apex bits

[jeff g]

Hi
are apex bits any good ??????
are the ones (below) on ebay the same has the ones in the USA ???
they are v/cheap for good tools.

jeff



http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/apex-bits...t=UK_Hand_Tools_Equipment&hash=item19d4035f5c

 

[Mickey O]

I'm not so sure those are Apex brand (pretty sure they're not), I think they're using the term "apex" like someone might call a generic tissue Kleenex or a reciprocating saw a Sawzall. Apex brand bits were (past tense as far as I know) second to none but I hear they now are made in some third world Asian country, if that's the case I wouldn't touch 'em.

 

[Mastermind]

thats the same set they sell at Harbor fright over here, and hardware stores. about $10 avg. i have 3 sets, broke/stripped a couple phillips, but thats to be expected. the rest held up fine so far, oldest set is 10 yrs old.

 

[OEXL16B]

They used to be the very best when Cooper owned them. Don't know about now with Danaher owning them.

 

[jeff g]

Hi
thanks for the info will give them a miss.
thanks jeff

 

[OEXL16B]

Looking at the link, I don't think those are real Apex. I paid $7.00 for one single tamper proof torx T20 bit at the industrial store, but it was probably a Cooper Apex.

 

[sselander]

This is my crib sheet for the better impact 5/16" hex shank bits from Apex and Zephyr

Apex
philips - 1-1/4" length
P1 480-1X
P2 480-2X
P3 480-3X

philips - 2-1/2" length
P1
P2 480-225X
P3 480-325X
=========================
Zephyr

phillips - 1-1/2" length
P1 D1231XX
P2 D1232XX
P3 D1233XX

phillips - 3" length
P1 E1201XX
P2 E1202XX
P3 E1203XX
=======================

 

[Mickey O]

They used to be the very best when Cooper owned them. Don't know about now with Danaher owning them.

Cooper is the one that sent production overseas, Cooper has destroyed every tool company they've acquired (To name a few; Bonney, Diamond, Crescent, H.K. Porter, Lufkin, Nicholson, Plumb, Xcelite all once great tools set destroyed by Cooper).

 

[sickboy motors inc.]

Wow, didn't know that apex bits weren't made by the same company! Thx for the info and yeah I have always liked them but that was back when you had to hit the hardware store! Might check my local hardware store to check for NOS to have backups!

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Danaher and Cooper joined to form a joint venture called Apex. They seemed to pull that name out of the whole batch of names the two companies own. Apex industrial products such as sockets and the bits are still of very good quality. We use lots of the bits at work. You go to the tool room and get a handful of them, and start removing screws till the bit breaks and then put in another. This is an airline maintenance shop and we use 3/8 IR impacts with a bit holder to remove the screws. You expect to break a few, but they fit the screws very well.

Charles

 

[jeffmoss26]

We have Apex bits in the tool crib here...nice stuff.

 

[64merc]

I'd be shocked to find out that those are real Apex bits.

I finally bought some Apex bits a while back on Ebay. I have been using the same #2 phillips bit for several projects around the house and it is finally showing some wear, but it's still working. In my limited experience, they are far from indestructible, and do wear out, but they last longer than any other bits I've tried. They also fit very well, which counts for a lot.