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.

For a note on "game-changing ideas" from the Ideas That Work editor, Anton Mikec, click here.

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

Solving hole saw problems
When using a hole saw on an existing or incorrectly sized hole that was knocked out or hole-sawed, you can take a plastic “B Cap” (Square D), drill the correct size hole in the cap, and fasten its ears to the side of a box (steel, plastic, breaker, box) with a vise grip, clamp or lineman pliers to hold securely. Now carefully continue with the correct size hole saw to drill out where you need it.
I have used this for incorrectly sized holes, eccentric knockouts, off-set holes, etc. It has solved many hole saw problems.

Ray Penner
El Campo, Texas

Cutting PVC cleanly
When faced with the task of cutting 2-in. PVC Schedule 40 or 80 that already has 4/0 URD inside it, I first use my tubing cutter and score the pipe to the depth of the wheel. As anyone who has faced this problem knows, most tubing cutters will not penetrate the thickness of the PVC. After I use the tubing cutter, I use the backside of my reciprocating saw’s blade (the side without the teeth) to lightly apply a cut around the pipe. This gives you a good clean cut with no damage to the conductors.

Tom Scozzafava
Port Henry, N.Y.

See through the sweat
I am an old, fat electrician, and when I have to go up in a hot attic or under a crawl space, I tend to sweat a lot. It gets in my eyes and on my glasses. So, I roll up my bandana and tie it around my forehead. Then I wrap some electrical tape around my little flashlight and attach it to my bandana. The bandana keeps the sweat out of my eyes and off my glasses, and I’m able to see what I’m doing.

Carson Beach
Hudson, N.C.

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.