Thoughts on Torx and hex driver sockets

[06TJ35's]

I have this set from gear wrench. It has been so usefull. I never thought ill use the external torx sockets the other day I used one. I said to myself i have that tool!!!!!!

https://gearwrenchshop.com/products...tOodWilrR4NI_XbA9KQLPe3uXvlScbwcaAhmpEALw_wcB

 

[Apparition]

Wait, so I’m not an idiot???

 

[B1Toad]

For the smaller stuff you can't beat German made Wiha. I also have a full set of their hand Torx screwdrivers, they are tough and the handles fit your hand perfectly and are easy to grip.

Wiha is made in both Germany and Vietnam, It's the German made ones you want, although I can't say first hand if the Vietnamese ones are inferior because I never tried them.

https://www.wihatools.com/

 

[Danarch]

semi trailer flooring and the floor screws are either T40 or T45

I am pretty sure they are T45. Worked on semi-trailers for three years. Replacing the wood floors was an easy task, as long as the screws weren’t rusted to the cross members or the heads weren’t stripped out..

 

[chili_pepper]

as long as the screws weren’t rusted to the cross members or the heads weren’t stripped out..

Yes....as long as...

 

[chili_pepper]

I am pretty sure they are T45. Worked on semi-trailers for three years. Replacing the wood floors was an easy task, as long as the screws weren’t rusted to the cross members or the heads weren’t stripped out..

Always thought some chunks of that flooring would make a great workbench top surface.

 

[Danarch]

Yes....

Actually replacing the floors was sort of peaceful all things considered. Get in there by yourself and work for a few hours no one bothering you etc.

I hated replacing those aluminum body panels, way too many holes to drill, and way too many rivets to install with an air hammer.

 

[chili_pepper]

and way too many rivets to install with an air hammer.

As I was a body and paint technician helping out when the body shop was slow, I usually ended up with the bucking bar.

 

[Danarch]

I usually ended up with the bucking bar

That was the worse! So loud in there.

 

[Danarch]

Always thought some chunks of that flooring would make a great workbench top surface.

Agreed! That was nice flooring.

 

[chili_pepper]

That was the worse! So loud in there.

Even with protection, pretty sure that job cost me some of my hearing.

It's all good now, the doc got me fixed up and the hearing's never been better...

 

[JMT]

I have this set from gear wrench. It has been so usefull. I never thought ill use the external torx sockets the other day I used one. I said to myself i have that tool!!!!!!

https://gearwrenchshop.com/products...tOodWilrR4NI_XbA9KQLPe3uXvlScbwcaAhmpEALw_wcB

I really like my Gear Wrench stuff, but you guys are way ahead of me in the tool department.

 

[06TJ35's]

I really like my Gear Wrench stuff, but you guys are way ahead of me in the tool department.

I have a couple of other products for them. Good affordable tools.

 

[John Cooper]

I am pretty sure they are T45. Worked on semi-trailers for three years. Replacing the wood floors was an easy task, as long as the screws weren’t rusted to the cross members or the heads weren’t stripped out..

Yep T45 they are. I never have seen an easy floor job, maybe its because I always got to work on worn out trailers .... .. I was used to maybe 1 out of 100 screws not breaking

I did work in a trailer manufacturing plant and the floor drill and screw machine made the job easy.

Lord Buck rivets and bucking is the worst no matter how much hearing protection you wear!!

 

[chili_pepper]

I never have seen an easy floor job, maybe its because I always got to work on worn out trailers

I was used to maybe 1 out of 100 screws not breaking

Rust. Any truck trailer that's spent a length of time in the Northeast or near the coast.

Thankfully the trailer shop I worked in was in the Northeast...

Funny I hadn't thought much about that job in decades.

Lord Buck rivets and bucking is the worst no matter how much hearing protection you wear!!

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.

Gear Wrench

Good affordable tools.

For combo wrenches, I used to keep 2 sets when I was a mechanic and do now, again. About 10 years ago, I needed a second set of metric wrenches in a pinch and purchased a set of Gearwrench flex head ratcheting combos from an auto parts store. They worked at the time and have actually held up pretty well. No skipping teeth yet.

 

[sab]

For the smaller stuff you can't beat German made Wiha. I also have a full set of their hand Torx screwdrivers, they are tough and the handles fit your hand perfectly and are easy to grip.

Wiha is made in both Germany and Vietnam, It's the German made ones you want, although I can't say first hand if the Vietnamese ones are inferior because I never tried them.

https://www.wihatools.com/

I have some Torx and Security Torx bits from Wiha, and they are very high quality. I've used them on my modified step slider project (96 Torx or Security Torx fasteners), which I installed and removed probably five times during that project. I started with other brands of bits and they gradually twisted. They still worked, but there was a noticeable helix angle that developed. In contrast, the Wiha stayed straight as a rail. I generally use impact for loosening and hand tools for tightening (I like to feel for yielding.) The impact loosening didn't seem to twist the cheap bits - probably because it's only a few hammer impacts and they are pretty loose. They only twisted when tightening by hand, and I didn't tighten any with impact.

And, as a crazy coincidence, this just showed up in my email today. Apparently it's National Tradesperson Day (it's hyperlinked):


No, I don't work for Wiha - just passing on a good deal.

 

[JaysonB]

I have used a set of snap on torx sockets for years, and they fit the fasteners well, and they are pretty durable. I have been looking at the Gripedge torx, and hex sockets, they appear to work as advertised. Lots of video reviews on them. There are a ton of partially rounded out torx fasteners on my jeep, so I will probably give them a try.

 

[Irun]

I went through a similar debate with myself a while ago. I landed on two sets:

Neiko - Chrome Molybdenum steel (For everyday use)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007SX10NS?tag=wranglerorg-20

Lexivon - Drop-forged, heat-treated S2 alloy steel (For impact use)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07M9ZF35W?tag=wranglerorg-20

Correct or not, I based my decision on the following research:

Chrome Moly (4130/4140) vs. S2 Alloy Steel​

Property	Chrome Moly Steel (4130/4140, heat-treated)	S2 Tool Steel (drop-forged, heat-treated)
Composition (wt%)	~0.3–0.4% C, 0.8–1.1% Cr, 0.15–0.3% Mo, balance Fe	~0.45–0.55% C, ~2.0% Si, ~0.3% Mo, ~0.2% V, ~0.4% Cr, balance Fe
Tensile Strength	95–160 ksi (650–1,100 MPa) depending on heat treatment	225–285 ksi (1,550–1,950 MPa)
Yield Strength	75–130 ksi (520–900 MPa)	200–250 ksi (1,380–1,720 MPa)
Hardness (HRC)	~20–35 HRC (can be up to ~50 with special treatments)	~50–62 HRC (after tempering)
Toughness / Impact Resistance	Very good; resists fatigue and cracking under cyclic load	Extremely high shock resistance (designed for repeated impacts)
Ductility (Elongation %)	~20–25% in annealed condition	~10–15% (lower ductility, more brittle if over-hardened)
Applications	Roll cages, driveshafts, suspension links, axles, gears	Screwdriver bits, chisels, impact sockets, punches

 

[chili_pepper]

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.

 

[mrblaine]

I have some Torx and Security Torx bits from Wiha, and they are very high quality. I've used them on my modified step slider project (96 Torx or Security Torx fasteners), which I installed and removed probably five times during that project. I started with other brands of bits and they gradually twisted. They still worked, but there was a noticeable helix angle that developed. In contrast, the Wiha stayed straight as a rail. I generally use impact for loosening and hand tools for tightening (I like to feel for yielding.) The impact loosening didn't seem to twist the cheap bits - probably because it's only a few hammer impacts and they are pretty loose. They only twisted when tightening by hand, and I didn't tighten any with impact.

And, as a crazy coincidence, this just showed up in my email today. Apparently it's National Tradesperson Day (it's hyperlinked):
View attachment 643996

No, I don't work for Wiha - just passing on a good deal.

I've related this before but Kat brought home a pretty red Phillips #2 from the Salvation Army during one of her clothes shopping trips. I had no idea who Wiha was but I gave it a try. In short order, it became the only driver in that size that I used. That was about 15 years and 1000's of screws since. It it just as crisp and clean in the driver recesses as it was the first day I used it. I purchased another one just like it in case I lose the first one.

They also have a most excellent large flat blade. Seems odd, right? Well, any time I go to work on anything under a rig, I grab 3 tools. Medium ball peen hammer, large drift, and a large flat blade screwdriver to use as a small prybar. To date, the Wiha is the only one I haven't broken and I have a nice collection of many other brands I've ruined including several vintage professional Craftsman.

https://www.wihatools.com/products/softfinishr-heavy-duty-slotted-12-0