THE TOOLS YOU NEED TO GET RID OF Martin Stirling, National Segment Manager Electrical Trades, Hilti
As any contractor will tell you, ‘time is money’. Persisting with tired old tools and outdated work methods hinders workers’ productivity, either because they are tiring to use and slowing them down or because they are not benefiting from faster, smarter technologies that help them get more work done in less time. Either way, doing things the old way is eroding your bottom line.
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ince the 1970s, labour costs have increased 300% while the cost of tools has remained much the same. So there is really no excuse for not upgrading to the latest and most efficient technologies. Here is my recommended list of tools you need to get rid of, and the modern technologies to replace them, in order to move your business forward:
Cut the cord and optimise labour hours If you are still using electric drills, it is time to replace them with safer and more efficient cordless alternatives. By opting to use battery-powered tools you will not need to rely on a mains power supply, which is often difficult to find on a jobsite. It also allows teams to mobilise and demobilise between task sites much faster, as there are no cords to manage. Another productivity gain is that you reduce the time needed for the ‘test and tag’ procedure,
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a process that adds time and hassle to an average project. With battery tools you only need to ‘test and tag’ the charger, and this can be easily managed so that tools are constantly available for use. A common misconception about cordless tools is that they are not powerful enough to perform heavy-duty tasks, but this is no longer the case. Battery technology is so advanced these days that cordless tools perform just as well as, if not better than, their corded counterparts. The Hilti TE 30-A36 combihammer, for example, can drill large-diameter holes with the speed of a corded tool two classes larger.
Switch to purpose-built tools for clean cutting and grinding Using a grinder to cut channels for laying cables in brick walls is an outdated practice. A much better, faster and safer way to do this is with a specialised slitting tool such as Hilti’s DC-SE 20
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