[Topspinmo]

Ok, I put some heat shrink on my screw driver blades. I think this will offer some protection from electrical shock? Or and I farting in wind?

[indianahurricane]

Originally Posted by Topspinmo

Ok, I put some heat shrink on my screw driver blades. I think this will offer some protection from electrical shock? Or and I farting in wind?

It works, I wouldn't work on anything over 110v. But its the amps that will get ya.

[villagetinker]

IMHO, this provides some limited protection, if you have a serious concern, there are tools that are specifically insulated and tested for suitable insulation levels. On a side note, I have done similar using a liquid rubber type material that worked well for decades in most cases, it did not like solvents.

[ElDiabloJoe]

A pair of electrician's gloves from the big orange big box store would be helpful as well. Depending on Amps and Volts of course.

[Altavia]

Bet those tools have a long history ;-)

What are you doing such that you need to insulate screwdrivers?

[jimhoward]

If your fingers would otherwise be touching the metal screwdriver blade, then it will provide some insulation. It will also prevent the shank of the screwdriver blade from making a short if it hits a live wire.

I am sure you would not intentionally be putting a screwdriver into an appliance with the power on, so this is presumably belt and suspenders in case there is power in a circuit that you did not realize was present and missed in your testing.

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by Altavia

Bet those tools have a long history ;-)

What are you doing such that you need to insulate screwdrivers?

No reason

Had to use my air compressor that’s been setting for years and it was making awful noise, so I disassembled it. Found mud dabblers inside my hot dog air compressor. While had it apart cleaned up, lubricated piston, and fixed electric tape was falling off. So, I heat shrunk over wires instead of taping. While I was at it I heat shrunk wrapped some of my screwdrivers. I doubled coated them, but they will probably get nicked up eventually.

I almost threw the air compressor away, but I have time and means to see what was wrong with it. Works good again.

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by villagetinker

IMHO, this provides some limited protection, if you have a serious concern, there are tools that are specifically insulated and tested for suitable insulation levels. On a side note, I have done similar using a liquid rubber type material that worked well for decades in most cases, it did not like solvents.

I got couple store brought coated screwdrivers that are coated looks like they did same thing? I didn’t measure thickness of the rubber though?

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by jimhoward

If your fingers would otherwise be touching the metal screwdriver blade, then it will provide some insulation. It will also prevent the shank of the screwdriver blade from making a short if it hits a live wire.

I am sure you would not intentionally be putting a screwdriver into an appliance with the power on, so this is presumably belt and suspenders in case there is power in a circuit that you did not realize was present and missed in your testing.

When I can I make sure power off before I stick my fingers and tools in. I alway check it with multimeter for stray voltage. Just added safety precaution.

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by ElDiabloJoe

A pair of electrician's gloves from the big orange big box store would be helpful as well. Depending on Amps and Volts of course.

I have some rubber coated gloves if I even do anything thing 220V or above. Which I hardly ever do?

[Berwin]

Me: Looking at the big 'bite' out of my favorite screwdriver from the time I hit the wrong breaker before working on my outside unit... Still using the screwdriver, though.

[dewilson58]

Hoping for strong wind out of the South.

[AnthonyJ]

Originally Posted by Topspinmo

Ok, I put some heat shrink on my screw driver blades. I think this will offer some protection from electrical shock? Or and I farting in wind?

Shrink tubing should work fine, especially if its teflon which has high dielectric (insulation) properties.

[HJBeck]

Probably not much more protection than the plastic handle provides in the first case, but isn’t going to hurt. Can’t imagine what work you’re doing to require this. Nothing is more important than your safety and the 60 seconds it would take to turn off the breaker, or even shut off the main breaker if your not sure which branch breaker to flip

[williep]

The insulation on the shaft is not to protect you. The handle will do that. But if you have to make an adjustment in a live circuit, it will prevent you from shorting out something in the circuit itself.