Torx screws

S

scubisino

Joined
Dec 4, 2015
Messages
590
Hi there..
Can anybody please tell me why 99% of knife makers uses torx screws?? there is some technical reason to use this kind of screws?.. Personally I hate torx.. they are so easy to strip...

Best regards..
 
I have no idea other than they look cool and they often keep people from tampering with a knife.

I had a micro wave oven "stop" in the last week. It was like 10 years old. Debated just buying a new one. Decided to take it apart and see if I could find the fuse and replace it. It was worth $5 to try and fix. Well.... there were three phillips head screws and two torx. I have a couple sets of torx bits and so forth but, no go. Cut the damn screws off with a hack saw. Done. Somehow that really doesn't work so well with a knife. Anyway, the micro wave works again... maybe another 10 years out of it perhaps?
 
With screws the size of knife hardware, Torx resists stripping a bit better than some other fastener styles as well as less slippage between the tool and screw head.

Here's the explanation from wikipedia

"By design, Torx head screws resist cam-out better than Phillips head or slot head screws.[1] Where Phillips heads were designed to cause the driver to cam out[citation needed], to prevent overtightening, Torx heads were designed to prevent cam-out. The development of better torque-limiting automatic screwdrivers for use in factories allowed this change. Rather than rely on the tool to slip out of the screw head when a torque level is reached, which risks damage to the driver tip, screw head, and/or workpiece, torque-limiting driver designs achieve a desired torque consistently. The manufacturer claims that this combination can increase tool bit life by ten times or more.[citation needed]

The Torx design allows for a higher torque to be exerted than a similarly sized conventional hex socket head without damaging the head and/or the tool."
 
^^^^ Exactly.

While I'm no construction worker, I'm in the "avid enthusiast" category of DYI home improvement guy, and I look for Torx screws every chance I get because they don't cam out anywhere near as easily.

I wonder when the OP says they are "easy to strip" if he is talking about stripping threads due to over torque, or if he is referring to cam out. Either way, if you're stripping threads, just don't crank down quite so hard because, as mentioned about, these suckers are really good at NOT caming out the way Philips do.
If you're just mis-stating that they cam out, you're likely using the wrong size star bit. If you use the correct size, it should not cam. If you go a little too small it will, and you'll round out the corners of your star bit, and that's bad.. m'kay?
 
I generally like Torx, but there can be a huge difference in Torx hardware quality from maker to maker. I have a feeling that hardware is where some manufacturers look to cut cost. The key, as always, is to have the right, high quality tool. For Torx drivers my go-to brand is Wiha. If you can't get a Torx to move on first try with a quality driver, assume you may be dealing with thread lock and try to gently warm the hardware with a hair drier.
 
19-3ben said:
^^^^ Exactly.

While I'm no construction worker, I'm in the "avid enthusiast" category of DYI home improvement guy, and I look for Torx screws every chance I get because they don't cam out anywhere near as easily.

I wonder when the OP says they are "easy to strip" if he is talking about stripping threads due to over torque, or if he is referring to cam out. Either way, if you're stripping threads, just don't crank down quite so hard because, as mentioned about, these suckers are really good at NOT caming out the way Philips do.
If you're just mis-stating that they cam out, you're likely using the wrong size star bit. If you use the correct size, it should not cam. If you go a little too small it will, and you'll round out the corners of your star bit, and that's bad.. m'kay?
Click to expand...

Exactly.. my english in not so good, for me strip=cam sorry guys..
 
I find that it has a lot to do with the quality of BOTH the bit and the screw itself. While in theroy a torx headed screw should be less susceptible to damage from the driver and should allow for faster repeatative screw sets; even if you are using a quality driver if the screw metal is soft or had poor sizing QC (read as Chinese trash) you will still damage the fastener long before you ever should. With more and more of fasteners being made in places not known for quality production it's easy to see why there's so many complaints about fastener failure.
 
When working with the 'less expensive' knives, you can bet anything you WILL strip out torx screws regardless of the quality of the tool used.
When working on quality knives use a quality tool, Wiha, and you won't strip out screws.
Joe
 
I think the quality of the screw makes all the difference. if they are cheap, one use kind of thing, you have problems removing them. I like the square headed screws for the same reason as the torx design. They are becoming more common as well.
 
What's irritating is that my ZT torx screw tool doesn't fit all ZT torx screws even though they are suppose to.
 
..And to add that most manufacturers use power tools to assemble their knives, and the TORX head screws make that easier to do.
 
As someone who has done stage contruction I absolutely love Torx screws. I've driven so many 3" Philips screws in a day that my shoulder wouldn't work for a day from all the weight I had to put into each one to stop the cam action. That being said, is there a source to buy quality small screws as a replacement option for knives? I'm thinking of setting up some sort of sizing rig (like the one in a hardware store for determining thread count and pitch but much smaller. Would this work or be worth my time?
 
IME, most torx bolts seem to be junk and strip their heads about as easily as cap, allen, and Philips. I guess it comes down to quality of the hardware and that is definitely a place lots of companies cheap out in every industry. Good quality ones with a good tool are better than the other options but seem to be a rarity.
 
People seem to have a Love / Hate relationship with unconventional drives. Personally I like torx drive and square drive because of the cam out reduction. How small are the "quality small screws" that you are looking for? The beauty of the internet is that the hard to find stuff is find-able with Google!

Here's a link to some black stainless torx screws in as small as a #2 diameter
http://www.albanycountyfasteners.com/Torx-Pan-Head-Machine-Screw-Black-Oxide-Stainless-Steel-s/1001.htm

Hope this helps!
 
I love how snug and clean torx drivers fit (once I broke down and bought some good bits) but I would agree about stripping issues.

I think it has more to do with softer metals used in these smaller screws. Had to drill out torx screws on my ZT to move the clip, but the Ti screws I replaced them with inspire no danger of stripping out. Some brand knives I have disassembled and assembled several (probably too many) times without issue.

They are my favorite type of head now, especially with the expanded options in the construction/woodworking world as well.
 
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