Hand tools

Hand tools cover the manual instruments an electrician uses to prepare cables and mount accessories on site.

Insulation-stripping knives are sized to a conductor cross-section range, typically 8–28 mm² for straight-blade models and down to 8–13 mm² for tube-cable strippers; mounting templates set out the cut-out for flush installation boxes, and indelible marker pens label conductors and terminals. Blade shape and grip material determine how the tool performs on PVC versus rubber-sheathed cable.

• Conductor range — match the stripper's stated mm² capacity to the cable cross-section on site
• Blade type — straight blades suit single cuts, hooked or curved blades follow round cable jackets without nicking the core
• Application — mounting templates are sized to standard flush-box cut-outs, marker pens should be indelible for long-term circuit labelling