I'm looking for a large set that includes Pentalobe type bits. I see that Sunex makes a fairly comprehensive 208-piece bit set ( Model No. 9729 ) that's made of S2 tool steel, but it seems impossible to find a detailed description of exactly what comes in this set. If this particular set doesn't include this type of bit, I'd appreciate some suggestions for S2 (or equivalent strength) sets that do. Thank you for your time.
Does the Sunex 9729 208-pc multi-bit set include Pentalobe bits?
- Thread starter RedOak
- Start date
merkyworks
Well-known member
looking at the Amazon reviews there is a pic of whats in the set. It’s a little hard to read but I do not see Pentalobe.
Page 155 of this PDF has the official details. Which aren’t much. You have to guess what the symbols mean (and what the crossed-out boxes might mean, and what sizes of bits are included for each type), but I’m not seeing anything pentalobish.
The pentalobe screws I come across are very small, e.g. on MacBooks and things like that. Maybe better suited to a precision set. But I don’t know what you’re working on, of course.
The pentalobe screws I come across are very small, e.g. on MacBooks and things like that. Maybe better suited to a precision set. But I don’t know what you’re working on, of course.
merkyworks
Well-known member
Yeah I have only seen pentalobe bits come in precision bit sets, like the iFixit stuff, Wiha 75965, or Wera singles at KCTool.
You've hit the nail on the head! We work on everything from CAT equipment to MacBooks here, so I'm hoping [against all hope] that I can find a bit set that is made of decent material and has a good variety. Given the cost of things in the US economy, I want as much bang for the buck as possible ... even if the initial cost is high. Thank you for the thoughtful post.
EDIT: I just returned from checking Page 155 via the link you provided and, yes, the Pentalobe symbol is there. How many and what sizes, that's another question? Thanks again, sir.
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KnurledNut
Well-known member
It does not contain Pentalobe. It has IPR or 5-lobe tamper-proof torx plus.You've hit the nail on the head! We work on everything from CAT equipment to MacBooks here, so I'm hoping [against all hope] that I can find a bit set that is made of decent material and has a good variety. Given the cost of things in the US economy, I want as much bang for the buck as possible ... even if the initial cost is high. Thank you for the thoughtful post.
EDIT: I just returned from checking Page 155 via the link you provided and, yes, the Pentalobe symbol is there. How many and what sizes, that's another question? Thanks again, sir.
As KnurledNut said, those five-pointed stars are not pentalobe. He says it’s tamperproof Torx Plus, and he might be right, but those bits have a hole in the middle for the post in the screw. One of the five-pointed star symbols shown on page 155 does not have a hole.
Does anyone know what bits are in set 9735 on page 154? That gets the five-pointed star too, and no other lobed bits, so we should be able to deduce what the symbol means from that set.
Maybe it’s Torx Plus? Someone in an office noticed that tamper-resistant variants of bits are often the same basic shape but with a hole, so they figured Torx Plus must look like tamperproof Torx Plus except for the hole. But in reality, non-tamper Torx Plus has six lobes.
It’s absurd that Sunex makes us work this hard to find out what they’re selling. Would it kill them to list the bit types using words on their website? And the sizes for each bit? Because even if this set has pentalobe, would the sizes be small enough for MacBooks?
Web paper and printing is free! Do better, Sunex.
Does anyone know what bits are in set 9735 on page 154? That gets the five-pointed star too, and no other lobed bits, so we should be able to deduce what the symbol means from that set.
Maybe it’s Torx Plus? Someone in an office noticed that tamper-resistant variants of bits are often the same basic shape but with a hole, so they figured Torx Plus must look like tamperproof Torx Plus except for the hole. But in reality, non-tamper Torx Plus has six lobes.
It’s absurd that Sunex makes us work this hard to find out what they’re selling. Would it kill them to list the bit types using words on their website? And the sizes for each bit? Because even if this set has pentalobe, would the sizes be small enough for MacBooks?
Web paper and printing is free! Do better, Sunex.
No pentalobe bits listed per this list of the bits included in the set
1/4" x 50mm Bits
(07) Phillips - 1x2, 2x3, 3x2
(03) Pozidriv - 1, 2, 3
(11) Tamper Star - T10, T15, T20x3, T25, T27, T30x3, T40
(05) Hex - 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6mm
(05) Hex - 1/8", 5/32", 3/16", 7/32", 1/4"
(04) Tri-Wing - 1, 2, 3, 4
(03) Torq - 6, 8, 10
(04) Spanner - 4, 6, 8, 10
1/4" x 38mm Nut Drivers
(10) Hex - 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13mm
(10) Hex - 5/32", 3/16", 7/32", 1/4", 9/32", 5/16", 11/32", 3/8", 7/16", 1/2"
1/4" x 25mm Bits:
(18) Phillips - 00, 0, 1x5, 2x5, 3x3, 4x3
(17) Pozidriv - 00, 0, 1x5, 2x5, 3x4, 4
(04) Spanner - 4, 6, 8, 10
(01) 1/4" x 1/4" x 25mm socket adapter
(10) 5 Tamper Star - TS10x2, TS15, TS20, TS25, TS27, TS30, TS40, TS45, TS50
(12) Slot - 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7, 8
(13) Star - T5, T6, T7, T8, T9, T10, T15, T20, T25, T27, T30, T40, T45
(12) Hex - 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 7, 8mm
(10) Hex - 1/16", 5/64", 3/32", 7/64", 1/8", 9/64", 5/32", 3/16", 7/32", 1/4"
(03) Clutch - 1, 2, 3
(18) Tamper Star - T5, T6, T7, T8, T9, T10, T15, T20, T25x3, T27, T30x3, T35, T40, T45
(04) Tri-Wing - 1, 2, 3, 4
(03) Torq - 6, 8, 10
(06) Tamper Hex - 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6
(06) Tamper Hex - 5/64", 3/32", 7/64", 1/8", 9/64", 5/32"
(03) Spline - M5, M6, M8
(04) Robertson - 0, 1, 2, 3
1/4" x 65mm quick release
1/4" x 50mm Bits
(07) Phillips - 1x2, 2x3, 3x2
(03) Pozidriv - 1, 2, 3
(11) Tamper Star - T10, T15, T20x3, T25, T27, T30x3, T40
(05) Hex - 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6mm
(05) Hex - 1/8", 5/32", 3/16", 7/32", 1/4"
(04) Tri-Wing - 1, 2, 3, 4
(03) Torq - 6, 8, 10
(04) Spanner - 4, 6, 8, 10
1/4" x 38mm Nut Drivers
(10) Hex - 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13mm
(10) Hex - 5/32", 3/16", 7/32", 1/4", 9/32", 5/16", 11/32", 3/8", 7/16", 1/2"
1/4" x 25mm Bits:
(18) Phillips - 00, 0, 1x5, 2x5, 3x3, 4x3
(17) Pozidriv - 00, 0, 1x5, 2x5, 3x4, 4
(04) Spanner - 4, 6, 8, 10
(01) 1/4" x 1/4" x 25mm socket adapter
(10) 5 Tamper Star - TS10x2, TS15, TS20, TS25, TS27, TS30, TS40, TS45, TS50
(12) Slot - 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7, 8
(13) Star - T5, T6, T7, T8, T9, T10, T15, T20, T25, T27, T30, T40, T45
(12) Hex - 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 7, 8mm
(10) Hex - 1/16", 5/64", 3/32", 7/64", 1/8", 9/64", 5/32", 3/16", 7/32", 1/4"
(03) Clutch - 1, 2, 3
(18) Tamper Star - T5, T6, T7, T8, T9, T10, T15, T20, T25x3, T27, T30x3, T35, T40, T45
(04) Tri-Wing - 1, 2, 3, 4
(03) Torq - 6, 8, 10
(06) Tamper Hex - 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6
(06) Tamper Hex - 5/64", 3/32", 7/64", 1/8", 9/64", 5/32"
(03) Spline - M5, M6, M8
(04) Robertson - 0, 1, 2, 3
1/4" x 65mm quick release
merkyworks
Well-known member
If you need to CAT to MacBook bit sizes you’re going to have more than one kit, I don’t know of any bit kit that covers that wide a range. Get the Sunex kit you asked about for “standard” type bits and then get a precision bit set like ones listed below. That should cover 99.9% of your needs.
Wiha 75965 65 Piece System 4 ESD Safe Master Technician Ratchet and MicroBits Set
Wiha 75979 36 Piece GoBox Electronics ESD Precision Micro Bit Set
iFixit Manta Driver Kit - Household, PC, Phone, Electronics Bit Set
Wiha 75965 65 Piece System 4 ESD Safe Master Technician Ratchet and MicroBits Set
Wiha 75979 36 Piece GoBox Electronics ESD Precision Micro Bit Set
iFixit Manta Driver Kit - Household, PC, Phone, Electronics Bit Set
Well, apparently that's a lot to ask. I actually called Sunex today and, not much of a surprise, the Customer Service agent didn't know what a Pentalobe bit was ... she tried to help me, but, eventually, she passed me over to the "Technical Department." Not only did this woman have no clue about what the word Pentalobe meant, but she seemingly had no clue about how to obtain a detailed contents listing for their own 9729 bit set! Wonderful telephone support, aye?
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ChevyEFI
Well-known member
Agree that precision drivers and 1/4” don’t mix. I’ve taken apart a few apple products. I think pentalobe isn’t a std, it’s apple proprietary. Wiha either has the rights, or makes the best fitting. I would stick with them for Pentalobes.
bwringer
Well-known member
Nice!
I can also highly recommend the iFixIt kits. Yes, they tell you exactly what's in their kits. They're also well worth supporting because they also have quite a lot of info on their site showing how to disassemble and repair a lot of devices; they're loud and proud about right to repair.
For example:
Moray Driver Kit
Meet the new, ultra-compact Moray Driver Kit, Minnow's slightly bigger brother. With a polymer driver handle and 32 bits, it's the perfect kit to keep in your junk drawer to prevent your stuff from becoming junk.
www.ifixit.com
I sent Sunex a "bitchemail" yesterday and, whaddayaknow, there is a PDF that lists exactly what comes in their 208-piece 1/4-drive 9729 Bit Set. Why this image doesn't appear in the online catalog presently on their website is beyond me?
NOTE that the solid 5-pointed "star" (penta-shaped) symbol - without the "security" hole in the center - is not included with this listing.
NOTE that the solid 5-pointed "star" (penta-shaped) symbol - without the "security" hole in the center - is not included with this listing.
bwringer
Well-known member
Well, at least now you know.
Why they keep this info so well hidden is an enduring mystery, but it's one that has applied to many, many other tools and materials from many companies. Maybe they believe they'll increase sales if "buy it and see!" is the only way to obtain crucial information.
I've seen many tools and tool sets where important specs aren't even listed on the container.
Why they keep this info so well hidden is an enduring mystery, but it's one that has applied to many, many other tools and materials from many companies. Maybe they believe they'll increase sales if "buy it and see!" is the only way to obtain crucial information.
I've seen many tools and tool sets where important specs aren't even listed on the container.
KnurledNut
Well-known member
1. Its TORQ-SET® not Torx®Set. 
2. "Tamperproof Star" could be confused with "Tamperproof Torx."
IPR, TR (tamper-resistant) Torx Plus, or a generic "Security 5-Point" would be a better label.
(Of course, the bits themselves have a TS on them so maybe thats the term their manufacturer uses.)
3. Robertson and Tri-Wing need the ® registered mark.
4. Typo on the nutdrivers. The smallest metric is 4mm. They put 5mm twice.
Nice chart otherwise.
2. "Tamperproof Star" could be confused with "Tamperproof Torx."
IPR, TR (tamper-resistant) Torx Plus, or a generic "Security 5-Point" would be a better label.
(Of course, the bits themselves have a TS on them so maybe thats the term their manufacturer uses.)
3. Robertson and Tri-Wing need the ® registered mark.
4. Typo on the nutdrivers. The smallest metric is 4mm. They put 5mm twice.
Nice chart otherwise.
As the bits themselves are supposed to be made of S2 tool steel, I would say that the Sunex 9729 is a nice set for most purposes. Its lack of "precision" bits, however, makes it less desirable for those who wish to work on certain electronic devices like Apple products and, specifically, MacBook Pro laptops. For that, the iFixit precision bit sets - which at this point in time are also made of S2 tool steel and include certain Pentalobe bits - may be more suitable.
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