Anti Camout Screwdrivers?

[Stuey]

What are your feelings on Anti-Cam-Out Screwdrivers?

http://toolguyd.com/2010/11/anti-cam-out-screwdriver-tips-aco-acr/

Personally I like them, but some brands don't feature them. In some cases, I'm stuck having to decide between comfortable handles or acr tips.

 

[Superlifted06FX4]

Never tried?

 

[Danglerb]

Have some, not clear how much difference they make. Best thing seems like a tight fit, its the slop that leads to cam out.

 

[american lockpicker]

Does it put noticable wear on a screw?

 

[bmwpower]

The Snap On screwdrivers with the ACR tips (old Soft Grip are what I have) are the best screwdrivers I've ever used. They will loosen screws other drivers won't.

 

[Stuey]

Does it put noticable wear on a screw?

Never noticed any.

I have a Wiha 3K driver for several years now, showing slight wear, but I don't recall any fastener damage.

I also have a Craftsman Pro screwdriver, used on a handful of fasteners, showing a lot of driver tip damage. Once I saw the damage, I pulled out the 3K, and it handled the rest of the fasteners with ease.

 

[dwm]

What are your feelings on Anti-Cam-Out Screwdrivers?

http://toolguyd.com/2010/11/anti-cam-out-screwdriver-tips-aco-acr/

Personally I like them, but some brands don't feature them. In some cases, I'm stuck having to decide between comfortable handles or acr tips.

Given the choice, I always use anti-camout bits for Phillips and slotted. Especially with power drivers, where I really like the Wera diamond-coated BiTorsion bits. I also like the Wera Kraftform handles (all of my other rigid screwdrivers have been relegated to secondary and scrap). With the trusty old Snap-On hardhandle ratcheting, I use the Snap-On ACR bits.

 

[MrMark]

The Snap On screwdrivers with the ACR tips (old Soft Grip are what I have) are the best screwdrivers I've ever used. They will loosen screws other drivers won't.

Absolutely. The snap on bit for the ratcheting screwdriver is even better. the wera lasertips are awesome too but they deform somewhat easily.

 

[tonydanzah]

wera chisel drivers are the best i have ever used

 

[MrMark]

I just looked at mine, the Chiseldrivers are NOT ACR.

 

[tonydanzah]

I just looked at mine, the Chiseldrivers are NOT ACR.

they dont need to be, when you hammer the driver into the screw, its not going to cam out

 

[MattT]

Been using Phillips and Pozi ACR bits for years. Snappy bits in the ratcheting screwdrivers and Apex in the impacts. I've seen enough to convince me ACR is worthwhile. Don't have any ACR screwdrivers though. I rarely use screwdrivers except on small stuff. They're reserved for applications where ratcheting screwdrivers or powertools won't work.

Wasn't aware of anti camout slotted screwdrivers. For slots I prefer hollow ground bits. No taper reduces the likelyhood of camout compared to a regular screwdriver IME.

 

[walrus]

Personally I like them, but some brands don't feature them. In some cases, I'm stuck having to decide between comfortable handles or acr tips.

Snap on hard handles, that way you get the best grip ever made and ACR. Why reach for anything else

 

[Stuey]

Can't say that I'll try Snap-on anytime soon, but I'll keep it in mind, thanks!

 

[Arachnotron]

I like my Wera laser tips.

 

[Stuey]

My Wera lasertips aren't gold coated. =( And I have no idea why!

<-- jealous.

When I ordered them, the product photos showed the set as having gold colored laser tips. Ah well.

 

[Wera Tools]

My Wera lasertips aren't gold coated. =( And I have no idea why!

<-- jealous.

When I ordered them, the product photos showed the set as having gold colored laser tips. Ah well.

The Lasertip screwdrivers underwent a running change from black to gold-colored tips. The difference is purely cosmetic (easier to see the laser etching against the gold color), and the performance is the same.
All of our stock is now gold colored!

As a bit of background, ACR was originally desigend as a system, and was intended to use the ACR bits or drivers together with ACR screws. The screws have corresponding ribs inside the screw recess, that the ribs on the tools could engage with. In reality, however, the screws are very difficult and expensive to manufacture, and most people don't use them. So, what happens is, you get a bit with half of the contact surface not actually engaging with the interior of the screw recess on a normal screw! This is why we developed the diamond-coating for bits, and the Lasertip treatment for the screwdriver blades. They both provide much stronger grip in the screw, and an earlier poster is correct... the damage to the screws (and the tools) only happens when the camout occurs.
Hope this helps!

 

[Stuey]

Thanks for the clarification, and for the interesting background about the ACR system!

I was fairly certain that the gold coating was just for cosmetic reasons and to provide greater contrast for the lasertips, but it's also more aesthetically pleasing. That's not a good reason to return perfectly functioning tools, so I kept them and have been using them along with my other drivers since.