Trix of the Trade 
Rare remedies written by contractors for contractors

"Laser Pointer Pipe Runs"
Stanley G. Lizewski Jr.

To decrease offsets and saddles around various obstacles in drop ceilings, as well as trips up  and down, I use a laser pointer to find the clearest route for my pipe. Use the ceiling grid as a guide. Measure from the top of the tile to a point free of obstacles and have your apprentice, on the other end of the run, hold a two gang blank cover plate behind his tape, measuring off the tile. Place the laser-pointer next to your tape and aim for the cover plate. Measure up and down with the pointer for large pipes. If your path is clear, the laser will make it to the cover plate. This works great for long pipe runs.

"Removing Miniature Lamps with Ease"
Removing miniature lamps from indication lights and so forth can be tough to do. This is especially true if you have big fingers. You can use a small rubber hose or the outer jacket of SO cord to remove miniature light bulbs from HOA's and indicator lights by pushing it over the light to grip it.

Before using these tips, make sure Codes and safety issues have been fully attended to by you and/or your coworkers.

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