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!

It’s in the bag

We’ve all been in a situation where we’ve had to patch a drywall or plaster wall. When I have to make a small patch or fill a hole, I take a small plastic bag and add some dry plaster of Paris mix (I carry a small bucket of it with me). Add a little bit of water, and knead the mix through the bag. Keep adding water until the mix is the proper consistency. Next, use a small putty knife to patch the hole. When you’re done, throw out the bag and clean the putty knife. You can use the same method to mix grout, cement or any dry mix. You can also use a large, black garbage bag to mix concrete or repair larger areas.

Greg Szumowski
Miller Place, N.Y.

Drill bit replacement

For most Unibits, the first portion to fail is often the tip or the first “step.” You can use starter drill bits, but that requires spending money on something that quickly becomes dull or is lost. One easy, inexpensive way to limit this is to keep a few sizes of self-drillers in your tool bag as “drill bits.” They are fast and relatively inexpensive. Drill a few holes and then toss them; or, actually, use them as fasteners on the project.

Bob Becker
Scottsdale, Ariz.

Screw tip cleaning

Magnetic hex-head screw tips often get clogged with metal shavings while in your pouch or on your cart. Fill a phase tape plastic container with duct seal, and jam the clogged tip into the duct seal a few times. It will come out clean. You can close the container and keep it in your toolbox.

Jeff O’Brien
Petaluma, Calif.

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.