I will say, i have never rounded out a torx bit or bolt. I have rounded several allen head, i like the deisgn. Plus its not like torx stuff is hard to find

I've used 'em all over the years as typewriters from IBM and Facit were full of Bristol spline fasteners. I always hated it when they mixed Bristol and hex setscrews in the same machine.

The biggest problem I see with Torx fasteners is using crappy tools. You must buy decent tools. This is especially true with the smaller sizes. At least buy a tool made by Allen or Eklund or Bondhus.

My pet peave is the difference between US and JIS Phillips heads. The angle is different and I see screws every day stripped out because someone used brute force with the wrong screwdriver.

Doc

JIS seems to be the same as US with higher tolerances and smaller radiuses in their corners.

EDIT: radii.

I know that we used to have them in the phones at verizon so that any customer could not get into the inside and mess with it without going out an buying a torx bit of the correct size. Rest of the phone is just regular philips head. Dont see torx on the new phones however.

Oh, yes, "Bristol" spline. Thank you, I could not remember that ;) I think the same people that made those typewriters must have been designing aircraft instruments. Yup, mixing the two type drove me nuts, too.

Yes, get good quality tools. In addition to the vendors you list, Wiha is very good - all made in Germany and lots of cool stuff for all types of fasteners. See: http://www.wihatools.com. If you buy torque wrenches and are looking for 1/4" and 3/8" drive hex Allen bits, Wiha is a good source.

And Phillips ....... Don't forget Reed&Prince (a pointier Phillips type fastener head) and PosiDrive (like Phillips, but with wider, better gripping splines). These fastener types are so abused. It's really sad.
I was responsible for supplying tools at work for almost fifteen years and it's just incredible at how many people will use a #1 Phillips screwdriver on a #2 screw. Your comments are right on.

Yea when i ran discs they came with that too. But those are the ones that came with avids. Sometimes on ebay i see them with the 3mm.

well personally i like the torx over allen, its easier since its just likt T25 T20 etc. And its much harder to round out. Though your right, the chrome attracts chicks :)

you know though that reminds me once, my english teacher was talking about the appeal men to to have in high school and hes just saying. Does the girl want to go for the guy who has a top of the line sports car? Or the top of the line....pause........mountain bike. And I was not sure what to say, becuase you know ive spent more money on my mountain bike than a car.

Well i find cycling sometimes got in the way with past relationships, but my current girlfriend has dealt with it for a year. Even a few times she went riding with me, but she has a car now so its one more excuse not to get one.

how did a discussion about torx bolts turn into this? Did i do that?

Stop your whining and go to a fastener store and replace all your torx bolts with high grade hex bolts. You'll be in Nirvana.

Personally I hate them too, but I am not heavy handed, and haven't really had many showstopping issues with them

Yes. You mentioned that you could attract chicks with just a couple of bolts. :rolleyes:

back on topic?




http://www.semblex.com/products/lice...mages/torx.gif

Many products are made with torx screws for additional safety, and security. Torx tools are less common and are used as a temper proof system. There is also a "Secure Torx" standard where their is a pin sticking out in the middle of the crew head, and a corresponding hole in the torx driver..
http://www.hudsonfasteners.com/sec/s...c_tx_bhpms.jpg

Mmm.... larger lobes...

Torx is great for high torque applications. But for pure ease of assembly, I like having a good ball hex so I have more flexibility in my angle of penetration.

The problem I have with Torx (never stripped one--yet) is when I am torquing a rotor to spec, I have to put a lot of pressure on the back of the torque wrench to keep the bit seated in the bolt. Its so shallow that if I am not holding it perfect level, and I mean perfectly, it will slip right out and eat a few of those amazing splines. You'll never be able to convince me they are a superior idea.

well thats true, some are pretty shallow. At least the ones on my disc brakes i had were, but the ones that held together my leaf blower sucker thing seemed to be a bit deeper. But i suppose for clearance issues you have to have a shallow head.

They have these "secure" torx screws holding together the walls for the toilets and stalls in the bathroom at school.

Guess why? To stop those "meddlesome kids" pulling them apart when they get bored.

and those meddlesom kids eventually smarten up and get torx stuff. They do the same at my school. I sat in a desk once and the whoile top fell off because some bored kid removed the nuts

I just looked at Tox bit. Philips bit won't fit in Torx screw head. Philips 4 points, Torx 6 points. Flat screw bit may work if the size fits. But Torx screw heads come in more various sizes where flat screw much fewer sizes. In emergency situation, if you have to try something, you can try the size that you happen to have, but I'm not counting on it, if I'm the one in that situation. Also Torx screw are made for havier(tighter, higher torque) use, where flat blade screws are made for much lighter use. Flat screw bit to use on Torx screw head maybe usefull no better than having a hammer in the emergency case.

LOL that happened last year in english. good times :lol: