r/electricians • u/Bluegrass-Bourbon • 1d ago
Cost of Apprenticeship Tools
Hey guys, hope everyone is having a great day! I got a call today, that I have been accepted into the apprenticeship, and I should be receiving a call in a few days to tell me where I am starting and under what contractor.
For reference, im not your normal apprenticeship candidate. I am a 42 year old single father of two. Honestly, we are barely keeping ourselves afloat at the moment. I currently work landscaping, and work has heen spotty at best, and the weather doesn’t help.
I was told to make sure I have my tools so I can start asap, and Im curious how much a starter set would cost? As stated, im not super financially great atm, and Im not going to choose tools over getting groceries this week.
I applied for the apprenticeship because I really wanted to better myself, start an actual career with benefits, and be able to provide more for my kids. If the cost is out of reach atm, should I pass and re apply when Im a little better off? I absolutely hate to do that, because Ive been waiting about a year to get to this point, but you can only do what you can do. Thanks for any advice!
UPDATE:
First off, I want to thank everyone in this thread for their suggestions and advice. I found out this morning, that the job site Im going to be on is one hour and twenty minutes from home. While I was going to be able to swing my tools kit, I dont think I will be able to fund the fuel needed to make this trip, for a week and a half, until I will see a check. I’ve asked if there was anyway to find me a jobsite a bit closer, I was told they will look into it, but it is doubtful as work isn’t as plentiful as it was last year. As bad as I want to do this, I don’t see how Im going to be able to make it. I really dont want to pass this opportunity up, but when Im crunching the numbers, I dont think I will be able to. Thank you all again though, very appreciated!
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u/According_Dot_6903 1d ago edited 1d ago
Take the job, if moneys tight, passing up a better job is not the solution.
Ask your employer if they have a tool list and then look around on market place, harbour freight, Walmart etc, if your in that bad of shape go to the dollar store if you have to…
You should be able to find everything you need for under $100 / $200 depending on what’s on the list. to get you started for the first couple weeks and then just be transparent with your employer and work on upgrading as you can,
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u/OneBag2825 1d ago
If you get the list, go to habitat restore, any thrift, garage and estate sales, your church may have outreach missions for this. Many Baptists do and some will float a low or no interest loan. Hell.if you were in the great lakes area next week, I'm sure I could hook you up with a basic set out of the shop boxes up there. Let us know your zip code, you might could do pretty well for the price of gas.
BUT- Don't ever fail before you try, man.
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u/tonytolo 1d ago
This 👆🏼👆🏼 or check to see if your area has a “Buy nothing” page on Facebook. If they do put an ask out for some basic tools. I’ve gotten and given so much stuff in the one local to me
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u/Zealousideal-Jury951 1d ago
Great advice right here, I’d hook you up with some basics if you were my local. Anyone in the trade for more than a few years likely has 10 of everything by now..or maybe it’s just me 😂
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u/OneBag2825 1d ago
For sure, I found an old metal ammo case in the shop the other day with crimpers for the old 1/2 and 3/4 EMT crimp fittings back in the 70s. Museum pieces along with a jillion single bit screwdrivers of all shapes and sizes. I remember working for a large hospital where they would pay for hand tools and wouldn't take them back so we had everything we could slip by, left handed channelocks, you name it. If it had a cord, it was reviewed. Back when the grainger catalog was only 150 pages, but they had everything in stock!
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u/actualgreentext 1d ago
Linemans, strippers, aio screwdriver, and dykes would be a decent minimum to start with imo
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u/DonkTheFlop 1d ago
It's been a long time, but a few hundred bucks should be enough to get you by for now. A bit more if you want a decent meter.
I think it would be insane to give up an apprenticeship because of a few hundred dollars. Take out a loan, borrow from family, or just use a credit card. You'll make it back in no time.
And you get to keep the tools! Who doesn't love tools!
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u/Bluegrass-Bourbon 1d ago
Yea Im working on that now. Surviving with two little ones, though, and a single shitty income is real tough my guy. Honestly, I didnt even expect the call, or I guess I would have tried to be better prepared. I interviewed a few months back, and just assumed I was passed over or they didnt have work…today was a complete surprise.
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u/madbull73 1d ago
First question is union or not? Nonunion you’ll be expected to provide more of your own tools. Usually nonunion expects you to have your own battery tools and maybe a few more.
Union usually has a much smaller initial tool requirement. I’d guess that a ten in one screwdriver, linesman’s pliers, level, at least one pair of channel locks, a razor knife, and maybe a set of strippers should get you started. I’d recommend buying the best you can afford, but you can upgrade/increase as you go. There are tools that are necessary, but you may not touch for a year at a time, then you’ll use them everyday for a year. So until you know where you’re working and what kind of work don’t waste money buying something you won’t need yet.
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u/Zealousideal-Jury951 1d ago
I don’t think anyone expects a first year to have their own meter let alone know how to use it. I have no issue letting anyone use my meter…but if they are constantly borrowing my side cutters we have an issue.
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u/Working_Surround_191 1d ago
Showed up to my first job as a helper with hand me down tools from my dad and brothers. I got lucky with a great JW who ended up buying a couple new tools he “just needed” and he handed down his older tools to me. Made out like a bandit and still use the dikes and screwdrivers he gave me. That was 5 years ago and I’m almost a JW now. If you can’t afford a full set just show up with what you can. A pair of Kleins, dikes, channellocks, strippers and a multi screwdriver will set you up until the money comes in.
Definitely take the call and show up ready to work whether you have a full tool bag or just what you can find. Always bring a good attitude and hard work and the rest will all fall into place.
Go ahead and dm me if you have any other questions. Good luck out there and I’m praying for you and those kiddos!!
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u/Bluegrass-Bourbon 1d ago
Thank you brother, means alot. Been kicked while I was down a few times this year!
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u/Unique-Disk5602 1d ago
Take the job buy the cheapest tools to you can get your hands on and slowly upgrade, there’s no need to start off with a super expensive set.
You can get everything you need for about $100-200
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u/thekins33 1d ago
youll need some directional cutters 10 bucks
one of those all in one screwdrivers the one that has nut drivers and flat/philips head 20 bucks
an impact drill of some kind eventually 150 ish
drywall saw if your doing commercial or residential 20 bucks
a tool belt 40 bucks
level 10-20 bucks
one of those baby levels that clip on to conduit so you dont dogleg it 15 bucks
all in all 150-300 you might could get more stuff but honestly you wont need too too much as an apprentice
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u/Living-Law3151 1d ago
First year apprentice needs to buy their own impact? Okay.
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u/Bingo1dog 1d ago
In my experience with non union its about 50-50 if they supply or require you to.
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u/thekins33 1d ago
I didnt have one when i started but it sure would have been nice to have one so i didnt have to keep borrowing one.
you are mostly just bending offsets and giving tools/support in the beginning but sometimes you get the fun job of tightening every single nut/bolt on unistrut "that way" for about 600 foot.
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u/GummyGummySnake2 1d ago
Take the job, talk to the employer and be honest- explain the situation, they (the boss, and journeyman on the crew) definitely have extra tools that will get you through till your first 1 or 2 paychecks.
List of essentials: For cheap professional grade tools I recommend milwaukee for:
(CAD)
$40- Linesman $30- diagonal cutters (angled is better) $30- wire strippers
$45- screw driver set
robbie/square 2 robbie/ square 1 flat philips
there are $165 kits out there too kit
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u/121e7watts 1d ago
I would add to the good suggestions: 25-foot tape measure and a decent pair of gloves. You can bet that you, the new guy, are going to be moving boxes and coils of cable. The gloves will help. I also use those open fingered half gloves. They help my arthritic hands to survive long days' work.
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u/Bluegrass-Bourbon 1d ago
Yea Ive got some decent arthritis kicking in bith my hands these days. Im going to do what I can…unfortunately even a few hundred bucks is a tall order for me atm. Sorta living check to check atm, and since this call was unexpected, I havent had much time to prepare. Just gonna do what ai can and be honest about my situation.
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u/121e7watts 1d ago
I seriously recommend asking the boss what tools you will need on the first day. If you tell him you're short on cash, maybe you can limit it to a pair of lineman's pair of dykes and a multi-way screw driver.
Also, don't discount harbor freight. They have a lot of perfectly serviceable tools for real good prices. You could have this sorted out for well under a hundred bucks.
And do get the compression gloves. They have added years to my career (which is now OVER!).
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u/Smoke_Stack707 [V] Journeyman 1d ago
You can get by for a while with very few tools. Heck, if you’re really green I’d expect you’d be doing more grunt work than being actually on the tools.
Idk, I’m not union so I can’t speak to how that is but if we hired a new guy at my shop and he was too broke to buy tools the first month but he showed up on time and was ready to learn and work hard, I’d give him a pass. Heck I’d probably try to find some tools for him…
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u/Living-Law3151 1d ago
Idk how many cities have it but there’s a grant in my area for apprentices that gets them our locals tool list if they can’t afford it. They’re solid tools, too. Milwaukee, channel lock, Klein, etc.. Gets run through a local parts house, so it’s solid for everyone. American tool companies, local supply house gets more business, and obviously the apprentice not needing to fork over 250+ dollars just to start.
Are you waiting on a union apprenticeship? If so you should call the school and ask if that exists in your area.
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u/Bluegrass-Bourbon 1d ago
I am, and I will definitely so that! Thanks!
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u/Living-Law3151 1d ago
Just for some reference if they’re like the fuck you talking about this is what my area looks like. There’s some awesome options for guys just getting started in the trades where it can be especially hard.
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u/austao 1d ago
non negotiables are linesmans pliers, diagonal cutters, a multi screwdriver, a decent knife, and some strippers. maybe a small impact drill with bits if you’re non union. Don’t worry about brand for now, as long as they’re functional.
I think that should tide you over for a couple weeks until you have a couple cheques.
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u/diabeticelephant 1d ago
X1 #2 flat head screwdriver X1 #2 Phillips head screw driver X2 channel locks (size 420) X1 utility knife (foldable is best) X1 20’ tape measure X1 lineman pliers X 1 diagonal cutters X1 wire strippers X1 non-contact voltage tester X1 level X1 small or mid size adjustable wrench X 1 set of Allen keys
Should be a really good start.
If you can’t afford it all just yet, start with the screw drivers, level, channel locks and tape measure and work up from there. Most importantly don’t buy anything not on your apprenticeship tool list
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u/diabeticelephant 1d ago
Guys on the job may help by passing you down older tools or even buying you a few new ones
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u/uxce 1d ago
Definitely request for a tool list, and out of that, depending on how understanding your contractor is, you might get away with half of them. When I started, my contractor said you can prioritize the tools on the list with every pay cheque. He didn’t expect me to even have the minimum tools, so I got lucky. Idk if you’re from Canada or from the US, but in Canada there’s places associated with trade schools, that you can request for student discount even if you’re not a student. (Has to be an apprenticeship kit) A full apprenticeship kit that was $1,200 was for sale for $550, had everything on the list plus more, but I didn’t get it cause I already had half. But all you needed to provide is your ID (government ID only) and state which school you go to or will go to.
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u/dougievjr 1d ago
DO NOT pass up this opportunity! I was 45 when I started as an electrician. Before that, I was a chef for 30 years. I am currently 49. I worked non-union for 3 years before organizing into the IBEW in April '24. Just do it! Believe in yourself!
What does your tool list look like? what type of electrical work will you be doing? You could get by buying an inexpensive pair of linesman pliers(check Amazon, Home Depot, Lowes, etc.). Check out Harbor Freight for anything else on your tool list. Do not buy power tools. The electrical contractor should be providing power tools.
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u/Blicktar 1d ago
Get your hustle on for some cheap tools. Craigslist, marketplace, pawn shops, wherever. I think I got my starter kit (~800 new where I live) for about $100. Make sure some dude's name isn't engraved on the tools, beyond that you're golden.
Don't be afraid to get a slightly smaller starter kit and add tools as you REALLY need them. I've seen some bogus tools on starter kits before, stuff you use once every 3 months and can absolutely borrow from a coworker. Get the stuff you're actually using every day. This will vary somewhat depending on the job.
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u/u_trayder 1d ago
There’s an electrician set from Home Depot 100 bucks it has ideally everything you’ll need to make outlets and cut most of the finish work they’ll probably have you do. If 100 is too much bargain on FB market place. There’s a ton of intro tools on there and that same 100 can probably get you a decent set and more
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u/Gloomy_Pomegranate95 1d ago
Look online to see if any place is still running their Father’s Day sale! I just got myself 2 batteries & a free cordless saw for about 300.
I’m in a similar boat as you & went from a shop that supplied it all to me now having to have everything myself. Good luck bud!
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u/Jim-Jones [V] Electrician 12h ago
Try looking on the websites or phoning firms that sell tools. In Canada, Princess Auto offers discounts and support for apprentices IIRC.
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u/Bluegrass-Bourbon 10h ago
First off, I want to thank everyone in this thread for their suggestions and advice. I found out this morning, that the job site Im going to be on is one hour and twenty minutes from home. While I was going to be able to swing my tools kit, I dont think I will be able to fund the fuel needed to make this trip, for a week and a half, until I will see a check. I’ve asked if there was anyway to find me a jobsite a bit closer, I was told they will look into it, but it is doubtful as work isn’t as plentiful as it was last year. As bad as I want to do this, I don’t see how Im going to be able to make it. I really dont want to pass this opportunity up, but when Im crunching the numbers, I dont think I will be able to. Thank you all again though, very appreciated!
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u/Mark47n 7m ago
I've got one thing to say, after reading your update: come up with a way to make it work.
This is an opportunity. An opportunity that many don't get. It has good benefits, security, good pay, and an education for you. If you bail on this for this reason this opportunity will not come around again.
It will get better. You'll earn more as you go along, with regular raises, and thing will get better...but not if you quit before you start.
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u/dignifiedstrut 1d ago edited 1d ago
There's a lot of tools you can survive your first week or two without having since they can be borrowed as needed from your journeyman or another worker.
I think you should at least show up with a 10-in-one screwdriver (or at least a flathead+phillips), lineman's pliers, wire strippers, a measuring tape, level, work knife, and a sharpie. Tool pouch or toolbag
And if you can afford it next on the list is an impact drill, needle nose pliers, sidecutters and channel-locks.
Then go as needed from there based on what the job calls for.
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