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Working as a fiber optic lineman is not an easy job. It requires someone who can be skilled with their hands to run the tools and has good communication skills to talk with other team members about what needs to happen next. The tools and supplies that they need should be at their fingertips, ready for use whenever needed. This article will discuss the top 10 tools and supplies every fiber optic linesman should have in order to get their work done quickly!
What are fiber optic lineman tools?
Fiber optic lineman tools are the equipment that a fiber optic linesman uses to get their job done. Some of these items include drills, a bell wrench, bolt cutters, lineman pliers, and so on.
Depending on the day of work, the tools and equipment may vary somewhat. For an aerial fiber optic lineman their job is to install the support strand and fiber optic cable onto the utility poles.
Now we will dive deeper into the lineman tools, and what they do.
What tools does a lineman need?
A lot of this job is the same thing over and over. On the flip side, there is something new everyday. New obstacles, new terrain, new strategies to get the job done. However, the tools you need to get the job done stay the same.
There are a few basic lineman tools that every fiber optic linesman should have. Some of these include:
- Power Drills- this is one of the most important tools a lineman needs. Hands down. Nothing can happen until you get that hole drilled and your frame up. You want a drill that has the power to get you through 10 inches of wood, let’s say 12ish times a day, everyday. That’s a lot of holes, which is why you want a drill that can handle doing that day in, day out. There are some great impact drills on the market today, but if you’re just getting started I recommend this bundle that gives you a drill for making holes and a drill for putting up riser guards.
- Auger bit- A tool that pairs with the power drill. You can’t drill those holes we mentioned above without an auger bit. This could be one of the most frustrating tools if you don’t get it right. Some of the auger bits can’t chew through the utility poles without getting stuck. Talk about a frustrating thing to happen when you’re on hooks, it’s 98 degrees out and your bit gets stuck 5 inches into the pole. A good bit with a good drill never gets stuck, but a junk one will. And it can ruin your mood and those around you- time is money. Wasting time trying to get your drill bit free is exactly what can happen with a crappy auger bit. Luckily there are some really affordable auger bits that get the job done with no fuss.
- Bell wrench- Much like the drill, the bell wrench is one of the most important tools a lineman needs. It allows a lineman to loosen and tighten nuts. As a lineman, we use this tool every day when we install strand. Not only that, but it will need to be used for every pole! Although it’s great at tightening nuts, it’s also great at acting like a hammer. This tough piece of steel is the perfect length and size to be able to beat on clamps or anything else that needs a good whack!
- Bolt cutters- Necessary to cut the strand whenever the situation arises. However, there are times when you will need to cut the strand while you are up on the pole. If the weather sucks or its been a rough day, dealing with junk bolt cutters can really get under your skin and get you irritated. Just get yourself a good pair and don’t deal with all the problems.
- Lineman pliers- Often referred to as “9’s”, lineman pliers are used on every pole, when fiber is being installed and even when doing strand they are used quite often. When installing fiber the lineman pliers get used to cut the lashing wire that will get wrapped on the bug nut. When installing strand the pliers get used to cut copper that acts as a bond. Lineman pliers are a tough tool and should fit well in your hand, allowing you to use them both comfortably and efficiently.
- Channellocks- Fiber optic lineman have to tighten down nuts and bolts, finish up preforms, and even use channellocks as leverage to turn entire frames. They are an invaluable tool in a lineman’s tool kit. Not only do channellocks allow a lineman to tighten down nuts, but they also provide them a tool that won’t allow bolts to spin when they need to loosen nuts. They have so many uses throughout the day, I couldn’t imagine working without this tool.
- Nut Driver- Handy when working with strand. This tool is great when you don’t have a lot of space to work with and need to quickly tighten something, like a weaver. It goes on easily, is great for weavers, and fits in your hand comfortably. You can use channellocks or a wrench to secure your weavers; however, they can be cumbersome and take up a lot of room when you don’t have it. Most of the weavers I install are done by my nut driver.
- Knife- We all need a knife, right? Without it, electrical tape wrecks my day on those curve poles. It doesn’t have to be fancy- just sharp! But here is a cool lineman knife.
- Rope- A rope is an essential component of a lineman’s tool kit, especially when climbing. It’s useful when you need to get tools, equipment, strand and fiber up and down the pole as needed. A lineman’s rope is crucial for work since it allows you to operate safely and helps you work with little to no help from the groundhand. Which is a huge time saver and less stressful for everybody.
- Climbing belt & hooks- You won’t get very far in the lineman business without the ability to climb. So make sure you get yourself a solid combo-climbing belt and hooks. To learn more about climbing belts you can check out this article that goes more depth about what makes a good climbing belt and gives some of the best recommendations of belts available on the market today. But here is my favorite climbing belt, the Buckingham Heritage Mobility belt. Also my favorite climbing pads, Bashlin Big Buck pads.
Amazon makes it easy for Lineman tools and supplies
Did your auger bit junk out on you? Did you forget your bolt cutters in the weeds at the bottom of the pole? How about that your drill, did it burn up on you? Amazon has been great at supporting lineman. I even ordered a bucksqueeze with Amazon and had it in 2 days.
Lineman often work long hours, in rural areas. Lineman stores are hard to come by in rural areas so amazon helps bridge the gap. Amazon has lineman tools and lineman supplies that can be delivered right to your door within a couple days.
I hope you found this article informative and it has helped answer your questions about the lineman tools needed. Which of these fiber optic lineman tools are on your bucket list to buy? Whether you’re looking for a new set of bolt cutters or a bell wrench, Amazon makes it easy to find what you need with just one click.
What about boots? Check out this article where I deep dive into the best lineman boots on the market today- The Lineman’s Best Friend: Lineman Boots.