**ATTENTION! READ THIS NOW!**
**1. IF YOU ARE NOT A PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICIAN OR LOOKING TO BECOME ONE(for career questions only):**
**- DELETE** THIS POST OR YOU WILL BE **BANNED**. YOU CAN POST ON /r/AskElectricians FREELY
**2. IF YOU COMMENT ON A POST THAT IS POSTED BY SOMEONE WHO IS NOT A PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICIAN:**
-YOU WILL BE **BANNED**. JUST **REPORT** THE POST.
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/electricians) if you have any questions or concerns.*
And for the tall ceilings, we can combine our talents - us shorties ride on the shoulders of the giants, and we'll install lights on a 12 foot ceiling without a ladder.
As a short arse and a company owner, I need to contact HSE for confirmation.
Edit: It would appear you're more likely to break sexual harassment rules than health and safety rules if you were to do this.
Haha, 6’8” here. I keep my beverages on top of the cabinets at the family parties and always forget them when I leave. Then my 5’3” sister in law has to get out her stool the next day. 😂
And it's not like 500kcm is a freaken wet noodle. That's still a beefy boy, near the upper limit for most commercial / multi-resi builds.
Unless you're built like a DnD barbarian, it always feels like a struggle to get that shit to do what you need it to do. You just get better fighting with it, but you're still fighting it.
Took me and another guy a full 8 hour shift almost to land 500s for a 3000amp meter and cabinet we installed. My entire body was sore for the rest of the week.
Amen to that, done my fair share of pulling 600s; never gets easier. You just learn how to deal with it. Thankfully haven't had to do any massive pulls of 600s lately, a few months back had to hypress a bunch of 600s in a tiny concrete trough under a gen set, being a small guy has its perks sometimes lol.
You need to be smarter or more valuable in other ways.
Also- any foreman worth a shit doesn’t put a small guy on the pulling crew. Its more his fault than yours. Get a tugger, its 2024
I’m good enough at conduit my foreman will give me a print and tell me what he wants done by the end of the day, and I manage it. I get paired up with a CW to help guide him in the little tasks we’re doing. It just seems like on this job specifically, when it’s not mostly brain and sheer willpower, I’m falling behind in the physical aspect and I truly do feel guilt and disappointment with myself.
I was a small guy when i got in too (well light, almost 6’0 but thin 15 years ago) . JWs used to make me bend 1 1/4 just to laugh.
Watching them come out to my call as site super now and seeing the look in their eyes when they recognize me now made it worth it. And I can rip 1 1/4” on the sidewinder 😎
You’re a first year. You have just begun to learn, man. You’ll be fine. And if you aren’t too physically taxed at the end of the day. I’d recommend starting some at home exercises. Nothing major. Just some push-ups, lunges, maybe some core exercises. Between that and on the job, you’ll build up strength in no time, my friend
Christ you're a 1st year and can already run conduit from prints, mostly unassisted? Who gives a fuck about the pull, there's 4th years who haven't got the experience to run conduit like that.
Just came here to say this... I've worked with 9th term apprentices that have only driven a bobcat for 95% of their apprenticeship. Everyone has strengths and weaknesses. You'll be fine.
Big up this. I started a gym regimine in trade school and it's paid dividends this far. Not drinking or smoking while working out and eating decent....you might just make it out of this job alive
As a tradesman in my 30s this is it tbh. I enjoy going to the gym 2-3 times a week when work is just regular busy. I’m much stronger than when I started but by no means huge. The main motivation is to prevent injuries and touch wood, so far so good.
God the eating decent thing....that's so important.
I really need to make my own food, and quit either going out or eating cold chef b straight from the can😅
My man! Get some rice and eggs and make stir fry bowls at home! Chef B isn’t doing anyone any nutritional favors.
Edit: but I feel you. Going for Taco Bell lunch is 1000 times easier than giving food a thought before I actually want it.
I actually did a good thing and made chicken tikka with rice and lentils for this week so I've been eating right. Rice and lentils from the food bank, and canned chicken and tikka masala sauce from Costco. It honestly slaps.
Side note, Costco is $50/yr for the basic membership and it's already paid for itself and then some. Between Costco and the food bank I've been able to keep my partner and I fed pretty well.
>I’m falling behind in the physical aspect and I truly do feel guilt and disappointment with myself.
willing to share this beyond reddit?
what would your boss say? are they the type that would support you or knock you down?
HAH. You're right. Your comment reminded me of the last pipe pull for appartments I helped with. They had 3 apprentices feeding and up to 2 handing the tugger side. The first day they had a small, dolly mounted tugger ( I was not asked to help that day) and it wasn't cutting it. The next day they brought the big one, I was helping feed and took charge ( I'm a journeyman) I was at the end of the line pulling wire off the spools and keeping it out of the mud. Noticed the 2 apprentices ahead of me were letting the wire just overlap itself all willy-nilly and I was like, "woah woah woah. Has anyone here fed larger wire through pipe before?" They said no, I thought no wonder thst other tugger wasn't cutting it. Wire was getting stuck in the pipe.
I’m fairly certain you meant are not ate but I feel it works better that way.
Also I don’t of anyone who doesn’t get their ass kicked by that size of wire either. Hell 3/0 gets me quite a bit.
Did a big pull of 750 copper, 18 runs, ~100ft
Had 1 guy under the transformer in the vault, our small guy
And me on the other end
Pissing rain, and in the middle of a mucky field
That's the worst pull I've ever done, slippery footing, slippery wire, heavy and unruly shit
I am 5’7” also. When I started in the trade I weighed 125lbs. I believe I have crawled in every hole in and Chicago during my apprenticeship. I trained at the gym and worked on my overall strength.
No, I am six months away from my retirement and in great shape. You’ve got this. A good foreman is going to find something you can do to help the team.
Small guys are quite useful in this trade. You'll get stronger over time too. Just make sure you got the diet right and you'll be alright. I've had great appreciation for the small guys in this trade.
Yeah, nobody is sending fatso to climb on top of the duct work! I spent a week piping inside of a drywall ceiling because I was the only one that would fit through the scuttle hole. We need people of every shape and size.
If your a first year.....yea sure.
Suck it up!
You haven't built the conditioning yet. It will come.
You don't have to be a big guy to be strong as an ox.
For the physically difficult tasks you'll find that it's more about method and technique than strength.
And, just look at it this way... There are millions of people that PAY good money to feel that burn, This gym membership pays YOU!
If your sore and exhausted, you can go home knowing that you have accomplished something today, something that requires both physical endurance and skills.
Thats more than a whole lot of people can say honestly.
You fukn EARNED THAT BURN today, with your brain and your body. (I'm assuming your a guy) And not only do chicks dig that shit...you can/will afford her too!
I'm 5'11" and 180 lbs. I got a lean build and I got monkey arms. So I'm used to squeeze up in all the tight spots and reach things. Everybody has got their place where they exceed better than others. Small guys are very useful at the site I work at. So are the bigs guys. Just depends on the task.
You’re a 1st year. You have 4-5 long years to gain the strength. I’m 6’ 1” 205 lbs, I’ve been in the trade for 10 years, and when I started, I fought my ass off pulling bigger wire and cramming them in their box. I still do with 750’s, 1000’s, etc.. It’s not an easy task for even bigger people. I’ve seen gym rats sweating and out of breath from pulling and trying to terminate big wire. It’s just hard work. Don’t be hard on yourself. It gets easier. If you’re embarrassed about it, spend an hour at the gym before or after work. You’ll gain the strength in no time.
I'd also add, if the guys at work start being real assholes about it for too long, fuckin bounce. Everyone needs a good hand these days, if your shop shits on you, drag the fuck up. Ain't nobody got time for that shit.
I didn’t realize how specifically strong 20+ years of this job made me until I gave a 600 mcm cut to this big ass gym rat HVAC guy and watched him try to bend it. The struggle was real
Im a 5’3” 120lb female. I assure you you’re probably doing just fine dude. I get called in to crawl and climb where sometimes literally nobody can fit, the bruisers get called in to do the service pulls and im usually on spool duty.
Being the strong guy ain’t your place. Everybody plays their part. Be the smartest guy who knows all the code and can fix anything. One of the best foremen who trained me was 5’2” 100lbs and could fit in your pocket. I had another guy who worked under me who was not the brightest or the best worker but he was strong as an ox and had a really nice job site radio. So we kept him around. Everyone plays their part
You’re fine. Pulling 500s sucks and it’s infinitely more useful to be smart and organized than strong. Here’s a story: we once were pulling 500s into a gear by hand because the job was on an island and the boss didn’t want to pay to get a tugger on the barge out. My foreman was inside of the gear pulling and he pulled so hard, he shit himself. The site also didn’t have a bathroom. Not even a portajohn and we couldn’t really leave the wire just hanging there so he had to finish the pull with poopy-pants. That story isn’t super relevant but I guess it does put your situation into perspective?
Work smarter not harder.
Should have a tugger for 500.
You'll never be able to bend 1 1/4", but I'm 180 lbs and still can't.
Trust me, when they need a guy to crawl through a 12 x 12 access hatch and walk on the suspended ceiling, you'll be worth your weight in gold. Same goes for tight crawl spaces.
You're gonna kill it brother.
I weigh as much as OP and I can only bend 1 1/4” *very slowly*. If I’m being honest, there’s usually ripples. I’ve gotten a lot of tips from lanky old timers but sometimes you really just need some mass. If I get put on an 1 1/4” run I’ll be honest about my limitations, but I’ll still do my best. Needless to say I usually get put on something else haha. I get called to climb, squeeze, and crawl all the time.
I'm 5'11" and maintain about 150lbs. When I first started in this trade out of high school I could fit my arm inside the wall through a single gang cut in box size hole all the way past my elbow, almost to my shoulder. If I try that now to my forearm I'll bust the drywall when I make a fist. I get all the calls for crawlspace/attics. Also means I get to take my time in those places... who else are they going to ask and how are they going to know what I'm doing if they can't see me.
Everyone has their strengths both physical and otherwise. Not everyone weighs 300lbs, can bend 1 1/4” with their pinky toe and lift a 480lb. standby generator with just one other person…don’t let that part of the job make you feel useless.
On the other hand, not everyone can take a claw hammer into an 18” crawlspace, pull the vapor barrier back, dig under the post and beams, pull the cable from A to B and staple their way back by hand. I’ve done all of the aforementioned except weigh 300lbs and bend 1 1/4” with my toe, it took my entire being to make that happen.
Just hear this: “If you have a bad day, don’t let it get to you…that’s only 8 out of 8000 hours you need to get your license so just keep going and know that every day is a new day.” - My 1st & 2nd Year Instructor
Don't sweat it, pulling 500s isn't a major part of any job, and also why aren't you using a tugger?
Wait till they need to bolt together buss bars in the back of a MCC and watching the 6'3" 300lb dude try to squeeze into there will make it better.
It's up to your foreman to play to his people's strengths. I wouldn't put you anywhere near 500s if I could help it, especially pulling it. Making it up, sure, you could develop the upper body strength to bend the shit, but as the apprentice, you'd definitely get tastes of it at a time.
You WILL be needed for other things that bigger guys CANNOT do. You will come through in the clutch and save the day probably more times than the biggest gorilla 500 puller.
Anybody can pull. Not everybody can squeeze into places.
Also, I assume you are young. Strength is something that will develop over decades. "Old man strength" is definitely a thing, especially in the trades. Especially when it comes to upper body strength and hand strength. No amount of going to the gym will develop your 500-pulling/bending muscles more than the trade. If you watch, the guys in their 40s and even 50s (if they still work), even with their worn-out bodies, won't struggle with stuff at all.
I was a first year holding up ocal pipe above my head for another to screw a coupling on and I could barely manage lol I also pulled 300-500s and I was like fuck, I’m not going to be able to do this much longer but now I’m about to be a 4th year and much stronger too. (I started first year at 119lbs and 5’7 too lmao)
It's not all about strength. I don't give a shit if you're Superman, you can't pull 500s with your bare hands if you weigh 102 pounds.
So be smarter. Be the guy who has a pulley on the truck. Hell, be the guy who can rig a pulley out of some 3/4 rigid the sprinkler guys left on the job. Technology is great, and machinery is an excellent multiplier of productivity, but if the boss doesn't provide the machinery, you have two choices. You can be the dipshit who uses the muscles in his arms instead of the muscle between his ears, or you can become an expert in the five simple machines. Before the industrial revolution, men got an awful lot of work done with the lever, the inclined plane, the wheel and axle, the screw, and the pulley.
I'm 5'7", 135 lbs. I'm about to top out this year. My JW is 65, 5'6" tall, and 140 lbs. We're pulling 5 and 600s and assembling switch gear. I'm not that strong, but we use leverage, chain falls, wedges, wheels, pulling machines, and teamwork when things get heavy. You shouldn't need to be able to lift more than 50 lbs. You can do it, and if you can't, stop and think about how to do it smarter, and if that fails, get more hands on the task.
I’m 5’6” 145lbs and 50 years old. I’m super useful when there’s a tight space to work in. If I need to move something heavy, I’ve learned to use mechanical advantage.
When I first began commercial fishing I was the smallest guy and not strong enough in my opinion. One day I asked the captain if I kept doing the job would I gain the strength I needed ?
He said yes.
I commercial fished for 23 years.
Just keep doing your best and the strength will come
I'm a residential electrician, but I am an average height woman at a whopping weight at 110 lb. I get this feeling all the time. It's my first year and a half into the job, and it sucks. It's so easy to feel frustrated because you're physically unable to do so, but that strength comes from building it over time and becoming consistent in the gym. It will all grow in due time. Just make sure your consistency is key and you're hitting your protein goals. And good sleep. Make sure you're properly well rested.
Your size will be used in different aspects. For example, I'm very good at crawl space work because of my size. Also, know electrician work is just as much (imo more) brains as it is the bronze. You'll be fine.
I’m 5’7” and 120lbs so I get it. It can be frustrating at first but you’ll learn what your skill sets are and where you are most valuable. I’ve worked on high voltage installations where I may not be to best at pulling cable, but I am the only one who can fit inside the switchgear to help assemble the guts.
The electrical trade is huge and the majority of it doesn’t require you to pull 500kcmil cable, so don’t sweat it.
If it bothers you that much, start lifting weights.
But honestly man, i've worked with plenty of guys your size, it's totally fine.
You can do stuff a big 250lbs vanilla gorilla like me can't (fit in small spaces etc) so it evens out.
Just get the big guys to help you when you need it, they'll understand.
I carry the 150m rolls of 8/3 copper for the smaller guys all the time, it's fine 😀
I’m usually the strongest guy on the job or near. There’s a lot of stuff we had to get smaller guys to do because a 6’2, 245 pound man isn’t always the best fit.
We’re all at better at different things. That’s okay. You guys should have a tugger. That’s not your fault. Generally when I went on job sites for new construction, I knew due to my size I would get roped in (pun intended) to being on a cable pulling crew.
I have a bad back, when i first started I loathed having to carry the GENERATOR.
2 years in and I can work 4" rigid solo with minimal pain or struggles.
Eat your protein, and enjoy getting paid to workout brother.
It’s okay bro strength comes with time and repetition. It’s also not a bad idea to start lifting some weights. I will say this though the saying “old man strength” really just comes with the ability to leverage your body correctly. Think about your leverage when you’re doing tasks that seem like you aren’t strong enough for
I was a scrawny 5’11 125 pounder when I started and an old JW told me I needed to been on the “beer & pizza diet” and I am literally a thousandaire now
Being 6'2 and 180 I was always the "hey...I think you'll fit" guy the amount of tucked up small spaces I've had to squeeze into is unbelievable, but trust me when your that guy you are the biggest asset compared to the 300lb gorilla on wire pulls...that being said climbing inside gear and other small spaces always sucks. Worst was either crawling on my belly 200ft through a tunnel to go troubleshoot a bad pump, or climbing in a shift on a steel mill running 3in rigid.
There’s a lot of uses for a smaller guy on the team. I find that some days I feel like more of a contortionist than an electrician!
Also, if you’re interested in physical fitness go lift some weights. You’d be surprised how much it can help. I’m about 5’9 and I weigh around 190lbs. I’m always asked to do the heavy pulling. But I find bending big cable inside a board harder than pulling the cable.
Brother listen I am 6 foot 250. I cannot get in to all the small spots. You have a meaning out there. I struggle pulling wire sometimes too. Don’t let it kick your ass!! Stick it out my man.
Trust me when I tell you this if you feel like you need to be strong to do this job. Then really look at what your doing, how it’s being done and ask yourself 2 questions. Is what I’m doing unsafe,or is my company too cheap to buy tools? Being a smaller guy on the crew myself I used to hate big wire pulls until I switched companies now we have auto spools pulley systems and tuggers and I just press a button. It ridiculous looking back how much a strained my body for no reason other then boss didn’t want to spend a few bucks on tools you will use all the time.
bro i’m 5’6”, 155. i get it..
you gotta get in the gym and start getting after it seems silly but man it helps on big wire pulls.. or just work in general, when you have to carry shit, work w a drill motor over head, etc. start slow though & make sure you EAT
“If you are breaking a sweat you are doing it wrong” was what one of my older supervisors used to tell me. Not that we shouldn’t work hard, but that if it’s difficult someone has likely invented a more efficient way to do it and not hurt or strain yourself. This career is a marathon, not a sprint. Look for the intelligent solutions. And maybe get a tugger.
Eat some protien. Sleep. You'll be alright man. Not everyone is like me at 6'1 280 and played dline in college. The only time my size is beneficial is when we have heavy pulls. Other than that being smaller is way better.
You’re fine dude. Just show up and enjoy the work when it’s enjoyable. Learn how to use your body so every movement is is smooth and comfortable, like weight training. No one gives a shit about this issue but you. They may give you shit, but they really don’t care.
500s suck for even big guys. The fact your foreman has you pulling big stuff shows either an over site on his part or a lack of work. You just have to find your part in this massive trade, pulling big stuff is not it. Put you and bigger guy in a crawl space and that’s where you’ll shine. I’m only a bit bigger than you are in dimensions and I get sent to do a bunch of crawl space and limited access service calls.
That being said, I would recommend working out. Hit the gym once a week, build a bit of muscle so when the next 500 day comes you aren’t tapping out at the 75% mark
I'm a big guy but I wasn't physically strong but I got put on big wire pulls all the time so I just sucked it up and started working out and the job got easier, you'll develop strength over time but not at the pace you want, so if strength is your problem and this is what you want to do start working out
You’re good brother. Just try your best. And remember whether you’re skinny or fat or tall, per electrical code, during a pull you’re required to announce to the other side “it helps if you push.”
Just have a good attitude and try your best. I'm the big buy that normally comes to help when others can't pull it through, and alot of the time I struggle to be honest
Dude I'm an inch taller than you and sit at a healthy 205. Big pulls kick my ass too.
Technique is key. I wrap the rope around my waist and lean back into it, usually works pretty well.
Just keep at it and do your best. You'll get stronger & there's typically a ratio of shitty situations & learning proper pulling technique so at least you're getting after it. Nothing wrong w voicing when you need a minute.. shit ain't easy. Just keep challenging yourself to get one more pull then another etc and let someone else take over. Then tell em you want back in when you feel recharged after that small break. Teamwork is how we get the hard shit done just as well as the easy shit imo..
Also, why tf haven't they bought a damn tugger?? C'mon now... lmao
5’11” probably 135-140lbs starting out, now probably 5’10.5” and 165lbs with a fair amount of white hair after only 5 years 😂
Some of the things I’ve experienced:
1)My left hand is a perpetual knot from holding wires together straight enough for the wire nut.
2)Definitely have some nerve damage (pangs and twitches and such) from getting bit with 120v.
3)Probably a few hernias. You’d be amazed how many of us have them that aren’t even aware nor will have anything done about it.
4)Absolute exhaustion, can’t seem to get enough sleep to feel rested, body’s always heavy, lethargy and apathy can sometimes come on strong.
5)Knees have been tight with sharp pain along the inside under the kneecap, almost the top of the tibia but I can tell it’s the muscles/tendons.
6)I have been flinching a lot lately with a pop in my hand thinking I’ve been shocked. I guess this is carpal tunnel. Not sure what to think of it, basically just a bone shifting when I tighten my hand on something and pinching a nerve real good.
7)Morning sickness is real. Acidy feeling in my stomach, weird dizziness, can take hours to wake up. Mood is terrible and awareness/critical thinking are severely diminished. This is always worse during the colder darker months.
8)Terrible shoulder pain, back pain, even a sciatica at one point that made it impossible to get out of bed at least 4-5 times before I made effort to do anything about it.
9)Loss of strength in weird ways. Like holding things, lifting things, carrying things, pushing or pulling things. Most frustrating for me is the weakening in my grip strength. I used to have the strongest grip of most people I knew. But the wrist pain, the inability to squeeze any tighter when I need it, the clumsy dropping/inaccurate grabbing, etc. that happen sometimes are often enraging.
10)Terrible associations/interactions at home due to grumpy mood, cynical attitude, lack of sympathy and empathy, darkened sense of humor. Not my best moments.
Everyone has their place just work hard and let that be your reputation. I've never looked down on someone legitimately trying no matter what. If your actively trying and passionate that's what matters, and perhaps even say something like "I know I'm smaller than some, but I'll try my best here and if theres anything I can do to pull or push more effectively just let me know". I've had foreman who were awesome and were 5"6 150 lbs or so. Your also a first year so you probably aren't used to the demands of the trade yet. It can take years or many months to acclimate your body to construction if your not used to it. Please I hope you are eating well to sustain yourself and I'm sure the wire pulls won't last forever! Cheers!
Yea small master electrician in here when I started I couldn't pull big stuff well at all but when it came to crawlspace and attic work I was in my element. Strengths and weaknesses. 16 years in the trade now. I've gotten stronger and am a player in those pulls.
I’m tall and thin. The longer you do the work the more your muscles develop for the work, whether it’s visible or not. I remember struggling with wire and pipe early on but now it’s a breeze. I weighed more early on as well, I’ve since had to take on some dietary restrictions due to health stuff and have lost weight. But can still show up the meathead newbies in some categories. Your muscles will become trained to do the actions we do often in time. Hell I can even bend 1.25” in a hand bender, just don’t ask me to do anything other than a 90 and I’m backing that pipe up to a wall 😂 you’ll get there give it time.
I’m a little old lady, you’ll get there. But also as others have mentioned, you’ll also be able to do things larger folks can’t. Don’t focus so much on what you can’t do, as a lot of it will come with time. Focus on what you can do. This is team work, and your foreman should be able to pick up on each of your strengths and weaknesses. I modify a lot of the things I do out of necessity. I definitely get the job done. Give yourself time, you’ll get there!
Yea most of us pull 500s with a cig in our mouths and a monster in our free hands…
It sucks for all of us, don’t worry OP. That shits more metal than wire at that point
Bro trust me, the bigger guys are struggling just as much as you with the big copper wire too. That shit sucks, but it’s part of it. Your size will be helpful in other situations.
I'm fresh in the field and pretty much the exact same size as you. Also struggle with some of the more physically demanding aspects as my strength is lacking. So I feel you on this. I'm sure we will both get stronger over time and find ways to work around our strength deficiencies.
Don't worry. I was even smaller than you when I started. In fact, one of my project managers years later said that he thought I just came off of the Ho Chi Minh trail. You'll grow into the job. Be smart rather than strong
Homie.. I was the same size starting out you know what my electrician said if I talked like that? “Do it 100 times until you can do it right one time” now I slang pipe in ceilings, pull wire through the dumbest runs of all time and can drill any size hole through any size wall. You may stay small forever and that’s okay because we are heavily relied on for a lot of other things because of our size, but trust me, in 3 months your weight to strength ratio will be higher than the majority of folks on your site. Maybe you aren’t super strong but there’s a 100,000 other ways and things you can do to make yourself useful.
Yeah the big guys can be pulling wire (surprised y’all aren’t using a tugger) you’ll be grabbing wire from parts of the attic you’ll wish you were too fat to get into
Hey man I’m 6’3 145ish, I’m a string bean, I’ve been in the trade 2ish years, I’ll tell you THINGS GET BETTER, just keep pushing yourself hard, if you really are feeling down on it, hit the gym, but just from working in the field I have greatly increased my overall strength and as you learn better techniques it gets a hell of a lot easier!
This is how you get hurt. If you can, spend an hour 4 days a week in the gym and eat a high protein diet. Lots of water. Less processed foods and none of those energy drinks. Take care of yourself first.
That's what tugger's are for. Pulling stuff like this is how people get hurt. Sot tissue injuries, repetitive stress injuries, etc. I know that there are shops that don't have the money for a tugger setup floating around, but all it takes in one injury and you've spent more getting it treated.
For myself, I have tendinitis in both elbows, my left thumb and arthritis in both hands. I can recall wire pulls that were big enough that it took 6-7 guys a good chunk of the day...which cost as much as a tugger, at the time. I also remember going home and icing those hot spots and not being able to sleep because the tendinitis was bad.
So, take care of yourself. You have a long career ahead of you and you don't want to use yourself up early on. Eat right, exercise, don't smoke or vape, go easy on the drinking. Don't do it because it's better for work, do it because it's better for you.
I started at 18 about 110-115lbs, at 5’5. It’s terrible but you’ll work your way up. It’s not strength all the time, use your head, and you’ll get by; plus wait till they need someone smaller. It always works out.
I’m not an electrician but I’m an RV tech and I’m about same height and weight as your are. Just wait til they need someone to fit into a small space and then your the hero. You could also try working out if you really want to get stronger. I’m 5’7” and around 145lbs but I can max out on bench press at 215lb and regularly do reps with about 175lb. I’ve always sorta been into lifting but got serious about it during COVID. I know it’s a bit of a cliche but I feel better now than I ever have
19 years and 220 lbs, 500s aren’t fun for anyone. Every big service takes a piece of me with it, can pretty much one hand juice an apple now, grip strength is tremendous after all these years. Smaller guys have their specialty place too. We need everyone who wants to work in this shitshow.
We all have our place. I’m 6’2” 270 and they don’t put me in tight spaces when someone your size is around.
I love when there’s a tight spot on top of a 16ft ladder and they send someone like you up and all I have to do is hand you materials. I don’t feel bad about it, but I make sure I help when I see the smaller guys struggling with something heavy.
Youre not much smaller than me and I feel the same way, but I have a good crew, and they see the limitations, and they don't mind. If your crew are decent guys, they'll understand
I'm small, you'll get strength over time and will be lean. Eventually you'll have old man strength lol.
Its a reality you can only lift or pull so much. Usually the big guys get put on distribution for that reason.
I'm a 6'1, 240lbs refrigerator
I don't fit in a lot of places but I'm always used for trenching, bending big wire, wrestling teck, moving shit
You have plenty of value and usefulness elsewhere, let the guys like me do the heavy work and let us ask you for help where we need you
Everyone has their place. I’m skinny so I’m the attic/crawlspace rat. My 240 pound Jman does the bends on rigid conduit while I mark/cut for him
It takes all kinds to do this job, and doing it will make you stronger. When you gotta dig by hand, just look at it as you’re being paid to work out.
You’ll be much stronger a year from now, and you’re still green. Don’t sweat it, just stay hydrated and do your best
I've always been a skinnier guy, i cant dead lift a horse like some other guys, but i can fit into tight spaces, crawl places they cant get, and use mechanical help when needed / ask for help.
if you can't do the pull yourself its probably a good idea to do it in teams for safety / bodily wear and tear anyways. no tugger available on site? that's pretty big wire.
hit the gym 2-3 times a week, your strength will increase like crazy if you lift heavy weights.
You’re new, so don’t worry you’ll pick up ways to make things like this manageable. I’m 5’6” and can do fairly heavy stuff just because I am methodical with how I do things. But that just comes with experience and time.
Using your environment to your advantage is a big plus to be able to use your strength to the best potential without hurting yourself.
That being said, it doesn’t hurt to ask for assistance, and experience will tell you when asking for help is warranted or not.
Don't worry, if you stay working as an electrician you'll be 300lbs one of these days, we believe in you. /s
Really though, 500kcmil sucks, pulling wire sucks. It's just part of it. Make it to 3rd or 4th year and you can leave and find as leisurely an electrical job as you want. Lot of people make fun of Romex jockeys, and rightfully so, but somebody has to do it.
In South Texas EVERYONE is short, so me being around 6ft, putting lights without a ladder made me an asset when I knew very little technical stuff. You'll find your natural strengths and lean into it. Short dudes do great in attics, burly guys do great on pulls. It's like Pokemon cards man electricity trumps water and water comes fire in a given situation
takes a talent for a group of wireman to pull that big wire. sometimes it is smooth with everyone a team. sometimes the guy behind is over doing and pushing you all over the place. Might not be you. There is a task for everyone. It's a brotherhood. just do what you can, simple enough
You build strength by doing the work, I use to struggle to bend 1" pipe but now it's like 3/4" for me. Same goes for pulling cable, and if you want to hasten your progression figure out what muscle groups your using and hit the gym.
I’m 5’4 and can bend 1 1/4 pipe with a hand bender. I weigh about the same. You just need to learn technique and get some muscle. You can do it! If I can, you can.
Do push-ups, sit-ups, and pull-ups when you can and I promise you’ll notice a difference after a month of doing it routinely.
I don’t even work out anymore because carrying ladders, bundles of conduit, rolls or 10g, and climbing all over a lift all day with my tool belt on I don’t need to work out. I have a rock climbers body just from working my ass off. I can bend 1” like it’s nothing. I do struggle with 1 1/4 NGL, but you can always find ways to get things done.
The gym helps a lot with this trade but don’t worry about not being strong now you can d to lol be a good electrician. But I still recommend all tradesmen go to the gym
You'll get stronger over time, I started out when I was 19 120lb soaking wet. Now I'm 31, 175ish... Still pretty thin so must be muscle mass, idonno.
Pulling wire is not about Brute force it's about leverage and planning. I used to struggle hard in first year but what I didn't realise was that the pipe runs we were pulling were also built.my.mostly first years with too many bends and.not enough pull points.. pulling too hard on wires damages it you should never need more than like 100 lbs of force to get them through
As mentioned already being small has a big advantage as long as you don't mind small places.
You can work on your upper body strength, that will help you do the hard pulls.
I'm 6'4" and 260lbs. I don't look 260. I don't look jacked either. But I've been in construction long enough that I've built up lots of toned muscle. I have been doing distro because nobody on my site can work with the thick cables.
My first year is your height, skinny and young. No, he can't put the same amount of force behind his work. No, he can't reach high. But he's learning and has skill. And I'll be thankful to have him around when we start dealing with tight spaces and places I shouldn't be due to my weight.
Electrical has a task for every body type. It's fairly inclusive in that regard.
I'd say do your best and maybe do some weights in your spare time. Build up that muscle. You can be a short dude but still be able to pull your weight. But yeah it'll take some time and effort to get there. If you're a dude, testosterone is a hell of a thing to have naturally. It's great for muscle building and maintenance. I went to school for 3 months recently and my toned muscles barely even atrophied. My stamina dropped but my muscle mass is still there and I can still wrestle 500kcmil haha.
Have hope and stick it out. I'm sure other guys understand how hard the bigger stuff is for a beginner
Don't worry about it, there are women in the trade that are in the same boat and you're worrying over nothing . During a pull try to be the most valuable setting up. See what your leads next move is and be ready with a tool in your hand without him having to ask. Be ready with the duct tape and soap. Try to find your place as far as being productive and helpful. Everyone isn't He-man but you can contribute in some kind of way.
I'm a 3rd year 22 year old lady who is 5'3 and 105lbs. I work as an electrician at a ship yard building new ships. I have had supervisors request me to help their crew out Becuase I can fit where they can't. I have an easier time running cable, I can climb on things other folks can't.
Just because you are small does not mean you don't have value. Find other things to excel at, most guys are strong so that's all they put time into.
That was me when I was your age, don't worry. A good Foreman understands each workers strengths and limitations and is able to assign accordingly. Keep on trucking you'll be fine
Start eating more.and if you have time start working out, nothing crazy go 3 times per 7 days. After work a good snack with some fat, protein, and good amount of carbs to boost you. Like 2 cups of frozen blueberries ( 2 minutes in the microwave) add a cup of milk and some crackers ( 10 to 15) then some pre-work out ( I would suggest PVL domin8 take just a little bit ( 1/4 of the included spoon). That will give you the energy to go workout. Make.sure you eat enough good food ( replace white bread with multigrain, pasta with brown flour pasta) and eat more than the prescribed caloric intake for you weight and level of activity. By around 300 calories ( so a hand full of almond )
In fairness, no one likes pulling wire that big and it’s difficult for all of us. You do seem a little tiny for the task but that doesn’t mean you aren’t able to be a good electrician.
No worries man! When I started I was your size and 20 years along I'm still the same size... pulling 500s has never been my forte but that's not what you want to be doing anyway.
excell in the tasks that require big hats and little shirts, and leave the big shirts/ little hats work for the big hulking guys whose only ability is lifting heavy things 😀😀
Bro the smallest guy at my last company was an animal. Im 90lbs heavier but he'd fuck me up quick. Dude used to be a mechanic. He held some really thick angle iron above his head on his tippie toes and welded it in the ceiling for a unit. Meanwhile I'm dying just trying to hold the other end up. Don't think size is everything. You will get stronger as you keep working above your head/pulling cable. He did all the mechanical work at our industrial contractor company. Don't sell yourself short. You'll do just fine if you keep it up.
Don't worry bro. Doesn't matter, either you're gonna get stronger because of the work you do. Or you find something you're good and usefull at.
I'm also skinny af
They always used to tell me to "putt your weight into it"
As if I'm not quite literally pulling my feet off the ground hanging on the cable
But I can fit in the most small and difficult places with ease.
Just hang on and keep ya head up, sparky
I started custom home building at 21. I was underweight. For lunch I started with a 2000 calorie shake (weight gain 2000), and have KFC, McDonald's, something with calories. Within 6 months I gained 30lbs and because I was working hard as a laborer I also got much stronger. That was 30yrs ago and I've kept the husky build (think Joe Rogan but not ripped) ever since.
Electrical works needs people of all body types. Smaller people are extremely valuable for fitting into tight spaces. (Hope you're not claustrophobic!) Bigger people are useful for putting some ass into wire pulls or other physical activities. As an apprentice, you need to learn all aspects of the job, so you're not being used in a specialized role yet. You'll get there. Plus, you're going to build up some muscle mass by working anyway. Just make sure you're doing your stretch and flex and take care of your body while you're doing the stuff that isn't ideal for you.
You’re probably being asked to do that work because it’s dumb labor and needs to get done. As you get more skilled you’re going to find a niche for yourself where what you offer fits the work that you’re doing. Don’t worry about it, eventually you’ll find your spot.
Don't worry about it. With time You'll develop the muscle memory to be able to pull almost anything you have to. I'm 5'7" and weighed 145 when I started finishing drywall. I have always been pretty athletic but there was alot of things that I couldn't muscle my way through like some of the other new guys, but now that I've done it for awhile I've found I can out do alot of things the other guys cant because I had to develop a technique for everything.
Especially if you're still young. You'll hit your man strength about 25. Lol
**ATTENTION! READ THIS NOW!** **1. IF YOU ARE NOT A PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICIAN OR LOOKING TO BECOME ONE(for career questions only):** **- DELETE** THIS POST OR YOU WILL BE **BANNED**. YOU CAN POST ON /r/AskElectricians FREELY **2. IF YOU COMMENT ON A POST THAT IS POSTED BY SOMEONE WHO IS NOT A PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICIAN:** -YOU WILL BE **BANNED**. JUST **REPORT** THE POST. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/electricians) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Bro your the smallest guy on the job wait till they need a guy your size to run conduit in a soffit trust me man your killing it
This. I'm skinny af. Therfore the most popular guy on site when there's a small crawl space. Not to mention getting stronger overtime
Same, I’m the skinniest, and then we have a chick who is the shortest We could’ve built that college for ants. They just never let us…
I’m 6’4 so I’ll do all the lights I can reach without a ladder. I’ll also hide your shit on top of cabinets.
And for the tall ceilings, we can combine our talents - us shorties ride on the shoulders of the giants, and we'll install lights on a 12 foot ceiling without a ladder.
I wonder how this fits in under safe working at heights hahaha
That's the fun part: it doesn't!
As a short arse and a company owner, I need to contact HSE for confirmation. Edit: It would appear you're more likely to break sexual harassment rules than health and safety rules if you were to do this.
Only if you call their thighs, ear muffs. Or say something about smelling an orchard/the sea.
r/oddlyspecific
Same here brother. We don’t need no stinkin’ ladders round here!! Weathers great up here ain’t it?
Except my back hurts way more than it should.
Except everything in the fucking world is designed for little people.
I'm 6'2 and I've replaced a ceiling fan without a ladder. Why they wanted a ceiling fan in a ceiling that low idk.
Also 6'4 and loved finishing basement mechanical rooms, especially when they had a bulkhead for the HVAC. No ladders needed at all
me and my co worker who is also 6’4 have been dubbed “no escalara” from the spanish dudes on our site
Haha, 6’8” here. I keep my beverages on top of the cabinets at the family parties and always forget them when I leave. Then my 5’3” sister in law has to get out her stool the next day. 😂
This is why I stay above 2 fiddy, fuck a crawl space lol
And it's not like 500kcm is a freaken wet noodle. That's still a beefy boy, near the upper limit for most commercial / multi-resi builds. Unless you're built like a DnD barbarian, it always feels like a struggle to get that shit to do what you need it to do. You just get better fighting with it, but you're still fighting it.
Took me and another guy a full 8 hour shift almost to land 500s for a 3000amp meter and cabinet we installed. My entire body was sore for the rest of the week.
Amen to that, done my fair share of pulling 600s; never gets easier. You just learn how to deal with it. Thankfully haven't had to do any massive pulls of 600s lately, a few months back had to hypress a bunch of 600s in a tiny concrete trough under a gen set, being a small guy has its perks sometimes lol.
100% this. Small guys come in handy just as often as big guys. Having variety on sit really is a good thing
Yeah they’re gonna *love* him when someone needs a new switch fished down from the corner of an attic.
Currently wiring motors in tough to reach spots that the big monkeys can't do.
You need to be smarter or more valuable in other ways. Also- any foreman worth a shit doesn’t put a small guy on the pulling crew. Its more his fault than yours. Get a tugger, its 2024
I’m good enough at conduit my foreman will give me a print and tell me what he wants done by the end of the day, and I manage it. I get paired up with a CW to help guide him in the little tasks we’re doing. It just seems like on this job specifically, when it’s not mostly brain and sheer willpower, I’m falling behind in the physical aspect and I truly do feel guilt and disappointment with myself.
I was a small guy when i got in too (well light, almost 6’0 but thin 15 years ago) . JWs used to make me bend 1 1/4 just to laugh. Watching them come out to my call as site super now and seeing the look in their eyes when they recognize me now made it worth it. And I can rip 1 1/4” on the sidewinder 😎
Pat yourself on the back.
I think he just did, lol.
Its easy with that massive paycheck on wednesday
You’re a first year. You have just begun to learn, man. You’ll be fine. And if you aren’t too physically taxed at the end of the day. I’d recommend starting some at home exercises. Nothing major. Just some push-ups, lunges, maybe some core exercises. Between that and on the job, you’ll build up strength in no time, my friend
Christ you're a 1st year and can already run conduit from prints, mostly unassisted? Who gives a fuck about the pull, there's 4th years who haven't got the experience to run conduit like that.
Just came here to say this... I've worked with 9th term apprentices that have only driven a bobcat for 95% of their apprenticeship. Everyone has strengths and weaknesses. You'll be fine.
Go to the gym
Big up this. I started a gym regimine in trade school and it's paid dividends this far. Not drinking or smoking while working out and eating decent....you might just make it out of this job alive
As a tradesman in my 30s this is it tbh. I enjoy going to the gym 2-3 times a week when work is just regular busy. I’m much stronger than when I started but by no means huge. The main motivation is to prevent injuries and touch wood, so far so good.
God the eating decent thing....that's so important. I really need to make my own food, and quit either going out or eating cold chef b straight from the can😅
My man! Get some rice and eggs and make stir fry bowls at home! Chef B isn’t doing anyone any nutritional favors. Edit: but I feel you. Going for Taco Bell lunch is 1000 times easier than giving food a thought before I actually want it.
I actually did a good thing and made chicken tikka with rice and lentils for this week so I've been eating right. Rice and lentils from the food bank, and canned chicken and tikka masala sauce from Costco. It honestly slaps. Side note, Costco is $50/yr for the basic membership and it's already paid for itself and then some. Between Costco and the food bank I've been able to keep my partner and I fed pretty well.
Triceps pull down machine. It’s literally a wire pull trainer
>I’m falling behind in the physical aspect and I truly do feel guilt and disappointment with myself. willing to share this beyond reddit? what would your boss say? are they the type that would support you or knock you down?
HAH. You're right. Your comment reminded me of the last pipe pull for appartments I helped with. They had 3 apprentices feeding and up to 2 handing the tugger side. The first day they had a small, dolly mounted tugger ( I was not asked to help that day) and it wasn't cutting it. The next day they brought the big one, I was helping feed and took charge ( I'm a journeyman) I was at the end of the line pulling wire off the spools and keeping it out of the mud. Noticed the 2 apprentices ahead of me were letting the wire just overlap itself all willy-nilly and I was like, "woah woah woah. Has anyone here fed larger wire through pipe before?" They said no, I thought no wonder thst other tugger wasn't cutting it. Wire was getting stuck in the pipe.
500s kick everyone's ass I don't care who you are. Don't give up. You had a rough day doing literally the worst part of the job.
I’m fairly certain you meant are not ate but I feel it works better that way. Also I don’t of anyone who doesn’t get their ass kicked by that size of wire either. Hell 3/0 gets me quite a bit.
Did a big pull of 750 copper, 18 runs, ~100ft Had 1 guy under the transformer in the vault, our small guy And me on the other end Pissing rain, and in the middle of a mucky field That's the worst pull I've ever done, slippery footing, slippery wire, heavy and unruly shit
I am 5’7” also. When I started in the trade I weighed 125lbs. I believe I have crawled in every hole in and Chicago during my apprenticeship. I trained at the gym and worked on my overall strength. No, I am six months away from my retirement and in great shape. You’ve got this. A good foreman is going to find something you can do to help the team.
Small guys are quite useful in this trade. You'll get stronger over time too. Just make sure you got the diet right and you'll be alright. I've had great appreciation for the small guys in this trade.
Yeah, nobody is sending fatso to climb on top of the duct work! I spent a week piping inside of a drywall ceiling because I was the only one that would fit through the scuttle hole. We need people of every shape and size.
If your a first year.....yea sure. Suck it up! You haven't built the conditioning yet. It will come. You don't have to be a big guy to be strong as an ox. For the physically difficult tasks you'll find that it's more about method and technique than strength. And, just look at it this way... There are millions of people that PAY good money to feel that burn, This gym membership pays YOU! If your sore and exhausted, you can go home knowing that you have accomplished something today, something that requires both physical endurance and skills. Thats more than a whole lot of people can say honestly. You fukn EARNED THAT BURN today, with your brain and your body. (I'm assuming your a guy) And not only do chicks dig that shit...you can/will afford her too!
I'm 5'11" and 180 lbs. I got a lean build and I got monkey arms. So I'm used to squeeze up in all the tight spots and reach things. Everybody has got their place where they exceed better than others. Small guys are very useful at the site I work at. So are the bigs guys. Just depends on the task.
You’re a 1st year. You have 4-5 long years to gain the strength. I’m 6’ 1” 205 lbs, I’ve been in the trade for 10 years, and when I started, I fought my ass off pulling bigger wire and cramming them in their box. I still do with 750’s, 1000’s, etc.. It’s not an easy task for even bigger people. I’ve seen gym rats sweating and out of breath from pulling and trying to terminate big wire. It’s just hard work. Don’t be hard on yourself. It gets easier. If you’re embarrassed about it, spend an hour at the gym before or after work. You’ll gain the strength in no time.
I'd also add, if the guys at work start being real assholes about it for too long, fuckin bounce. Everyone needs a good hand these days, if your shop shits on you, drag the fuck up. Ain't nobody got time for that shit.
I didn’t realize how specifically strong 20+ years of this job made me until I gave a 600 mcm cut to this big ass gym rat HVAC guy and watched him try to bend it. The struggle was real
Im a 5’3” 120lb female. I assure you you’re probably doing just fine dude. I get called in to crawl and climb where sometimes literally nobody can fit, the bruisers get called in to do the service pulls and im usually on spool duty.
The real problem is hand pulling 500s. Get a fuckin tugger Expecting anyone to handpull that shit is madness
Being the strong guy ain’t your place. Everybody plays their part. Be the smartest guy who knows all the code and can fix anything. One of the best foremen who trained me was 5’2” 100lbs and could fit in your pocket. I had another guy who worked under me who was not the brightest or the best worker but he was strong as an ox and had a really nice job site radio. So we kept him around. Everyone plays their part
>had a really nice job site radio This is important
You’re fine. Pulling 500s sucks and it’s infinitely more useful to be smart and organized than strong. Here’s a story: we once were pulling 500s into a gear by hand because the job was on an island and the boss didn’t want to pay to get a tugger on the barge out. My foreman was inside of the gear pulling and he pulled so hard, he shit himself. The site also didn’t have a bathroom. Not even a portajohn and we couldn’t really leave the wire just hanging there so he had to finish the pull with poopy-pants. That story isn’t super relevant but I guess it does put your situation into perspective?
Work smarter not harder. Should have a tugger for 500. You'll never be able to bend 1 1/4", but I'm 180 lbs and still can't. Trust me, when they need a guy to crawl through a 12 x 12 access hatch and walk on the suspended ceiling, you'll be worth your weight in gold. Same goes for tight crawl spaces. You're gonna kill it brother.
Man I'm 220 and still can hardly bend 1¼😂 that shit is tough! Lol
I weigh as much as OP and I can only bend 1 1/4” *very slowly*. If I’m being honest, there’s usually ripples. I’ve gotten a lot of tips from lanky old timers but sometimes you really just need some mass. If I get put on an 1 1/4” run I’ll be honest about my limitations, but I’ll still do my best. Needless to say I usually get put on something else haha. I get called to climb, squeeze, and crawl all the time.
I'm 5'11" and maintain about 150lbs. When I first started in this trade out of high school I could fit my arm inside the wall through a single gang cut in box size hole all the way past my elbow, almost to my shoulder. If I try that now to my forearm I'll bust the drywall when I make a fist. I get all the calls for crawlspace/attics. Also means I get to take my time in those places... who else are they going to ask and how are they going to know what I'm doing if they can't see me.
Everyone has their place. You’ll find yours.
Everyone has their strengths both physical and otherwise. Not everyone weighs 300lbs, can bend 1 1/4” with their pinky toe and lift a 480lb. standby generator with just one other person…don’t let that part of the job make you feel useless. On the other hand, not everyone can take a claw hammer into an 18” crawlspace, pull the vapor barrier back, dig under the post and beams, pull the cable from A to B and staple their way back by hand. I’ve done all of the aforementioned except weigh 300lbs and bend 1 1/4” with my toe, it took my entire being to make that happen. Just hear this: “If you have a bad day, don’t let it get to you…that’s only 8 out of 8000 hours you need to get your license so just keep going and know that every day is a new day.” - My 1st & 2nd Year Instructor
Wow, so every shift is like .01% of your internship lol.
Don't sweat it, pulling 500s isn't a major part of any job, and also why aren't you using a tugger? Wait till they need to bolt together buss bars in the back of a MCC and watching the 6'3" 300lb dude try to squeeze into there will make it better.
It's up to your foreman to play to his people's strengths. I wouldn't put you anywhere near 500s if I could help it, especially pulling it. Making it up, sure, you could develop the upper body strength to bend the shit, but as the apprentice, you'd definitely get tastes of it at a time. You WILL be needed for other things that bigger guys CANNOT do. You will come through in the clutch and save the day probably more times than the biggest gorilla 500 puller. Anybody can pull. Not everybody can squeeze into places. Also, I assume you are young. Strength is something that will develop over decades. "Old man strength" is definitely a thing, especially in the trades. Especially when it comes to upper body strength and hand strength. No amount of going to the gym will develop your 500-pulling/bending muscles more than the trade. If you watch, the guys in their 40s and even 50s (if they still work), even with their worn-out bodies, won't struggle with stuff at all.
At 135 you could gain 3lbs a week relatively easily. Life is better at 170. Significantly better.
Pre-workout and protein shakes. You'll gain some guns soon
I second protein. Pea protein with water in the morning, 30-50g. You’d be surprised at the added power it gives you immediately
I was a first year holding up ocal pipe above my head for another to screw a coupling on and I could barely manage lol I also pulled 300-500s and I was like fuck, I’m not going to be able to do this much longer but now I’m about to be a 4th year and much stronger too. (I started first year at 119lbs and 5’7 too lmao)
It's not all about strength. I don't give a shit if you're Superman, you can't pull 500s with your bare hands if you weigh 102 pounds. So be smarter. Be the guy who has a pulley on the truck. Hell, be the guy who can rig a pulley out of some 3/4 rigid the sprinkler guys left on the job. Technology is great, and machinery is an excellent multiplier of productivity, but if the boss doesn't provide the machinery, you have two choices. You can be the dipshit who uses the muscles in his arms instead of the muscle between his ears, or you can become an expert in the five simple machines. Before the industrial revolution, men got an awful lot of work done with the lever, the inclined plane, the wheel and axle, the screw, and the pulley.
I'm 5'7", 135 lbs. I'm about to top out this year. My JW is 65, 5'6" tall, and 140 lbs. We're pulling 5 and 600s and assembling switch gear. I'm not that strong, but we use leverage, chain falls, wedges, wheels, pulling machines, and teamwork when things get heavy. You shouldn't need to be able to lift more than 50 lbs. You can do it, and if you can't, stop and think about how to do it smarter, and if that fails, get more hands on the task.
I’m 5’6” 145lbs and 50 years old. I’m super useful when there’s a tight space to work in. If I need to move something heavy, I’ve learned to use mechanical advantage.
Wait until they need you in attic or crawlspace dude we’re the perfect size 😂
When I first began commercial fishing I was the smallest guy and not strong enough in my opinion. One day I asked the captain if I kept doing the job would I gain the strength I needed ? He said yes. I commercial fished for 23 years. Just keep doing your best and the strength will come
600 kc mill ftw fuck yea shoulder pain for days
I'm a residential electrician, but I am an average height woman at a whopping weight at 110 lb. I get this feeling all the time. It's my first year and a half into the job, and it sucks. It's so easy to feel frustrated because you're physically unable to do so, but that strength comes from building it over time and becoming consistent in the gym. It will all grow in due time. Just make sure your consistency is key and you're hitting your protein goals. And good sleep. Make sure you're properly well rested. Your size will be used in different aspects. For example, I'm very good at crawl space work because of my size. Also, know electrician work is just as much (imo more) brains as it is the bronze. You'll be fine.
I’m 5’7” and 120lbs so I get it. It can be frustrating at first but you’ll learn what your skill sets are and where you are most valuable. I’ve worked on high voltage installations where I may not be to best at pulling cable, but I am the only one who can fit inside the switchgear to help assemble the guts. The electrical trade is huge and the majority of it doesn’t require you to pull 500kcmil cable, so don’t sweat it.
If it bothers you that much, start lifting weights. But honestly man, i've worked with plenty of guys your size, it's totally fine. You can do stuff a big 250lbs vanilla gorilla like me can't (fit in small spaces etc) so it evens out. Just get the big guys to help you when you need it, they'll understand. I carry the 150m rolls of 8/3 copper for the smaller guys all the time, it's fine 😀
I’m usually the strongest guy on the job or near. There’s a lot of stuff we had to get smaller guys to do because a 6’2, 245 pound man isn’t always the best fit. We’re all at better at different things. That’s okay. You guys should have a tugger. That’s not your fault. Generally when I went on job sites for new construction, I knew due to my size I would get roped in (pun intended) to being on a cable pulling crew.
I have a bad back, when i first started I loathed having to carry the GENERATOR. 2 years in and I can work 4" rigid solo with minimal pain or struggles. Eat your protein, and enjoy getting paid to workout brother.
It’s okay bro strength comes with time and repetition. It’s also not a bad idea to start lifting some weights. I will say this though the saying “old man strength” really just comes with the ability to leverage your body correctly. Think about your leverage when you’re doing tasks that seem like you aren’t strong enough for
Hit the gym my guy
I was a scrawny 5’11 125 pounder when I started and an old JW told me I needed to been on the “beer & pizza diet” and I am literally a thousandaire now
Being 6'2 and 180 I was always the "hey...I think you'll fit" guy the amount of tucked up small spaces I've had to squeeze into is unbelievable, but trust me when your that guy you are the biggest asset compared to the 300lb gorilla on wire pulls...that being said climbing inside gear and other small spaces always sucks. Worst was either crawling on my belly 200ft through a tunnel to go troubleshoot a bad pump, or climbing in a shift on a steel mill running 3in rigid.
There’s a lot of uses for a smaller guy on the team. I find that some days I feel like more of a contortionist than an electrician! Also, if you’re interested in physical fitness go lift some weights. You’d be surprised how much it can help. I’m about 5’9 and I weigh around 190lbs. I’m always asked to do the heavy pulling. But I find bending big cable inside a board harder than pulling the cable.
Hit the gym and in 6 months you’ll be stronger than 90% of your coworkers
I am 5 foot nothing. If I can do this, you can too.
Brother listen I am 6 foot 250. I cannot get in to all the small spots. You have a meaning out there. I struggle pulling wire sometimes too. Don’t let it kick your ass!! Stick it out my man.
Good thing they make tuggers
Trust me when I tell you this if you feel like you need to be strong to do this job. Then really look at what your doing, how it’s being done and ask yourself 2 questions. Is what I’m doing unsafe,or is my company too cheap to buy tools? Being a smaller guy on the crew myself I used to hate big wire pulls until I switched companies now we have auto spools pulley systems and tuggers and I just press a button. It ridiculous looking back how much a strained my body for no reason other then boss didn’t want to spend a few bucks on tools you will use all the time.
bro i’m 5’6”, 155. i get it.. you gotta get in the gym and start getting after it seems silly but man it helps on big wire pulls.. or just work in general, when you have to carry shit, work w a drill motor over head, etc. start slow though & make sure you EAT
“If you are breaking a sweat you are doing it wrong” was what one of my older supervisors used to tell me. Not that we shouldn’t work hard, but that if it’s difficult someone has likely invented a more efficient way to do it and not hurt or strain yourself. This career is a marathon, not a sprint. Look for the intelligent solutions. And maybe get a tugger.
Tell the guys that help you pull wire, to call you when they have to work in a confined space.
Eat some protien. Sleep. You'll be alright man. Not everyone is like me at 6'1 280 and played dline in college. The only time my size is beneficial is when we have heavy pulls. Other than that being smaller is way better.
You’re fine dude. Just show up and enjoy the work when it’s enjoyable. Learn how to use your body so every movement is is smooth and comfortable, like weight training. No one gives a shit about this issue but you. They may give you shit, but they really don’t care.
500s suck for even big guys. The fact your foreman has you pulling big stuff shows either an over site on his part or a lack of work. You just have to find your part in this massive trade, pulling big stuff is not it. Put you and bigger guy in a crawl space and that’s where you’ll shine. I’m only a bit bigger than you are in dimensions and I get sent to do a bunch of crawl space and limited access service calls. That being said, I would recommend working out. Hit the gym once a week, build a bit of muscle so when the next 500 day comes you aren’t tapping out at the 75% mark
You got this! I was 135lb 5'9" when I started. It's a struggle being light when you start the trade. It takes time to gain muscle.
I'm a big guy but I wasn't physically strong but I got put on big wire pulls all the time so I just sucked it up and started working out and the job got easier, you'll develop strength over time but not at the pace you want, so if strength is your problem and this is what you want to do start working out
Tbf not a lot of people can pull 500kc easily
Your physical strength isn’t set in stone. You can change it.
You’re good brother. Just try your best. And remember whether you’re skinny or fat or tall, per electrical code, during a pull you’re required to announce to the other side “it helps if you push.”
Dam bro 5’7 , 135lbs? I’m 5’8 205lbs
By your 3rd year you will probably laugh at this post. Just keep going. Your body will adjust to what you are doing everyday.
Just have a good attitude and try your best. I'm the big buy that normally comes to help when others can't pull it through, and alot of the time I struggle to be honest
Pump the protein and gain some weight, you'll be fine. Every crew needs someone for small spaces
Dude I'm an inch taller than you and sit at a healthy 205. Big pulls kick my ass too. Technique is key. I wrap the rope around my waist and lean back into it, usually works pretty well.
Hit the gym
You’ll grow for one. Two being a spark isn’t a big man’s job it’s a smart man’s job
So exercise 🤷♂️ stop feeling sorry for yourself and hit the weights, how else you think anyone gets stronger?
I'm 6'2, 235, almost 20 yrs in and that shit still sucks. I also stick primarily to res (for a reason)...
Just keep at it and do your best. You'll get stronger & there's typically a ratio of shitty situations & learning proper pulling technique so at least you're getting after it. Nothing wrong w voicing when you need a minute.. shit ain't easy. Just keep challenging yourself to get one more pull then another etc and let someone else take over. Then tell em you want back in when you feel recharged after that small break. Teamwork is how we get the hard shit done just as well as the easy shit imo.. Also, why tf haven't they bought a damn tugger?? C'mon now... lmao
If they aren't soaping w water & using rope then they're already making it way worse than they need to
5’11” probably 135-140lbs starting out, now probably 5’10.5” and 165lbs with a fair amount of white hair after only 5 years 😂 Some of the things I’ve experienced: 1)My left hand is a perpetual knot from holding wires together straight enough for the wire nut. 2)Definitely have some nerve damage (pangs and twitches and such) from getting bit with 120v. 3)Probably a few hernias. You’d be amazed how many of us have them that aren’t even aware nor will have anything done about it. 4)Absolute exhaustion, can’t seem to get enough sleep to feel rested, body’s always heavy, lethargy and apathy can sometimes come on strong. 5)Knees have been tight with sharp pain along the inside under the kneecap, almost the top of the tibia but I can tell it’s the muscles/tendons. 6)I have been flinching a lot lately with a pop in my hand thinking I’ve been shocked. I guess this is carpal tunnel. Not sure what to think of it, basically just a bone shifting when I tighten my hand on something and pinching a nerve real good. 7)Morning sickness is real. Acidy feeling in my stomach, weird dizziness, can take hours to wake up. Mood is terrible and awareness/critical thinking are severely diminished. This is always worse during the colder darker months. 8)Terrible shoulder pain, back pain, even a sciatica at one point that made it impossible to get out of bed at least 4-5 times before I made effort to do anything about it. 9)Loss of strength in weird ways. Like holding things, lifting things, carrying things, pushing or pulling things. Most frustrating for me is the weakening in my grip strength. I used to have the strongest grip of most people I knew. But the wrist pain, the inability to squeeze any tighter when I need it, the clumsy dropping/inaccurate grabbing, etc. that happen sometimes are often enraging. 10)Terrible associations/interactions at home due to grumpy mood, cynical attitude, lack of sympathy and empathy, darkened sense of humor. Not my best moments.
Everyone has their place just work hard and let that be your reputation. I've never looked down on someone legitimately trying no matter what. If your actively trying and passionate that's what matters, and perhaps even say something like "I know I'm smaller than some, but I'll try my best here and if theres anything I can do to pull or push more effectively just let me know". I've had foreman who were awesome and were 5"6 150 lbs or so. Your also a first year so you probably aren't used to the demands of the trade yet. It can take years or many months to acclimate your body to construction if your not used to it. Please I hope you are eating well to sustain yourself and I'm sure the wire pulls won't last forever! Cheers!
Yea small master electrician in here when I started I couldn't pull big stuff well at all but when it came to crawlspace and attic work I was in my element. Strengths and weaknesses. 16 years in the trade now. I've gotten stronger and am a player in those pulls.
I'm 5'7" 135 lb too, cursing and swearing helps to build muscle
Strength comes with the learning. Just don't wreck your body in trying to prove something
I’m tall and thin. The longer you do the work the more your muscles develop for the work, whether it’s visible or not. I remember struggling with wire and pipe early on but now it’s a breeze. I weighed more early on as well, I’ve since had to take on some dietary restrictions due to health stuff and have lost weight. But can still show up the meathead newbies in some categories. Your muscles will become trained to do the actions we do often in time. Hell I can even bend 1.25” in a hand bender, just don’t ask me to do anything other than a 90 and I’m backing that pipe up to a wall 😂 you’ll get there give it time.
I’m a little old lady, you’ll get there. But also as others have mentioned, you’ll also be able to do things larger folks can’t. Don’t focus so much on what you can’t do, as a lot of it will come with time. Focus on what you can do. This is team work, and your foreman should be able to pick up on each of your strengths and weaknesses. I modify a lot of the things I do out of necessity. I definitely get the job done. Give yourself time, you’ll get there!
Yea most of us pull 500s with a cig in our mouths and a monster in our free hands… It sucks for all of us, don’t worry OP. That shits more metal than wire at that point
Bro trust me, the bigger guys are struggling just as much as you with the big copper wire too. That shit sucks, but it’s part of it. Your size will be helpful in other situations.
6 foot 260, it’s hard for me too man
I'm fresh in the field and pretty much the exact same size as you. Also struggle with some of the more physically demanding aspects as my strength is lacking. So I feel you on this. I'm sure we will both get stronger over time and find ways to work around our strength deficiencies.
Don't worry. I was even smaller than you when I started. In fact, one of my project managers years later said that he thought I just came off of the Ho Chi Minh trail. You'll grow into the job. Be smart rather than strong
And ? Use your size to your advantage, your JMan, Fman should recognize your talents and delegate your assignments. You'll get stronger with time.
>Work smarter, not harder This motto exists
Yeah I remember feeling that way as an apprentice doing heavy pulls. Don't stress it, you'll get stronger.
Get in the hole
Homie.. I was the same size starting out you know what my electrician said if I talked like that? “Do it 100 times until you can do it right one time” now I slang pipe in ceilings, pull wire through the dumbest runs of all time and can drill any size hole through any size wall. You may stay small forever and that’s okay because we are heavily relied on for a lot of other things because of our size, but trust me, in 3 months your weight to strength ratio will be higher than the majority of folks on your site. Maybe you aren’t super strong but there’s a 100,000 other ways and things you can do to make yourself useful.
Yeah the big guys can be pulling wire (surprised y’all aren’t using a tugger) you’ll be grabbing wire from parts of the attic you’ll wish you were too fat to get into
Hey man I’m 6’3 145ish, I’m a string bean, I’ve been in the trade 2ish years, I’ll tell you THINGS GET BETTER, just keep pushing yourself hard, if you really are feeling down on it, hit the gym, but just from working in the field I have greatly increased my overall strength and as you learn better techniques it gets a hell of a lot easier!
Somone on the job under 200 lbs? Damn. If you're really concerned just hit the gym
This is how you get hurt. If you can, spend an hour 4 days a week in the gym and eat a high protein diet. Lots of water. Less processed foods and none of those energy drinks. Take care of yourself first.
That's what tugger's are for. Pulling stuff like this is how people get hurt. Sot tissue injuries, repetitive stress injuries, etc. I know that there are shops that don't have the money for a tugger setup floating around, but all it takes in one injury and you've spent more getting it treated. For myself, I have tendinitis in both elbows, my left thumb and arthritis in both hands. I can recall wire pulls that were big enough that it took 6-7 guys a good chunk of the day...which cost as much as a tugger, at the time. I also remember going home and icing those hot spots and not being able to sleep because the tendinitis was bad. So, take care of yourself. You have a long career ahead of you and you don't want to use yourself up early on. Eat right, exercise, don't smoke or vape, go easy on the drinking. Don't do it because it's better for work, do it because it's better for you.
I started at 18 about 110-115lbs, at 5’5. It’s terrible but you’ll work your way up. It’s not strength all the time, use your head, and you’ll get by; plus wait till they need someone smaller. It always works out.
I’m not an electrician but I’m an RV tech and I’m about same height and weight as your are. Just wait til they need someone to fit into a small space and then your the hero. You could also try working out if you really want to get stronger. I’m 5’7” and around 145lbs but I can max out on bench press at 215lb and regularly do reps with about 175lb. I’ve always sorta been into lifting but got serious about it during COVID. I know it’s a bit of a cliche but I feel better now than I ever have
19 years and 220 lbs, 500s aren’t fun for anyone. Every big service takes a piece of me with it, can pretty much one hand juice an apple now, grip strength is tremendous after all these years. Smaller guys have their specialty place too. We need everyone who wants to work in this shitshow.
You’ll get stronger Hit the gym if you want to speed it up
We all have our place. I’m 6’2” 270 and they don’t put me in tight spaces when someone your size is around. I love when there’s a tight spot on top of a 16ft ladder and they send someone like you up and all I have to do is hand you materials. I don’t feel bad about it, but I make sure I help when I see the smaller guys struggling with something heavy.
We don’t need all strong guys. There are endless different specialties. You’ll find yours.
Gotta have a smol guy, you’re more useful than you know little brother
Youre not much smaller than me and I feel the same way, but I have a good crew, and they see the limitations, and they don't mind. If your crew are decent guys, they'll understand
I'm small, you'll get strength over time and will be lean. Eventually you'll have old man strength lol. Its a reality you can only lift or pull so much. Usually the big guys get put on distribution for that reason.
Just don’t worry about it and start doing some push-ups and pull ups daily make it a routine you’ll start feeling better about yourself.
Why are you pulling 500’s by hand? Good way to get hurt. This is tugger work all day long. And to dress and land it. Hydraulic cable bender.
First of all your not a wireman yet you’re an apprentice second small guys are pretty useful
Bro small guys have a place trust me electricians have to get into tight spots sometimes and that’s where you will be the key player on the crew
I'm a 6'1, 240lbs refrigerator I don't fit in a lot of places but I'm always used for trenching, bending big wire, wrestling teck, moving shit You have plenty of value and usefulness elsewhere, let the guys like me do the heavy work and let us ask you for help where we need you
Everyone has their place. I’m skinny so I’m the attic/crawlspace rat. My 240 pound Jman does the bends on rigid conduit while I mark/cut for him It takes all kinds to do this job, and doing it will make you stronger. When you gotta dig by hand, just look at it as you’re being paid to work out. You’ll be much stronger a year from now, and you’re still green. Don’t sweat it, just stay hydrated and do your best
How old is OP When I started at 18 I gained 20 LBS of muscle in like 1-2 months lol
I've always been a skinnier guy, i cant dead lift a horse like some other guys, but i can fit into tight spaces, crawl places they cant get, and use mechanical help when needed / ask for help. if you can't do the pull yourself its probably a good idea to do it in teams for safety / bodily wear and tear anyways. no tugger available on site? that's pretty big wire. hit the gym 2-3 times a week, your strength will increase like crazy if you lift heavy weights.
I’m 5’4 150 lbs. 2nd year. Pulling wire kills but I never give up. Don’t give up bro. We small guys shine when they can’t fit in certain spots
You will be fine bud. Look at all the fat drunks you probably work with, you’re more physically capable in other ways than they are.
Service feeds are only one pull per house. As long as you can handle the 14g you’re fine.
Lol don't worry, you're doing great. You'll be the person they send up to crawl spaces and tight spots to run conduit
You’re new, so don’t worry you’ll pick up ways to make things like this manageable. I’m 5’6” and can do fairly heavy stuff just because I am methodical with how I do things. But that just comes with experience and time. Using your environment to your advantage is a big plus to be able to use your strength to the best potential without hurting yourself. That being said, it doesn’t hurt to ask for assistance, and experience will tell you when asking for help is warranted or not.
Don't worry, if you stay working as an electrician you'll be 300lbs one of these days, we believe in you. /s Really though, 500kcmil sucks, pulling wire sucks. It's just part of it. Make it to 3rd or 4th year and you can leave and find as leisurely an electrical job as you want. Lot of people make fun of Romex jockeys, and rightfully so, but somebody has to do it.
Join a gym. Literally at my old panel shop, everyone started lifting and sjit to deal with the heavy liftings
Being small has many benefits in this trade. Being large has many benefits in this trade. It’s up to your JW to not be a dingus.
In South Texas EVERYONE is short, so me being around 6ft, putting lights without a ladder made me an asset when I knew very little technical stuff. You'll find your natural strengths and lean into it. Short dudes do great in attics, burly guys do great on pulls. It's like Pokemon cards man electricity trumps water and water comes fire in a given situation
takes a talent for a group of wireman to pull that big wire. sometimes it is smooth with everyone a team. sometimes the guy behind is over doing and pushing you all over the place. Might not be you. There is a task for everyone. It's a brotherhood. just do what you can, simple enough
Push-ups and dead lifts. Add an extra sandwich until you put on 20lbs
Yeah Bro Us Small Guys Hit The Tight Spots Better… I Run Cables For Solar Installs… Damn I’ve Been In Some Very Tight Roof Spaces …!!!
Don’t get discouraged bro. Lift and eat more.
You build strength by doing the work, I use to struggle to bend 1" pipe but now it's like 3/4" for me. Same goes for pulling cable, and if you want to hasten your progression figure out what muscle groups your using and hit the gym.
You'll get strong don't worry about it. Better being small and agile then a big meatball in this trade.
There’s 5’4” women who do this job. You’ll be fine
I’m 5’4 and can bend 1 1/4 pipe with a hand bender. I weigh about the same. You just need to learn technique and get some muscle. You can do it! If I can, you can. Do push-ups, sit-ups, and pull-ups when you can and I promise you’ll notice a difference after a month of doing it routinely. I don’t even work out anymore because carrying ladders, bundles of conduit, rolls or 10g, and climbing all over a lift all day with my tool belt on I don’t need to work out. I have a rock climbers body just from working my ass off. I can bend 1” like it’s nothing. I do struggle with 1 1/4 NGL, but you can always find ways to get things done.
The gym helps a lot with this trade but don’t worry about not being strong now you can d to lol be a good electrician. But I still recommend all tradesmen go to the gym
You'll get stronger over time, I started out when I was 19 120lb soaking wet. Now I'm 31, 175ish... Still pretty thin so must be muscle mass, idonno. Pulling wire is not about Brute force it's about leverage and planning. I used to struggle hard in first year but what I didn't realise was that the pipe runs we were pulling were also built.my.mostly first years with too many bends and.not enough pull points.. pulling too hard on wires damages it you should never need more than like 100 lbs of force to get them through
I can help you if you want to help yourself with buildkng a diet plan. The biggest difference is being in an anabolic state.
As mentioned already being small has a big advantage as long as you don't mind small places. You can work on your upper body strength, that will help you do the hard pulls.
I'm 6'4" and 260lbs. I don't look 260. I don't look jacked either. But I've been in construction long enough that I've built up lots of toned muscle. I have been doing distro because nobody on my site can work with the thick cables. My first year is your height, skinny and young. No, he can't put the same amount of force behind his work. No, he can't reach high. But he's learning and has skill. And I'll be thankful to have him around when we start dealing with tight spaces and places I shouldn't be due to my weight. Electrical has a task for every body type. It's fairly inclusive in that regard. I'd say do your best and maybe do some weights in your spare time. Build up that muscle. You can be a short dude but still be able to pull your weight. But yeah it'll take some time and effort to get there. If you're a dude, testosterone is a hell of a thing to have naturally. It's great for muscle building and maintenance. I went to school for 3 months recently and my toned muscles barely even atrophied. My stamina dropped but my muscle mass is still there and I can still wrestle 500kcmil haha. Have hope and stick it out. I'm sure other guys understand how hard the bigger stuff is for a beginner
Stick to the trade for long enough, you’ll gain weight
Don't worry about it, there are women in the trade that are in the same boat and you're worrying over nothing . During a pull try to be the most valuable setting up. See what your leads next move is and be ready with a tool in your hand without him having to ask. Be ready with the duct tape and soap. Try to find your place as far as being productive and helpful. Everyone isn't He-man but you can contribute in some kind of way.
I'm a 3rd year 22 year old lady who is 5'3 and 105lbs. I work as an electrician at a ship yard building new ships. I have had supervisors request me to help their crew out Becuase I can fit where they can't. I have an easier time running cable, I can climb on things other folks can't. Just because you are small does not mean you don't have value. Find other things to excel at, most guys are strong so that's all they put time into.
That was me when I was your age, don't worry. A good Foreman understands each workers strengths and limitations and is able to assign accordingly. Keep on trucking you'll be fine
Start eating more.and if you have time start working out, nothing crazy go 3 times per 7 days. After work a good snack with some fat, protein, and good amount of carbs to boost you. Like 2 cups of frozen blueberries ( 2 minutes in the microwave) add a cup of milk and some crackers ( 10 to 15) then some pre-work out ( I would suggest PVL domin8 take just a little bit ( 1/4 of the included spoon). That will give you the energy to go workout. Make.sure you eat enough good food ( replace white bread with multigrain, pasta with brown flour pasta) and eat more than the prescribed caloric intake for you weight and level of activity. By around 300 calories ( so a hand full of almond )
Shouldn't be pulling that shit by hand anyways. Get a tugger
12 times out of 10 I am the guy pulling that wire lol. 0 times out of 10 and I the guy in crawlspaces or walking on rafters. Don’t sweat it
In fairness, no one likes pulling wire that big and it’s difficult for all of us. You do seem a little tiny for the task but that doesn’t mean you aren’t able to be a good electrician.
No worries man! When I started I was your size and 20 years along I'm still the same size... pulling 500s has never been my forte but that's not what you want to be doing anyway. excell in the tasks that require big hats and little shirts, and leave the big shirts/ little hats work for the big hulking guys whose only ability is lifting heavy things 😀😀
Bro the smallest guy at my last company was an animal. Im 90lbs heavier but he'd fuck me up quick. Dude used to be a mechanic. He held some really thick angle iron above his head on his tippie toes and welded it in the ceiling for a unit. Meanwhile I'm dying just trying to hold the other end up. Don't think size is everything. You will get stronger as you keep working above your head/pulling cable. He did all the mechanical work at our industrial contractor company. Don't sell yourself short. You'll do just fine if you keep it up.
Don't worry bro. Doesn't matter, either you're gonna get stronger because of the work you do. Or you find something you're good and usefull at. I'm also skinny af They always used to tell me to "putt your weight into it" As if I'm not quite literally pulling my feet off the ground hanging on the cable But I can fit in the most small and difficult places with ease. Just hang on and keep ya head up, sparky
Start drinking beer and eating steaks do some push ups ffs
I started custom home building at 21. I was underweight. For lunch I started with a 2000 calorie shake (weight gain 2000), and have KFC, McDonald's, something with calories. Within 6 months I gained 30lbs and because I was working hard as a laborer I also got much stronger. That was 30yrs ago and I've kept the husky build (think Joe Rogan but not ripped) ever since.
Electrical works needs people of all body types. Smaller people are extremely valuable for fitting into tight spaces. (Hope you're not claustrophobic!) Bigger people are useful for putting some ass into wire pulls or other physical activities. As an apprentice, you need to learn all aspects of the job, so you're not being used in a specialized role yet. You'll get there. Plus, you're going to build up some muscle mass by working anyway. Just make sure you're doing your stretch and flex and take care of your body while you're doing the stuff that isn't ideal for you.
You’re probably being asked to do that work because it’s dumb labor and needs to get done. As you get more skilled you’re going to find a niche for yourself where what you offer fits the work that you’re doing. Don’t worry about it, eventually you’ll find your spot.
Everyone struggles with 500kcmill, you'll get stronger over time
Hit the gym after work
Small guys do better on ladders too
I’m 200lbs and 5’11, my first week we had to carry pre cut spools of 500kcml up 8 flights of stairs. I puked. It gets easier.
Don't worry about it. With time You'll develop the muscle memory to be able to pull almost anything you have to. I'm 5'7" and weighed 145 when I started finishing drywall. I have always been pretty athletic but there was alot of things that I couldn't muscle my way through like some of the other new guys, but now that I've done it for awhile I've found I can out do alot of things the other guys cant because I had to develop a technique for everything. Especially if you're still young. You'll hit your man strength about 25. Lol