What Electric Vessel Screwdriver for Receptacles

[LukeOresk]

Hey, I gotta change out a bunch of receptacles and am feeling kinda lazy. Would one of these drivers be worth getting for this or just do it with a now screwdriver. I do have the Milwaukee m12 drill and impact, I’m scared to use those though and end up stripping threads.

I don’t do construction, so I don’t know if this is silly or if guys are doing this kinda thing, thanks for any advice.

 

[GeoBruin]

No, you don't need one. But most of us here are way past buying tools because we "need" them

For my part, I don't even try to justify it anymore beyond "I want a new tool!".

Anyhow, the Vessel electric drivers are pretty trick and great for things like outlets. I belive they come in two flavors domestically, a high-speed and a high-torque. But, there is a Japanese model that has a selector button that allows you to choose from 3 different speed/torque settings. And the best part about that model is that it has USB-C charging rather than micro USB. That alone was enough for me to hold out for one.

I picked mine up from an ebay seller named good_luck_store_japan.

 

[KnurledNut]

Best to use a regular screwdriver for final tightening of the wire terminal screws. Also for the cover plates.
The impact will be fine for removing/replacing the mounting tab screws and loosening the old terminal screws, but depending on how old they are they may be slotted screws in which case a regular screwdriver can sometimes be less hassle.
Klein (and others) make an offset screwdriver that has a bend in the shaft that acts as a speeder. These can speed up this type of job, but there is a learning curve to using them.

 

[sparky 1971]

Hey, I gotta change out a bunch of receptacles and am feeling kinda lazy. Would one of these drivers be worth getting for this or just do it with a now screwdriver. I do have the Milwaukee m12 drill and impact, I’m scared to use those though and end up stripping threads.

I don’t do construction, so I don’t know if this is silly or if guys are doing this kinda thing, thanks for any advice.

I have no experience with the Vessel screwdrivers nor do I care to. Since about 2008ish I've been using a Makita 7.2 volt impacting screwdriver. It doesn't have the power to break anything and has a no load rpm of about 2300. About three rat a tat's and the screw terminals are tightened perfectly. If you choose to use the M12, use the drill and turn the clutch down. The impact can and will break something when installing...and can get away from you and the bit will poke your free hand. I used a cordless drill for years, everything from an old 12 volt Craftsman to 9.6 volt Makita to an 18 volt Dewalt and never had an issue as long as the clutch was turned down.

Makita 7.2V Lithium-Ion Cordless 1/4 in. Hex Impact Driver Kit TD022DSE - The Home Depot

Give a strong addition to your workstation with Makita LithiumIon Cordless Hex Impact Driver Kit.

www.homedepot.com

 

[liliysdad]

After the recent discovery of the DeWalt gyroscopic screwdriver…I don’t think I’ll over be without one as long as they keep making them.

What i though was gimmicky is absolutely fantastic.

 

[Etchase]

The vessels won’t break anything and lock up when not powered, so you can tighten by hand. What’s great about the vessels is it’s the first electric screwdriver I’ve had that feels like a manual screw driver to me. I think I would go high speed for outlet boxes. Those screws can be long. The 3 speed has an electronic speed control, so counter to what you might think, the slower the speed the less torque.

 

[RTM]

I have a Milwaukee 6546-1 that is great for this, slow as heck, adjustable torque, sorta locks up without power, can be straight or sorta pistol grip. Skinny enough to use as a manual too. So etchase has the same idea.

 

[AEAdam]

Please don’t innovate this. For US receptacles, you want basic US screwdrivers. If you want to make life easier, buy these screwdrivers:

For switch plate covers and receptacle screws:

Amazon.com

This looks dumb and impractical, but really works. The problem isn’t stripping the heads wit’s a power tool but slipping out of the slot and damaging the plate or bumping something you shouldn’t. Not to mention, over torquing and cracking the switch plate covers.

For wire connections, I recommend you try this:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RY218JO/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I do not own one but I’ve tried these and I think they have potential. Hoping others will chime in.

 

[mike93lx]

Please don’t innovate this

I accept your challenge!

I run one of these on my hi torque impact to install cover plates





Personally, I just use a Klein 11 in 1. Square drive when possible, slotted when not. Doing a lot of receptacles, i'd rather carry less from spot to spot. Thought about the Dewalt gyro many times though

 

[AEAdam]

I accept your challenge!

I run one of these on my hi torque impact to install cover plates





Personally, I just use a Klein 11 in 1. Square drive when possible, slotted when not. Doing a lot of receptacles, i'd rather carry less from spot to spot. Thought about the Dewalt gyro many times though

I hear ya! I have this Klein shoulder bag (have pictures of it here somewhere) and it just weighs a TON. Good for carrying my tools to the site, or from my truck, especially when my hands are full, but not something I could wear working for more than a few minutes.

What I do now is, I have a couple rubbermaid janitor carts I push around with my tool bag and all my outlets and boxes or whatever on it.

Im not a pro electrician, but maybe like the OP, doing more than one or two and it helps me to have the right tool for the job. I can take more pics of my kit if you guys want to see. It’s not impressive, like some guys have here, just basics.

FWIW, about to turn 60. I’m in good shape, still running occasionally. I’m tall and have always been strong. But I guess I’m slowing down. Don’t love wearing tool belts for carpentry or anything else. So I’m finding ways to stage tools and hardware that limit my need to carry that stuff on my personhood. Walking around is one thing, climbing ladders and scaffolding is another. Lots of things take me longer now I guess. As a young marine, I could run with my ruck and rifle. Now I don’t want to lug around my cell phone!

 

[lardy1]

I find a ratcheting screwdriver works better than my Vessel electric. Far more control. There are other models of the auto that work better but mine isn't much good for that (older version). The electric was just fumbly and awkward. Also bottomed out the screws too hard due to lack of feel or control.

I hear a lot of poo-poohing of the Gearwrench ratcheting driver with the 1/4" square drive (forget their catchy name for it) but I just installed around 150 lights, switches and recepts in my basement project and that thing worked very well for my hand. Longer than a stubby but shorter than my Stahlwille ratcheting screwdriver.

Paired with a combo bit that all worked out very well for me. All my best on your project and tool search.

EDIT: I also bought a new Ryobi Lithium screwdriver specifically for this job but ended up parking it in favor of the ratcheting. Wasted my money on that thing.

 

[Steve_P]

After the recent discovery of the DeWalt gyroscopic screwdriver…I don’t think I’ll over be without one as long as they keep making them.

What i though was gimmicky is absolutely fantastic.

I've had one of these for a few years. When I read the description on Amazon, I thought there is no way this can possibly work as well as they say; but it does. I bought it mainly for replacing outlets and switches, works great for that, and I bought the Wiha Xeno bits that work great for the screws used on outlets and switches.

Amazon.com

 

[Rinspeed]

After the recent discovery of the DeWalt gyroscopic screwdriver…I don’t think I’ll over be without one as long as they keep making them.

What i though was gimmicky is absolutely fantastic.

That's funny because I bought one of them for a guy at the shop and we both thought it was a POS.

 

[M6erfan]

I've had one of these for a few years. When I read the description on Amazon, I thought there is no way this can possibly work as well as they say; but it does. I bought it mainly for replacing outlets and switches, works great for that, and I bought the Wiha Xeno bits that work great for the screws used on outlets and switches.

Amazon.com

But get the #1 size for recepticals and such. The #2 size is good for heavier panel work.

 

[M6erfan]

For wire connections, I recommend you try this:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RY218JO/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I do not own one but I’ve tried these and I think they have potential. Hoping others will chime in.

I've tried these combo bits and I still prefer a S1 square drive. I hear the Wiha version combo bit works well but I haven't tried that variant.

 

[liliysdad]

That's funny because I bought one of them for a guy at the shop and we both thought it was a POS.

I just put together a pile of stupid cabinets and a work bench with a gajillion screws and I used the Dewalt gyroscopic driver almost exclusively.

Absolute rockstar of a tool. I have never once thought a cordless screwdriver was worth what it cost or the hassle of owning it. This one changed my mind.

 

[Milton Shaw]

Look for Milwaukee ECX1 or ECX2 bits they combine a square/Phillips fit/flat bit that works wonders on most of the 15 year old or less screws on all outlets or switches. They center up and hardly ever slip. They don't fit outlet plate screws but the multibit screwdrivers that these come with will give you a fit for just about all electrical. Home depot at one time carried the bits in individual replacement packs.

 

[dscheidt]

Hey, I gotta change out a bunch of receptacles and am feeling kinda lazy. Would one of these drivers be worth getting for this or just do it with a now screwdriver. I do have the Milwaukee m12 drill and impact, I’m scared to use those though and end up stripping threads.

I don’t do construction, so I don’t know if this is silly or if guys are doing this kinda thing, thanks for any advice.

milwuakee make an m12 screwdriver. It's basically a small drill, but instead of a jacobs style chuck, it holds a 1/4" bit. It's got a clutch, like a drill, so you can adjust the torque limit. It works very well for devices. I bought mine as a sort of joke a few years ago, but I use it all the time. (it hangs on the leg of my workbench, and is easy to grab anytime I want a power screwdriver.)

 

[LS1-IROC]

I just put together a pile of stupid cabinets and a work bench with a gajillion screws and I used the Dewalt gyroscopic driver almost exclusively.

Absolute rockstar of a tool. I have never once thought a cordless screwdriver was worth what it cost or the hassle of owning it. This one changed my mind.

It's a game changer for sure. I use mine almost daily at work since they first came out.

 

[LukeOresk]

I think I’m gonna give the vessel a try just for fun, if it’s not for me I’ll give it to my dad as he had bought some crappy mastercraft driver. I do have the Milwaukee drill I’ll try to use too and see what I like better between the two, thanks for the feed back

 

[LukeOresk]

just an update, I got the screwdriver, and I was able to do about 40 devices on a charge. I was pretty impressed. It has its limitations but I liked it for this purpose

 

[vpd66]

So with one did you end up getting?

 

[LukeOresk]

Vessel 220

https://www.amazon.co.jp/-/en/gp/aw/d/B0CLL63WSY?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title