Torx sets? Brands?

recon1s14

recon1s14

Joined
Nov 15, 2010
Messages
720
I've been thinking for awhile, why don't we ever see any threads recommending something that every knife owner should have? A torx set to tinker with/take apart his/her knife.

I know as a knife collector it has been an invaluable asset and extremely needed, I bought one years ago when I first started collecting, and finally about a month ago all the useful sizes got worn down and used up on my little Chinese one, I had been struggling to use what little material was left on the bits until I could buy a new set, but when I started looking I could not find anything.....maybe I just wasn't looking in the right places but I practically gave up hope finding one until yesterday, when I walked into Home Depot and found a lone precision set of Torx/etc bits, I had been there before asking if they had any and was disappointed to find out that they did not, and neither did Lowes, so you can imagine how excited I was to find a surprisingly good quality set for FIVE BUCKS :eek:

My question is, does anyone know if any torx sets actually exist out there? Or did I just miss every set that has been manufactured? And what brand do you use for your knives for future people looking for a decent torx set....

HDX (Home Depot) 23-Piece Precision Screwdriver Set:

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Yes Wiha is The Best Torx tools out there....I have learned my lesson on buying cheap torx sets and headaches...
 
I'm sure other quality tools exist, but I place my trust in Wiha.
 
Hmmm neat, I looked up WiHa and they look great, any particular model or set of Wiha torx drivers you guys use?
 
Wiha makes a few assorted multi-bit sets with small bits. They're terribly useful just for every-day life because in addition to the TORX bits we commonly see used in knife construction, they have hex/allen head bits and tiny flathead and phillips bits. Great for fixing electronics and eyeglasses.

If all you want is a few individual drivers, a T6, T8, and T10 should cover anything you'd need for a knife. T6 is commonly used for pocket clip screws by companies like Spyderco, Benchmade, and Kershaw. T8 is the most common bit for pivot screws, but sometimes T10 is used. The only occurrence I've come across that required a different TORX bit than those three are the screws on my 1997 vintage Microtech Mini SOCOM, which needs a T5 or T4 for the pocket clip and body screws. You can find individual drivers on eBay for only a few bucks each.

This is one area where paying for the best is definitely the best option. Saving a couple bucks on a cheaper driver can ruin a knife many, if not hundreds of times that cost.
 
I am not familiar with Wiha (I may look at some because if I twist the teeth/whatever on another Torx bit, I swear...), but I can impart one piece of advice- never buy a Torx bit without a lifetime warranty. It also helps having a local store you can swap them out in (I know the national hardware giants have in-house brands usually with lifetime warranty). I had many a Torx driver swapped when we still had a Lowes.

Also, when a Torx bit strips beyond usability, you can grind it down a little to fix the tip. I only recommend this for cheap ones (I have ground my T6 down at least a dozen times now, and it has maybe 2 left before it becomes a T7/T8, and maybe 4 before a peg). Nothing is more frustrating than having your Torx bit strip out when you need it.
 
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My advice is always the same on this matter; Wiha and Wera are the only ones to buy. Also, if you ever get a torx screw stripped out, a lot of times an Allen wrench will fit with a light tap of a hammer and it will screw right out.
 
dkb45 said:
I am not familiar with Wiha (I may look at some because if I twist the teeth/whatever on another Torx bit, I swear...), but I can impart one piece of advice- never buy a Torx bit without a lifetime warranty. It also helps having a local store you can swap them out in (I know the national hardware giants have in-house brands usually with lifetime warranty). I had many a Torx driver swapped when we still had a Lowes.
Click to expand...

Good advice, but honestly, when it comes to choosing a quality driver, it's not the driver you're spending the money on. It's the preservation of the screw you're trying to drive. On a quality knife, the fasteners will be good quality. And nothing ruins a quality fastener quicker or more severely than a crappy driver that wears and/or deforms under the stress (except, of course, using the WRONG driver). That's what I mean when I say saving a couple bucks on a driver can cost you many times over in a ruined knife. Many companies loctite their pivot screws at the factory. If you need to adjust it because it's too tight or too loose, but the screw is too tight, it can take a lot of force to break the bond. Some drivers will deform under the force, and then strip the screw head. Suddenly you have a knife that you spent tens, or even hundreds of dollars on that is now a POS because you can't adjust the pivot, all because you didn't want to spend a couple extra bucks on the quality tool.
 
This is my fav, Wiha 79242:

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TORX Set With 10 TORX Bits (Small Sizes)Includes: 10 bits, Molded Storage Box & Magnetic Bit holder. TORX Bits T5, T6, T7, T8, T9, T10, T15, T20, T25, T30. Bit Holder 1/4 magnetic Industrial Quality through hardened bits. Pocket Sized box with slide out drawer holds bits. Dimensions: L-4.25 in. H-2.0 in. D-.75 in. Keeps bits organized.All Sets Include 1/4 Magnetic bit holder for power tool use. Guaranteed Quality Bits - Made In Germany.
 
Haha, it isn't the pivots that cause my problems (my T8 is excellent), it's those bloody T6 screws. I have had so many T6 screws thar I just gave up on because they didn't get a dot of Loctite, they got a glob. Or they, for some idiotic reason, got something other than blue. I had one before that I finally manhandled out and it got red... on a body screw. All I can say is maybe the company shouldn't have allowed alcohol at the party on a work day.
 
I'm really content with my $5 Husky set from HomeDepot. Lifetime replacement warranty too.

I keep hearing about those Wiha's. Must be very good quality... Makes me want to get a set as a pre need repla...hah J/K.
 
wroughndt said:
My advice is always the same on this matter; Wiha and Wera are the only ones to buy. Also, if you ever get a torx screw stripped out, a lot of times an Allen wrench will fit with a light tap of a hammer and it will screw right out.
Click to expand...

I usually use Wera, I've never tried Wiha. How do the two compare?
 
^ I have both , at home and at work. Pretty much the same quality, top notch. You can not go wrong either way.
 
Just ordered a Wiha T6, 8, 10 off amazon the other day. Crappy sets aren't my money anymore. Thanks to the KAI subforum for pointing me in the right direction.
 
Let me pile on, WIHA, get the technicians set for like 65$ can't go wrong, really good stuff.
 
Sweet lotsa recommendations for Wiha, I like that Bits-selector, found one on the bay for cheap, I might have to pick one up :D as a "replacement" hehe
 
I bought a Wiha Technicians set a few years ago. They have very close tolerances and are very hard. I never get cam-out even on small T6 screws. I've given up on cheap sets (even if they come with lifetime replacement warranties).

TedP
 
Beware of the HDX Driver set... its no bueno. I made the mistake of grabbing one a month or so ago, the drivers are kinda on the soft side and deformed when I was working on my 0561... which is now going back to KAI's warranty dept. sometime this week:( I would not recommend it, will be getting either a Husky or the small Wiha set in the immediate future.
 
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