American Electrician’s Advice for New Apprentices: Tools, Trade Life, and Getting Started

“If you care about your craft, then you care about your tools.” - Spencer West (American Electrician)

Spencer West grew up not knowing much about the trades. But that changed quickly. He now runs the popular social media account American Electrician, where he makes how-to electrical videos and gear reviews, including tool bags, hand tools, and power tools.

After changing career paths in college, West found a new love for electrical work. He also discovered a passion for tools, but realized there wasn’t much information about them, so he started his own platform.

“The biggest thing was that I was looking for videos on tools and could not find them, especially the very high-end niche tools made for tradesmen,” West said. “I was buying them and spending my own money on them. Sometimes I would spend $60 on a set of pliers, and they were not what I wanted. At that point, I realized I needed to start figuring this out and sharing it. I liked my setup and my tool pouch, and I had the same tools that other guys were talking about. I thought I could make videos about these tools. Maybe it will help someone else decide whether to buy something or not buy it. I wanted to save people money, save them trouble, and help push out the best tools possible.”

Since starting his accounts, West has amassed a large following on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok. This has allowed him not only to teach and talk about products online, but also to help young electrician apprentices.

“My favorite part (of content creation) is the giveaways," West said. "We get to take electricians shopping. I will let someone spend $500 or $600, and then I let them choose who we give the kit to. That is easily the best part of the whole thing: getting to watch a brand-new apprentice open $600 worth of tools and seeing their life change. They get so excited.”

Working in the trades, there is no room for error. Having a tool that not only gets the job done, but also fits your style is a game-changer.

"For me, there are two things. First, there is how the tool functions for its main purpose,” West said. “How well does it do what it is designed to do? For cutters, that means how well they cut. For a screwdriver, it is how well it fits the screw. Whatever the specific function is, how well does that tool perform compared to others? The second part is how easy the tool is to use while doing that job. For a utility knife, it cuts based on the blade, which you can change. But beyond that, how well do you hold it? How does it handle? Does it flip open easily, or does it get stuck?

“It is the same thing with a screwdriver. It might fit the screw well, but how does it feel in your hand? If it is a multi-driver, what other features does it have that actually help you loosen or tighten something? So for me, it is always the direct functionality and then the functionality of using it. How does it fit in your hand, and are there any extra features that make doing that task easier?”

Being an electrician means that you likely have a lot of tools. But every electrician has their favorites.

“I literally have mountains of tools sitting in front of me as we speak,” West said. “But for a rough all-time top five, the Wera multi-driver is going to be up there. It is sitting in front of me for a reason. Then the Knipex Cobras. I am also going to throw the Veto Pro Pac Tech Pac in there. It is a tool bag, but it is my baby, so the Veto Pro Pac tool bag makes the list. Outside of that, probably the Milwaukee M12 FUEL impact. That one has to be on there. And then the Fiskars utility knife. That is my top five.”

Having versatility in your tool belt is essential for any electrician. A well-rounded setup not only saves valuable time on the job site but also ensures you are prepared for whatever unexpected problems arise. Specifically for West, this is a key aspect of the trade.

“As far as versatility goes, the Wiha PocketMax is a good one,” West said. “It is like an insulated driver with slim blades, and it fits in your pocket. That one is cool and versatile. There are also all the multi-head DeWalt tools, like DeWalt's installation driver. That is another cool one. I have been really loving that one this month.”

What West enjoys most about being the “American Electrician” is working with and helping people get into electrical work.

“I have always enjoyed teaching in general, so working with new apprentices is always cool,” West said. “It is about being the change in the industry that you want to see: treating people well, having a good time, and being able to joke around while still respecting them. At the end of the day, they are going home to their families. It is important to make sure they are learning what they need to learn, not just getting the project done. They need to actually become electricians, not just installers.”

"Just do it. Do whatever it takes to get on at a company around you, get started, and get the experience," West said. "Once you have experience, you can pretty much go anywhere and find work. The biggest thing is to apply yourself. That is what I did coming up through the apprenticeship, and it paid off. Be available, be ready, want to learn, and be willing to learn. I spent hours after work on YouTube looking up videos, whether they were about tools or electrical theory. It is a lot of work up front, but once you start getting things down, it starts to make a lot more sense. The key is not giving up and continuing to try to understand new concepts. It just takes time."

Starter Tool List

1. Notebook and a pencil or marker: The very first items you should make sure to bring.
2. Tape measure: Highlighted as the “big one” and the most important actual tool to have on hand.
3. Multi-driver
4. Lineman’s pliers
5. Channellocks
6. Wire strippers

To check out all of Spencer's content, view his Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.