Source for quality tiny torx screwdriver bits?

[Jeff Liebermann]

On Mon, 17 Dec 2018 11:42:52 -0600, Fox's Mercantile <jdangus@att.net>
wrote:

>Who is Husky and where did they come from?

These might help:

"Who owns what brands"
<https://pow-jrk.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Tool-Brand-Behemoths-Tool-Companies-Who-Owns-What-Brands.jpg>
Husky is in the lower right corner.

Currently, the Husky name is owned by Home Despot:
<http://tmsearch.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=doc&state=4807:kigunh.2.7>
There are multiple listings under the Husky trademark, one for each
type of tool sold by Home Depot. My guess is about 300 listings.

Husky tools now have a lifetime warranty.
<https://toolguyd.com/husky-tools-forever-guarantee/>
Since the quality of Husky tools seems to be going downhill, it's
cheaper for Home Despot to offer a lifetime warranty to replace those
few tools that are returned as defective, than to fix the quality
problems for everyone.

More:
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Husky_(tools)>
<https://pressurewashr.com/tool-industry-behemoths/>


--
Jeff Liebermann jeffl@cruzio.com
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

 

[Jeff Liebermann]

On Mon, 17 Dec 2018 14:08:18 -0800, mike <ham789@netzero.net> wrote:

I misunderstood. Thought you were discussing the handle and how it
didn't hold the bits well.

No. It's the way the bit is made that's the problem. Torx drivers
and screw heads have a torque limit:
<https://www.wihatools.com/torx-sizes>
Exceed the torque limit and bad things happen. However, this table
assumes that the bit and screw head are perfectly mated fit, with no
air gap anywhere on surfaces perpendicular to the direction of applied
force. If there's an air gap, the force (torque) will be applied to a
much smaller area than with a perfect fit. It doesn't take much of an
air gap, especially small screw heads which don't have much mating
area anyway. That's why the tapered sides of the new and
not-so-improved Husky bits are a problem. There is quite a reduction
in contact area near the too narrow tip, and quite an air gap due to
the tapered fit.

If you're not using an impact driver, there ain't no such thing as
excessive torque.

I beg to differ. Look at the max torque specs at the above URL and
test your ability to apply torque with some kind of torsion torque
tester. This one should cover T2 to T10 screws:
<https://www.ebay.com/itm/392178731130>
I just tried it with a small torque wrench and found that I could do
about 8 ft-lbs or about 11 newton-meters. That's sufficient to hit
maximum for a T20 screw head far more than necessary to strip out the
tiny screws found in cell phones.

If the bit rounds off or breaks before the screw
turns, it's not an acceptable tool.

Maybe. If the bit was a good mating fit for the screw head, then yes,
it's probably junk. However, if it was a sloppy fit and/or had air
gaps, I could also blame the screw or bit depending on which one was
poorly made. There's also a question of metallurgy. If the bit were
properly heat treated, only the outside surface would be hardened and
annealed, while the core would be softer steel. That would give the
maximum hardness to protect the surface from gouging, and a somewhat
flexible core to give the bit strength. However, as the bit becomes
smaller and smaller, more of the material becomes hardened and
annealed steel, until the tip becomes very hard and very brittle. Do
anything wrong while driving this type of brittle bit, and it's going
to break.

If it damages the screw in the process, you've got problems
well in excess of a $2 screwdriver bit.

I have a collection of screw extractors and center drilling jigs. I
rarely need them.

Since I don't have any of the tiny bits, my experience
is with T7 to T10. I found the shiny bits
round off very easily. The dull grey or black
bits hold up better.

Most of the bits are electroplated with some kind of chromium
anti-rust compound. In the past, screwdriver tips were hardened
giving them a darkish color. This was the symbol of quality for
Proto, SK, and other quality screwdrivers. Now, every manufacturer
does this, except there's no hardening and the darkish color is either
an acid etch or paint.

I have shattered bits with the impact driver, but
that's not the issue when taking apart a phone.

Hint: If you feel the need to use an impact driver to remove a screw,
it's probably a left handed screw thread. (e.g. early Motorola
DynaTac and MicroTac).

Suggestions:
1. Don't use driver bits. There's nothing really wrong with them
except that the handles are too large for smaller size Torx screws.
2. I have a few of these "precision" Wiha Torx tools:
<https://www.wihatools.com/torx-tools/precision-screwdrivers>
which I use for working on smartphones. They work very nicely.
3. Test the fit of whatever driver you purchase against the screw
head before applying main force. There are some really weird screw
heads out there.

--
Jeff Liebermann jeffl@cruzio.com
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

 

On Monday, December 17, 2018 at 12:52:53 PM UTC-8, pf...@aol.com wrote:

On Monday, December 17, 2018 at 3:15:40 PM UTC-5, frankco...@gmail.com wrote:

I don't hate to say it but harbor freight has a decent set I use. If it doesn't work out they are like a 8 dollar loss or just return them

I will write this one (1) more time.

Purchasing from Harbor Freight is very nearly never a solution to anything.

And, by doing so, you are voting with your feet and wallet that your neighbor's job and well-being are meaningless to you.

Peter Wieck
Melrose Park, PA

OK, you're making a fuss about Harbor Freight and I get your point BUT there are times where I want something I'm only going to use a few times and cheapo is good enough. BTW that Husky tool for $6 from Home Depot includes front/back photos of the package which clearly says Made in China.

G²

 

[pfjw@aol.com]

On Monday, December 17, 2018 at 6:14:15 PM UTC-5, stra...@yahoo.com wrote:
c

I also use Wiha drivers at work but Peter will still be unhappy. While they are not made in China, they are also not made in USA. They are German.

I used to use Xcelite made in USA but hey are poor quality compared to Wiha and to add insult, they cost more.

Not so much on the German or Swiss stuff. That will be premium, and I concede that need for those that need that level of ultra-reliability. When I was working as a machinist - and signing off on aircraft parts (full signature, not initials), the tools I used were either Swiss, German, or Starrett-level American. And those things that measured got calibrated every quarter..

Point being that if one needs tools of that quality, one has few choices.

Peter Wieck
Melrose Park, PA

 

[Chuck]

On Mon, 17 Dec 2018 11:20:24 -0800, Jeff Liebermann <jeffl@cruzio.com>
wrote:

On Mon, 17 Dec 2018 11:11:12 -0600, Chuck <ch@dejanews.net> wrote:

On Mon, 17 Dec 2018 00:19:25 -0800, mike <ham789@netzero.net> wrote:
So, any recommendations for a small set of tiny
torx bits that actually hold up under use?

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-8-in-1-Precision-Torx-Screwdriver-Set-70381H/302735271
have held up well for me.

In my never humble opinion, those are not very good. The previous
version of those Husky Torx drivers were wonderful. I have several
sets and found them to be a very good fit and quite rugged. The new
and improved model is garbage, with a sloppy fit. Fast photo:
http://www.learnbydestroying.com/jeffl/crud/Husky-Torx.jpg
The upper driver is the older better model. The lower drive is the
current version which I detest. Notice the sides of the Torx bits.
The old version has sides that are parallel, while the new version is
tapered, producing a smaller point of contact, and a sloppy fit.

Jeff,
Didn't know they changed. I have the old version.