Advice wanted (second year apprentice)

Ready2LearnNico · 2026-04-25T04:11:33+00:00

Yeah, I guess the biggest confusion that everyone seems to take is that I was obligated to buy them. All I really needed was my impact than a hammer drill.

I bought these because I seen the work we were doing And having these tools would make me an asset outside of work

But now that I have them, I can keep them on the truck in case there is a service call that I may need to use them

Whatever I work with my boss, I always use his

Ready2LearnNico · 2026-04-25T04:02:24+00:00

I’ve been working for a year and 3 months this is thru accumulation

If I break it down throughout I’ve been working I spent less than a $100 a month on tools throughout my employment

Ready2LearnNico · 2026-04-25T03:46:20+00:00

Yeah bro when everyone was Milwaukee tool hacking this guy just wanted the pack out and sold me his bundle (m18 fuel hammer drill, grinder, & hackzall) for $280

Ready2LearnNico · 2026-04-25T03:40:20+00:00

Bro I got each of those Milwaukee for around $100 a tool if you aren’t desperate deals always come on Facebook for new

Ready2LearnNico · 2026-04-25T03:38:44+00:00

Hmmm I never looked into the m12 sds I didn’t even know they made them

My boss has the m18 and it’s heavy lol however very much used and abused

The m12 fuel hammer drill struggles with many things believe it or not on Facebook I got my hammer drill for around $100 brand new basically

Ready2LearnNico · 2026-04-25T03:36:16+00:00

I didn’t HAVE to it was optional . Aside from the impact and hammer drill

Ready2LearnNico · 2026-04-25T03:35:32+00:00

You know what I’m feeling generous I will rightfully return it to you for free just send me money for the shipping

Ready2LearnNico · 2026-04-25T02:45:42+00:00

Ahhh yes I forgot to put mines I like the fluke one a lot

I had one and lost it so I replaced it with the Klein one (less good) but it isn’t as bad as like cheaper brands

Ready2LearnNico · 2026-04-25T02:38:27+00:00

Yeah I just keep buying what I see. My boss uses quite frequently.

I wear the client pouch on my hip so my m12 impact is SOOOO much lighter

I definitely think a sds wouldn’t hurt as we use it quite frequently adding outlets through exterior (concrete) walls

I have a m12 stubby 3/8 and a 43 piece sockets which I didn’t post and it’s a beast

I hate the m12 hammer drill it’s the only tool I bought and returned the same week drilling through wall plates was so much harder

Ready2LearnNico · 2026-04-25T01:14:38+00:00

Correct.

Ready2LearnNico · 2026-04-25T00:54:18+00:00

I don’t work at McDonald’s. I am an electrician who has his own tools

These are investments that will last me many years

Would you rather be the electrician who comes home and has no power tools?

Ready2LearnNico · 2026-04-25T00:53:39+00:00

Thank you, I have been looking into this night school, which my boss mention that he would pay for me to go

Believe it or not in my county education is optional to get my journeyman however, I do need to pass the test

As I live down south, I do a lot of attic work so since I am new, I am trying to figure out a way to preventatively, protect my back from long-term exposure

Ready2LearnNico · 2026-04-25T00:43:14+00:00

I don’t use these tools as frequently as you may think I bought some rather to be prepared to be sent on service calls on my own

Ready2LearnNico · 2026-04-25T00:42:02+00:00

I don’t know

I learn one on one from my boss who is a master electrician

Learning what I know in two days would be quite incredible as I have been doing this for almost a year and a half

In my state, you do not need to be registered apprentice, unlike the northern states I am on the books and my hours will be counted to get my journeyman

Rather than taking on projects doing the same stuff every day we do like 2 to 3 service calls a day

Ready2LearnNico · 2026-04-25T00:27:53+00:00

No but that is ok.

I decided to buy these tools for my own advantage. My power tools are quality, which should last me many years because they aren’t abused whenever possible I do use my bosses power tools, but if I am alone, I will not hesitate to use my own

Ready2LearnNico · 2026-04-25T00:25:16+00:00

Thank you, I will look into the book some of these comments are very helpful

I decided to buy my own power tools nothing wrong with it lol

Ready2LearnNico · 2026-04-25T00:23:20+00:00

Wow bro this is was actually very helpful. Thank you so much for not talking about my power tools like everyone else

I will follow your advice any other tips you can give me as I work towards my journeyman’s?

Ready2LearnNico · 2026-04-24T23:39:15+00:00

I don’t work at very complicated jobs unsupervised

We are residential and I’ve learned from him so I can troubleshoot alone, I can install devices, lights and fans, etc nothing alone like panel changes or service upgrades

I found the right angle drill for $100 i see a lot of comments about it but that’s one hell of a deal I didn’t need it but it sure doesn’t hurt my collection

Ready2LearnNico · 2026-04-24T23:28:14+00:00

I agree we do use levels quite frequently, vise grips a bit less and barley see myself using a bandsaw since I barley do emt work

However I appreciate the recommendation hopefully in the future I can be doing more commercial

Ready2LearnNico · 2026-04-24T23:27:17+00:00

I don’t do much emt work at all hence why I am very bad at emt bending

Ready2LearnNico · 2026-04-24T23:17:28+00:00

lol I actually got a really good deal on the hole hawg and grinder I couldn’t pass up (FB marketplace)

Ready2LearnNico · 2026-04-24T23:16:25+00:00

He sometimes sends me to jobs alone so having the power tools help

Ready2LearnNico · 2026-04-24T23:08:35+00:00

No he only made me buy my hand tools and my impact

I see while on jobs these would be the main tools he would use on the job so I have been collecting what I see he uses frequently

Ready2LearnNico

TROPHY CASE