Anyone use Apex bits?
- Thread starter T45
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espyking83
Well-known member
Apex bits are great, definitely less damage to the screw. Doesnt take all the guts out with it.
MFolks
Well-known member
The Military used Apex bits and holders for many years, and probably still do.
Holt
Well-known member
I though snap on uses zypher
land
Active member
I got Zephyr bits instead of Apex and I realy like them.
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Farmall450
Well-known member
They're one of the best money can buy, I love the reduced #2 phillips.
I believe SO use Zephyr. Apex is for industrial use. Apex bits have three heat treatment levels. You need to select the proper heat treatment level for your application. Refer to page 6 on their bit catalog.
http://www.apexpowertools.com/catalog/pdffiles/TC-100_EN.pdf
http://www.apexpowertools.com/catalog/pdffiles/TC-100_EN.pdf
AV tinker er
Well-known member
We would go thru 9/64s when I was in the military opening panels. Alex's lasted longer than other brands we used. I would buy for myself if needed.
As a side note, I seem to run across alot of apex impact stuff. Only downside is most of their male ends are pinned vs ball detent.
You are probably right on that. I was just going off my poor memory.
You are probably right on that. I was just going off my poor memory.
Yeah, that is one of the great features about them. They have hardness levels for hand tools and power tools, and you can get the exact tools you need for your application. They also claim to manufacture at much better tolerances.
bob15
Well-known member
SantaAna12
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So how are the prices direct?
BTW: Looking damn good there Land!
Farmall: Are you talking about the half-length #2?
BTW: Looking damn good there Land!
Farmall: Are you talking about the half-length #2?
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Dave455
Well-known member
Apex bits are in the 'perfectly acceptable' category! Certainly way ahead of the Taiwanese offerings you find!
Zephyr are a frac better, if you look at Zephyr and Apex side by side, especially the larger sizes, you can see that the Zephyr are slightly better made.
PB Swiss are probably as good as Zephyr, maybe even a notch above again!
in a former life I used to do a lot of repetitive assembly work, and if you're putting in machine screws in batches of 200 you pretty soon find out which bits are up to it and which are not.
The first thing you need (assuming you are using a decent quality fastener) is a well fitting bit. All other things being equal, a poor fitting bit will allow a little movement and wear much faster than a decent fitting one! You then need decent steel, properly treated, and some sort of decent finish as well!
In order of quality, and durability (not quite the same) I'd rate the major manufacturers as follows:-
1) PB Swiss. - Best made, most durable, superb in every respect! Only downside is that they are biased to metric, so while you can get short 1/4 inch bits in inch sizes, you are struggling with some of the others! First choice for metric screws!
2) Zephyr. - Accurately made, nicely finished and durable! I was once assembling some awkward cap screws that needed small hex bits. I was breaking Taiwanese bits like you wouldn't believe, and even the Wera bits I'd got for the purpose! Thankfully I had one Zephyr bit with a Snap On bit driver and that finished the job without problems! First choice for inch size screws! These tend to be used a lot by the aerospace industry, both U.S. and British!
3 Equal ) Wiha. - Good quality German made bits. Nothing wrong with them, just not as good as above makers! A lot of British factories use these.
3 Equal) Apex. Good quality U.S. made bits. Again, nothing wrong with them, just not as good as 1 and 2! I've seen these used a lot by the U.S. military!
5) Wera. Some folks rave about these, but if you talk about their experiences you generally find they are comparing them to Taiwanese or Chinese made bits. Sure, they are a vast improvement on those, but I've found the other bits listed here to be a better still!
Hope this helps!
Zephyr are a frac better, if you look at Zephyr and Apex side by side, especially the larger sizes, you can see that the Zephyr are slightly better made.
PB Swiss are probably as good as Zephyr, maybe even a notch above again!
in a former life I used to do a lot of repetitive assembly work, and if you're putting in machine screws in batches of 200 you pretty soon find out which bits are up to it and which are not.
The first thing you need (assuming you are using a decent quality fastener) is a well fitting bit. All other things being equal, a poor fitting bit will allow a little movement and wear much faster than a decent fitting one! You then need decent steel, properly treated, and some sort of decent finish as well!
In order of quality, and durability (not quite the same) I'd rate the major manufacturers as follows:-
1) PB Swiss. - Best made, most durable, superb in every respect! Only downside is that they are biased to metric, so while you can get short 1/4 inch bits in inch sizes, you are struggling with some of the others! First choice for metric screws!
2) Zephyr. - Accurately made, nicely finished and durable! I was once assembling some awkward cap screws that needed small hex bits. I was breaking Taiwanese bits like you wouldn't believe, and even the Wera bits I'd got for the purpose! Thankfully I had one Zephyr bit with a Snap On bit driver and that finished the job without problems! First choice for inch size screws! These tend to be used a lot by the aerospace industry, both U.S. and British!
3 Equal ) Wiha. - Good quality German made bits. Nothing wrong with them, just not as good as above makers! A lot of British factories use these.
3 Equal) Apex. Good quality U.S. made bits. Again, nothing wrong with them, just not as good as 1 and 2! I've seen these used a lot by the U.S. military!
5) Wera. Some folks rave about these, but if you talk about their experiences you generally find they are comparing them to Taiwanese or Chinese made bits. Sure, they are a vast improvement on those, but I've found the other bits listed here to be a better still!
Hope this helps!
truckdriver
Well-known member
I got 10 lbs of bits labeled "apex bits" on ebay cheap. Ended up with less than a 100 Apex bits, bit the rest were all Zephyr/Snap on. The Apex bits seem ok in my book, but I love the Zephyr/ Snap on bits.
Farmall450
Well-known member
No, they've got a rounded edge and they simply won't strip phillips in the impact!
Is this a sister company to Apex? Their website and a lot of the presentation looks exactly the same
"Omega Technologies' Websites"?
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bob15
Well-known member
Is this a sister company to Apex? Their website and a lot of the presentation looks exactly the same
"Omega Technologies' Websites"?
I guess so. Off their website:
MRO Tools is a division of Omega Technologies. Founded in 1983, Omega Technologies has become one of the world’s leading sources of aircraft tools, continually working to increase the variety of tools available, while researching and developing ways to improve their strength, durability, and functionality.
Omega Technologies manufactures its own proprietary line of tools and also distributes for a host of other highly respected tool producers. Products include a complete line of fastener installation and removal tools, drills, countersinks, clamps, reamers, grinders, and more. Quality at Omega Technologies shows in our knowledgeable staff, the conscientious and responsive job we do, and in the continually evolving line of products we offer. We thrive on innovation and welcome new solutions to problems. If you have an invention, please give us a call.
JonnyMac
Well-known member
They are used in Ford factories as the default kit for bits.
Interesting, Thanks.
They say Omega "distributes for a host of other highly respected tool producers",
So...Apex and Zephyr maybe sister companies under a single umbrella. Or are they two independent brands? If the latter is the case they would be targeting different markets ... but then does anyone know how they are trying to differentiate them? Do both just uses Omega to deal with channel inventory?
Edits: for clarity
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SantaAna12
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Interesting, Iwill keep an eye out. Thanks.
Gotta say I find Apex threads frustrating. Guess I will look to the SO site.
truckdriver
Well-known member
Interesting, Thanks.
They say Omega "distributes for a host of other highly respected tool producers",
So...Apex and Zephyr maybe sister companies under a single umbrella. Or are they two independent brands? If the latter is the case they would be targeting different markets ... but then does anyone know how they are trying to differentiate them? Do both just uses Omega to deal with channel inventory?
Edits: for clarity
Apex and Zephyr are to separate and competing companies.
mikebaker1129
Well-known member
How much did this kit run you ? Looks like just what I need.I got Zephyr bits instead of Apex and I realy like them.
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