Grip Edge star sockets....worth it?

[paulsomlo]

I looked at the Gripedge website; their T50 is only available in 3/8"drive or 3/8" low profile w/17mm external hex in a set. Does anyone offer a T50 in RPT with 1/2" drive? Or the T50 low profile from the set as an individual socket?

 

[gizardlizard]

How did you usually end up removing the stripped fasteners?

With the Grip edge sockets. They have worked 100% of the time.

 

[Hakeem]

With the Grip edge sockets. They have worked 100% of the time.

So you would try a regular Torx first, strip the fastener, and use the gripedge to remove them? I think I am misunderstanding something here

Hope this doesnt comes off as being a smartass. I just want some ideas on removing stripped Torx fasteners

 

[General Geoff]

I looked at the Gripedge website; their T50 is only available in 3/8"drive or 3/8" low profile w/17mm external hex in a set. Does anyone offer a T50 in RPT with 1/2" drive? Or the T50 low profile from the set as an individual socket?

Yeah they dont make one in 1/2" drive as of yet. For my use case specified torque is only 60 nm or ~45 lb-ft so 3/8" drive is plenty.

 

[gizardlizard]

So you would try a regular Torx first, strip the fastener, and use the gripedge to remove them? I think I am misunderstanding something here

Hope this doesnt comes off as being a smartass. I just want some ideas on removing stripped Torx fasteners

I ONLY use the grip edge sockets as extractors. They can be used as a daily socket but they are a little spendy and I don’t want to put excess wear on them. They are really cool how they work.

 

[four.cycle]

So you would try a regular Torx first, strip the fastener, and use the gripedge to remove them? I think I am misunderstanding something here

Hope this doesnt comes off as being a smartass. I just want some ideas on removing stripped Torx fasteners

You're not being a smart-***, @Hakeem - I think you're having as much difficulty getting your head wrapped around this as I am....
Every time I've looked at this thread I feel a bit less intelligent. Am I stupid?
Do I need these things?
Is there a new fastener out there that I will need these for?

OR (as it is starting to become clearer) is this "Grip Edge" thing the "last resort" for removing TORX fasteners on which the heads have been buggered?

I ONLY use the grip edge sockets as extractors. They can be used as a daily socket but they are a little spendy and I don’t want to put excess wear on them. They are really cool how they work.

^ So... this is the "last resort" tool when the normal approach doens't work?

 

[Ohio Andy]

You're not being a smart-***, @Hakeem - I think you're having as much difficulty getting your head wrapped around this as I am....
Every time I've looked at this thread I feel a bit less intelligent. Am I stupid?
Do I need these things?
Is there a new fastener out there that I will need these for?

OR (as it is starting to become clearer) is this "Grip Edge" thing the "last resort" for removing TORX fasteners on which the heads have been buggered?



^ So... this is the "last resort" tool when the normal approach doens't work?

One person here complained that they do not like the Grip Edge specifically because it damaged a fastener. I have not had that problem yet, but I mostly use it when I am concerned about striping out a fastener. I have not seen any marks. One of my drivers was that I was concerned about removing some screws from pocket knives and many people had complained about stripping them while trying to get them out. Admittedly I usually try to understand the size and type before I try (if the manufacturer states it), but, I do not usually have extra T6 screws sitting around, especially when they have a specific finish on them.

I think that fastener damage can happen for most "RBRT" things such as open end wrenches that leave a mark on the bolt head. Does ACR Phillips leave a mark inside the screw as well? I have had really good luck with those and have not noticed any deformations. My ACR Phillips are Zephyr and Apex (I think I have ACR Apex).

As for @Hakeem .... Huge respect... If he is confused, I am pretty sure it is not just him. Then again, there has been so much dialog here it can be easy to lose some of it. I would say that if he makes it to Columbus Ohio (middle of Ohio) I would buy him dinner, but I guess that is pretty much true for most anyone who makes it out here and lets me know ahead of time!

By default I will take you to my Favorite Mexican place. If I have any takers.

-- Andy

 

[gizardlizard]

You're not being a smart-***, @Hakeem - I think you're having as much difficulty getting your head wrapped around this as I am....
Every time I've looked at this thread I feel a bit less intelligent. Am I stupid?
Do I need these things?
Is there a new fastener out there that I will need these for?

OR (as it is starting to become clearer) is this "Grip Edge" thing the "last resort" for removing TORX fasteners on which the heads have been buggered?



^ So... this is the "last resort" tool when the normal approach doens't work?

Not sure why you don’t understand. It is exactly like I stated earlier. At work, I have torx style fasteners on everything. Most of which are small and used to hold guards and sheet metal covers on. These are a truss head style fastener with teeth on the underside. When assembled in Germany, they are power driven into place and the teeth underneath really dig into the steel locking them in place. Most times, simple hand tools and bits remove them easily. Sometimes though, they are very stubborn and normal bits start to slip. That’s when I reach for Grip Edge bits and I use them as an extractor. As I previously stated, you CAN use them as an everyday tool but they are expensive and I don’t want unnecessary wear on them. I own 6 different style of Grip Edge bits but I only them as a last resort to remove a fastener. They have yet to fail me. Hope that’s clear enough for you. Here are some pics to help. I also work on Robots and collaborative robots. This collaborative robot made by Universal Robot is the smallest one we have. The joints need to be replaced fairly often. The screws holding the joints together are 3mm and some are flatheads with loctite on them. You get ONE CHANCE to remove them. If your bit starts to slip, you’re done. Most times, they come apart without issue, but if I slip off and damage the fastener, I reach for the grip edge bits and use them as an extractor. They kind of “cam” into the screw to grab it and remove it without slipping. Again though, I don’t want to put extra wear and tear on the Grip Edge bits, so I only use them when normal means doesn’t work.

 

[Hakeem]

I understood it perfectly, thank you for the detailed explanations. I love to learn from other members here, especially those working in different fields from me. I qualified my statement because I know tone doesn’t always come across in text and I didn’t want to cause any strife. Thanks again @gizardlizard

Just curious - before the grip edge sockets, did you have a preferred extraction method for stripped Torx sockets?

@Ohio Andy - you big softie, thanks for the kind words. I’ll take you up on that if I’m ever out your way. If you’re ever in Chicago we’ll get some deep dish or an Italian beef on me. Same goes for just about anyone here. I love this community.

 

[Hakeem]

One person here complained that they do not like the Grip Edge specifically because it damaged a fastener. I have not had that problem yet, but I mostly use it when I am concerned about striping out a fastener. I have not seen any marks.

That was me, I believe. I was removing this 8mm steel drain plug and I could feel it yield. Removed the bit and found that the inset hex had been turned into an internal star:



This has me reconsidering the use of the grip edge stuff for non damaged fasteners. I think a tight fitting hex bit is best for those, as there is more surface area in contact. If the fastener isn’t in great condition or otherwise stripped, the grip edge stuff is probably best option to extract it. Kind of like how @gizardlizard uses them

 

[gizardlizard]

I understood it perfectly, thank you for the detailed explanations. I love to learn from other members here, especially those working in different fields from me. I qualified my statement because I know tone doesn’t always come across in text and I didn’t want to cause any strife. Thanks again @gizardlizard

Just curious - before the grip edge sockets, did you have a preferred extraction method for stripped Torx sockets?

@Ohio Andy - you big softie, thanks for the kind words. I’ll take you up on that if I’m ever out your way. If you’re ever in Chicago we’ll get some deep dish or an Italian beef on me. Same goes for just about anyone here. I love this community.

Yes, before Grip Edge bits, we used this stuff. Still do with some stuff. It’s basically carbide grit suspended in a gel. The carbide takes up gaps between your driver and the fastener and also allows the driver to bite into the fastener.

 

[four.cycle]

Okay.. I got it... finally.
I was thinking this was something for a new type of fastener!
They do seem a bit spendy.

 

[Wrench-Polisher]

I understood it perfectly, thank you for the detailed explanations. I love to learn from other members here, especially those working in different fields from me. I qualified my statement because I know tone doesn’t always come across in text and I didn’t want to cause any strife. Thanks again @gizardlizard

Just curious - before the grip edge sockets, did you have a preferred extraction method for stripped Torx sockets?

@Ohio Andy - you big softie, thanks for the kind words. I’ll take you up on that if I’m ever out your way. If you’re ever in Chicago we’ll get some deep dish or an Italian beef on me. Same goes for just about anyone here. I love this community.

Deep dish? You mean greasy casserole?

 

[impactims]

Ended up buying the MAC set of star sockets, made by grip edge…

Have not used them yet, but nice to know they are there however.

 

[impactims]

I ONLY use the grip edge sockets as extractors. They can be used as a daily socket but they are a little spendy and I don’t want to put excess wear on them. They are really cool how they work.

This is why I went with MAC.

Grip edge product, MAC warranty. Wear them out and simply get a free replacement. Makes no sense to buy this kind of tool with out a top notch warranty service.

 

[Callelle]

This is why I went with MAC.

Grip edge product, MAC warranty. Wear them out and simply get a free replacement. Makes no sense to buy this kind of tool with out a top notch warranty service.

I'm somewhat in the same boat for looking to replace my Gearwrench garbage set. I can either go with MAC for the warranty service, or Grip edge because their master set is more appealing to me. Technically both have the same warranty, however I've been waiting months for stuff from my Mac guy, it makes me wonder if it's worth it.

 

[impactims]

I'm somewhat in the same boat for looking to replace my Gearwrench garbage set. I can either go with MAC for the warranty service, or Grip edge because their master set is more appealing to me. Technically both have the same warranty, however I've been waiting months for stuff from my Mac guy, it makes me wonder if it's worth it.

I don’t see anything wrong with getting both. Best of both worlds…

 

[charger 73]

Never seen that easy grip before, looks interesting.
I've always used valve grinding compound which can help as the last chance
before drilling.

 

[Hakeem]

i got the optigrip star bit sockets from Matco and they seriously saved the day today. These screws were super corroded and instantly stripped out when I used a regular t30:


I thought I was screwed because it looked like the fasteners were too rounded out for the optigrip to bite into, but I figured it was worth a shot so I put the bit in my ratchet, applied downward force and slowly pulled — SUCCESS!!!

I’m not really sure what the bit was biting into but whatever it was, it worked. Getting the screws off the bit was a bit of a struggle, that’s how well they grabbed.

The optigrip star bits don’t really look much different from the conventional style but man, they freaking work. I’m a believer.

 

[YesIHaveAHammer]

I believe the advice (as you may well know already) is if in doubt, go directly to the grip bit before making it any worse with a standard bit.