Looking for options for my "prosumer" electrical kit. I was thinking of buying a set of individual insulated screwdrivers at first, but considering how little I will use it, I think it's better to buy a single good quality insulated driver that accepts standard 1/4" bits and use 2-3" long bits that I already have.
Insulated bit driver.
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jeffmoss26
Well-known member
Wiha makes a nice one.
PBCampbell
Well-known member
An insulated screwdriver with 2 to 3 inch UNINSULATED bits would defeat the purpose. I agree with Wiha otherwise.
KnurledNut
Well-known member
As a "prosumer", how much work do you really do on hot systems? Might want to re-think that one, especially if you are trying to cheap out on safety equipment.
That aside, like PBCampbell noted, a VDE handle with long metal bits is kind of pointless as a VDE tool since that leaves most of the shaft open to bumping into other contacts or arcing.
Even if you used short bits (like the Felo picture KnurledNut posted above), the other issue is that a 1/4 hex shank is kind of bulky to begin with... add the VDE coating on top of it and it gets even larger in diameter and harder to fit into small areas. Also, you really don't want to risk dropping small bits into live equipment or having them magnetize to stuff.
Because of these issues, interchangeable VDE drivers are typically built as a handle with a collection of insulated blades. They can be built thinner than regular drivers (so that they still fit in spaces after they are coated), the mating mechanism is a bit tighter fitting than a 1/4 hex, and the insulation goes nearly down to the tip so that the risk of contacting multiple pieces at the same time is greatly reduced.
Wiha, Wera, Felo, PB Swiss, Bahco, Klein, etc. all make a set like that if you need VDE but don't want to carry a pile of dedicated drivers.
Paul_The_Builder
Well-known member
My personal favorite in the Felo driver. as Knurled Nut demonstrated, the Felo drivers have ridiculously strong magnets.
FELO! Definitely.
I don't need an insulated bit driver... but I have two. Felo has one of my favorite handle shapes and the magnet is perfect.
I hate when a screwdriver bit gets stuck to the fastener and pulls out of your bit driver. With Felo, it doesn't.
It's not even expensive. I think I paid about $16 CAD the first time I bought it and ~$18 the second.