Grip Edge star sockets....worth it?

[impactims]

And the MAC RBRT seem to be relabeled Grip Edge. A Grip Edge bit in a MAC socket.

Anyhow, the star design itself seems to have lots of bite by design. Thats the point to using that kind of hardware over a hex in the first place. Hex is very prone to rounding out so I see a place for the Grip Edge hex sockets. But star?

What do you think?

Been seeing these around a lot on tool trucks lately and they look tempting but at the same time they look like a waste.

 

[General Geoff]

What do you think?

How many torx head bolts have you stripped/rounded out in your life?

I've managed it exactly once. So no, not worth it to me.

 

[KnurledNut]

When a torx fastener strips out, which does happen, your options can be quite limited.
If one is putting up a fight, its best to stop before rounding it out and try other alternatives. That’s where these shine. They definitely have their place, especially in a professional environment.

 

[YesIHaveAHammer]

I would have some if I ran a bike shop because:

1. Manufacturers use bolts with smaller and/or shallower heads than standard
2. Manufacturers make bolts out of poor quality materials
3. Assembly mechanics use power tools carelessly
4. Owners will try stupid things because they don't have the right Torx on their multitool

 

[finn]

I noticed that my Sprinter camper has some unusual (to me) star shaped fasteners that I don’t have tools for. Is this what you’re talking about?

I’m sure they are designed for automated assembly, and look like they compensate for tensioning equipment misalignment.

Sort of cool, but now I should probably add the appropriate tools before something fails and I’m left helpless.

 

[mreisner]

I noticed that my Sprinter camper has some unusual (to me) star shaped fasteners that I don’t have tools for. Is this what you’re talking about?

I’m sure they are designed for automated assembly, and look like they compensate for tensioning equipment misalignment.

Sort of cool, but now I should probably add the appropriate tools before something fails and I’m left helpless.

Etorx probably.

 

[willf650]

I noticed that my Sprinter camper has some unusual (to me) star shaped fasteners that I don’t have tools for. Is this what you’re talking about?

I’m sure they are designed for automated assembly, and look like they compensate for tensioning equipment misalignment.

Sort of cool, but now I should probably add the appropriate tools before something fails and I’m left helpless.

Those are probably double square or 8 point. I was recently working on a small utility trailer replacing a bunch of lights I thought would be simple as I thought all the fasteners were torx.

I was wrong and had to use a screw extractor on them all and it made a simple job a pain.

I have subsequently bought an 8 point bit set and will probably never need it again.

The grip edge stuff is different and made to grab hex and torx in a different spot than a standard bit set.

 

[f121]

How many torx head bolts have you stripped/rounded out in your life?

I've managed it exactly once. So no, not worth it to me.

Feels like hundreds, but probably less than a hundred in reality. Such an utter pita when you round out a Torx.

 

[Pinne]

Well, as it would happen, I completely rounded a Torx fastener today. I'm going to get a set of the Gripedge Torx bits but I'm also interested in something that would get hammered in.

I know there is a set of Gripedge sockets that they have you hammer onto the bolt / nut but is there something similar for Torx / Hex? The drill style extractors aren't usually worthwhile IME.

 

[Wamsutta]

Another solution looking for a problem.

 

[L.Cheapo]

When I see a Torx head that looks like its going to put up a fight, out come the gold Snap On HD Torx removal bit sockets. These are tapered and often need to be tapped into the fastener, giving a tight fit with less chance of stripping. Havent failed me yet.

 

[f121]

When I see a Torx head that looks like its going to put up a fight, out come the gold Snap On HD Torx removal bit sockets. These are tapered and often need to be tapped into the fastener, giving a tight fit with less chance of stripping. Havent failed me yet.

Snapped one yesterday. Thanks for the reminder to get that warrantied

 

[KnurledNut]

Those are probably double square or 8 point. I was recently working on a small utility trailer replacing a bunch of lights I thought would be simple as I thought all the fasteners were torx.

I was wrong and had to use a screw extractor on them all and it made a simple job a pain.

I have subsequently bought an 8 point bit set and will probably never need it again.

The grip edge stuff is different and made to grab hex and torx in a different spot than a standard bit set.

All you needed was a #2 square/robertson.

 

[KnurledNut]

When I see a Torx head that looks like its going to put up a fight, out come the gold Snap On HD Torx removal bit sockets. These are tapered and often need to be tapped into the fastener, giving a tight fit with less chance of stripping. Havent failed me yet.

Those are basically wedge torx or Torx Align.
They work great but do add wear to the outermost portion of the Torx recess since thats where the highest concentration of contact occurs.

 

[jsaw]

Etorx probably.

When I worked on Sprinters, they used E torx, Torx, and hex/ Allen fasteners.

 

[Ohio Andy]

And the MAC RBRT seem to be relabeled Grip Edge. A Grip Edge bit in a MAC socket.

Anyhow, the star design itself seems to have lots of bite by design. Thats the point to using that kind of hardware over a hex in the first place. Hex is very prone to rounding out so I see a place for the Grip Edge hex sockets. But star?

What do you think?

Been seeing these around a lot on tool trucks lately and they look tempting but at the same time they look like a waste.

I bought grip edge specifically because I knew I needed to remove some torx screws from expensive knives and some people complained about stripping the torx heads.

I cannot vouch for them using proper bits or process, but the size was will known and started so I assume they had the correct size.

I have done a bunch and have not damaged any heads... Someone here did claim that grip edge can be too aggressive and damage a fastener. RBRT wrenches can leave a mark on bolts of things are tight.

 

[f121]

Snapped one yesterday. Thanks for the reminder to get that warrantied

Unsuccessful. He didn’t have any gold t27’s

 

[mreisner]

When I worked on Sprinters, they used E torx, Torx, and hex/ Allen fasteners.

Yeah definitely depends on who did the upfit on them. Heaven forbid that they all get their heads out of their asses and actually standardize something!

 

[Callelle]

I'd say they're worth it. My Gearwrench ones would always either strip out or snap fasteners (NY corrosion doesn't help). I've since switched to Mac RBRT impacts for torx and have only snapped one in a year, otherwise they haven't let me down.

 

[Wrench97]

How many torx head bolts have you stripped/rounded out in your life?

I've managed it exactly once. So no, not worth it to me.

Depends on what you work on Volvo trucks have all over the cab and frame brackets, I've rounded plenty out and probably broken more off..

 

[Callelle]

Depends on what you work on Volvo trucks have all over the cab and frame brackets, I've rounded plenty out and probably broken more off..

Navistar has gone nuts with Torx and E-Torx too, they're all over our new S13 and T14.

 

[jsaw]

Yeah definitely depends on who did the upfit on them. Heaven forbid that they all get their heads out of their asses and actually standardize something!

The fasteners I am talking about were what Mercedes installed at the factory. Most of them were inverted Torx.

 

[gizardlizard]

I work on German made plastic injection molding machines for a living. There are torx on everything. To top it off, they are pan heads with teeth on the underside of the head AND they locktite them on. They are a bear to remove the first time, as they are impacted on during assembly. I’ve stripped hundreds of them trying to remove them. The grip edge star tools are amazing and haven’t failed me yet.

 

[willf650]

All you needed was a #2 square/robertson.

Dang it, I just tested this and it fits on those screws. I wouldn't have wanted to drive them in with it but it would have probably worked well enough to pull them out. Certainly would have been better than the screw extractor.

 

[KnurledNut]

Dang it, I just tested this and it fits on those screws. I wouldn't have wanted to drive them in with it but it would have probably worked well enough to pull them out. Certainly would have been better than the screw extractor.

I deal with a couple trailer sales/repair shops and thats what they use. I also work on them occasionally. Mechanics don’t typically see the need for square bits. Until they do.
And to keep on track with the thread, there are even RBRT versions of them!

 

[Wrench-Polisher]

I'd say they're worth it. My Gearwrench ones would always either strip out or snap fasteners (NY corrosion doesn't help). I've since switched to Mac RBRT impacts for torx and have only snapped one in a year, otherwise they haven't let me down.

You dont wave to worry about rust you car will get stolen long before it rusts because you are in Cheektowaga

 

[Wrench-Polisher]

I work on German made plastic injection molding machines for a living. There are torx on everything. To top it off, they are pan heads with teeth on the underside of the head AND they locktite them on. They are a bear to remove the first time, as they are impacted on during assembly. I’ve stripped hundreds of them trying to remove them. The grip edge star tools are amazing and haven’t failed me yet.

Is that torx plus?

 

[Wrench97]

Is that torx plus?

Good eye.

 

[KnurledNut]

Dedicated bit sockets are redundant for me; weight and space are limited, so on the job I only keep a few holders that can be used with multiple bits. This also saves a little cost.

Since I was primarily after the RBRT tips, I picked up the Mac bit set. The machining is pretty impressive, especially the ball hex.

 

[General Geoff]

I picked up a single T50 GripEdge bit socket. Replacing my worn out HF T50 socket that I've been using for nearly 20 years. Mostly need it for the rear wheel lug bolts on my K1600.

Fits the bolt heads pretty tightly, so hopefully ill get another 20 years out of it

 

[paulsomlo]

I'll be installing one of these later today - it's a belt tensioner for a German car. The Torx recess is shallow and I'll be using an 18" breaker bar to overcome the spring force when I install the belt. The last time I did this, didn't go so well - the bit kept slipping out of engagement, so not looking forward to it.

 

[Wrench97]

Try pulling on the belt and placing a 3/16 drill bit in the lock holes to hold it in the belt installation position.

 

[Hakeem]

Good eye.

I see the difference, but what on Earth are those angles measuring?

 

[Hakeem]

I work on German made plastic injection molding machines for a living. There are torx on everything. To top it off, they are pan heads with teeth on the underside of the head AND they locktite them on. They are a bear to remove the first time, as they are impacted on during assembly. I’ve stripped hundreds of them trying to remove them. The grip edge star tools are amazing and haven’t failed me yet.

How did you usually end up removing the stripped fasteners?

 

[Wrench97]

I see the difference, but what on Earth are those angles measuring?

I wondered that myself....

 

[KnurledNut]

I see the difference, but what on Earth are those angles measuring?

The drive angle where the tool meets the fastener. And the resulting radial stresses. Which is near zero with Torx Plus.
A hex has a 60° drive angle which is why damage is common.

 

[paulsomlo]

Try pulling on the belt and placing a 3/16 drill bit in the lock holes to hold it in the belt installation position.

It comes shipped with a lock pin installed. Given the strength of the spring, I can't imagine being able to move the tensioner by pulling on the belt.

Just finished installing the tensioner, idler pulley and new belt - there is no way that pulling on the belt is going to move that tensioner. I got it done, but the fit of my Lisle T50 in that shallow Torx head was dicey - I can see trouble down the road.

 

[jsaw]

Yeah definitely depends on who did the upfit on them. Heaven forbid that they all get their heads out of their asses and actually standardize something!

The Sprinters that I worked on were ambulances. The ambulance upfitter used standard commonly available fasteners. The fasteners I am talking about are the ones that Mercedes used.

 

[four.cycle]

^ German vehicles use a "triple square" (aka "12-point-star") BMW, Audi, Opel, Mercedes.
Using an incorrect bit will screw up the fastener.
Buy the correct tool.

I used to drive an Opel. You can thank me later.

 

[whateg01]

Owners will try stupid things because they don't have the right Torx on their multitool

In a previous life I had to support our repair shop with processes, documentation, and making sure they knew which tools to use. Management was responsible and always negligent in getting those tools but that's another story. I got called out to the shop because the technicians had been fighting stripped screw heads for some time. We've had vendors that sold really soft stamped screws and I figured that was the issue. Turns out the model they were working on used both Allen and torx fasteners. They were using hex keys for everything because management said the hex keys seemed to fit just fine.