Every month, we pick the top Ideas That Work submitted by you, ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR readers. These ideas can't be found in any code or guidebook and are only learned or devised through years of experience and thinking, "There's got to be a better way to do this!" Please remember, the ideas presented in this article are for consideration only. Before using such ideas, make sure codes and safety standards have been fully adhered to.

Now, without further ado, here are this issue's Ideas That Work!

One tube, many uses

In the field, a tube of valve grinding compound can be a helpful item to use in a variety of work situations. When I run into a rusted hardware fastener, the microscopic grit from the valve grinding compound gives a screwdriver tip extra torque-gripping capabilities to minimize slippage and cam-out. When drilling a hole into metal boxes, this compound coats the drill bit’s cutting edges to better engage to the metal. Also, this grit’s grinding properties help to sharpen a dull pocketknife while on the job. Valve grinding compound is available at any automotive parts store.

William Hertwig
Plymouth, Mass.

Pre-emptive drilling

When finished running conduits in a slab on metal decking during a big job, I drill a small hole every 15–20 feet alongside the PVCs on the deck. Then, I slide green ground tails through the curled end with the 10-32, keeping it from slipping through. When others see the green tail trails from below, they won’t drill into them to set anchors. This prevents a lot of lost time once it’s time to pull wire through those pipes.

Colin Boone
Granby, Mass.

IF YOU HAVE AN IDEA that has saved you time or money on the job, ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR ­readers would like to hear about it. Be sure to include a good photo of your idea—hand sketches are often hard to interpret. Note that some similar ideas are submitted by more than one person. In these cases, the one that is more clearly written and includes a photo is given precedence. Send your letter and photo to Jack Pullizzi, Ideas Editor, ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR, 3 Bethesda Metro Center, Suite 1100, Bethesda, MD 20814-5372, e-mail [email protected], or use the online submission tool at www.ecmag.com/ideasthatwork.

CASH AND TOOL PRIZES FOR WINNING IDEAS Each published author in Ideas That Work receives a $50 American Express gift card from ELECTRICAL ­CONTRACTOR. In addition, Southwire (www.southwiretools.com) will send the following set of electrician’s tools to each month’s first-place winner:

• Cable cutter
• Fish tape
• Long nose pliers
• Side cutting pliers
• Diagonal cutting pliers
• Pump pliers
• Screwdriver
• Wire stripper
• Crimpers
• Multimeter

DISCLAIMER: The ideas presented in this article are for consideration only. Before using such ideas, make sure codes and safety issues have been fully adhered to. ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR disclaims any liability from your use of these or any other ideas. ­ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR reserves the right to reprint the words herein at its discretion.