Torx and allen keys

[cheb]

My aversion to allen heads is that they fill up with stuff and you can't easily tell if the key is all the way into the socket.

[mangocrazy]

My aversion to allen heads is that they fill up with stuff and you can't easily tell if the key is all the way into the socket.

Yeah, fair point.

If in doubt get the air line out and blast the heads with compressed air. While standing back...

[demographic]

Kin ell, must be the only part of a Beta thats not bad for metalworm then.
Got a mate and his father who have lots of Lancias and the Betas were erm...hard to find metal to weld up.
Between them theres two Betas or at least some engine parts from them, a Delta HF Turbo (8 valve) a Thema, 2 Lambdas, a Fullvia and a Fulvia Zagato.
I've likely missed two or three out there.
No Stratos though.

Yeah, broadly in agreement on the ball end thing and my ancient KX 500 has those flanged bolts and I'll never swap those over to allen bolts as long as I have the choice.

[mangocrazy]

I must have a really rare Beta, as it's not needed any welding.

Yet. (He said nervously)...

The first owner Ziabarted and Waxoyled it to within an inch of its life, which may have something to do with it. And the car is currently in a garage in the south of France with a 'spare' engine fitted. The original engine is in my living room in Stafford.

Really nice assortment of Lancias your mate has. Especially liked the Fulvia Zagato. The Stratos (even a kit version) is a lottery win fantasy.

[demographic]

I nipped into Machine Mart to get some workboots and while I was in there I got this.
Came with three JIS PH3, two JIS PH2 and two JIS PH1 bits.
The bits fit into any of the ends so I can have three bits on it at any given time which is mostly just good for stopping swarf and metal from getting into where the magnets are, they're 1/4" hex so just standard screwdriver hex size and it also holds whatever other bits and sockets I have with that fitting.


Not actually used em yet but the magnets are good and strong, plus the T is very... T shaped so err... yay.

[cheb]

I've go one of those, it's good. If anything the long part of the tee is a bit short.

[demographic]

I've go one of those, it's good. If anything the long part of the tee is a bit short.

Easy sorted with a bit driver though eh?
Not ideal but I frequently have one or two bit holders daisychained if I need a longer bit to reach into something.
Only issue is when its got to get through a small diameter hole and thats when either long screwdriver bits or an actual screwdriver is needed.

[cheb]

True, but a tiny bit more faffing than ideal.

[mangocrazy]

Don't want or need ball ends, I've got 2 sets. I want the best of the best.

You don't want or need a set of ball end Torx or Allen drivers right up until the time that no other tool will do. As an example, to get at a particular socket buried between the Falco cylinders, the only tool that will access it is a Snap-On (or similar quality) long ball end 3/8" drive 8mm allen driver.

And 'best' is such a subjective term; 'best of the best' even more so. What brand (or brands) do you consider 'best'?

[weeksy]

Don't want or need ball ends, I've got 2 sets. I want the best of the best.

You don't want or need a set of ball end Torx or Allen drivers right up until the time that no other tool will do. As an example, to get at a particular socket buried between the Falco cylinders, the only tool that will access it is a Snap-On (or similar quality) long ball end 3/8" drive 8mm allen driver.

And 'best' is such a subjective term; 'best of the best' even more so. What brand (or brands) do you consider 'best'?

Did you miss the part where i've got 2 sets ?

For me, after research Facom seem to be right up there, hence why i've ordered a set of Torx and Allen... well, Mrs Weeksy has.

[mangocrazy]

Don't want or need ball ends, I've got 2 sets. I want the best of the best.

You don't want or need a set of ball end Torx or Allen drivers right up until the time that no other tool will do. As an example, to get at a particular socket buried between the Falco cylinders, the only tool that will access it is a Snap-On (or similar quality) long ball end 3/8" drive 8mm allen driver.

And 'best' is such a subjective term; 'best of the best' even more so. What brand (or brands) do you consider 'best'?

Did you miss the part where i've got 2 sets ?

For me, after research Facom seem to be right up there, hence why i've ordered a set of Torx and Allen... well, Mrs Weeksy has.

Yeah, saw that bit, but couldn't really make sense of it so responded to 'don't want or need ball ends'. Were you trying to say you'd already got 2 sets of ball end drivers? If so, I belatedly understand.

Yeah, I like Facom. I have as et of these for general use:

Facom_ball_end_hex.png (178.75 KiB) Viewed 828 times

The retaining mechanism for the keys is positive and doesn't go slack and you have ball end on the long end and 'normal' drive on the short end for final tightening. I can recommend.

[weeksy]

You don't want or need a set of ball end Torx or Allen drivers right up until the time that no other tool will do. As an example, to get at a particular socket buried between the Falco cylinders, the only tool that will access it is a Snap-On (or similar quality) long ball end 3/8" drive 8mm allen driver.

And 'best' is such a subjective term; 'best of the best' even more so. What brand (or brands) do you consider 'best'?

Did you miss the part where i've got 2 sets ?

For me, after research Facom seem to be right up there, hence why i've ordered a set of Torx and Allen... well, Mrs Weeksy has.

Yeah, saw that bit, but couldn't really make sense of it so responded to 'don't want or need ball ends'. Were you trying to say you'd already got 2 sets of ball end drivers? If so, I belatedly understand.

Yeah, I like Facom. I have as et of these for general use:

Facom_ball_end_hex.png

The retaining mechanism for the keys is positive and doesn't go slack and you have ball end on the long end and 'normal' drive on the short end for final tightening. I can recommend.

Yes, i should have added 'more ball end ....' As i've already got 2 sets

But i wanted something 'special' rather than just acceptable, something that'll last me a long time.

[cheb]

Halfords are winning currently. Mostly because the have good pictures and descriptions of the tool ends. I've realised that security torx screws feature frequently in my life and I'd like all my drivers to be able to deal with them, not have to go and fetch the special ones.

[Zimbo]

I'm eying up a Wera set, they're supposed to be excellent. I've always used the Machine Mart / Clarkes ones, which have served me well and are just over a fiver..

[Rockburner]

Halfords are winning currently. Mostly because the have good pictures and descriptions of the tool ends. I've realised that security torx screws feature frequently in my life and I'd like all my drivers to be able to deal with them, not have to go and fetch the special ones.

I was just going to mention that - seeing as no-one else had remembered....

You need 2 sets of Torx - security and non-security.

I've broken about 3 T45 'security' Torx bits because they're a damned site weaker than the solid ones, and sometimes large Torx bolts get been done up by some monkey (ahem) a tad too tight.

[v8-powered]

I'm eying up a Wera set, they're supposed to be excellent. I've always used the Machine Mart / Clarkes ones, which have served me well and are just over a fiver..

Wera stuff is generally excellent, I have a few of their sets at work....

[cheb]

Ah, good point.

[demographic]

I have one of those 100 piece security bit sets, cost buggerall and seems to have almost every bit I ever need. Not great quality but a lot of types covered.
Any that wear out I replace with Wera bits, usually Pozi 2s (my most used bits) and Torx 35s which I use for concrete fixings, the bigger Torx sizes generally last well though
I've had some Wiha Pozi bits which aren't as good as the Wera ones and Milwaukee Shockwave bits are so shite I kept the box and wrote "Crap, Avoid" on it so I could remember not to buy em again. The box is quite handy though.

[cheb]

IME security screws are used on electricals and frequently down a narrow hole, too narrow for a 1/4" bit and holder.