Comments on: Dealmonger: Eight Insulated Screwdrivers For $8 http://toolmonger.com/2008/01/29/dealmonger-eight-insulated-screwdrivers-for-8/ All tools. All the time. Your source for news, information, and reviews of hand tools, power tools, and tools of all kinds. Wed, 03 Dec 2008 03:27:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Fred http://toolmonger.com/2008/01/29/dealmonger-eight-insulated-screwdrivers-for-8/#comment-225005 Fred Thu, 07 Feb 2008 03:46:01 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2008/01/29/dealmonger-eight-insulated-screwdrivers-for-8/#comment-225005 Even the professional electrician tools (e.g. Cementex, Klein etc.) caution against working live circuits. There are sometimes, however, when you do work "dead as alive" - that is you can not insure a double measure of protection or lockout - so you work the dead circuit as if it were alive. There are also times when you are working a dead circuit - but nearby uninsulated parts are alive - so the insulated driver shaft offers a measure of protection in the event of a slip. Even when working from an insulated platform such as a bucket - while the worker may not be electrocuted there is still danger from hot to neutral or phase to phase contact and flashover. The same can be said for rubber goods - 4kV or other voltage lineman gloves, face shields (in the event of a flash) and FR clothing - none of which anyone hopes will come into play - but each offers insurance just in case. Even the professional electrician tools (e.g. Cementex, Klein etc.) caution against working live circuits. There are sometimes, however, when you do work “dead as alive” - that is you can not insure a double measure of protection or lockout - so you work the dead circuit as if it were alive.
There are also times when you are working a dead circuit - but nearby uninsulated parts are alive - so the insulated driver shaft offers a measure of protection in the event of a slip. Even when working from an insulated platform such as a bucket - while the worker may not be electrocuted there is still danger from hot to neutral or phase to phase contact and flashover. The same can be said for rubber goods - 4kV or other voltage lineman gloves, face shields (in the event of a flash) and FR clothing - none of which anyone hopes will come into play - but each offers insurance just in case.

]]> By: Teacher http://toolmonger.com/2008/01/29/dealmonger-eight-insulated-screwdrivers-for-8/#comment-221285 Teacher Mon, 04 Feb 2008 03:39:01 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2008/01/29/dealmonger-eight-insulated-screwdrivers-for-8/#comment-221285 Interesting comparison. My question was based on seeing some electricians work on live circuits with insulated tools. Interesting comparison. My question was based on seeing some electricians work on live circuits with insulated tools.

]]> By: Stuart Deutsch http://toolmonger.com/2008/01/29/dealmonger-eight-insulated-screwdrivers-for-8/#comment-221283 Stuart Deutsch Mon, 04 Feb 2008 03:35:29 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2008/01/29/dealmonger-eight-insulated-screwdrivers-for-8/#comment-221283 I believe that insulated screwdrivers are never intended to be used on live circuits, but offer some protection in case of an accident. A police offer doesn't wear a kevlar vest and ask to be shot at; he wears one just in case. By all means, correct me if I'm wrong. I believe that insulated screwdrivers are never intended to be used on live circuits, but offer some protection in case of an accident. A police offer doesn’t wear a kevlar vest and ask to be shot at; he wears one just in case.

By all means, correct me if I’m wrong.

]]> By: Teacher http://toolmonger.com/2008/01/29/dealmonger-eight-insulated-screwdrivers-for-8/#comment-221033 Teacher Sun, 03 Feb 2008 20:37:53 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2008/01/29/dealmonger-eight-insulated-screwdrivers-for-8/#comment-221033 Lowes sells a set of Task Force insulated screwdrivers for $8 also. The difference between the Task Force and Klein sets is pretty big. Would a $8 set of insulated screwdrivers be trustworthy for live circuits? Lowes sells a set of Task Force insulated screwdrivers for $8 also. The difference between the Task Force and Klein sets is pretty big. Would a $8 set of insulated screwdrivers be trustworthy for live circuits?

]]> By: Stuart Deutsch http://toolmonger.com/2008/01/29/dealmonger-eight-insulated-screwdrivers-for-8/#comment-215051 Stuart Deutsch Tue, 29 Jan 2008 18:52:00 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2008/01/29/dealmonger-eight-insulated-screwdrivers-for-8/#comment-215051 After seeing these on Lee Valley's site two weeks ago when placing an order, I did a quick google and found that a few retailers are offering similar sets for about the same price. For the price, it seems like a decent deal. But try not to get caught up in a "I'd better order now before they sell out" clearance frenzy. After seeing these on Lee Valley’s site two weeks ago when placing an order, I did a quick google and found that a few retailers are offering similar sets for about the same price. For the price, it seems like a decent deal. But try not to get caught up in a “I’d better order now before they sell out” clearance frenzy.

]]> By: Zathrus http://toolmonger.com/2008/01/29/dealmonger-eight-insulated-screwdrivers-for-8/#comment-215026 Zathrus Tue, 29 Jan 2008 18:20:17 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2008/01/29/dealmonger-eight-insulated-screwdrivers-for-8/#comment-215026 Heh, I bet the insulation failed RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances; an EU-wide directive). So they can't sell them in the EU anymore. This is happening to a lot of manufacturers -- they end up looking for other countries to dump old stock in; generally North/South America and Asia (esp China). And they'll generally discontinue the production entirely since making something that complies with RoHS is only marginally more expensive and it's a lot less expensive to simply maintain a single line of product for everyone than to keep RoHS and non-RoHS compliant lines independantly. That and you're not even allowed to make it if your manufacturing facilities are in the EU. Heh, I bet the insulation failed RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances; an EU-wide directive). So they can’t sell them in the EU anymore. This is happening to a lot of manufacturers — they end up looking for other countries to dump old stock in; generally North/South America and Asia (esp China). And they’ll generally discontinue the production entirely since making something that complies with RoHS is only marginally more expensive and it’s a lot less expensive to simply maintain a single line of product for everyone than to keep RoHS and non-RoHS compliant lines independantly. That and you’re not even allowed to make it if your manufacturing facilities are in the EU.

]]> By: Fred http://toolmonger.com/2008/01/29/dealmonger-eight-insulated-screwdrivers-for-8/#comment-215005 Fred Tue, 29 Jan 2008 17:57:08 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2008/01/29/dealmonger-eight-insulated-screwdrivers-for-8/#comment-215005 They look like other screwdrivers made by SKG in Germany. They look like other screwdrivers made by SKG in Germany.

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