Best brand/source for T6 driver?

B

Buck268

Joined
Nov 5, 2006
Messages
1,864
I've had nothing but issues with my Craftsman T6 driver. I know they are tiny splines, but I've stripped this tool out a couple times already and I'm getting tired of the trip to Sears. Do you guys have any recommendations for a T6 that will hold up a little better?

On a side note, I've slightly damaged the T6 screw head in one of my Spydies due to this particular driver stripping out. Does anybody know the exact screw I'd need to replace a Endura 4 lockbar pivot? Female side is good, just the T6-headed male is slightly damaged.
 
Huskey at Home Depot and Lowes makes some great T-driver sets. Got mine at Home Depot after having nothing but bad luck w/Benchmade's original blue box and with Craftsman. Have had nothing but good luck with the Huskey set after several years of moving pocketclips, tightening pivots, and the occasional disassembly.
 
This Husky set is what I've been using for my Endura 4 (and many others). Can be found at Home Depot for about $6.00. I've been pleased with it (I bought a 2nd one, too). As for replacing your pivot screw, I'd just get in touch with Spyderco. Whether they cover it under warranty or not, I wouldn't worry. I think getting a replacement from them would be the safest option.

By the way, I'm pretty sure the pivot on the Endura 4 is a T9. If I remember correctly, I use one bit from the driver for my E4. The T6 fits the clip screws, and the other end of the same bit (T9) for the pivot. That's one reason I like this particular driver for my E4. I'll dig out my Endura to make sure, but I think the T9 is the one for the pivot.

Edited to add: Yes, I verified the pivot is a T9.

0cc66c97-59bd-467d-9c41-48fff3c20a49_300.jpg
 
How timely! I was just posting this photo on another forum.

Note the rounded end that prevents the bit from penetrating deeper into the screw head, and note the slight twist in the splines that is indicative of a soft deformable metal.

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I tell people to consider the cost of a failed job when contemplating a budget for tools. More expensive is not always better, but I find that expensive brands like Snap-on rarely make inferior tools. Perhaps you pay more for the name, but I always seem to get a tool that is at least as good as anything else I have ever seen on the market...and I would gladly pay that extra to not have to go through the process of trying lesser tools in my search for a good one.

My last purchase of a T-6 driver bit from Snap-on was $5.28 (worth every penny). That bit removed a screw in front of the guy that owns the driver in the photo above. That bit (in the photo) was unsuccessful in removal of a "cheap screw". Before that demo, the guy (a co-worker) was cursing the "cheap screw"...now he seems to better understand that the screw was not the problem.

P.S. that bit in the photo is from a source mentioned in this thread;)
 
I have a Lowes version of that tool, Obsessed- and it works fine. I just like the fixed size drivers better for some reason. Maybe I'll see if Craftsman has different lines of Torx drivers like they do most of their handtools now. Short of Ebay or "Finding a Snap On truck," where can one purchase said brand?

Anyways, I supposed Spyderco is the best bet. But for the record this is the lockbar pivot, not the blade pivot (I didn't try to use a T6 on the blade pivot! :p )



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Buck268 said:
I have a Lowes version of that tool, Obsessed- and it works fine. I just like the fixed size drivers better for some reason. Maybe I'll see if Craftsman has different lines of Torx drivers like they do most of their handtools now. Short of Ebay or "Finding a Snap On truck," where can one purchase said brand?

Anyways, I supposed Spyderco is the best bet. But for the record this is the lockbar pivot, not the blade pivot (I didn't try to use a T6 on the blade pivot! :p )


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Yep. My bad. I read (and replied to) your post prior to my first cup of morning coffee :yawn:. I should know better, not to post when groggy... :p

I think I have the Lowe's version too (bluish aluminum handle; bit storage inside). I haven't used that one much, I'll have to double check the fit of it's bits against my Endura.

As for the lockbar pivot screw, the head is in fact a T6, as far as I can tell. I don't know what the length & thread pitch sizes are for these, that's why I'd prefer to just get replacements straight from Spyderco. I looked a while back, for some extra screws for some of my knives. Even if I could've found the right sizes, most vendors I found would only sell them in large quantity (as in packages of 100 or more). I'm pretty sure I'd never use 'em all.
 
I would recommend contacting Spyderco regarding replacement screws. Worst case scenario, you could buy the "parts kit" for the lightweight Endura that includes the liners...but my hunch is that they would send you a small handful (5-6) of screws if you asked nicely. I have heard rumor of people reporting that they called and a few days later an envelope arrived with said screws in it (for free).

I recommend Spyderco, because you can be reasonable sure that you have the correct screws...and "Spyderco Customer Service" is pretty easy to find compared to attempting to describe the screw you need in a web search:)
 
pvicenzi said:
I think Wiha makes the best precision drivers.
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+1, I have used Wiha for several years and have allways been happy with their performance. I used to race R/C trucks and the pinion gear was held on by a 4-40 set screw. The hex size of that is .050", I used a Wiha driver and never stripped one out and was always able to get the screw tight enough so it wouldn't fall off in the middle of a race.

Bruceter
 
+2. I only use Wiha for all my hex bit and driver needs. Absolutely among the best available anywhere. I have never had one strip or bend.

Edited to add: My tools are used every day in an industrial setting, (machine shop) not sure about these other posters. I tried a set of Craftsman and a set of Husky from Lowes and found both wanting compared to Wiha. If you seldom use your tools then either of those may be fine for you, and Craftsman used to have lifetime warranty, so a damaged tool could be swapped for free (although that wouldn't fixed a screw head stripped due to tool rounding) not sure if that is still there or not.
 
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Obsessed with Edges said:
This Husky set is what I've been using for my Endura 4 (and many others). Can be found at Home Depot for about $6.00. I've been pleased with it (I bought a 2nd one, too). As for replacing your pivot screw, I'd just get in touch with Spyderco. Whether they cover it under warranty or not, I wouldn't worry. I think getting a replacement from them would be the safest option.

By the way, I'm pretty sure the pivot on the Endura 4 is a T9. If I remember correctly, I use one bit from the driver for my E4. The T6 fits the clip screws, and the other end of the same bit (T9) for the pivot. That's one reason I like this particular driver for my E4. I'll dig out my Endura to make sure, but I think the T9 is the one for the pivot.

Edited to add: Yes, I verified the pivot is a T9.

0cc66c97-59bd-467d-9c41-48fff3c20a49_300.jpg
Click to expand...

i also use that husky set, it's inexpensive and gets the job done.
 
I've gone through a couple of cheap sets that were just soft and rounded easily. I've been using a GearWrench set that I bought from Amazon for $18 and includes T5 through T9. I like it a lot.
 
I use the "pro" set from ace hardware and they work great. It took me a long time to find a decent quality set.


Also I found out that when dealing with T6 I always get better results when I force a T7 I to the T6 screw. Ever since I started using t7 for all my t6 screws I haven't stripped a single one.

If you put a t6 driver in and it wiggles AT ALL, then shove a T7 in there and be confident that you won't strip the screw.
 
Hate to dig up an old thread but I second the Snap-On bit drivers. I use some of the larger sizes everyday and bought the small ones just for knives. Have never had a problem removing a screw with them. They have some small handled drivers in T6 also. Wiha is great if you can find them too:)
 
Buck268 said:
I've had nothing but issues with my Craftsman T6 driver. I know they are tiny splines, but I've stripped this tool out a couple times already and I'm getting tired of the trip to Sears. Do you guys have any recommendations for a T6 that will hold up a little better?

On a side note, I've slightly damaged the T6 screw head in one of my Spydies due to this particular driver stripping out. Does anybody know the exact screw I'd need to replace a Endura 4 lockbar pivot? Female side is good, just the T6-headed male is slightly damaged.
Click to expand...

Hi,

2 things. First, if you're stripping quality drivers, you're using too much force. To loosen, apply some heat to the screw to break the thread sealer before going brute force. When tightening, use some blue loctite and once again avoid the brute force method. There's no need to go beyond reasonably tight plus a thread sealant.

Second, I use the Kobalt brand torx driver.
820909602729lg.jpg

It's small enough that I don't over tighten the screws as much. I have several bigger sets but I rarely use them on folders. It's too easy to over do it with a full size driver and small torx bits.
 
Replaced the Craftman with an identical unit which has held up great so far. Perhaps they had some bad batches?
 
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