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Dave455

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Mar 19, 2013
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5,796
Location
Sussex, England
Steel_Rain said:
Does DRPD usually start the sale a week early? Or actually ON black Friday? I'm signed up on the newsletter and email alerts and just wondering.

A buddy (weekend warrior) borrowed one of my bit boxes and this is how a #3 PH came back:

1732200376252.png

The horror.
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That’s some going!

I had a colleague wreck a C6 bit in a similar way, but they are optimised for hand use, and are a bit hard for impact use, which I know is how it got wrecked.

1/4” bits were one of the few things I used to let others use, as they are replaceable, but lesson learned and I don’t lend anything now.

I have C6 bits, used correctly, that are 20+ years old!
 
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Steel_Rain

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Apr 23, 2024
Messages
1,322
Dave455 said:
1/4” bits were one of the few things I used to let others use, as they are replaceable, but lesson learned and I don’t lend anything now.

I have C6 bits, used correctly, that are 20+ years old!
Click to expand...

Absolutely. I suggested high quality bits to him because I've been there many times with rust/corroded hat set screws on Honda/Acura stuff. He didn't have any, but in his defense, I didn't tell not to use an impact. Oh well, it was a waste of $4.

There are worse things in life and it gives me an excuse to buy more things at DRPD now.
 
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Dave455

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The PB Bits, even the E6 Impact Bits, are I think towards the harder side of the spectrum. It can be great, because used within limits they generally show little wear, but you’ve just proved they can shatter.

I must admit, I have a variety of bits now. I get a lot of use out of Wera, especially on cheaper screws where I don’t want to damage the tips of my PB Swiss, but despite being I think a little softer, they don’t seem any more resistant to breakage.

Solution is probably to buy yourself a set of PB bits - all the tip types and all the lengths, but if someone asks to borrow one simply deny their existence!
 
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Ohio Andy

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Jul 31, 2024
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2,244
Location
Columbus, Ohio
Dave455 said:
The PB Bits, even the E6 Impact Bits, are I think towards the harder side of the spectrum. It can be great, because used within limits they generally show little wear, but you’ve just proved they can shatter.

I must admit, I have a variety of bits now. I get a lot of use out of Wera, especially on cheaper screws where I don’t want to damage the tips of my PB Swiss, but despite being I think a little softer, they don’t seem any more resistant to breakage.

Solution is probably to buy yourself a set of PB bits - all the tip types and all the lengths, but if someone asks to borrow one simply deny their existence!
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Yeah I got a large stash of their bits and when someone wants to borrow a bit, that's not the one they get.... I just recently restocked my stash of PB Swiss
 
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Steel_Rain

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Apr 23, 2024
Messages
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superautobacs said:
Shame to see the life of that PB bit cut short 😢

For tough tasks, I like to use 5/16" bits
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I know Chris :(.

I have zero experience with 5/16" bits. Not common in my shop or with my group of gearheads either, but I'm willing to give them a try. Obviously, I'd buy the Koken's you have pictured.

More thoughts on these? Real world applications?
 
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RTM

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May 13, 2019
Messages
13,053
Location
SF Bay Area
Steel_Rain said:
More thoughts on these? Real world applications
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My Vessel hand hammer impact wrench runs 5/16” bits. Only time I’ve damaged on was way back, post 1981, mangled one of the Phillips bit when I didn’t hold the tool tight enough prior to impact. I recently bought a couple of spare Lisle bits when I lost one.
 
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Hohn

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Joined
Aug 25, 2016
Messages
2,614
Location
Diesel Central, Indiana
Well at least I now know whom to blame for my infatuation with Nepros/KTCs.

I ordered my first ever Nepros/ktc products from you guys this spring and dang. The first thing I noticed on the 6-pt flat DBEs was that the INSIDE of the hex was polished. Who does that? Who makes sure the inside of the hex is anything more refined than just whatever the broach leaves behind?

I bought these wrenches specifically for being as kind as possible to certain things where I'm touching the hex repeatedly-- battery terminal, oil pan plugs, etc.

What I didn't expect is the joy of using them. The are incredible. You can feel in them the same cultural attention to detail that would think nothing of spending an entire month just polishing a blade. Because that's what it takes.
 
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crashmtb

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Joined
Aug 2, 2006
Messages
93
Location
Winnipeg
Steel_Rain said:
I know Chris :(.

I have zero experience with 5/16" bits. Not common in my shop or with my group of gearheads either, but I'm willing to give them a try. Obviously, I'd buy the Koken's you have pictured.

More thoughts on these? Real world applications?
Click to expand...
I have a Koken attack driver which uses/came with 5/16” bits. It reliably does rotor screws in one shot, anything stuck in like that where you just need to break it free and don’t want to wail on it with an impact gun
 
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Steel_Rain

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Apr 23, 2024
Messages
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crashmtb said:
I have a Koken attack driver which uses/came with 5/16” bits. It reliably does rotor screws in one shot, anything stuck in like that where you just need to break it free and don’t want to wail on it with an impact gun
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RTM said:
My Vessel hand hammer impact wrench runs 5/16” bits. Only time I’ve damaged on was way back, post 1981, mangled one of the Phillips bit when I didn’t hold the tool tight enough prior to impact. I recently bought a couple of spare Lisle bits when I lost one.
Click to expand...

Damnit, I just bought one too:

1732292622778.png

I didn't take the bits out of the sleeve or use this yet, but they are 5/16" bits. IDK why I assumed these were just reinforced 1/4" bits. It's obvious to me now. If I had know he was going to need it, I would have loaned it to him.

@superautobacs, do you use the Koken 5/16" bits with a "handheld" impact driver like the above, or "power" impact driver (air/electric)?
 
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Steel_Rain

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Apr 23, 2024
Messages
1,322
Reed Prince said:
The domestic USA prices for a Ko-ken driver with 16 bits have fluctuated a lot this year but have been quite reasonable at times.

IMG_2823.jpg
Click to expand...

I like this better than the Vessel version. The Koken appears to be even more heavy duty.
 
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Ohio Andy

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Location
Columbus, Ohio
Reed Prince said:
The domestic USA prices for a Ko-ken driver with 16 bits have fluctuated a lot this year but have been quite reasonable at times.

IMG_2823.jpg
Click to expand...
I was just looking at that set.... It uses 1/2" bits right?

The vessel i looked at uses 1/4 bits, which surprised me.

I currently have an old USA craftsman with limited bits. I could buy more but, clean it up and get a case (came in a thick plastic bag).
 
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crashmtb

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Aug 2, 2006
Messages
93
Location
Winnipeg
Ohio Andy said:
I was just looking at that set.... It uses 1/2" bits right?

The vessel i looked at uses 1/4 bits, which surprised me.

I currently have an old USA craftsman with limited bits. I could buy more but, clean it up and get a case (came in a thick plastic bag).
Click to expand...
5/16" bits. The output of the tool is 1/2" square drive, with a holder for 5/16" bits. So you could stick a socket on too.
 
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KnurledNut

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Jan 28, 2011
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n/a
PB Swiss does not make dedicated impact bits, nor do they use different degrees of hardness among their bits. They are all the same. They can all be used manually or by machine.

I have seen other PB Swiss bits fail in a similar manner. Its just a 1/4 bit. It can only handle so much torque regardless of whos name is on it. Its very easy to snap a PH3 especially.
 
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richfinn

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Jan 29, 2011
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Location
Leeds, Yorkshire, England
KnurledNut said:
PB Swiss does not make dedicated impact bits, nor do they use different degrees of hardness among their bits. They are all the same. They can all be used manually or by machine.

I have seen other PB Swiss bits fail in a similar manner. Its just a 1/4 bit. It can only handle so much torque regardless of whos name is on it. Its very easy to snap a PH3 especially.
Click to expand...

I did not know that, thanks 👍
 
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Ohio Andy

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Jul 31, 2024
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richfinn said:
They work really good on locking wheel bolts/nuts that are damaged as an example.
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I choose this one because it packages things all together and it has the 1/2" square. Excited about that.

Yamashita Industrial Research Laboratory Koken AG112H 18 Pcs Attack Driver Set 1/2 (12.7 mm)

I also considered vessel. .

I see they say plus bits, not Phillips or JIS, but I assumed JIS.

My Craftsman had mostly been used on American older cars and mostly John Deere equipment.
 
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richfinn

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Jan 29, 2011
Messages
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Location
Leeds, Yorkshire, England
Ohio Andy said:
I choose this one because it packages things all together and it has the 1/2" square. Excited about that.

Yamashita Industrial Research Laboratory Koken AG112H 18 Pcs Attack Driver Set 1/2 (12.7 mm)

I also considered vessel. .

I see they say plus bits, not Phillips or JIS, but I assumed JIS.

My Craftsman had mostly been used on American older cars and mostly John Deere equipment.
Click to expand...

Ko-ken or Vessel are both a good choice, I already have an old 1/2" drive Dynomec (supplied through work) so went with 3/8"
 
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Ohio Andy

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richfinn said:
Ko-ken or Vessel are both a good choice, I already have an old 1/2" drive Dynomec (supplied through work) so went with 3/8"
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I almost went with 3/8, but I liked all the bits included with the 1/2 and I figured I'd I wanted to used it with society's I might want the 1/2. Still not sure it was the best choice but I doubt that it will seriously matter except for the weight of impact sockets if I am hauling those with me.
 
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superautobacs

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Oct 31, 2008
Messages
3,997
Location
Vancouver, BC
Steel_Rain said:
Damnit, I just bought one too:

1732292622778.png

I didn't take the bits out of the sleeve or use this yet, but they are 5/16" bits. IDK why I assumed these were just reinforced 1/4" bits. It's obvious to me now. If I had know he was going to need it, I would have loaned it to him.

@superautobacs, do you use the Koken 5/16" bits with a "handheld" impact driver like the above, or "power" impact driver (air/electric)?
Click to expand...
I have the 1/2"sq Attack, but rarely use it. I have a mishmash of Wera and Ko-ken 5/16" bits in in-hex and torx. They are inserted into dedicated bit holder and get driven on an impact wrench.

The #3 shattered because I didn't fully seat the bit into the screw.
The T45 got ruined from repeated use, driving it on the end of a wobble extension.

Ko-ken has a few double-ended 5/16" bits as well and a dedicated bit holder.
 

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Ohio Andy

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Jul 31, 2024
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Location
Columbus, Ohio
billspreston said:
What's up fellas? The time is finally here for GJ early access to our Black Friday sale! Time to stock up on the good stuff :)
  • 15% Off Sitewide (no restrictions)
  • 20% Off $350+
  • Ends Tuesday, December 3rd @ 11:59 PM PT
  • Coupon code BF2024GJ active now
Click to expand...
I knew this was coming but I needed to put my order in last month.... Seems like a good time to buy more
 
J

j3rf

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Joined
Apr 26, 2018
Messages
478
Location
Ohio
billspreston said:
What's up fellas? The time is finally here for GJ early access to our Black Friday sale! Time to stock up on the good stuff :)
  • 15% Off Sitewide (no restrictions)
  • 20% Off $350+
  • Ends Tuesday, December 3rd @ 11:59 PM PT
  • Coupon code BF2024GJ active now
Click to expand...
Hell yes, I had been eyeing a couple things and this sealed it. Order placed!!!
 
OP
B

billspreston

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Apr 6, 2020
Messages
170
Location
San Luis Obispo, CA
Fedwrench said:
Too bad so much of the KTC stuff is out of stock :sad:
Click to expand...
Yes, freight timing unfortunately did not work out for KTC, but I give my word that we will run a KTC/nepros promotion once the next shipment has arrived from Japan.

ronkz650 said:
I'd like a small torque wrench such as the Pro 15 Norbar, but for some reason they are never offered except on Ebay for around $300.
Click to expand...
In the past Norbar hasn't made the 15 Nm models accessible to us in the US market. I've made a note for us to check on that to see if anything has changed recently.

Would normally recommend Effetto Mariposa for a small torque wrench in the 15 Nm range, but their new models are unfortunately no longer made in Italy.

KTC just released some incredible new digital wrenches in this range (coming soon), but they are $$$.
 
S

Steven Seagull

Active member
Joined
Dec 29, 2024
Messages
29
@billspreston,

Big fan of the shop! Are you still able to get Effetto Mariposa 1/4 torque wrenches? I can’t seem to find them in stock anywhere in the US.

Regards,
Tony - another bike industry nerd
 
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