Fifty-Dollar Side Cutters Break After One Job
15 posts across 9 communities in the last 60 days; 47% from r/Plumbing.
“Got a set of Klein PVC cutters. They are for 1 1/4. I cut 2 PVC conduits (1in) just fine but all of them after the 2nd seemed to break. I could tell the blade wasn't cutting because it took much more pressure than the first 2 and then they would break. These are brand new. I am…”
“I’ve got a small pluming job to do. I see PEX/Copper crimping tools on amazon fairly cheap(manual, not power). Thinking about getting one since this seems to be the trend lately. Any recommendations on a good one? I might consider getting an electric, but I have Makita batteries…”
“It will be fine. But depending on jurisdiction, it may require something added. Vegas requires it to be insulated and for you to use tracer wire on it.”
Electricians are expressing frustration with tool quality (broken cutters) and jobsite challenges, including difficult installations (extraction fans, natural gas charging stations) and coordination issues with other trades (drywallers). These comments highlight practical problems in the field.
SOURCES (42)
“I’ve got a small pluming job to do. I see PEX/Copper crimping tools on amazon fairly cheap(manual, not power). Thinking about getting one since this seems to be the trend lately. Any recommendations on a good one? I might consider getting an electric, but I…”
“It will be fine. But depending on jurisdiction, it may require something added. Vegas requires it to be insulated and for you to use tracer wire on it.”
“Reference the code book, moron. International fuel gas code states that the tee must be mounted vertically. It says absolutely nothing about the location other than the orientation of the tee. Just because you have a deluded idea that it works better that way doesn’t mean it’s true”
“You are setting up a new guy with a semi full truck. General hand tools are already acquired. What are 2 tools you feel are worth splurging a little on? submitted by /u/intoxicapable [link] [comments]”
“This. If you already have a couple of jigs set up to batch cut the angles, this could be a ~6 hour project. But if you need to do it by hand, even with a good miter saw, this is not a 3 day project.”
“I’d treat it as a scope-and-insurability question rather than an automatic deal killer. Have a licensed electrician identify whether the wiring can be abandoned in place or must be removed, and price the service/panel, permits, wall access, and any grounding work. Ask the insurer and lender what they require before you offer. I’d carry a real contingency for opened walls and include the electrical work as day-one capex in the cash-flow model; don’t let appreciation assumptions pay for an unknown”
“K&T isn't a deal-killer, it's just an unpriced line item right now. How I'd handle it before committing: Get 2-3 licensed electricians to bid it before you close. On this thread alone the range runs from a couple thousand for partial work to $23k for a full rewire with plaster repair, so the spread is the whole story. Check both insurance AND your lender. Insurers are sometimes fine with K&T while the lender isn't - several fix/flip and DSCR lenders want it remediated bef”
“Rigid or milwaukee for 1 1/4 and bigger for both gas and water ? Which one is better and what model do you think is best? submitted by /u/eclalokkm [link] [comments]”
“Just curious any feedback on if this looks good or if there's something I could have done differently/better. This is going to be for a NG connection to a portable generator for use during outtages. Generator stated a 1/2 connection was feasible but 3/4 connection would be better if the generator was going to be more than a few feet from the house. Swapped out the 3/8 QD which had never been used before to a 3/4 QD one. Went from the existing ball valve which was still free turning easily, t”
“Nice job. I've been considering purchasing the extractor as well. Any drawbacks you noticed?”
“Same site as last time. I guess one of the office guys saw my last post. https://www.reddit.com/r/Construction/s/iKT0dQupoL submitted by /u/___brad [link] [comments]”
“I sometimes find myself needing to extend an earth wire and I'm required to do an iriversable crimp. Has anyone found anything online that's affordable? I can rent them but even that's pretty pricy. submitted by /u/Major_Tom_01010 [link] [comments]”
“This is all I need to get this job done….can anyone send me a video explaining how to loosen this damn thing??? submitted by /u/KyleDz2 [link] [comments]”
“Got a set of Klein PVC cutters. They are for 1 1/4. I cut 2 PVC conduits (1in) just fine but all of them after the 2nd seemed to break. I could tell the blade wasn't cutting because it took much more pressure than the first 2 and then they would break. These are brand new. I am a helper so Im not going to pretend that I know what Im doing, but they should cut better than this no? Also the picture of the broken end is the cleanest of the broken ones, the others were already taped. submi”
“Thanks! When I wasn't a contractor I learned this with electricians. The main job was a service upgrade from fuses to breakers. I had a bunch come out, but there were other items I added to the list that the initial companies did not include. No consistency.”
“Your testing? The weight limit has always given me pause because lord knows someone is going to overload them unintentionally and I want to be confident they’ll likely never fail, even if it’s technically out of spec.”
“Go to Lowe’s or Home Depot and buy the correct male piece and buy 50ft of the cord. That cord will be expensive.”
“This material is flimsy and jams up constantly when there's a splice, got any bright ideas? submitted by /u/FamiliarEnemy [link] [comments]”
“CLR is good for mineral buildup but PB Blaster actually penetrates the threads, that's why I suggested it for seized fittings.”
“Got this quote today for a capacitor ... is this an all time high? I know how to change one, and plan on doing it myself, but figured I'd share. I did laugh at the tech when he gave the me quote. submitted by /u/Junior_Commission588 [link] [comments]”
“I've been doing the same thing. Unfortunately, copper just isn't competitive enough. I've started giving pricing for both PEX and copper for repipes, putting it in the customer's hands, so I'm not completely undercut by the next guy, and they always go PEX even when they've just experienced the failure.”
“Any other tools I can add to make my job easier? Hand tools / drill bits submitted by /u/FitPlatform9314 [link] [comments]”
“I do electrical and general maintenance in a riverside shipyard. Figured out why the L2 of a fuse box was not getting 480V. submitted by /u/everwine [link] [comments]”
“Anyone tried the parkside performance 2x battery 40v circular saw ? I have batteries they say it's heavy any reviews or experience on that ? submitted by /u/HzeTmy [link] [comments]”
“Anyone know a rental company in eastern Massachusetts that rents propress tools? I have a manual press for small jobs, but have a bigger job coming up. submitted by /u/Big-Roof5914 [link] [comments]”
“I just picked this tool up used. It looked to be in very good condition. Bought it, brought it home and upon plugging it in and running it... well maybe I screwed up. I've no prior experience using this specific make and model tool before but this one sounds, to me, to be rubbing internally and/or to have a bad bearing. I checked the 4" blade, it is not rubbing and it appears to be an undamaged and sharp OEM blade. Check out the audio of the attached video. Sound normal or bad? Model 55”
“I'm an electrician currently working in maintenance in the UK. Hopefully someone can help. I need a crimp tool for the little yellow insulated crimp terminal on the right. I'd prefer a ratchet tool as they give a better termination. Cost isn't really a concern, getting the correct tool is the important bit. I do have many tools that will squash it, but I'd rather do it right. I don't even know the spec of the crimp as I've never seen them this small before - I just have a”
“I am just the electrician and learned long ago not to mess with other trades. It never ends well. submitted by /u/Ornery-Account-6328 [link] [comments]”
“Tip snapped on one side, picture may make it difficult to make out. submitted by /u/Minefreakster [link] [comments]”
“Hey giving a cost on a natural gas charging station at a local Amazon facility. Its for a guy ive done some military work for before. His co does gas stuff all over ny and new england. He said its usually 30-50k 😉. Its all above ground explosion proof 480 stuff with adding a 200 amp feed from the amz sw gear. Anyone do any of these before? submitted by /u/showerzofsparkz [link] [comments]”