Must have tools for cabling.

[summoner]

What started out as wiring my own house and then turned into a hobby, has now turned into a small side venture for me. I don't think I'd like to get into professional cabling/communications, I'm far too comfortable in my current career. But I'm quite happy doing small side jobs, a house/small office here and there etc...

I work with data and phone on cat5e and coax for video too. I'm considering buying some more tools, I can't keep asking to borrow a buddy's toner and probe anymore. But what I'm really interested is what other tools (besides toners and probes) the pros here consider indispensable. Any favorite, extremely useful and time saving tools some people could recommend? Thanks in advance

 

[AvayaNovice]

For CATV/MATV/Sattelite... a thomas and betts T1000 crimper is the only way to go, strips and crimps in the same tool -- I use mine probably 50 times a day, works great. For data... a good tester is the only way to go, for your needs -- a Siemens STM-8 would be great, simple, yet effective. Also... I couldn't do my job without a gopher pole, and lay-up sticks. They save me so much time for pulling cable.

 

[jlshelton]

Toolbelt is handy if you're walking around a lot.
Small digital camera to take pictures of your work.
Labeling kit of some kind. Even just a spool of peel-off self-covering cable labels is better than nothing.
Lineman's handset if you're doing much telecom. Should have good good clips that can pierce insulation and probe into tight areas.
Pair of walkie-talkies if you have a partner helping you pull long cable runs. (Or Nextel push-to-talk phones.)
Portable vacuum for cleaning up after yourself.

=John=

 

[rpdblue97]

I would say a small pair of snips are a must (or scissors..whichever you prefer), punch down tool, siemens tool pouch, crimp tool, tone and probe, a screwdriver, plus odds and ends like bridging clips, RJ 45 and RJ11 plugs, and scotch locks. Thats majorily what I find is helpful in wiring jobs.

 

[jlshelton]

Be careful and do the research needed for quality CAT-5e installation, which doesn't like ScotchLock splices. You can use them on telephone voice circuits, like splices of the phone company's incoming wire.

I still use an Arrow staple gun occasionally for CAT-3 voice wire and coax, but you'll find lots of comment here about being gentle with Cat-5e wire - no staples, no kinks, no sharp bends, etc.

If you want repeat and referral business, you could print up labels to mark your installation "Proudly installed by" and a brochure explaining why your work is top quality and will meet present and future needs. Let your customer know that you're not just a phone installer with some spare wire left over, that you understand the special needs of high speed networking and home theater, etc, then back it up with good work that meets the specs.

 

[wires]

There was a good discussion of "What do you guys carry in your cases?" back in September of 2002. This link should get you there: thread575-360455

My list is still about the same with the addition of a Acterna DSL tester in the "Used as needed" list.

Lately I picked up three Leviton "Cable Joes" on eBay from the manufacturer in Canada. Here is a link:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3071443605&category=28026

I usually hire a helper when I run a house full of wire. However on Tuesday I went to wire my brother in law's new house knowing that help would be available. I just went ahead and started figuring that I would grab someone when the going got tough. I ran 23 drops (1 RG6 and 2 cat5e) by myself in 6 hours and that included drilling the holes!

To be fair the way the house was designed helped a LOT. The wiring closet was almost exactly in the center of the basement and open wood trusses were used for the floor system. Still without the "Cable Joes" I don't think it would have been possible for me (alone) to pull 4500' of cable in a less than a day.

You need a tester. I HIGHLY recomend the Microscanner Pro. It can handle both UTP and Coax and includes the best toner I have ever used. Worth every penny. Here is a discussion: thread575-455218

Best of luck with your new venture!

 

[AvayaNovice]

I agree, the cable joe is a great deal, I also bought one off those guys on ebay, and it's treated me well when running cable by myself through turns and bends, and what have you.

For fishing things in a retrofit environment, you may want to get some tools from Labor Saving Devices (google search for them). I own their diamond shaped 1/2" flexbit, works great. I also have a few greenlee flexbits, they work nicely as well. The auger style bits require a much more heavy duty drill though, I use a milwaukee 1/2" heavy duty corded drill when working with them, my 18V Milwaukee cordless isn't powerful enough, and I believe it's one of the most powerful cordless drills on the market.

 

[chiefred]

Seems like everything was mentioned---and now you may not be considering it anymore as your looking at at least a GRAND to get all the "necessities" but these sure make it easier--
my contribution is uni-bits or step bits if you ever done a small commercial building that uses metal framing.

a good stud finder.
a short torpedo and long level.
panduit makes these fixed diameter cable clamps (these are plastic rings that you screw into beams or studs and run your cables through) ---the number is CCH100-S10-C and you get 100 a bag for about $20.00. Great for cable management and if you use jet string--you can do additional pulls over long distances with no problems.

tie wraps
and for $50.00 you can get a laser pointer that has an LCD which gives you distance in feet and inches. Great for pointing out tough to see locations to customers or helpers and great for giving you an idea of how much cable you will need.

Hope this helps

 

[buitenhek]

A technician who worked for me picked up a CAT5e cable tester for a few hundred dollars on Ebay(they normally sell for ~$2000+) . The seller did not know you could upgrade the firmware via the internet. Get your list and shop. Caveat Emptor.

Regards
Peter Buitenhek
Profit Developer.com

 

[summoner]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I'll be getting some new toys soon

 

[chiefred]

while checking out cable joes on ebay---I came across this you might be interested in

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2373117223&category=303#ebayphotohosting

the price is definately right

 

[skip555]

the price is definately right

nice set but it does have a reserve

I wonder how much ? its at $66 now you could pay twice that and still do ok.

 

[franklin97355]

Somebody did. (pay twice as much)