Torx. Tapered or Flat ?

[Jacobson]

Which is preferred?

Tapered tips

Flat tips

 

[scissorman]

The chamfered tip will allow the bit to enter the fastener easier.

 

[gdocktor3]

You'd think flat would be a better choice because of more surface area contact.

 

[T45]

The Gold bits are stronger, the grey bits actually fit better in the workpiece. Its a bit of a tossup and matters which types of projects you work on. The gold bits are meant to fit tight/maximal tolerances but sometimes they don't properly fit (at all, for whatever reason). People will swear by gold bits tho if they are shredding through regular bits on stuff like brake rotors and other items with heat cycled or loctited fasteners, rusted etc. They are made from noticebly different hex stock or heate treatted differently for sure.

 

[MikeF2316]

The chamfered tip will allow the bit to enter the fastener easier.

You'd think flat would be a better choice because of more surface area contact.

And there you have the compromise. In a dirty application (like an automotive engine compartment) you could get away with a less thorough cleaning of the recess with the tapered tip. But the fastener might require more torque than designed to loosen because of corrosion, so you'd be better off with the flat.

Since I primarily do automotive, mine are flat.

 

[JJThrasher]

Flat golds are best. Tap then in with a hammer. BTW one of the grey ones is twisted.

 

[Jacobson]

3rd from right?

 

[JJThrasher]

Yeah. Looks it in the pic.

 

[R_einan]

I have both, the tapered fit easier in the fasteners I have come across, but they don't withstand much torque. The flat ones seen to be the best choice when the fastener is corroded or requires a bit of torque.