Quote:
Originally Posted by TexasSP
(Post 365220)
12.9's can be used all day and work great but if installed with sub par hex drivers they will strip too. Of course some don't realize how tight is tight enough.
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Bingo! If the tool is crappy enough, it will just round off and not strip the screw-head, but if the tool is crappy, but not too crappy, it can cause the outer half of the screw hex to strip because the tool strips and partially comes out...so you nailed that right on the "screw" head!
Also like you said, some people have no idea how tight is tight enough...they really, really torque down on the screws too much and either strip the screw (head or threads) or strip the hole. There is a fine line between tight enough, not tight enough, and too tight...it's a "feel" you learn over years of assembly.
One of the biggest mistakes people make is tightening the screw way too much when they use thread-lock...they torque the screw down as hard as they can, which is not needed with thread-lock, and can cause problems when the screw needs to be removed. All that is needed is to snug the screw up and let the thread-lock do its job. When screwing into plastic, you just run the screw in until it is fully in and snug, and then give it another 1/8 turn. Too many people try to torque the screws into plastic as if they were in metal, waiting to feel the screw stop turning now matter how hard they torque it.
Also, the absolute biggest mistake people make is not buying/using high-quality tools, and the second mistake is using the wrong size tool for the screw...they think that if it fits, it will work, like using a 5/64" tool on a 2mm screw...sure it fits, but it is too small, too loose, and will strip the screw-head eventually.
High-Quality tools (hex-drivers) makes more of a difference than most people think, and high-quality tools reduce, if not completely eliminate, stripped screw-heads. I have used many tool brands, and to me, there is only one worth using, and it is going to surprise you...Integy Ti-Ni Hex-Drivers! Not only do they have super-high-quality tips, the added Ti-Ni coating on them turns an already exceptional tool into the best tool available! The handles are made of color-coded (size) anodized aluminum with the sizes clearly printed on each handle, and the tips are replaceable with the loosening of a single set-screw. Now, the best news of all, even though they tools are sold by Integy, and have the Integy name on them, they are not manufactured by Integy...they are manufactured by a 3rd-party, so their quality is excellent, and you can feel ok knowing you really don't have Integy parts in your toolbox!
I have had mine for a few years now, and I use them every single day, and the Ti-Ni coating isn't even showing any wear. They fit better than any tool I have previously used, and look awesome as well! I have used many different tools, including Hudy, Eds, Duratrax, & Craftsman, but the Integy hex-drivers are far better than any of them!
