$9 vs $100 VDE Insulated Screwdriver Set + Their Basics

All Electricians need VDE 1000V insulated screwdrivers and in this video I give you my thoughts on whether to go with the cheaper or more expensive brand. I also give you a little sparky 101 on phillips and flatty screwdrivers.
🔨 TOOLS MENTIONED (2022 PRICE IN AUD)
- Craftright
6 Piece Insulated
VDE Screwdriver set
($8.98)
- Wiha
6 Piece
Softfinish Slimfix
Screwdriver Set
($105.80)
🔗 Electrician 101 - Linesman Crosscut Pliers
• Electrician 101 - Line...
⏳ TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Intro
00:25 Why I never work live
01:16 Screwdriver Brands
02:19 Screwdriver Similarities
04:12 Which Screwdriver Set to Go With
05:55 Screwdrivers 101
09:34 Outro
⚠️ WARNING
Do not attempt DIY Electrical work! All activities in this video have been performed by a Licensed Electrician for educational and entertainment purposes only. All work is done at your own risk. Corey Bruhn will not accept responsibility or liability, for any loss, damage, injury or negligence. Please consult a Registered Electrical Contractor or Electrical Inspector prior to dealing with any electrical installations. For more information visit: esv.vic.gov.au/DDIY

[@angeldelvax7219]

Been using Bahco for about 10 years now, but I also bought a set of Werckmann. The Bahco set was about €50,- and the other set about €6,- . There is a difference in durability, but as long as the insulation isn't damaged, they're both perfectly safe. The Bahco set has seriously degraded rubber on a few of the grips by now, so I need to replace them. The cheap set has all the tips worn really bad, and I haven't used them nearly as much. Worn tips do tend to damage the screws and terminals too though, so that's a good reason to go for something more durable. That said, the €6,- set is a LOT better than non insulated tools. When in doubt: buy the best you can afford, do your work safely and save up for better tools somewhere down the road ;) And yes, I DO work on live installations. I mostly work in venues where they have live music or theater. Especially the smaller ones don't have the budget for proper modern gear, or even proper techs who plan what is connected where. If you have to do work on a fuse box, often the only way to power it down is to literally disconnect the main 400A fuses. That would shut off most of the building, and it would require the service provider to send someone over to cut the seal and replace it. That takes days, or even weeks, and it's VERY expensive. So if something happens that really needs to get fixed before the show that night, you're working on a partially live installation. Safety is THE ABSOLUTE HIGHEST priority EVER. Especially since there are also other people running around. I'd MUCH rather use a new €6,- set than a defective €50,- one XD

[@bri200490]

I got my Wiha set from the electrical wholesaler , in NZ for NZ$69. They feel best in my hands and has like warranty, which I’ve used a few times .

[@lordv1le859]

Cr-V is alright but Cr-Mo is much tougher. Also a bit odd the Vanadium head is dark as that’s a molybdenum trait. The vanadium til should be more silvery

[@jordangaulke7643]

Could not agree more, I bought the wiha set for my apprentishio and a year in snap one of the flathead screwdrivers. Could not find a single replacement so instead bought a cheaper kit for the price of one screwdriver and they have been great!.

[@user-qi6ez4se4r]

I work in underground mining, I'm always losing screwdrivers and if I dont lose em they rust out in a year or 2. Mostly I'm repping the aldi or craftright screwdrivers, although I do try to keep a set of the wera stainless VDE screwdrivers for when I want quality, their laser etched tips really are pretty good and your not paying much extra to get them stainless, plus they still nearly as well as the regular steel ones

[@Jay-fp8iy]

I have both. I love the CR and wish they would release a slimline set. The CR doesn't fit in all places unfortunately (I'm in industrial) so have to fork out for nicer ones. Going with Felo next haven't tried them before.

[@coreybruhn]

Nice mate, lemme know how they go 👍

[@TheNottonight]

The hole is not for a lanyard it’s for to put another screwdriver in it for torque like a T-handle.

[@coreybruhn]

That makes a lot more sense, cheers for the comment

[@86Sando]

I have many different sets of VDE screwdrivers because I always seem to lose one out of a set. I have had Wiha, Wera, Klein, Stanley, Craftright and more and honestly I say go with whatever feels the best in your hand. I like Wera the best though.

[@coreybruhn]

Nice, I haven't tried Wera yet. Do they just feel the best in your opinion?

[@86Sando]

@@coreybruhn for me they do but I know blokes who love wiha for the same reason. 👍

[@joshh5076]

I use Felo Screwdrivers which cost a lot more, but they're extremely comfortable in my hand. The quality of the steel or its heat treatment must be superior as I've never had the blades chip or round off unlike with cheaper options.

[@AndrewStrydomBRP]

I agree with you on the value aspect, but there's four other things to consider; Would you really like your customer to see you using the same thing they can get for $10 at the local diy shop? Customers tend to percieve tradies using higher end tools (and keeping them clean!) as more professional. Though it's more relevant in a residential setting where you are working for an individual person. The overall comfort of the screwdriver, such as wera having a special design that fits your hand very well. Additional features like wiha and wera having a slim bit so that they can get to screws that are recessed, or the wiha screwdriver like I have which can store six bits in the handle to keep your tool bag light, maybe even lasertip on wera. And of course, if you are earning money and using your kit every day you will probably want to have a tool you can really trust and be proud of, although more relevant to pliers and cutters, even when going through the same tests the durability of the plastics or the tips on screwdrivers can vary. I personally have a few screwdrivers that are reserved for beating on and then a couple sets that I keep in good condition.

[@coreybruhn]

Cheers for the comment! Yeah defs a good idea to have a cheaper set you can abuse and a more expensive set you keep in good nick. I've done high-end residential work and honestly I don't think any clients have noticed the difference nor care what brand of screwdrivers I use, however carrying your tools neatly on the job will give off a more obvious good impression (for example my PACKOUT/Makita pouch system)

[@AndrewStrydomBRP]

@@coreybruhn I would agree, having a high end brand isn't the most important thing for impression. Personally I would say that this is the order for what makes the most difference: keep tools clean, carry them in neatly, have quality tools I have veto bags for all my hand tools, I find the TP-LC a good size for the selection of drivers, pliers, cutters, grips etc that I generally find myself needing. I'd say the power tool brand is more noticable for clients, since they always have sizable logos.

[@kibah]

lmao clients wouldn’t care that much, they’re not gonna observe every minuscule detail in your equipment

[@AndrewStrydomBRP]

@@kibah You might be surprised, I've seen and heard about some seriously snobbish customers.

[@Tom-gr9ii]

Client will also look at what type of car technician drive to determine his professionalism? 😂

[@BalwinderSingh-qt9mu]

Informative, I'm also electrical technician in India....

[@knightbeat]

The best ...

[@samuelsmith577]

What the specialized fields that work in a live circuit? It's seems wild to think people would do that

[@coreybruhn]

Mainly industrial where sometimes it's necessary, but yeah I would never work on live circuits

[@mikestoveken]

In an industrial or commercial environment, you can't always shut down a circuit to replace a failed component. Your customer may have a production line with dozens of receptacles and fixtures on it and one of them fails. You wouldn't have the customer shut down the production line just to replace one failed receptacle or fixture. Or shut down a critical section of a utility to do the same. I always work on de-energized circuits, but there is sometimes a need to keep the circuit energized while a repair or new connection is made.

[@cmelft2463]

Hospitals, can't go turning off an entire ward to change a power point when someone may be on life support etc.

[@PS3gamer319]

It’s tradie time!

[@87SuperKai]

The responsibility always lies with the user, not the tool. Regardless of its price, a screwdriver remains a screwdriver at the end of the day.

[@nrhoofcare7724]

Much of the price difference is probably wages.

[@Tom-gr9ii]

The main reasons I buy expensive hand tools is the quality. If the quality is similar then I will buy the less expensive tools.

[@zoltrix7779]

I'll pay for decent tools, but I use the CraftRights, seriously, its a screwdriver and works just fine. When you lose one, you'll not be angry.

[@kiralypeter88]

Don't forget that sometimes on a good sale you could buy them for the same price. Sometimes theres only like 30% price difference. In this case there's nothing to talk about just go with the branded one. But of course there's nothing wrong with the cheap one. We go though all brands (from PB, wera, wiha, milwaukee down to noname ones) and the cheap ones are just fine.

[@marshall2828]

bunnings bunnings bunnings. i know where you spend your weekends

[@jmpascoe]

I'm an electrician orginally from Melbourne and I've never heard the term flatty. Just saying.

[@crmags]

I use cheapo's at work and nice ones at home. Tools get nicked all the time or simply borrowed and not returned. Also, I work with people who abuse tools.

[@Thompson-from-Finland]

plastic is soo much better on wera and wiha screwdrivers. cheap shitty drivers insulation peels of very easily. also you can get wiha and wera as slim

[@coreybruhn]

That's if you're okay using screwdrivers that aren't insulated up to 1000V as a sparky