Electricians pattern screwdrivers

[Dave455]

Today I’ve been working on a bathroom, including changing the light fitting.

I needed to work ‘upside down’ and reached for my Snap On Pozidriv.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I love these tools. Good quality blades, durable handles, and perfect for most engineering tasks. But, it just wasn’t working in this instance. The handle was just too cumbersome, hard to spin in the hand, and almost impossible to use one handed and inverted!

I reached for my PB Swiss next, and that was better, but in the end I grabbed a ‘classic’ if not ‘vintage’ British made ‘Electricians Pattern’ Pozidriv. Everything was perfect about this. The handle was slim enough and suitably shaped that you can spin it one handed, and the length was just right so that you can hold it in the palm of your hand and spin with finger and thumb. Even the long blade seemed to make things easier!

Which all makes you think, that there are very good reasons that all these traditional patterns evolved. In many cases those reasons are still valid, and there’s much more to a screwdriver handle than torque transmission!

I’ve said this before, but you can’t have too many screwdrivers!

I’d be interested to see what other electricians pattern drivers folks have. In don’t see as many as I used to, and very few outside the U.K.

Edit - the pics are sideways, but you get the idea!

 

[measuredtwice]

What is the definition of "electrician pattern screwdriver"? Is it just a marketing term? To me the screwdriver in the photo looks like lots of others with long blades. It isn't insulated?

 

[Downwindtracker 2]

No, there is a considerable difference in the shape of the blade.

 

[measuredtwice]

No, there is a considerable difference in the shape of the blade.

What is the considerable difference in the shape of the blade on a Pozidriv "electrician pattern screwdriver" and other Pozidriv screwdrivers?

 

[Hammer1963]

First thing that comes to my mind is what's referred to as "cabinet tip" screwdrivers. They tend to be much more narrow that traditional flat blade drivers. My preference is Witte brand. Great quality and super comfortable handles

 

[Wamsutta]

I find it interesting that you call the shape of a screwdriver handle a "pattern."

 

[malibu101]

I have Ideal brand driver. The head pattern is a combination of a phillips and a robertson. On device screws it fits perfect, it's what it's made for.
I've never seen this type on anything other than electrical device screws.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07C6RYKQ9/?tag=atomicindus08-20

EDIT- Better pic of the tip. https://www.licensedelectrician.com/Store/ID/Combo-Head-Screwdrivers.htm

Maybe this is the electrician pattern being referred to.?

 

[davethorik]

I'm waiting to hear where you can buy cabinet tip posidriv screwdrivers

 

[neophyte]

I'm waiting to hear where you can buy cabinet tip posidriv screwdrivers

Dave455 is in the UK.
In the UK and other parts of Europe, Pozidriv is the equivalent of Phiips in the USA, ie. the standard cross head type screwdriver.

To the OP.
I’m not sure about this, but I think the PB Swiss website or catalogue sort of implied that that “classic” style of screwdriver grip was originally designed by PBSwiss/Baumann decades ago.
I may be mistaken, it’s possible they just used a similar design or were one of the first screwdriver makers in Switzerland or that region of Europe to use the design.
Was the PB screwdriver you were using the “classic” translucent or 1000V VDE style, or was it the newer bulbouse grip style made from the grippy santoprene?

 

[davethorik]

Dave455 is in the UK.
In the UK and other parts of Europe, Pozidriv is the equivalent of Phiips in the USA, ie. the standard cross head type screwdriver.

Yeah thanks I can read. Not what I'm talking about.

A cabinet tip screwdriver is slotted, so I'm just really curious to see a cabinet tip pozidriv.

 

[neophyte]

Yeah thanks I can read. Not what I'm talking about.

A cabinet tip screwdriver is slotted, so I'm just really curious to see a cabinet tip pozidriv.

“Cabinet Tip” is sometimes also used to describe screwdrivers with a thinner, smooth, long, straight shank, designed for driving screws in deep tight recesses.

 

[M6erfan]

Aren't all cross tip screwdrivers "cabinet tip"?

Cabinet tip refers to slotted tip only AFAIK. They don't have the 'wings' that are common on most slotted screwdrivers.

 

[neophyte]

Aren't all cross tip screwdrivers "cabinet tip"?

Cabinet tip refers to slotted tip only AFAIK. They don't have the 'wings' that are common on most slotted screwdrivers.

Some cross head screwdrivers have hex or square shanks, and fit like **** or don’t fit in tight recesses.
Other cross head screwdrivers are made with slightly flared heads or narrow shanks, specifically so the drivers fit into tight narrow recesses.
There are actual driver bits specifically made for these recesses as well.
There are also 1000V insulated screwdrivers made with “cabinet” shanks, were the insulated section is no wider than the tip, again to allow access into narrow recesses.

 

[redwrench60]

I understand what the OP means. A Klein (arguably an electrician pattern) screwdriver isn’t well suited to oily, greasy mechanic work with its round rubber covered handle but is perfect for one handed spinning side terminal screws on a light fixture.

 

[Professional Tool User]

At the end of the day it really comes down to personal preference. I'll take my Wera screwdrivers any day over those. I can get a decent grip on them while still being able to spin the handle fast if I felt like it. Those who spent most of their lives using those Craftsman hard handled screwdrivers will obviously be biased towards them to some extent.

 

[Dave455]

What is the definition of "electrician pattern screwdriver"? Is it just a marketing term? To me the screwdriver in the photo looks like lots of others with long blades. It isn't insulated?

It’s a common term in the U.K. sometimes known as an ‘Instrument Screwdriver’.

Basically, it’s got a handle that is a little smaller than usual for the blade size, and usually round or rounded so easier to spin. The blade is usually longer than normal, and if it’s a slotted driver it will have a parallel tip rather than flared.

I think these feature were defined in a British Standard way back, and the Post Office had their own standard sizes for telecoms work!

 

[Dave455]

I’m not sure about this, but I think the PB Swiss website or catalogue sort of implied that that “classic” style of screwdriver grip was originally designed by PBSwiss/Baumann decades ago.
I may be mistaken, it’s possible they just used a similar design or were one of the first screwdriver makers in Switzerland or that region of Europe to use the design.
Was the PB screwdriver you were using the “classic” translucent or 1000V VDE style, or was it the newer bulbouse grip style made from the grippy santoprene?

Yes, the basic PB design has been around for a while. It was the Classic handle I was using. A good tool, but still a bit too bulky in standard form.

An ‘Electricians Pattern’ or ‘Instrument’ screwdriver is not necessarily insulated. Bear in mind that we have 240 Volts here, so there’s no way you would go poking around a live circuit with some screwdriver with a bit of sleeving on the blade. You would use a special ‘live line’ tool, and even then it’s not work for a regular electrician!

 

[Hammer1963]

It’s a common term in the U.K. sometimes known as an ‘Instrument Screwdriver’.

Basically, it’s got a handle that is a little smaller than usual for the blade size, and usually round or rounded so easier to spin. The blade is usually longer than normal, and if it’s a slotted driver it will have a parallel tip rather than flared.

I think these feature were defined in a British Standard way back, and the Post Office had their own standard sizes for telecoms work!

I am familiar with the terminology that you mentioned. Having worked on many older Jaguars and Austin Healeys, the tools listed in the service manuals used these descriptions along with pictorials. Makes sense to me because I've been exposed to it