By Larry Kotars,
Regional Sales Manager, Huskie Tools, Inc.

(From an article that appeared in the October 2000 issue of Utility.)

"Nervous as Hell!"

This is what a young lineman said to me at the start of the Commonwealth Edison Lineman's Rodeo in Joliet, IL this past July. His shirt was starched, his company logo looked impressive, he was wearing new jeans and his boots were polished. His eyes were focused and he, along with his teammates, was prepared to win this skill competition. The practicing was over, the classroom study complete, and the verbal jawing stopped. It was time to show what the team was made of. It was the finals and the winners were to move on to the official Lineman's Rodeo in Kansas City.

Each contestant showed so much pride, many had family around for support. Real linemen take pride in what they do and this can be a dangerous profession. Huskie Tools realizes the seriousness involved in a lineman's job. We don't sell to weekend linemen, and we sell the best battery-powered cutting and compression tools in the industry to linemen who are serious about what equipment they take up the pole. We might not be the cheapest, but we are the best.

When a lineman starts his climb up a pole, he shouldn't have to worry if his battery pack isn't charged or if there is enough power to finish a crimp or make a cut. When power company foremen make decisions on behalf of the linemen to buy cheaper tools because of budget concerns, they certainly don't have the linemen in mind.

Utility companies, like any other business, will always have a budget. The smart foreman will plan ahead and spend those dollars wisely. Huskie is extremely prejudiced when it comes to product value. The cheapest is not always the best. We should never compromise on safety and tool efficient workloads.

As mergers continue to dominate our future ways of thinking about power, we should remember that these changes are being driven by a rapidly growing need to speed up our installation methods and to accommodate our quickly expanding economic growth. We can no longer move at yesterday's pace because of advances made by technology. To keep pace we must continually examine new methods of accomplishing a task with fewer linemen. Proper tools are critical to achieve desired results. Fast, efficient and user-friendly products are in great demand.

At Huskie Tools, Inc., we are on our fourth generation of product upgrades. We will always strive to better serve our customers and their needs. We have a wide range of end-users, and many of our customers are investor-owned utility companies who want the best but don't want to spend the dollars and risk the responsibility of ordering the wrong product. When you purchase items off capital budget money, there will always be a concern that the money you're spending is for the right reasons.

When linemen purchase Huskie tools, they can be assured the best is being used to help the task they have at hand. We sell our tools with the lineman in mind. Providing real tools for real linemen is what Huskie does best. Rural utility agencies and urban utility companies have learned that cheap is not always the way to go.

The utility world is moving fast with deregulation and for the most part our world doesn't become affected with mergers and buyouts. We do become involved when the utility blames these mergers for not spending money on tools. It is your duty to provide your linemen with quality tools; don't substitute price for quality. When making the decision to buy battery-operated tools, remember the medical cost to repair a torn shoulder muscle or wrist injury is a huge cost that comes off the bottom line. Why gamble on something you know can be prevented?

Two great tools from Huskie include the REC-458 Battery Powered Compression with Optional Cutter Head and the REC-3610 ROBO*Crimp.

The Huskie REC-458 is the same design as the REC-358 with the addition of an upgraded hydraulic circuit. The new rapid advance feature allows the operator quicker compression cycles. In addition to the rapid advance feature, it also has incorporated an electronic counter that will allow a service technician to read the number of compression cycles the tool has made. Also, the new tool housing has been reinforced to improve durability during heavy field use.

A factory preset bypass cartridge assures a six-ton compression every time. The REC-458 accepts either "W" or "O" type dies. The D3 nest die comes standard with the tool. Always consult your connector manufacturer for proper die/connector combinations.

Like the REC-358, the REC-458 will accept the optional 25CAT cutter head attachment. Quick release pins allow the operator to change between compression and cutter head in one minute, with no springs or pins to lose.

The Huskie REC-3610 is a 15-ton compression tool that is able to crimp splices and lugs to 1250 MCM aluminum and 1500 MCM copper. The REC-3610 offers a wide handle opening with finger grooves allowing easy access for gloved work.

The base of the tool is contoured for stability and incorporates finger grooves for a better grip. The tool has a latched head and its pull-pin release cannot be entirely removed from the jaw. The jaw opens wide to accept all "P" type dies used in the industry today. The PU-15 die adapter is available for use with all 12-ton "U" type dies.