Star head bolts...

[adsm08]

I hate flat-heads. Someone else has always stripped them out before I get there

I have never in my life stripped a flathead. Even with a drill. Luck maybe? I dont know.

You know what you are doing. I'm in the same situation as Eric, someone else has already damaged them for me, I just get to finish the job.

Personally id be happiest if everything used a damned wing nut.

Well, maybe not head bolts or wheel lugs, but I'll get behind that.

know about them. Never dealt with them. Im sure they would meet a drill pretty quickly.

The big difference is that the bit is hollow in the middle so the bit is easy to break. They don't strip any better.

I was useing a harbor freight special. So maybe thats what my issue was....

Never buy HF torx bits.

 

[Grumpaw]

I ment to add, stay away from the current sets put out by Craftsman...compared to their stuff from 10-15 years ago, their garbage. If you don't want to go the Snap On route, go with the Lowes Kobalt brand. Most of the Kobalt stuff in store has been replaced by Craftsman, but you can still find Kobalt online. I used to work at Lowes in hardware/tools, and their Kobalt hand tools are far and away much better quality than Craftsman.
I would only buy a Harbor Freight tool in an emergency. The word garbage was invented to describe their tool quality. Maybe OK for occasional use, but if it's something of value or serious use, invest in good stuff.
Grumpaw

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

As far as flathead screws, you need to use the correct screwdriver. Flathead screwdrivers are sized for specific screw sizes.

Do not use the one that has rounded over, been used as a chisel and paint can opener. Use a bench grinder with a fine grit to sharpen your driver so that it barely fits in the screw. Sharp enough that you could use it as a gasket scraper....but don't.

 

[Grumpaw]

X 2!!! That goes for any hand tool and especially screw drivers, flat head, phillips, torx, square drive robertson...if it don't fit right, its the wrong tool, or the tool is damaged.
A broken or chipped flute on a phillips screw driver will strip a screw head out in a second. Rounded torx tip and robertson drivers will srrip out a fastener in a second.
Grumpaw

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Straight slot is horrible, my antique tractors are full of them all wearing 70 years+ of abuse. Phillips isn't much better, it is hard to get a good grip on them when they get rusted in. I was trying to get an inner fender off of a truck at the JY last weekend and couldn't do it because the screwdriver wouldn't hold. I had to grind the heads off the screws to get both inner fenders out of my own truck. Great for interior stuff, not great for exterior. Torx FTW.

Never buy HF torx bits.

I snagged a cheap convertible screwdriver from there maybe a month ago, on the second screw of the starter switch on my tractor (never sees salt ever) I twisted the end of the screwdriver. So I grabbed my 10yo Stanley Phillips and it came right out. Never touching a HF screwstick again.

I ment to add, stay away from the current sets put out by Craftsman...compared to their stuff from 10-15 years ago, their garbage. If you don't want to go the Snap On route, go with the Lowes Kobalt brand. Most of the Kobalt stuff in store has been replaced by Craftsman, but you can still find Kobalt online. I used to work at Lowes in hardware/tools, and their Kobalt hand tools are far and away much better quality than Craftsman.
I would only buy a Harbor Freight tool in an emergency. The word garbage was invented to describe their tool quality. Maybe OK for occasional use, but if it's something of value or serious use, invest in good stuff.
Grumpaw

I have gotten along fine with HF sockets, never tried a ratchet. My main go-to impact sockets actually. I have one Kobalt ratchet and although it is new it likes to switch from forward to reverse and in between on its own. I was in a pinch and needed a 12pt set for a driveshaft in a hurry, after 3 bolts its like I ripped the guts out of the thing. My main JY set is a cheap Stanley and is supperior in every way. 10 years of whatever it takes to get whatever I want and nary a whimper. I got the thing cheap so if I broke/lost something it wouldn't be a big deal, have yet to do either and because it is so handy it is now my main set.

 

[Dirtman]

I honestly think rusty could make good use out of one of these... I love mine. Faster than drilling and works for me about 90% of the time. Well, at least on stuff you have the ability to beat with a hammer.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Straight slot is horrible, my antique tractors are full of them all wearing 70 years+ of abuse.
Corroded screws are a bitch. On a new screw you should be able to put the screw on the driver and turn it upside down without it falling off.

Phillips isn't much better, it is hard to get a good grip on them when they get rusted in.
For those that don't know, take a smallish hammer and rap the end of the driver while the tip is in the screw and turning the driver. Most times that will jar it loose.
I was trying to get an inner fender off of a truck at the JY last weekend and couldn't do it because the screwdriver wouldn't hold. I had to grind the heads off the screws to get both inner fenders out of my own truck. Great for interior stuff, not great for exterior. Torx FTW.
I really dislike Phillips, the only good use is for drywall screws.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I honestly think rusty could make good use out of one of these... I love mine. Faster than drilling and works for me about 90% of the time. Well, at least on stuff you have the ability to beat with a hammer.

View attachment 26972

Those are awesome if you have room to use it. Truck at the JY I was trying to get the inner fender out of had locking lug nuts (to keep people from steeling his bald 14" tires) so I couldn't get the tire off or I would have used mine, I even had it with.

For dryall I would still rather have torx than Philips.

 

[1990RangerinSK]

Personally id be happiest if everything used a damned wing nut.

Oh, but they do, Rusty. The wing nut holds the tool.

 

[Snoranger]

We need an entire section of the forum dedicated to Rusty's Rants.

 

[91stranger]

HAHA this is killing me. Of course rusty would want flat head screws. I can't stand them. Only thing they are good for is on the bottom of a zebco fishing pole. And those you could easily use a penny to tighten. They make a million different types of "screw out" tools too. I read somewhere that you can put a rubber band in between a Philips and a stripped screw and it will give enough bite to loosen it. I haven't tried this but it makes sense. cheap tools definitely strip good parts. I use a nice set of craftsman sockets for most of my work. I can't bear the fact that if I were to buy a 20 pc snap on socket set I would have three payments of $50 each...………I found ebay has craftsman tools for cheap. I bought a 220 piece socket set (the kind in a suitcase) for $70. a guy at work swears by snap on and that's what most of his tools are and I've used them and they seem no different than craftsman. He has a 40" toolbox half filled with tools and says he has well over 15k in tools. Swears he will retire on these and I just laugh saying "you gonna retire on $15k? good luck"

 

[pjtoledo]

HAHA this is killing me. Of course rusty would want flat head screws. I can't stand them. Only thing they are good for is on the bottom of a zebco fishing pole. And those you could easily use a penny to tighten. They make a million different types of "screw out" tools too. I read somewhere that you can put a rubber band in between a Philips and a stripped screw and it will give enough bite to loosen it. I haven't tried this but it makes sense. cheap tools definitely strip good parts. I use a nice set of craftsman sockets for most of my work. I can't bear the fact that if I were to buy a 20 pc snap on socket set I would have three payments of $50 each...………I found ebay has craftsman tools for cheap. I bought a 220 piece socket set (the kind in a suitcase) for $70. a guy at work swears by snap on and that's what most of his tools are and I've used them and they seem no different than craftsman. He has a 40" toolbox half filled with tools and says he has well over 15k in tools. Swears he will retire on these and I just laugh saying "you gonna retire on $15k? good luck"

I'm thinkin' that something gritty like valve lapping compound or powdered cleanser would work much better than rubber.

 

[adsm08]

We need an entire section of the forum dedicated to Rusty's Rants.

Can we just make it a periodical that is published and mailed?

 

[Dirtman]

Can we just make it a periodical that is published and mailed?

I think petroglyphs are more rusty's style.