Tools You Get as an Apprentice Electrician (IBEW)

[@SparkysJourney]

I just want to start off by saying I was under the impression that every JATC gave their apprentices a basic set of tools. After talking with many of you I guess that’s not the case. Seems to be 50-50 as of now. I guess it really depends on the size and strength of your local. Every apprentice I’ve talked to in Washington/Oregon/California has received a basic set of handtools. I guess It all depends on how your contract is written up. Regardless if you have to buy your own set of tools the contractors should supply you with all the power tools. Anyways I hope you enjoy the video and please let me know if you have any questions!

[@kennethkieffer8669]

Most locals no electrician actually wears a tool belt on a jobsite. So it's very odd for the JATC to give one out.

[@SparkysJourney]

@@kennethkieffer8669 huh? When I was a material handler most of the journeymen wore tool belts. Depends on which phase of the job your on.

[@kennethkieffer8669]

@@SparkysJourney Honestly have never seen a JW wear a toolbelt on a jobsite that wasn't called a carpenter or freshly organized. That's from Omaha, St Paul, San Jose, San Fransico, Las Vegas, Riverside, Bakersfield, San Bernadino, San Mateo.ect the various places I've worked Obviously I haven't worked everywhere but most travelers from various locals I have worked with don't wear them.

[@SparkysJourney]

@@kennethkieffer8669 super strange. Don’t be afraid of the belt! It will be good to you. Also I’m not going to get a free tool belt and tell the jatc “what the heck is this? Electricians don’t wear these”.. lol

[@SparkysJourney]

@@kennethkieffer8669 also as I grow into the trade and learn what I like and don’t like I will decide for myself what I’ll wear. I won’t let what other electricians wear be the deciding factor of what I will wear.

[@timcarpenter7399]

thank you

[@ghostface4072]

I love Milwaukee power tools but do not like there hand tools

[@SparkysJourney]

Yeah I’ve heard that from a few guys.

[@JavierMiranda-ow3zm]

Milwakee and Klein tools for the win

[@REDDELECTRIC]

came back to this vid! I GOT IN LOCAL26!.. no free tools, i did end up getting a starter kit with really nice klein hand tools from my contractor when i initially started in residential.. but local26 is setting up a partnership w milwaukee and klein for affordable tools and equipment for the apprentices, wish me luck guys!

[@vincet9906]

Just took my aptitude test today! Felt really good studied and took the iprep course. I’ve been doing residential for about 2 years but I’ve always admired the union as my grandfather was apart of one. Thanks for the videos love em! Keep it up.

[@reject6853]

would you say i prep helped a lot and what should i look out for in the test. i have min this wednesday and i got the iprep course

[@rzawistowski33]

My dad called em Dics, short for DIagonal Cutter

[@luissanchez5415]

Waiting on an update my guy lol.. your journey/vlogs have been very informative

[@SparkysJourney]

Will make a video soon! Sorry for the delay! Was dispatched in early august and have been working full time since!

[@luissanchez5415]

@@SparkysJourney Glad to year you are staying busy with your Local. Cant wait to hear about your experience so far.!

[@andrewmendoza1578]

Local 477 never got tools and we cover the biggest county in the country. San Bernardino. Wish I did, had to fork out about $700 for the entire tool list and still need to get a Fork Meter. 1st year apprentice too hopefully get called for my first job soon.

[@Damon_Jay]

Where are the new videos?? I’m liking the journey 😀

[@JavierMiranda-ow3zm]

Milwakee and Klein tools the best, salute brother welcome to the brotherhood local 379 North Carolina

[@macleedondonough4814]

Can you make a video on pay as an apprentice? Is the pay decent can you make a decent living with all the dues and expenses

[@nunyabinnis6417]

My local 191 doesn't give out tools but awesome for you

[@joshuakoyukuk6381]

Nice! We didn't get free tools in ours. Instead, we got a very specific list of tools we needed to procure ourselves. They were pretty specific about the brands and even the models of tools we were to get

[@jonathanhughes380]

How is your schooling, going Joining the union? how long are in in school after a 40+ hour work week 2 nights a Week?

[@JustinsUrban]

Been following your channel for a little while now, happy you’re finally in, Yesterday I was informed I’ve got the job, took me a year to get to the interview and only a week after the interview Im in!

[@SparkysJourney]

Wow that’s awesome! Congrats. What state?

[@JustinsUrban]

@@SparkysJourney Thank you! Central Florida

[@kevinfolsom2604]

Hey Michael, just wanted to say thank you for these videos! They helped me a ton during my application steps through my interview. I got my rank a few weeks ago and got #10 at LU 280 here in OR. It's taken a while to get here but it's definitely paid off. I'd recommend this channel to anyone going the union route, especially here in the PNW. Almost exactly my experience so far. Thanks again man!

[@SparkysJourney]

Your welcome! Wow what a great rank! You should be called in no time!

[@kevinfolsom2604]

@@SparkysJourney Thank you! Just playing the waiting game now!

[@luvsteven2449]

did you get in? how long did you wait

[@sgtsavage2181]

I’m slowly getting rid of all my Milwaukee hand tools for knipex/Kline. They just feel better to me.

[@Ink.johnny]

Foreman, Local 48 here, cool channel. Keep it up.

[@Sparky272]

Just got my letter today local 659 I ranked 9 but was told it was more like 6 since the top 3 are starting in a couple weeks. I'd be happy if they gave me a set of tools. If not I already have a Klein backpack full of Klein tools. And I'm smuggling in my ratchet cutters because they cost me a pretty quarter and I wanna use them again haha.

[@SparkysJourney]

Congrats! hope you get the call soon!

[@Sparky272]

@@SparkysJourney thank you me too. I miss being a sparky and honestly never thought I'd ever go union. But the more unbiased research indo the more appealing it is.

[@huntersteele9559]

I just got my boot camp email from the 46 jatc. Hope to see you on a jobsite my dude!.

[@mrnogood]

at our local, we had to buy our basic set of handtools. They cost $180

[@brettmilleruyh2314]

Local 684 here we got way less on our orientation. So good on your local for taking care of the apprentices. But most of those hand tools you will replace with in a year. And you will want to upgrade. I have a list if your interested for really good tools that will last longer then a year or 2.

[@SparkysJourney]

First thing my dad said! Tools wear out and you will replace them. Totally understand that.

[@Ishdadish]

Update! Yes! Thank you!

[@bullishharvey8793]

Are the aptitude test and interview on workdays or weekends?

[@paulzeev]

I was in the IBEW didn't receive any tools , been non-union ever since and glad I did making more money than ever for the last Six years . I bought like three sets of those Milwaukee tool 😂

[@stickbrick8219]

Time for an update!

[@SparkysJourney]

Will make a video soon! Sorry for the delay! Was dispatched in early august and have been working full time since!

[@davidmccord6555]

Lucky duck, We didn't get any tools from my local. Just a tool list. However, fortunately there are only about 9 tools on our list so very doable.

[@SparkysJourney]

Really? What local? When did you go through the apprenticeship?

[@davidmccord6555]

@@SparkysJourney 716 Houston area. I’m about to start my 3rd year.

[@will9874]

Same we didn’t get any tools

[@SparkysJourney]

@@will9874 I guess some do and some don’t? If I had to guess, most locals do. It probably depends on the size and strength of your local. I am very fortunate that our local JATC gave us the tools to start off right.

[@Blackjack556]

Little over a month in 520 as an apprentice. Got put on industrial… waste water treatment. No hand tools were provided by my JATC. I thought I was going to be an electrician… I didn’t know about ductbank and slab work, but boy and I learning

[@SparkysJourney]

Yup! There’s so much more involved In This trade then people understand. There’s a reason why it takes five years to become a journeyman. What state are you in?

[@Blackjack556]

@@SparkysJourney Austin, Texas.

[@SparkysJourney]

@@Blackjack556 I’m glad your representing down there! From what I’m told the union isn’t huge in texas! Is that true? Ive heard the there a lot of non union shops down there. Hopefully your generation can fix that! 💪🏼 union strong baby!

[@StReNgTh875]

I didn't get free tools at my local. My JW said his local in Phoenix gave him free tools during his apprenticeship. I just got my apprenticeship two months ago, so I hope everything goes well with yours!

[@jacobvaughan8453]

I'm going to be stationed at Lewis in August. I'll be retiring in the area and wanted to know how to become an electrician. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[@SparkysJourney]

Have you watched my videos?

[@jacobvaughan8453]

@@SparkysJourney Yes. Thank you for making them. This video was the first one I saw. I left the comment prior to being able to watch the others you had made. Thank you again, and for taking the time to respond to my comment.

[@thomasr1051]

Vancouver Canada Non union company 200-300 employees. You either come with your own tools or take a temporary pay cut and they'll give you a brushed Makita drill driver set, a rackatiers belt, Klein linesman (w/o fishtape pullers) sidecutters and basic set of screwdrivers. I've since bought a Milwaukee set as well as cordless hammer drill, sawzall and a grinder that I got for free as a promo They have one or two company cordless hammerdrills per site that you could attempt to track down as well as a corded SDS MAX rotary hammerdrill and a corded grinder. Plumbers on site have everything supplied. Some Hilti some Milwaukee. They pile up buckets of broken tools and then get them fixed under warranty. Oh I forgot they gave me a torpedo level bought with the copper scrap money

[@SparkysJourney]

What about all the the power tools? Do you have to bring your own or does your company supply those for each job site?

[@dempower]

Maybe in a future video you could interview your dad and he could give all of us who don’t have family in the trade some advice.

[@SparkysJourney]

That’s a great idea! Stay tuned 😏

[@DamionJR4923]

For the most part Klein is better than Milwaukee hand tools.

[@steelersgirl3063]

I completely agree

[@willhamilton9121]

We don't get a thing in kentucky the local is big but not the greatest market share

[@banjothehammer6708]

Supposed to start with the contractor tomorrow. My process was a lot different than everyone else on here. Interviewed two weeks ago and got a call twenty minutes later on my way to work that a panel member wanted to hire me. I haven’t found anyone with the same circumstances so I’m going in blind.

[@SparkysJourney]

Wow that is very fast. Do you have electrical experience?

[@banjothehammer6708]

@@SparkysJourney I don’t. I have a four year degree with math up to calculus 1, some electronics classes, and five years in the military. Im sure some of that helped. I prepped for my interview which did help me articulate my answers and present them confidently. That’s about it.

[@SparkysJourney]

@@banjothehammer6708 What local? The military experience probably put you ahead of the pack. They are very good about hiring veterans. Either way congrats! So you didn’t do a BootCamp?

[@fredwilliams1187]

@@banjothehammer6708 good deal congrats again!! I recently went in an applied for Ibew apprenticeship I turned in my dd214 and osha cert. I was told I qualify for a direct interview however I still have to do the test was that the same for you?

[@DS-zo8xs]

Lucky! That is so awesome

[@charrelson614]

My IBEW I didn't get anything for free. MBN

[@Ishdadish]

Update?

[@SparkysJourney]

Will make a video soon! Sorry for the delay! Was dispatched in early august and have been working full time since!

[@ricker76er]

You’ll have to update us on the performance of those tools. I had the Milwaukee channel locks and found them subpar to channel locks in their gripping ability and the channel locks are subpar to the knipex alligator pliers. Also, everyone I know calls them dikes.

[@SparkysJourney]

Yeah I’ve already swapped a couple tools out. Been using my Milwaukee diagonals all week and I like them.

[@bn3764]

lol I bought my tools from the Jatc . Ibew 617.

[@SparkysJourney]

You get a good deal at least?

[@bn3764]

Cost 450 bucks but I change and added tools over the course of my apprenticeship. I’m going towards my 4th year. You will take out and add tools as you progress. Most of my tools though are Klein’s

[@SparkysJourney]

@@bn3764 I was a little bummed when I saw Milwaukee but didn’t want to sound ungrateful. Klein’s are legendary electricians tools. Already bought a set of lineman’s pliers from Klein.

[@eliascervantes5004]

Good video are you going to do one on the paperwork

[@SparkysJourney]

Yes! Will be out on Tuesday

[@chaseharnack1942]

Just had my interview today. I watch your interview video. Thanks for all the tips. One quick question how do you see your rank?

[@SparkysJourney]

Every local is different. Some don’t even share it with you. Mine had a online system where I could check it daily. Just email the jatc and they will give you more information!

[@chaseharnack1942]

@@SparkysJourney okay thank you so much!

[@Erik1sch]

I have my interview for the Local 46 apprenticeship this Thurs. I'm so excited 😖😁 Do you happen to know how often they're doing boot camps?

[@SparkysJourney]

Congrats! That’s awesome! Bootcamps vary from state to state. Really depends on how busy your local is. It seems my local is doing bootcamps once a month. Good luck!

[@jesuszamora1248]

If you ranked a score of 80.2 how long would you say you typically wait for a call back?

[@mrnogood]

until the 12th of Never.

[@SparkysJourney]

Reach out to your JATC and see what your rank is

[@giodelrio9540]

How much did you ph for the tools the supplied?

[@SparkysJourney]

Nothing

[@trevorpierson7385]

Must be niceeee

[@thomasmarkovich7045]

Some of your videos seem to be missing

[@SparkysJourney]

Was splitting up videos for bootcamp but didn’t like how they turned out so making just one video about bootcamp. Stay tuned. I’m working now so taking a little bit of time to focus on work and then will come back!

[@thomasmarkovich7045]

@@SparkysJourney how are you liking it so far? I actually got a call back on Friday after my interview that Thursday. Got accepted into the Disney program, not set on the JATC class start date but I’m being told early September. I’m super excited, I’ll be doing on boarding with Disney over the next 2 weeks!

[@SparkysJourney]

@@thomasmarkovich7045 Disney program?? please tell me more!!

[@SparkysJourney]

@@thomasmarkovich7045 but loving the job so far! Doing mostly pre-fab work right now!

[@konnerzamperin1032]

How long does the waiting list take? How many usually go into the pre job class?

[@jaylenreyes4043]

What type of job experience did you have before applying for the apprenticeship

[@SparkysJourney]

I’ve been self employed for 5 years delivering furniture. Zero electrical experience. I was a material handler for a couple summers about 10 years ago

[@nickfromthe6ix264]

Which local are you in?

[@loudmuzik4499]

Milwaukee tools... ewww. Who got the fat check for that deal hahaha

[@REDDELECTRIC]

Hey, my interview is coming up, i applied for Local26... anything i should know? (im fresh out of HS and have no construction/electrical experience)... and aswell how hard is it to get in with the ranks, i want to try to score high enough to get in quickly, but im one with alot of anxiety with interviews and important things in general!

[@cerillo4818]

is there any certifications i can get to improve my chances of getting hired in the union ?

[@davidmccord6555]

Go to the hall and see if you can get hired on as an associate (helper). You’ll get lots of experience and it looks good in the interview. You might have to go to your local JATC to become an associate. Good luck.

[@joshsparks1489]

False advertising. I went through 5 years and got nothing from the jatc

[@joshsparks1489]

And Milwaukee is 10x cheaper than Klein. So makes sense why they’d switch. Milwaukee hand tools also suck

[@SparkysJourney]

Bummer. Every local in my area gives you a basic set of handtools.

[@thomasr1051]

I lost a #2 Robbie Klein and for the same price I replaced it with insulated #2 AND #1 Robbie AND 1/4" standard. I've loved them so far. Made the mistake of picking up the Milwaukee linesman and I'll never do that again. Klein or knipex only for those

[@SparkysJourney]

@@thomasr1051 good to know! So a no-go on the Milwaukee lineman’s pliers?

[@jonesieboy9251]

how many poeple are in your class ?

[@SparkysJourney]

I think my class is around 60 people divided up into 4 groups because of Covid.

[@nasmr02]

Hey man about to go drop off my documents today and then apply online for Ibew Local 569, how hard was the math test to you?

[@SparkysJourney]

It wasn’t too bad but it’s no cake walk. If you did well in math during high school/ college then you should be good. It’s primarily algebra -functions. If you would like help I would suggest taking a practice test on iPrep. Very helpful. That test is pretty close to the test you will be taking at the JATC. Good luck!

[@nasmr02]

@@SparkysJourney cool thanks man 🙏🏽

[@nasmr02]

Update my test is in September, do you know if the aptitude test is the same for all locals?

[@SparkysJourney]

@@nasmr02 it’s pretty similar across-the-board. I would just take the iprep practice exam. And then take some courses on khan Academy to brush up on your algebra

[@SparkysJourney]

@@nasmr02 your test should include two sections. First section is math and second section is reading comprehension. Both examples will be on the practice test on iPrep.

[@cobyvaughan9314]

hey man! I’m from washington trying to get into local 46. As long as I score well on the aptitude test and interview, is the union still hiring at a decent rate?

[@pr0fess0r94]

How long did the entire process take you? from applying to getting accepted. I applied & just waiting on test date

[@SparkysJourney]

From the time I applied to the time I was accepted it took around 1 year and 4 months. It took me a little longer because I applied right before Covid hit. So the JATC shut down for a few months. If Covid didn’t happen I would guess it would have taken closer to a year

[@miguelalameda5492]

Woah wasn't expecting this at all! Is this a common thing for locals to do? from my understanding my local JATC in Vegas doesn't give out any tools or accessories to new apprentices. They give us a tool list and we have to buy our own tools.

[@SparkysJourney]

From what I’m told it’s pretty standard. There might be a few that don’t do it but that would be surprising. At the very least you should get a standard set of handtools Provided to you by the JATC. It was a surprise to me as well. Did not know about it until a couple months ago

[@kennethkieffer8669]

Our local doesn't give you tools and charges 1st years $1000 for books also. I personally think they need to get the book price down for you guys. Talked to some of the guys at the hall about funding our JATC better to help you guys out with the cost. I was told "$1000 for books and $500 for tools is still cheap for an education." Our last contract was just ratified recently though and all JATC funding increases have to be negotiated with NECA because it's a joint apprenticeship. So it won't be for at least another 3 years for that to happen.

[@SparkysJourney]

@@kennethkieffer8669 every local here in Washington and Oregon does. It’s becoming more popular but a lot still don’t give out tools.

[@SparkysJourney]

@@kennethkieffer8669 also our JATC pays for all our books for our first year. We have to pay for all the books starting on our second year.

[@DamionJR4923]

For the most part Klein is better than Milwaukee hand tools.