Stainless driver bits

[Mark]

Is there some reason driver bits aren't made of stainless? I just got a set of Wera stainless drivers and they are awesome... and expensive. Here in the tropics anything gets whacked by the salt air so having driver bits that are stainless would be nice. Is it expense? Hardness? Non-magnetic?

 

[Deansocial]

the stainless bits are for use on stainless screws in food prep area etc to stop contamination etc. i think they are not as hard

 

[AlexThePalex]

Yup, stainless steel is not as hard as normal steel. That's why stainless steel screws break very easily, and bits made out of it won't stand up to the (ab)use people expect from bits.

Stainless steel bits are only meant to drive stainless steel screws. Using bits made of normal steel can damage the stainless steel screws' protection and make them go rusty, that's why they developed a line of stainless steel bits.

 

[Deansocial]

just read weras blurb and they claim them to be the sam ehardness

 

[AlexThePalex]

Got a link where you read that? All I found was this:

"The stainless steel tools from Wera are vacuum ice-hardened and have the hardness and strength needed for workshop applications."

Which doesn't necessarily means they're just as hard as other bits, only that they're hard enough to do the job they're intended for.

Sound impressive though, "vacuum ice-hardened"  [huh]

 

[woodguy7]

Those are the type of bits James Bond would use 

 

[Deansocial]

Wera recently started using a special process, which finally ensures that stainless steel tools can meet the same hardness requirements as conventional tools

taken from weras site. i guess that mean not as hard as but it meets a starndard they must have to meet

 

[Timtool]

stainless screws are weak, they snap if you look at them the wrong way!
i also wish bits wouldn't rust so fast, one site job in the rain and the next day all you bits are rusted.
i can't currently immagine stainless bits that wouldn't wear out or break on regular steel screws.

 

[semenza]

Is there some reason driver bits aren't made of stainless? I just got a set of Wera stainless drivers and they are awesome... and expensive. Here in the tropics anything gets whacked by the salt air so having driver bits that are stainless would be nice. Is it expense? Hardness? Non-magnetic?

Be sure to let us know how they work out for you. I was looking at them myself.

Seth

 

[shoe maker]

invest in a can of wd-40

 

[Electric Trim]

When it comes to ease of installation...  I hate everything stainless.  Sorry to be the party pooper.  When we use stainless screws on exteriors I use half a can of spray adhesive to make them go in easier, lol.

What do you guys think about ceramic coated screws?

 

[Brice Burrell]

When it comes to ease of installation...  I hate everything stainless.  Sorry to be the party pooper.  When we use stainless screws on exteriors I use half a can of spray adhesive to make them go in easier, lol.

What do you guys think about ceramic coated screws?

Spray adhesive as a lube?? 

I generally don't like ceramic coated screws because it's not hard to trash the coating in the recess of the screwhead.  That's what will can hold water and rust out the fastener out over time. 

 

[Electric Trim]

I should have kept my mouth shut.  I'm an interior guy, lol.

In my experience... stainless heads round out and twist off all the time.  We just shoot em up with lubricant before we install them for less resistance and don't have that problem.

Brice, you never lubricate or wax screws before you install them?

 

[Ken Nagrod]

Don't get Brice started on Armor All again.  [tongue]

 

[Electric Trim]

http://www.mcfeelys.com/screw-lubricants

 

[Ken Nagrod]

Soap's not good enough.  Why do you think they make soap-on-a-rope?  Hang it from your tool belt.  [big grin]

 

[Brice Burrell]

.....Brice, you never lubricate or wax screws before you install them?

No, I don't.

Don't get Brice started on Armor All again.  [tongue]

[big grin]

 

[pingvinlakrits]

I bought a set of drill bits which are nickel plated (it seems) and they have proven to be virtually indestructible!  [eek] It was a cheap no name Chinese set on sale and they are color coded too. After several hundred screws the two drill bits I have been using are still like new where as the Tengtools and Bosch bits would wear out pretty fast. The house owner abused the two bits when helping out (driving at incorrect angles, using wrong drill bits etc) but still not even a mark on the bits.

I have tried Wera (Diamond series), Festool, Tengtools, Bahco, Bosch, Hitachi and no name brands but none come close to these no name bits. The box is handy too. I bought four boxes so I am set for a few years I think. I might even pop over and buy out all the boxes that are left and never worry about lacking bits again.

Sometimes quality comes cheap.