travbikeman

Few years ago I bought a Craftsman Torx T handle tool set. Found how weak the metal was to the tool set when attempting to take rotor bolts off my bikes wheel.

Since I will soon be adjusting the brakes and may take off the rotors, would like to purchase a new Torx tool. But am reading reviews that the Park Tool and a few others have the same twisting problem to the metal.

So I'm curious, did I use too much force to bend the metal on my Craftsman Torx set, or are some brands just soft metal?

What Torx driver do you all use that appears to be strong?

Park Tool P Handle reviews on Amazon

Wanted this, but it too has reviews about soft metal: Park Torx 3 Way Wrench

ramzilla

German tool steel is some of the finest available stuff these days. Start by looking at Wiha Hand Tools. (Good tools aren't cheap and, cheap tools aren't good. Be prepared to fork out some serious coin for this stuff). Be good. Have fun.

DrIsotope

I just buy 1/4" hex driver bits. They're all hardened (DeWalt even has them in impact,) they're cheap, and when they wear out, you just pop in a new one. I only need T15, 20, and 25, which came to about $5. Use whatever driver you want. I use a 12V Bosch Impactor for brake rotors.

Sci-Fi

All my T-handle stuff are Bondhus.

dedhed

Socket and a ratchet on high torque stuff.

https://www.sears.com/craftsman-evol...RoCwdEQAvD_BwE

Marcus_Ti

So. This.

OP: Torx, in particular, needs accurate and precise machining and therefore looking at premium tools...cheap torx bits will ruin fasteners, and the bits won't live long either.

DrIsotope

Wiha Torx Bits T25, 30-pack, $12.59 @ Amazon

With the frequency at which brake rotors need to be tinkered with, you could use each bit to take off and mount a rotor a single time, then throw away the bit, and the 30 pack would still last you a decade.

nfmisso

And Wiha bits are very good.

fietsbob

I have a folding Eklund multi tip. Torx. metric & fractional; hex 3 of them ..

migrantwing

Most of my hand tools are made by Wera. I have a few other named brands and cheap, generic stuff lying around as well, but when I need something of good quality, I reach for the Wera. I work as a cleaner/maintenance guy at a large HGV fleet maintenance workshop and a lot of the time I end up doing some mechanics and vehicle repairs as well. I use Wera at work too. Wera screwdrivers are second to none. German brand, made in Germany predomininantly. Some of their stuff is made in Poland, I believe, but still to their top end, German specs.

As mentioned above, Wiha, Bondhus etc are top quality brands also.

HillRider

Bondhus makes a high quality hex wrenches but they have one disadvantage. The ball end that allows for misalignment while removing or installing fasteners in awkward locations also requires necking down the shaft right behind the ball tip. That makes for a weaker shaft and a failure location if high torque is required. They are very versatile and very good but don't get too aggressive with them, particularly the smaller sizes. I have a set of both their SAE and Metric L-wrenches and they only have the ball on the long leg where you can't apply very high torque. The shorter leg has a conventional flat tip.

nfmisso

Bondhus offers both ball end T-handle and straight end T-handle hex wrenches.

travbikeman

Thanks Everyone! I ended up buying DeWalt bits for my Multi Screwdriver. Will try this and if doesn't work well, next time I will buy some of the higher quality tools.

ColonelSanders

Are Wiha and Wera the same?

dsbrantjr

In my experience, Wiha-anything is very good.

HillRider

Yeah, I know they do but they are best known for their ball end hex wrenches and that is likely what customers will buy.

travbikeman

Thanks all, Wiha tools look great! I'm slowly replacing all the cheap tools I have and appreciate you all letting me know of this brand.

Hmmm, I haven't taken the DeWalt bits out of package yet.....I might be returning those back to Lowes.

drlogik 

Bondus is really good quality and so are Wiha. Bondus was my mainstay for years but my favorite is Swiss Tools but you pay dearly for them.

My take on Torx and Allen wrenches is that we use them so often that really high quality tools are a must. Don't skimp on Torx or Allen wrenches or on Phillips screw drivers.

Ogsarg

With Torx bits and allen bits, what is more important to me is the fit. Lots of bits don't fit snug in the screw head and that causes them to damage the screw along with the bit. Bits are cheap and you can replace them when worn but be conscious of the damage to the fasteners as well. Try different brands of bits in a new screw and you can feel the difference. Really good tools like snapon fit great but are crazy expensive. As others have mentioned, Wiha tools are good and I've found their Torx and Allen bits to fit very well and they really are not that expensive in my opinion.

No bits will last forever, when they don't fit snug anymore, replace them.