Bite the Bullet and kiss Bubba-buggered screws goodbye!

Status
Not open for further replies.
earlthegoat2 said:
No it shouldn’t but ask anyone who uses tools how that usually plays out.

If you have the work in a vise vertical so you are using the driver parallel to the ground it helps in this regard.

The way I usually do it is to go very slowly when a screw is stubborn and I can feel the driver just starting to give way.
Click to expand...


I have not found the Grace products especially soft or for that matter brittle either. If you have I guess we differ of opinion on them.
 
Last edited:
Pssstt! Earl.


My 1911 grips are made of G-10 and have “Turbo” Torx head screws... I just needed more grip for my meat hooks, ya know? ...Don’t feel bad, but don’t tell anybody, would ya?... :oops:


Yeah! That would be silly! Ha, Torx head,
 
3Crows said:
It would be nice for the screwdriver to be softer than the screws to protect the screws. I do not know if that is the case with Grace ;). I have not noted any deformation or "chewing up" of the blades. That being said, years as an aircraft mechanic and dealing with fasteners on engines that damaging could result in significant costs (like as much as a nice house), I do not routinely chew up screws or tools. If these folks are "chewing up" their drivers there is likely a technique issue.

The Grace screwdrivers are hollow ground so as to fit specific screws (in the rifle branded sets) and this means there is a fragile tip that can be easily broken if used as a hammer, pry bar, paint can opener or other monkey hijinks I see screwdrivers used for other than their intended purpose not to mention German torque, or worse, Texas torque, like if the screw is tight, at least three more turns ought to do it.
Click to expand...
Such a helpful comment. Thank you.
 
3Crows said:
It would be nice for the screwdriver to be softer than the screws to protect the screws.
Click to expand...

To me that makes no sense in this case. With guns you want a hollow ground screwdriver that "fits" so well it doesn't damage the screw. If it deforms then it doesn't fit right and that is when the damage occurs.

From a life of being around things mechanical and twisting wrenches myself I have never seen fasteners damaged from tools that were too strong yet I've seen plenty damaged and rounded off from soft inferior or worn out tools. Not to mention busted knuckles and in the case of firearms the chance for a big nice ugly scratch when a screwdriver breaks.
 
I purchased a set of screwdrivers and allen (sp?) wrenches from Cabela's,,,
I think it cost me a whopping $25.00 at the time.

The screwdriver bits are fine and have worked as expected,,,
The Allen wrenches though were another story.

The steel is somewhat soft,,
I now have two wrenches that are rounded off.

Someday soon I'm going to bite the bullet,,,
And purchase a quality set that includes a torque driver.

Then I'll relegate that Cabela's set to my range bag.

Anyone have a suggestion for a complete set,,,
Standard, Phillips, Allen with a torque driver?

Aarond

.
 
aarondhgraham said:
Anyone have a suggestion for a complete set,,,
Standard, Phillips, Allen with a torque driver?

Aarond

.
Click to expand...

My vote for Allen (hex) is Wera Hex Plus. I have noticed I don’t strip out near as many set screws as I have with any other maker to include nearly all of the commonly found Germanic brands in the US. L-keys will get you a good ways but also investing in the standard handle drivers with Kraftform handles will get you as far as you need to with hex drivers.

I like Wiha for slotted and Phillips drivers. Their comfort plus handles are nice but I do like the Wera Kraftforms handle better but their tips are not as durable. If you decide to get Torx, also go with Wiha.
 
Here's one option if you are looking for a torque wrench. As with most kits, included bits may not be top drawer but you can add with guidance provided above.
 
Cowhide Cliff said:
To me that makes no sense in this case. With guns you want a hollow ground screwdriver that "fits" so well it doesn't damage the screw. If it deforms then it doesn't fit right and that is when the damage occurs.

From a life of being around things mechanical and twisting wrenches myself I have never seen fasteners damaged from tools that were too strong yet I've seen plenty damaged and rounded off from soft inferior or worn out tools. Not to mention busted knuckles and in the case of firearms the chance for a big nice ugly scratch when a screwdriver breaks.
Click to expand...

I never said the screwdriver should not fit the screw, of course they should. Which is why I like the Grace brand specific sets and enough of their other sets to usually find a perfect fit. Hard metal is usually brittle, softer metal is more likely to yield (as in deform) before snapping and causing the issues you mention, forgive my poor wording. The hollow grind in a driver, and I am speaking of the Grace drivers, where the driver is physically ground to shape, it could break at the step but I will stay with what I said, in proper use and the torque range applicable to the screw, I have not had the Grace drivers fail. And, holding a driver to a screw in vertical plane is not pushing on it.

Everyone has their way of doing things which is why I like the third line in my signature, I have given mine, others may legitimately differ in accordance to their experiences.
 
Walkalong said:
Which would be irrelevant IMHO, we have to adjust to what they are doing, so we buy the correct bits. :)
Click to expand...
Yes... that's what bad engineering means.

As it stands I can use my normal high-quality-steel US-made tools on European guns that use sane fasteners. I use harbor freight and other Chinese-made specialty drivers on some of my US-made guns. How would this not be considered backwards?
 
I have already used half of the screw bits that came in my Wheeler 72 piece set. The right bit makes all the difference. Also if you pick up a good set of needle files, you can fix all those buggered screws you messed up before.
 
rust collector said:
Actually, although I hate to see a fine firearm defaced, marred screws tell me the gun needed repair and whoever attempted it wasn't up to the task.

Now that all you gun monkeys are getting proper turnscrews, the trail of suspicion disappears. :D
Click to expand...
Never underestimate the ability of some men to take a fully functioning firearm apart.....and reassemble incorrectly.
Never underestimate a mans desire to "customize" his gun, thereby making it worth less, if not worthless.

Given the number and quality of Glock stippling jobs I've seen, I'm convinced possession of a soldering iron should be regulated by ATF.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

J
  • Locked
Heart is the Navigator
Replies
0
Views
821
Jeff White
J
G
  • Locked
My H&R's first season (My first true shotgun season)
Replies
5
Views
612
Dave McCracken
D
E
  • Locked
High Intensity Learning--YFA's HITT Class
Replies
8
Views
697
El Tejon
E
F
  • Locked
"If I can just get to that gun, maybe I'll have a chance."
Replies
4
Views
601
MrRezister
M
H
  • Locked
WJS - Capt. Zan Hornbuckle
Replies
2
Views
659
Correia
C
Back
Top