Difference between Mac star and Torx bits?

[Briancapecoral]

Mac has a stubby and regular set of star bit sockets in their flyer $99 for both sets. I went online to order and found out they have bits labeled as Torx and bits labeled as star. The bits labeled as star state they fit Torx fasteners. The bits labeled Torx are about 2x the price. Has anyone used these or know the difference?

 

[Strouty]

True torx bits are licensed and fit much better. Snap On has some that fit torx, but you really have to pound them in as they do not fit well, then they have the actual torx and they are great. I think that is why you find torx bits to be so finicky as a lot of companies won't pay to use the torx design.

 

[davethorik]

I always thought 'star' was just a generic name for Torx

 

[1982fxr]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torx

If they are from 1967 why do they have to pay? Shouldn’t the patent have run out?

 

[2ndGearRubber]

I always thought 'star' was just a generic name for Torx

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torx

If they are from 1967 why do they have to pay? Shouldn’t the patent have run out?

Torx requires certain clearances/specs to be considered "real" torx products. IME, "star" usually fits worse and is shittier than "torx".

FWIW, torx is likely trade marked, so using the name likely costs money.

 

[paulsomlo]

FWIW, torx is likely trade marked, so using the name likely costs money.

Yep, and while patents expire, registered trademarks do not.

From the website, www.mutualscrew.com:
Torx® is a Registered Trademark of the Camcar Corp. division of Textron Inds.

 

[Mohawk Dave]

Torx requires certain clearances/specs to be considered "real" torx products. IME, "star" usually fits worse and is shittier than "torx".

FWIW, torx is likely trade marked, so using the name likely costs money.

So why don't they machine star to Torx specifications and continue to call them star ? Seems like that would be easy to achieve

 

[Gmonkee]

If that were an option why not just re label the Torx as star and drop the old star bit production.

I suspect there is a sort of copycat Star bit that by not being the exact same as Torx slid around the protection.
And there was (and may still be) some products using star spec fasteners.
The world of industrial copyright infringement is nearly an industry of its own.

 

[Tallpilot]

Bad enough that we have so many fastener types; we also have to contend with copycats that require slightly different bits?

 

[2ndGearRubber]

So why don't they machine star to Torx specifications and continue to call them star ? Seems like that would be easy to achieve

Cost. Why worry about perfect tool tip angles and strength on a 9.99 set of "star" bits.

 

[Gmonkee]

Bad enough that we have so many fastener types; we also have to contend with copycats that require slightly different bits?

I do a lot of torx screws on cars made just about everywhere. I have a Chesco torx folder and various others made in parts around Asia. They all work. Some fit better on a certian car than others but even choosing blindly none will fail to do the job.

Phobia of new types of fasteners is silly. The cars hit the market and two weeks later every tool catalog has the new toys for tool addicts to buy and luddites to hate.
Some will play like its a premium deal to have them but sooner or later the local HF and swap sellers are awash with them.

Torx are fine. Etorx are fine. I see both every week. Good steel in the tools and decent fasteners make for just another day at the shop.

 

[californiaHank]

Yep, and while patents expire, registered trademarks do not.

From the website, www.mutualscrew.com:
Torx® is a Registered Trademark of the Camcar Corp. division of Textron Inds.

That's the crux of it.
The Torx patent has expired, so anybody can use the design without paying license fees. But, they still can't put the Torx name on them.

I can't think of any reason on earth why anybody would make a 'star' driver that's not an exact copy of a Torx. Who would buy it? What fasteners would it fit?