Lineman Tools Overview
Linemen need a wide array of tools and equipment so they can fulfill their duty of installing electrical lines while ensuring their personal safety at the same time.
A lot of people may think that it only requires minimum skills and knowledge to become a lineman. In the contrary, linemen undergo intensive classroom training since dealing with high-voltage electricity is no joke. They may not have the regular desk job that majority of people have, but they play a major role in keeping residential homes, offices, and industries up and running.
It is due to the complexity of a lineman’s occupation that industry experts created tools and developed equipment that can help these hardworking men and women to assume their responsibility efficiently without running the risk of being injured or harmed while working.
Lineman tools come in varying shapes and sizes. Their function is dependent on the type of lines and cables that a certain lineman is working on. It is important to note that linemen not only install electric lines and maintain distribution facilities. Highly-skilled workers who build and maintain telephone, cable, and Internet lines off the ground are called linemen as well. Dealing with these cables does not mean that they are far from dangers as there are other hazards in the nature of their work.
It is important that linemen use linemen tools so they can properly execute installation and maintenance tasks. In addition, since linemen work off the ground while some deal with live wires outdoors and in distribution facilities, it is important that they are provided with ample protection and safety gear as well. Becoming a lineman is a very risky and dangerous job, but as every lineman knows, they need to do the job. The only workaround to these risks is through the utilization of linemen tools and equipment.
Here are several tools and equipment that most linemen use in their field of work:
Lineman Clothes and Apparel
Lineman clothes are known to be standard Personal Protective Equipment that is required to be worn by linemen when working with wires and cables. Whether they are off the ground or underground, linemen must adhere to strict rules to enforce safety at all times.
Linemen clothes not only refer to the usual uniform that linemen wear for work. In addition to uniforms, they are required to wear clothing apparel that are made from specialize materials. Materials that are most commonly used in linemen clothing and apparel are made from insulators such as rubber and fire resistant materials as well. Lineman clothing and apparel should be made from durable materials since working with wires is known to be rough and difficult.
Clothing for linemen should also be made from light materials. Working with heavy rubber materials may decrease productivity and efficiency of the wearer. This is one of the reasons why a lot of lineman clothing manufacturers have developed materials that are light as a feather, but can retard the conduction of electricity too. Linemen clothing that are light provide utmost comfort to its wearer, thus making them more efficient when working off ground.
Lineman Wrench
A lineman wrench is one of the most common tools that are used by a lineman in his field of work. A wrench can be used to accomplish various tasks when working with lines and cables. By principle, a lineman wrench should be durable, simplistic in design, and highly durable. However these qualities are not seen in all lineman wrenches being sold in the market today.
When looking to buy a lineman wrench, it is important to verify the construction materials that are used in its manufacturing. A stainless steel lineman wrench offers durability like no other. A simple design also means a lighter wrench. Who would even want to work off the ground with a heavy and complicated wrench in hand? The answer is that nobody would want to work with a heavy, low-quality wrench.
In this light, linemen should only use lineman wrenches that are made from sturdy materials. Invest when you’re looking for a lineman wrench, since this is one of the tools that you will most often use as a lineman.
A lineman safety belt identifies and distinguishes a lineman. Each and every lineman needs a safety belt to ensure that working up from a pole and off the ground wouldn’t be as difficult and nerve-wracking as well. As the name applies, a safety belt promotes safety as the belt is attached and harness to lines and cables while climbing up an outdoor pole. Linemen can easily maneuver around poles when they are safely attached to a safety belt.
When shopping for a safety belt, it is important to ensure that only a high-quality belt is purchased. You wouldn’t want to gamble your life in exchange for a low-quality safety belt. Make sure that the material used is of top-grade quality. In addition, it is important to ensure comfort as well. Look for a safety belt that cushions the hips properly. You wouldn’t want to end up with bumps and chafing around the hip area.
In summary, these are the two qualities that you should look for in a lineman safety belt- durability and comfort.
To provide the proper crimp, enforce quality, and optimum pull force value, only the best and durable hand crimp tools should be used by linemen. Hand crimp tools are known to be used by linemen in securing and holding lines and cables of varying diameter and length. These tools are used in various applications, and should therefore be flexible enough to be utilized in any condition or setting.
By principle, a general purpose hand crimping tools are already good enough when working with normal electrical cables and wires. However, there are projects where a lineman will be deemed to use specialized and custom made hand crimping tools. In these situations, a lineman should be handy with two to three types of hand crimp tools to maximize efficiency and productivity on the job.
Rebar tools are essential in a lineman’s everyday function. By making use of rebar tools, work is done faster and more efficiently. There are various rebar tools that work to bend and cut through rebar fabricated units. Working with concrete is typically hard, what more if you are tasked to use rebar tools off the ground?
If you need smooth and speedy results, choose the right rebar tools for the job. Installation is made easy if hand-held rebar tools are ergonomically designed to fit a lineman’s hand. Several manufacturers have developed rebar cutters and rebar benders that are easy to use to provide more accurate and desirable results.
Lastly, a high-quality rebar ensures productivity. Rebar tools used for outdoor fabrication should be durable, but easy to work with to avoid physical stress and pressure when a lineman is using it. Only purchase rebar tools from trusted manufacturers who offer cutting-edge operating system in their rebar tools.
A pipe cutter is a hand-held tool used not only by plumbers, but by linemen as well. A pipe cutter is needed in the file of linemen work since producing clean cut cannot be made by using normal scissors and shears. Since linemen work with durable wires and cables as well, the need for accurate and sharp pipe cutters is essential so they can finish their work faster and at an efficient rate.
There are generally two types of pipe cutters; one that is mainly used to cut through lighter materials such as plastic and thin wires and that which features a jaw grips that tighten and cut its way through hard materials such as thick wires and cables.
A pipe cutter is essential in the installation process as clean cuts are needed to prevent stripping of the insulate coating of electrical wires. This in turn reduces the chances of electrocution for linemen working with high-voltage cables off the ground.
A lineman needs a wire stripper in his daily task of installing and maintaining electrical wires in the field. By its name, a wire stripper functions to simply cute the insulation or coating of an electrical wire. A wire cutter looks similar to a scissor, but a center notch limits the cut so the wires inside are not damaged in any way.
There are various types of wire strippers, but the most common one that is typically used by linemen are wire cutter that have adjustable notch feature. This type of wire stripper enables a lineman to work with electrical wire with varying gauges and diameter.
There is also an automatic wire cutter that instantly cuts through insulation without a lineman having to exert pressure when in use. These are advantageous when one is working on wires that have uniform gauge size and diameter. However, a lineman in most cases need a wire cutter is flexible in order to cut through wires and cables of varying lengths and sizes.
Tool pouches are accessories that linemen do not necessarily use in their line of job. However it still plays a crucial role in their everyday tasks, as tool pouches holds the important tools and equipment that they directly use in working with electrical wires and cables.
A toll pouch should be made of durable material. Remember that lineman tools are made either made from stainless steel or similar materials that are known to be relatively heavy. A tool pouch should be able to withstand extreme weight while being suspended from a lineman’s safety belt or waist.
In addition, tool pouches should also be spacious to accommodate several tools at one time. A lineman works above the ground at all times. Going up and down the pole is simply time-consuming and requires substantial amount of energy. Without a spacious and sturdy tool pouch a lineman would not be able to accomplish work on time.
A lineman tool belt should promote comfort and durability. A tool belt is equipped with pouches, clips, and holster to facilitate carrying all lineman tools when working off the ground. It should feature adequate support as carrying a heavy-load while being off the ground is a daunting task, especially for those who are new in this field of work.
Uncomfortable linemen are unable to do their jobs well. In addition, they become more conscious of other things, making the work process slower and inefficient. By the use of a durable tool belt that can accommodate all the tools that a lineman need, they can work through any installation at record time!
Insulated tools are must-haves for linemen as this promotes safety and protection in the field. Insulation materials used in lineman tools are made from various types of materials. However, one of the most popular choices of insulating material used in tools nowadays is rubber. Rubber is an efficient insulator and is inexpensive as well. There are many variations and formulations when it comes to insulating tools. Extra features such as being fire-resistant and flame retardant are made possible with the use of advanced insulating materials in the manufacturing of lineman tools.
Lastly, since insulating tools are hand-held devices that have rubber grips and coatings on them they are known to be relatively easy to clean and maintain as well.
Wood tools are a staple in a lineman’s tool belt. Since linemen work up in poles, they are required to use wood tools to work through wooden poles. Drivers and small sawing tools are also needed to cut through or screw equipment in poles.
Drivers secure other types of electrical equipment in poles. There are instances wherein wires and cables need to be attached directly on poles. Pliers and drivers are essential as most of these sets of equipment are also multi-purpose in nature.
Make sure to purchase wood tools that are made of quality materials. This will allow you to make use of them for a long period of time.
It should be noted that most of the lineman tools mentioned in this article so far are considered to be workshop tools as well. This means that a lineman can make use of them for other tasks and functions.
If you are in need of lineman tools, you can look through workshop tool centers as they sell all kinds of workshop tools. These tools are very versatile since linemen not only use them while on the job, but make use of them for other DIY activities at home or for hobby.
Hand-held Lineman Tools
You will notice that most lineman tools and gadgets are categorized as hand tools. The fact that most linemen work off the ground makes it all-too necessary that they only work with manual tools that are easy to handle in high ground. Industrial tools or power tools that require the use of electricity or even gas can be cumbersome to work with. It is known that industrial-grade tools or those that are driven by electricity are more efficient and encourage productivity. However this is the case, not a lot of linemen advocate the use of these tools and equipment. Instead, linemen use cordless tools that are battery operated. They are equally efficient in getting the job done and are relatively lighter than industrial tools that run on electricity or fuel.
Laser Cutting Lineman Tools
One of the emerging technologies used by linemen in recent years is LASER. The need to use laser cutting machine and tools emerge from the increased utilization of various types of material in the production of cables, wires, and equipment that are used in electrical installation and maintenance.
It is due to the diversity of the materials being used which makes laser cutter machines and laser engraving tools common gadgets used by linemen in recent years.
Laser cutting machines are known to produce accurate and clear cuts in any type of surface or material. The high-energy beam that a laser cutting machine emits eventually results in focused and précised cuts through cables and wires. In addition, since high-energy beams are transmitted through fast pulses, the cutting process is relatively reduced as well.
The precise results from using laser cutter machines make laser tools more preferred than mechanical tools and devices. Despite the high price tags attached to these tools, more linemen are investing on them as they make work faster and more efficient at the same time.
Laser Engraving and Marking Tools
Aside from the utilization of laser cutting machines and tools, linemen are also known to make use of laser engraving machines as well. During installations, there is a need for linemen to use laser engraving tools to imprint a symbol or logo to their finished work. Engraving is a means by which linemen can identify which equipment and tools are under their operations. By laser marking equipment and tools up in poles, linemen who are in charge of maintenance can find their projects and tasks faster if there are multiple lines from other contractors as well.
Laser etching is a process wherein a pre-programmed symbol or mark is placed on a surface using laser technology. An engraving machine commonly used by linemen is that which uses laser as this machine is known to be durable, handy, and easy to use. Hand-held laser engraving machine are expensive than those manually-operated machines. Their main advantage however is the speed by which they engrave and mark any type of surface. The engravings are accurate and more precise too!
Laser welding is another application used by most linemen if they need to cut narrow, deep lines through hard materials such as steel and alike. Laser welding requires linemen to undergo basic and advanced welding classes to master the use of this tool and technology. Just like any other laser equipment, laser welding tools are hand-held and are relatively more compact than its traditional welding counterpart.
Linemen who are interested in trying out laser technology in their field of work should seriously consider the use of Trumpf laser tools and services. They are renowned company that manufacture OEM spare parts and tools that not only cater to linemen work, but any type of occupation that needs the accuracy and precision that only their laser tools can offer.
From traditional laser tools to diode laser hand-held devices, Trumpf laser has everything that a lineman can need to make his work faster and more efficient. Just like realiable linemen, Trumpf laser services are known for their dependability and continuous maintenance and support to clients who make use of their technology, spare parts and technology.
There are so many lineman tools, but those that are mentioned in this article are the most commonly used and crucial pieces in this line of job. These are lineman tools and basics that should never be left behind whenever these highly-skilled, professional workers go out and do their jobs off the ground.