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Torx bits

Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 10:56 pm
by Bluemoose
I have 5 Spyderco knives, and it looks like I'll be getting a lot more. :D I am wondering what the common sizes are for the torx screws in the clips, scales and pivots. Thanks!

Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2011 5:14 am
by GEC
I know a t6 for clip and scales on my delica. The pivot screw is I think a t8 or 9. I would just get a set going from t6-t10 just to have it. You can find them pretty cheap at either sears or home depot.

Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2011 5:56 am
by The Deacon
I've encountered T-6, T-7, T-8, T-9, T-10, and T-15 on Spyderco knives. I'd say the three most common are T-6 which covers all 3 screw clips that use Torx and many body screws, T-9 which covers most wire clips and some pivots, and T-10 which covers most of the remaining pivots. Know some versions of the Military use T-15, but other "hard use" folders in the pipeline may use it as well.

Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2011 6:39 am
by Beanie-Bean
I will be picking up some Wiha Torx drivers here soon, along with the neat magnetizer. Those have been recommended in some of the posts and vids I've seen here lately.

Meanwhile, I've got a small set of Craftsman Torx drivers to keep things together.

Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2011 8:15 am
by The Deacon
Beanie-Bean wrote:I will be picking up some Wiha Torx drivers here soon, along with the neat magnetizer. Those have been recommended in some of the posts and vids I've seen here lately.

Meanwhile, I've got a small set of Craftsman Torx drivers to keep things together.
Wiha makes great, if somewhat expensive, tools. If I were going to work on knives as a business, I'd purchase their drivers. If I had the bad habit of taking my knives apart for cleaning every few months, or was indecisive about clip location and kept moving them around, I'd purchase their drivers. For the average user, who may move a clip once, tighten a loose screw occasionally, and perhaps take a knife apart to address a serious problem, the Craftsman, Husky (Home Depot), or Kobalt (Lowe's) sets are adequate, IMHO. In the six-plus years I've had mine, I've never found anything other than knives that I needed small Torx drivers for.

Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2011 8:20 am
by jforbush
+1 :d

beanie-bean wrote:i will be picking up some wiha torx drivers here soon, along with the neat magnetizer. Those have been recommended in some of the posts and vids i've seen here lately.

Meanwhile, i've got a small set of craftsman torx drivers to keep things together.

Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2011 8:37 am
by dsmegst
The Deacon wrote:Wiha makes great, if somewhat expensive, tools. If I were going to work on knives as a business, I'd purchase their drivers. If I had the bad habit of taking my knives apart for cleaning every few months, or was indecisive about clip location and kept moving them around, I'd purchase their drivers. For the average user, who may move a clip once, tighten a loose screw occasionally, and perhaps take a knife apart to address a serious problem, the Craftsman, Husky (Home Depot), or Kobalt (Lowe's) sets are adequate, IMHO. In the six-plus years I've had mine, I've never found anything other than knives that I needed small Torx drivers for.
A few areas in my car used torx as well as computer parts. I really like em, they won't strip out nearly as easily as hex or philips.

Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2011 8:58 am
by N. Brian Huegel
Paul, I find your logic a little flawed IMHO. You are buying, using, and generally positively commenting on some of the finest (and relatively expensive) knives in the world and yet are too cheap to buy equivalent accessories. Why not just buy and use these knives (http://www.smkw.com/webapp/eCommerce/pr ... B40.html)? as they will fulfill the same basic purpose. :eek: Buying cheap tools is usually rewarded by the hassle of having to replace them when they inevitably fail. Buy quality once. Quality is remembered long after the price is forgotten.

Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2011 9:20 am
by Timbo114
Here are 2 affordable alternatives to full set drivers ...

Wiha-36392-L-Wrench
Wiha-79245 Selector Torx

I have both and am quite pleased.

Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2011 9:40 am
by angusW
Timbo114 wrote:Here are 2 affordable alternatives to full set drivers ...

Wiha-36392-L-Wrench
Wiha-79245 Selector Torx

I have both and am quite pleased.
That second set looks good, but it doesn't have a T6. Search for the Wiha 79242 set for a T6.

Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2011 10:09 am
by mattman
I used to install car stereo, so I needed a bunch of different tools, and that is when I got hooked on Snap-On tools. The difference in quality was amazing, and is a HUGE part of what has brought me here to Spyderco (learning that there can be such a difference in quality)

That being said, I have owned the Husky (Home Depot) mini screwdriver and torx set since before being Spyderbitten, and their quality is much much better than their price point would lead you to believe. I highly recommend it.

Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2011 10:58 am
by Timbo114
Agreed! :D Very good tool for the money.
I have yet to strip one of these bits.

Husky 6-Piece Torx
Image

Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2011 11:10 am
by dsmegst
Timbo114 wrote:Agreed! :D Very good tool for the money.
I have yet to strip one of these bits.

Husky 6-Piece Torx
Image
I agree. I own this set as well. I think the size of the driver actually prevents me from over-torquing anything.

I also have a full size driver with replaceable torx bits. I have broken smaller bits while using this set, simply because I was able to torque it too much.

Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2011 12:29 pm
by The Deacon
N. Brian Huegel wrote:Paul, I find your logic a little flawed IMHO. You are buying, using, and generally positively commenting on some of the finest (and relatively expensive) knives in the world and yet are too cheap to buy equivalent accessories. Why not just buy and use these knives (http://www.smkw.com/webapp/eCommerce/pr ... B40.html)? as they will fulfill the same basic purpose. :eek: Buying cheap tools is usually rewarded by the hassle of having to replace them when they inevitably fail. Buy quality once. Quality is remembered long after the price is forgotten.
All I can say is that, in my experience, inexpensive does not always equate to cheap. Back in the day when I use to work on my cars, I had less problems with Craftsman tools than with some of the more expensive brands, including Snap On.

As for the Torx wrenches, all I can say is that I've used my Husky set any number of times over the past six years and have yet to either damage a driver or bugger a screw. And, while Wiha does make driver sets that stores bits in the handle, they are larger, which gives you more leverage and increases the risk of striping a screw. Plus, none that I've found includes all the sizes Spyderco uses. So I'm hard pressed to see the benefit a more expensive Torx wrench set would give me.


Not to mention that, back in 2004, when I first got the unpleasant surprise of finding myself unable to remove the clip from my first Stretch because they were attached with something other than phillips screws, I tried a half dozen hardware stores, a couple Radio Shacks and a hobby shop before stumbling on the Husky set in Home Depot. Have a hunch that, like me, most folks needing one for the first time would rather buy local than order over the internet and wait.

FWIW, I don't drive a BMW, wear a Rolex, or write with a Mont Blanc either. I think Spydercos, while not cheap, are with only rare exceptions not terribly expensive either. If I was a knife snob, and put "quality" above function, I'd carry a William Henry, or at the very least a Chris Reeve. I truth, I'd rather have a VG-10/FRN Stretch in my pocket than either of those brands.

I gravitated to Spyderco because of three things. The midlock, which I have found to be the easiest to use hand-neutral lock. The 50/50 choil, which gives me peace of mind when I need to choke up on a knife. The round hole opener which is the easiest opening system I've ever used and which, IMHO, Spyderco is still the only knife company that has a legitimate right to use. Have yet to find any brand, cheaper or more expensive, I like more.

Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2011 3:47 pm
by mongatu
I've also been using the Husky tool pictured above (have both the Torx and the Phillips/slotted sets) and have found them to provide very good quality and great value. I just examined them with my 10x loupe and they (especially the Torx) appear to be holding up quite well and show little signs of wear. Love the small size and that everything fits in the handle. I usually take the pair of them, which is just two small drivers with 3 of the 4 bits stored inside each handle, along with me when I travel. Of course they are not as high quality as Wiha but they have proved to be good enough for my casual non professional use. They come with a lifetime warranty from Home Depot although I have my doubts about how easy it would be to get HD to honor it. Fortunately, that has not been necessary so far.

Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2011 3:53 pm
by mattman
mattman wrote:I used to install car stereo, so I needed a bunch of different tools, and that is when I got hooked on Snap-On tools. The difference in quality was amazing, and is a HUGE part of what has brought me here to Spyderco (learning that there can be such a difference in quality)

That being said, I have owned the Husky (Home Depot) mini screwdriver and torx set since before being Spyderbitten, and their quality is much much better than their price point would lead you to believe. I highly recommend it.

Just wanted to add, that the Craftsman Mag/Demag accessory is also very helpful in this application...

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1260 ... ockType=G1

Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2011 4:58 pm
by rosconey
i also have the home depot tool -no issues at all

Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2011 5:48 pm
by Daniel
I use the Home Depot tool, a set of Craftsman torx, and a full set of Wiha.

I have found that the Wiha torx tools are the most precise in size and they are a joy to use. They have been successful on numerous occasions in removing tough and stripped screws. They show no wear. They seem to be hardened better.

The Husky is a good tool and works most of the time and is less expensive, but it is also softer.

The Craftsman set is a full precision set and it works very well, also. They do not sell this set anymore. It was around $24 and is made very well. Sears' current ones do not appear to be made as well.