Who makes the best Combination/ECX bits?

[pizza]

for most things, i'm basically sold on bits and drivers from pbswiss and vessel, but i don't think either makes stuff in the ECX drive system. is it limited to north america?

anyway, who makes the best ECX/combo bits and drivers? is there even a high end maker of them?

 

[dnschmidt]

Actually Pizza a genuine Robertson two-piece #1 square drive is superior to any ECX bit for electrical devices. BUT if you must have these the Klein power bits and the HF Doyle combo screwdriver are the best I've used.

 

[pizza]

Robertson two-piece #1 square drive

two-piece?

 

[pizza]

i see what you're saying now:



ok, next question..

#1 Robertson® 3" Green Two-Piece Screwdriver Bit - 1/pack

Default Description

www.task-tools.com

this bears the robertson trademark and is made in canada, but it is clearly in TASK packaging. does that count?

what's the genuine robertson landmark today? do multiple companies license it? are they all the same?

 

[KnurledNut]

Am I having deja vu?

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum...al-screws-wish-id-done-this-years-ago.510954/

 

[pizza]

definitely

 

[scooby074]

The Task brand bits are fine. So long as they have the black insert (hardened) theyll be ok. Even the standard ones will be fine because these are Genuine Robertson, they just might not last as long

Task are very commonly sold at building supply houses (not home depot). Very common. I got a ton of them

 

[rancherbill]

This ECX is a joke right? You see these "ECX" screws on electrical stuff. They are a result of making a product that is acceptable in all three Nafta countries. The one and only acceptable screw for the last 80 years the Robertson, which comes in 4 sizes. Anybody doing anything electrical should have been using it, but Philips is still popular.

 

[KnurledNut]

This ECX is a joke right? You see these "ECX" screws on electrical stuff. They are a result of making a product that is acceptable in all three Nafta countries. The one and only acceptable screw for the last 80 years the Robertson, which comes in 4 sizes. Anybody doing anything electrical should have been using it, but Philips is still popular.

6 sizes.



And Robertson actually manufactures combo SQ/SL screws.
As well as double square screws...
And combo SQ/PH screws...



Also, not everything is made in Canada:

 

[d.mcfarland]

For the American members: DO NOT TRY TO ARGUE WITH CANADIANS ABOUT ROBERTSON.

 

[Paul_The_Builder]

I have some Felo brand Plus/Minus insulated drivers. They're similar to, but not exactly the same as ECX bits, but they fit most terminal blocks really well, which is what I use them for (electrician).
Milwaukee makes ECX bits now. They're impact rated and not that expensive, so they seem like a reasonable choice. I have some Wera or Wiha ECX bits, but I'm pretty sure I paid like $15 for a 2 pack of them or something ridiculous.

 

[dnschmidt]

For the American members: DO NOT TRY TO ARGUE WITH CANADIANS ABOUT ROBERTSON.

This is a fact. Those damn Canucks are super sensitive about this subject.

 

[DAustin]

 

[Odd-job]

No offense to our Canadian brethren here, but I ended up with a pair of Klein drivers as the pickings were slim. If PB Swiss or other high end bit manufacturer made some bits, I might have to buy them. I would then have to reconsider using them in my Canadian made Megadora bit drivers

Edit - Megapro, getting confused with all the Vessel I have been buying lately along with everyone else.

 

[mrjaw14]

I have some klein combo tip screwdrivers and they are awesome

 

[rancherbill]

6 sizes.

You're right, I forgot about the 0 and 00. I actually have a couple. They are not used that much.

 

[rancherbill]

No offense to our Canadian brethren here, but I ended up with a pair of Klein drivers as the pickings were slim. If PB Swiss or other high end bit manufacturer made some bits, I might have to buy them. I would then have to reconsider using them in my Canadian made Megadora bit drivers

Edit - Megapro, getting confused with all the Vessel I have been buying lately along with everyone else.

Klein is not a "high end" manufacturer and somehow a second choice? Where I live Klein is the #1 manufacturer of electrical hand tools.

Well if you looked your "high end" manufacturer sells them.

https://www.pbswisstools.com/en/tools/quality-hand-tools/precisionbits/product/pb-c6-185

 

[Odd-job]

Klein is not a "high end" manufacturer and somehow a second choice? Where I live Klein is the #1 manufacturer of electrical hand tools.

Well if you looked your "high end" manufacturer sells them.

https://www.pbswisstools.com/en/tools/quality-hand-tools/precisionbits/product/pb-c6-185

Don't get me wrong I like Klein too, but they are just about the only the game in town for the ECX/combo heads screwdrivers. You are out of luck if you are not into the rubber handles.

Still not seeing PB Swiss, Vessel, etc. make ECX bits. Robertsons all day long, yes. I like Milwaukee, but would not count their bits in the upper echelon of bit nirvana. Am looking forward to hopefully more options in the future.

 

[NoahG]

Are there any “proper” two piece Robertson hand screwdrivers still made in the great white north?

 

[pizza]

i have some pbswiss square bits, but only in the standard length. i like long bits a lot. maybe i'll pick up some two piece robertsons instead of pb for that.

what this thread seems to be telling me so far is that high end ECX bits don't exist—sorry, milwaukee and klein are not top tier screwdriver makers.

 

[rancherbill]

Still not seeing PB Swiss, Vessel, etc. make ECX bits. Robertsons all day long, yes. I like Milwaukee, but would not count their bits in the upper echelon of bit nirvana. Am looking forward to hopefully more options in the future.

You still are not getting that there is no reason in the world for the ECX other than to sell you another tool. The ECX screw can be turned with a straight screwdriver, a Phillips screwdriver, or a Robertson. They are used in electrical where home owners use straight or Phillips, and commercial electricians or Canadians who want speed and tightness. They look funny and you are intimidated. They are very simple.

 

[four.cycle]

^ "ECX" is a trademarked brand name owned by Milwaukee.

 

[Steve_P]

ECX is a new one for me- haven't heard of it until now. I have a Wiha "Xeno" driver that works awesome on home receptacles and switches. Wiha also makes them in 1/4" bits.

P.S. - Robertson drive ***** - in the 21st century, only a Canadian would think that an internal square recess would be a great idea LOL Actually, it's so useless that they even left it out of the Crown Royal "Canadian inventions" Superbowl commercial! Ha!

 

[matthew]

This is a fact. Those damn Canucks are super sensitive about this subject.

Sensitive? Heck no. We don’t tend to be assertive, but on Robertsons we are CONFIDENT in a way that is unusual for us to assert.

For woodworking and electrical Robertsons are great. For automotive I prefer bolts to screws. And if screws are necessary I’d probably say Torx, but it’s a much newer design. And for anything that might get painted over, Robertson is better because it’s more likely to be removable when gummed up with paint.

 

[Kuma601]

You still are not getting that there is no reason in the world for the ECX other than to sell you another tool. The ECX screw can be turned with a straight screwdriver, a Phillips screwdriver, or a Robertson. They are used in electrical where home owners use straight or Phillips, and commercial electricians or Canadians who want speed and tightness. They look funny and you are intimidated. They are very simple.

A agree. Before this I used what was handy be that a slotted or Phillips. Later when I had a Robertson, that has been my choice. Any of the three will work. No reall need to spend $20 but in GJ fashion, having the tools is important. That combo bit requires the user to orient the driver before insertion. Robertson and Phillips are easy to get on that screw. Given that combo head it would make torquing it up securely withthat much engagment available.

 

[Odd-job]

You still are not getting that there is no reason in the world for the ECX other than to sell you another tool. The ECX screw can be turned with a straight screwdriver, a Phillips screwdriver, or a Robertson. They are used in electrical where home owners use straight or Phillips, and commercial electricians or Canadians who want speed and tightness. They look funny and you are intimidated. They are very simple.

Let's just say this might not be the first time a tool gimmick got me and lot's of things intimidate me. I also realize they may be a bit extraneous as commercial electricians have been getting by just fine without them for many years. For new non fffed up hardware Robertsons are pretty good and I hate to admit a joy to use, superior to Phillips which is certainly better than slotted. What these do have is slightly more points of engagement which might be a slight advantage after a terminal screw was molested by a worn out Phillips and/or an electrical outlet that had some paint overspray treatment. Don't mind them taking up room in my tool box and didn't feel too guilty spending $20 with Klein either.