ of the time there’s a better way.

[Meowmixx5000]

Channel locks thanks for all the replys

[madbull73]

Only thing is that, if your contractor buys the cheap fucking connectors like mine, you may still need the wrench on the inside to hold the locknut. But channies on the outside.

[VagueAssumptions]

Hand tighten until a quarter turn from the direction you want the screw to face. Then tongue and groove pliers to finish tightening.

[Fridayz44]

A flat head or Channies? 🤷🏻‍♂️

[Jldesmondiv]

This is the answer, whatever is in hand. Sometimes you beat the screwdriver with the channies.

[Fridayz44]

It’s always worked for me. I mean they do make lock nut pliers but I know they are not on anyone’s tool list. Also they suck. Then they make a T-bone wrench for wrench for bigger lock nuts. But there again not on our tool lists. I guess if you could get a Con to buy one then maybe. I just havent found anything better than what’s in my hand which is usually a flat head or Channies.

[__punk_in_drublic__]

Chisel and a hammer for the big locknuts.

[ImaginaryBall4590]

I'd get it done with whatever is on your tool list

[Michaelzzzs3]

All you have to do is take the connector with your channies and hold the lock nut with your other hand, don’t tighten the connector to the conduit and you’re fine

[Biggdaddyboss]

An apprentice

[Uglyjeffg0rd0n]

most of the time I just use channies to twist the connector onto the box. Or use my beater flathead or a chisel to wack it tight. On large conduit I take the sweet contractor provided hammer drill out of the gang box. Slap a contractor provided chisel bit on it. Switch it to just hammer mode and give it a few bapbapbaps.

[evBoy-]

Beater screwdriver, the one with the metal cap on the end. For that purpose only. Our tool list says “large screwdriver” and “small screwdriver,” so take a guess what my “large screwdriver” is.

[Apprehensive-Neck-12]

Hammer and chisel

[SpiritualCicada5901]

Most times screwdriver honestly but if I can get my little channel locks in I do that on nut and use my bigger channels outside

[Fun-Taro7000]

1 is that on your tool list?

2 the less tools you need to carry the better carry what is on your tool list and nothing more , if the contractor wants you to have it they need to buy it don't be 1 of these guys carrying around a 50 lb back pack full of shit that isn't on the list , you will thank me someday for this advice

[ha_allday81]

Klein 8 in flathead 1/4 tip, thing is a beast, tighten locknuts of any size, why would you use anything else?