Electrical Tools

[Fudog]

Good Afternoon, I am not sure if i should post this here or in the tool section but anyway I recently installed a dedicated line from the breaker box to our TV,VCR/DVD with a 15 Amp GFCI breaker and was curious if there is a special screwdriver made for receptacle screws and the breaker screws as a regular phillips will not work and they look like a combination square drive and regular together. I used a regular flathead on them but I thought a square which I did not have or maybe someone makes a square flathead together for a better fit that does not slip off? Thanks!

 

[mrb]

they do, whia has an insert bit like this. I just use a normal flathead though.

 

[oleguy]

that is a roberts type.a #1 is for recticles,switches,a#2 is for breakers,romex clamps ect.if these screws will accept straight or roberts,a phillips will destrory the screw.

 

[walrus]

PB Swiss makes a combo screwdriver, its a philips and flat in one.
http://pbtoolsus.thomasnet.com/view...rewdrivers-for-mixed-screws-phillips-slotted?
I've got one, it works ok, I just as soon use a flat blade

 

[Ign]

I use the small robertson that came in my Klein 199993-in-1 screwdriver. Ok, maybe there's fewer bits than that.......but seems like I have to flip 4 things around before I find the one I need.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Klein has a 10 in 1 screwdriver designed for the electrical trade. It has at least a #1 and #2 Phillips, two different size square drives, a couple of common size blades and I'm not sure what else. Well worth the money when doing electrical work.

Charles

 

[electrodude]

Klein has a 10 in 1 screwdriver designed for the electrical trade. It has at least a #1 and #2 Phillips, two different size square drives, a couple of common size blades and I'm not sure what else. Well worth the money when doing electrical work.

Charles

I had one... lost half the bits in less than six months... it was neat while it worked, just not real toolbelt friendly.

 

[Gooch]

I had one... lost half the bits in less than six months... it was neat while it worked, just not real toolbelt friendly.

i've had one for the last three years, i break the bits before i lose them, usually go through one a year it seems. wouldn't go to work without it.

 

[Thedroid]

The Robertson is a far better tool to use on these screws, and will out torque the flat without slipping any day. They really work nice on these screws!

 

[Thedroid]

Oh ya, the Snap on bits are labeled Scrulox, and are the best I've used.

The Phillips/Standard, are common among European tool makers, but I don't think they work to well. I have the Wera's, and am not very impressed. These are not the same type of screws that the OP is talking about.

 

[MrMark]

These screws the OP is talking about are triple cut. They take phillips, No.1 Robertson, and flathead, but none particularly well. I tried the Robertson No. 1 but the cheap screws can't take the torque with that little square drive. The square in the screw strips right out for me. I have much better success with No. 2 Robertson on the buss bars and some breakers. Same problem with the loose cut phillips, I have strip outs.

My Wiha tool is combo phillips/slotted and it works well, but I believe that the flathead part of it is doing all the work and that the phillips part is just along for the ride. Thus, a flathead will probably work just as well, although the phillips part of the Wiha tool acts as a guide and prevents the flathead part from slipping and stabbing a hand. I do my own work so I make things tight. I wonder if Wiha makes a Robertson No. 1 combo with a flathead and whether that would be the best of all.

 

[ddawg16]

I have had better performance from my Sears 4 in 1 screwdriver than just about any other....has two bits...each bit is double ended....one side phillips, the other straight...two different sizes. The shank of the screw driver is double ended...so one bit fits in one end, the other bit in the other...

Basically...if I have the screwdriver....I have all 4 tips....I don't loose them....works for 90% of what I need to do.