Every month, we pick the top four 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!

Unistrut and scrap piece of EMT
It is impossible to get a ¾-in. socket to tighten a ½-in. nut inside Unistrut. So, take a scrap piece of ¾-in. EMT and put in a 30- or 45-degree bend. Then, grab a ½-in. nut, place it in the end of the ¾-in. EMT and tap around the sides of the EMT where the nut is. If done correctly, it will fit in the Unistrut and you will be able to tighten the nut.

Tommy DeCarolis
Morton, Pa.

Conduit locknut wrenches
I made conduit locknut wrenches using scrap pieces of ¾-, 1-, and 1¼-in. EMT. I cut the EMT approximately 6 in. long and then cut notches in one end to match the teeth on the locknuts. I am then able to use these locknut wrenches to torque down the locknut while holding the other end of the fitting with a pair of pliers. It’s great when working alone or with a one-handed operation. Also, it is easier to tighten down a locknut in a crowded panel when it’s hard to get at the locknut with pliers or a hammer and screwdriver.

Ron Sokoloski
Branford, Conn.

Using coat hanger for pilot holes
When installing a fan box or light box in the center of a room, cut the hook off a metal coat hanger with your dikes, straighten it out, put it in your battery drill and make your pilot hole with the hanger. If you hit a stud, then you are in good shape. If not, take the hanger off the drill and shove it all the way up in the ceiling. That way, when you go in the attic or crawl space, you can’t miss it. I’ve always used coat hangers for pilot holes, and I’ve used them to drill through wood and even through mortar joints. If the tip gets dull, cut the end at a 45-degree angle and you have a new tip.

Paul Smith
Webster, N.Y.

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.