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You know, just about every project around the house eventually involves some type of
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electric work, and I'd like to spend a little bit of time today explaining to you some of
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my favorite tools that I use if I'm going to change out an outlet or switch, or possibly
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run a little bit of wire. You'd be surprised some of the tools that you really need to use to make the job go great
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My first tool that I like to use is a linesman's pliers. And what a linesman's pliers is, it's basically a big giant pliers, and it's my favorite tool
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for cutting wire. And the reason why is you've got great leverage with the tool, and it's got a very sharp cutting area
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It also is a great tool to use when you go to splice and twist wires together
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That's exactly what it's made for. The next tool I like to use is, of course, the wire stripper
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Wire strippers are very unique because they have special cutting teeth that are sized
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to the diameter of the copper wire that you're working with. And it got little markings on it like 12 gauge 14 gauge 10 gauge And all you do is squeeze the tool around the wire pull and the wire insulation comes off Now of course if you going to work with outlets or
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switches, you're going to need a needle nose pliers, and the reason why you use that tool
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that's how you bend the wire around the screws and get a really nice tight fit, very important
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And don't forget your razor knife. You're going to need one of those to strip the insulation off
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the wire. Make sure when you run the razor knife down the wire, just cut slightly through the
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insulation right down through the center of the wire. Don't go left or right because if
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you do that what's going to happen you might cut into the insulation on either the hot
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or the neutral wire. Alright and one final tip too, remember before you start to do electric
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work make sure you turn the circuit breaker off to that area that you're working on so you don't get electrocuted. It can happen, happens all the time. You've got to be safe
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use the right tools and your electric job is going to go as smooth as silk
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If you want to discover more home improvement tips, go to askthebuilder.com
