Thoughts on Torx and hex driver sockets

[srimes]

I have the Pittsburgh Pro Torx bit set also.

We were installing semi trailer flooring and the floor screws are either T40 or T45 (its been a minute) half way through the job the first bit broke, no worries the guy i was doing the job with grab his Mac set and the last screw broke his.

Both had lifetime warranty and we both got new ones, but he was impressed so much he bought a spare set from HF too.

Of course I just live 15 minutes from HF.

There's something to be said for tools that work well enough and are cheap enough that you don't cry if you lose them.

I've found the "premium" lines of HF tools to be pretty good budget options. Their budget crap can be hazardous.

But I'm just an amateur hobbyist. It'd probably be a different story if I used them harder.

Although I did work in an industrial environment that switched from IR grinders to HF. They were used and abused daily, and highly neglected. The IR ones had tighter tolerances and would fail much more quickly.

 

[ColoJeep]

Well, after much reading of the responses here, research and quite a bit of waffling (SOP for me when buying things), I have formed a course of action.

For decades my preferred hand tool brand was S-K when buying new (80's-90's) and my stash was mainly that with a smattering of MAC and Snap-on in the end. To date, I've never broken anything from any of them, and that even goes for used tools of those same brands I picked up a long the way.

Recently I've been hunting down older used S-K pieces on Ebay to fill in gaps in my older sets. Decided to take a chance and research S-K "vintage" hex and torx socket sets and, sure enough, I found some of the classic sets for sale (the type with replaceable bit heads). I've got the metric and SAE hex sockets buttoned up and on the way, the Torx are an auction so I'll have to bid.

Not sure why it didn't strike me sooner but I guess the couple of remarks on MAC, Snap-on and having old sets that are still going gave me the backhand I needed to wake up and remember S-K made them as well. Duh...

These are all standard use, not impact rated, but I think I'm alright with that.

My dad had S-K tools when I was growing up . I've had a 5' cheater pipe on a 1/2 dr. breaker bar with a 3/4 ' socket , bouncing on the end of the cheater I broke the head off a 1/2-20 bolt , never hurt the socket ( 12 pt. ) or breaker bar . Great tools !

 

[OldBuzzard]

As a young man, I had a cheap 1/2" breaker bar, which I broke trying to remove a 36mm axle nut. So I bought a more expensive one, which also broke immediately. So I spent even more money on a Craftsman (back when that meant something), and removed the nut successfully. In many decades since, I haven't been able to break it.

Buy once, cry once. Buy thrice, go hungry for a few meals.

 

[NashvilleTJ]

Well, after much reading of the responses here, research and quite a bit of waffling (SOP for me when buying things), I have formed a course of action.

For decades my preferred hand tool brand was S-K when buying new (80's-90's) and my stash was mainly that with a smattering of MAC and Snap-on in the end. To date, I've never broken anything from any of them, and that even goes for used tools of those same brands I picked up a long the way.

Recently I've been hunting down older used S-K pieces on Ebay to fill in gaps in my older sets. Decided to take a chance and research S-K "vintage" hex and torx socket sets and, sure enough, I found some of the classic sets for sale (the type with replaceable bit heads). I've got the metric and SAE hex sockets buttoned up and on the way, the Torx are an auction so I'll have to bid.

Not sure why it didn't strike me sooner but I guess the couple of remarks on MAC, Snap-on and having old sets that are still going gave me the backhand I needed to wake up and remember S-K made them as well. Duh...

These are all standard use, not impact rated, but I think I'm alright with that.

That's a great thought, Chili. I have a bunch of newer S-K tools, mainly sockets, drivers and ratchets, and have been happy with them. What changed with S-K to drive the drop in quality between the vintage and new stuff - different specs when manufactured overseas?

 

[chili_pepper]

My dad had S-K tools when I was growing up . I've had a 5' cheater pipe on a 1/2 dr. breaker bar with a 3/4 ' socket , bouncing on the end of the cheater I broke the head off a 1/2-20 bolt , never hurt the socket ( 12 pt. ) or breaker bar . Great tools !

Their round head ratchets are a favorite.

There's something to be said for tools that work well enough and are cheap enough that you don't cry if you lose them.

But I'm just an amateur hobbyist. It'd probably be a different story if I used them harder.

Having been in a position of buying tools to make my money at one point, I've got a certain mentality about them. Problem is, even though I don't do that kind of work anymore, I still approach the subject the same way. It's hard to shake that, but I do realized professional series stuff might not always be required. My backup wrenches are Gearwrench and they seem to do just fine.

Important to note that these are "garage" hand tools, they aren't leaving the garage or being lent to anyone, so unlikely to get lost.

 

[chili_pepper]

That's a great thought, Chili. I have a bunch of newer S-K tools, mainly sockets, drivers and ratchets, and have been happy with them. What changed with S-K to drive the drop in quality between the vintage and new stuff - different specs when manufactured overseas?

As of 2021, the company is owned by a Chinese conglomerate (surprised?). And you should see the list of former American tool companies they now own. Sad. Anyway, as I understand it, some of S-K's tools are still made in the US though I couldn't speak to the quality of them.

As far as I'm aware, the stuff up to that point was still solid. The last piece I purchased new, a 1/4" round head ratchet as a spare, was in 2016 and it seems like a dead ringer for my older one. They did change the design of the wrenches, ratchets and sockets visually since I bought in many decades ago. Not sure what series the sockets are (maybe 40?, the newer ones are very smooth) but I have and prefer the 8300 series wrenches...

The newer wrenches are the same basic size and shape but completely smooth with larger markings.

As I'm buying some pieces to work with existing, That's mainly why I'm going for the older pieces to match....it's partially an OCD, anal-retentive thing. On the upside, I don't have to worry about figuring out where it's made or whether it will hold up since everything else I've got from back then has and was made here.

 

[ColoJeep]

so unlikely to get lost.

You likely underestimate yourself .

 

[chili_pepper]

You likely underestimate yourself .

I'm good to go. I've got a set of spare 10mm in everything.

And the wrench photo above wasn't chosen at random.

 

[ColoJeep]

I'm good to go. I've got a set of spare 10mm in everything.

And the wrench photo above wasn't chosen at random.

You can never have too many 10mm.......

 

[chili_pepper]

You can never have too many 10mm.......

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The only thing I think the Delta Elite is missing is a bit of checkering on the front and back straps. Only ever seen one of them in the wild, cool 1911.

 

[John Cooper]

The only thing I think the Delta Elite is missing is a bit of checkering on the front and back straps. Only ever seen one of them in the wild, cool 1911.

I was lucky enough to shoot a BrenTen back in the early-mid 80's.

Of course it was just like Sonny Crocketts on Miami Vice.

Just didn't have the funds to purchase one.

 

[Danarch]

I can't say I enjoyed it. I remember bucking from a ladder sucking doubly. Mindless, but you had to pay attention. If the bar came off in the process you could have problems and some explaining to do. Couldn't say how many rivets are in a post or panel, but I recall the process feeling endless to my early 20's brain. Did a few roof jobs while I worked there as well. Sardine cans.

I think anyone who enjoys bucking needs an evaluation . Then if you slipped the bucking bar seemed to mess up the air hammer and you’d end up with smilies on the outside . There are more holes than in a panel than I care to count. Drill holes install rivets, repeat over and over again. I couldn’t stand body work on semi-trailers.