TSO customer preference question: Hex Driver - Ball or straight Hex

Ball in general, but I assume you would combine our input with your own usability testing :) .  On a 3mm hex driver, quality of steel might make a bigger difference than for the 5mm driver.

Thanks for asking!
 
The too much torque is just something that is hard to control,  a M4 screw only gets torqued to a few ft-lb (I know, unit mixing), so it's so easy to over torque without even trying.  The Hex design doesn't scale down well to handle this. TSO is right to not want to offer something that lets people good a good wrenching on it.

An M4 screw with torx takes a T-20,  this is what we use on impact drivers putting in wood screws.  It's a big difference, you won't damage the screw easy.

Obviously anything is better than a flat or a Phillips, but now, even hex/allen is a bit annoying verses a torx/star. 

 
With how many times I have seen stripped out hex head bolts, my recommendation would be for a straight hex key for the masses. Unless there is an odd angle I personally never grab a ball hex. Even then I will often break it loose with a straight hex, then switch to a ball hex. Just seen too many people over tighten and strip hex head bolts trying to remove them.

Quality of tools usually means everything and definitely comes into play with hex keys. Snap-on's hex keys can twist and distort even though they are super hard. I would not expect TSO to supply Snap-on quality hex keys, but I also wouldn't expect to see junk.

Although for screws torx is king, as far as tool strength, one is more likely to break a torx over a hex head. I myself have had to warranty far more torx bits, then hex.
 
Probably silly, but how about none?

Most of us have one (guessing). Make it optional and let customer pick if he needs one and if so which type.

My guess, lots of these “supplied” tools endup unused.

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threesixright said:
Probably silly, but how about none?

Most of us have one (guessing). Make it optional and let customer pick if he needs one and if so which type.

My guess, lots of these “supplied” tools endup unused.

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Click to expand...

Wait, are you saying you don't solely used the stamped sheet metal "wrench" that comes with a product?  How do you know you want damage things if you don't use it?

Also, post like yours could cause mass panic at the Ikea Wrench factory.
 
Peter_C said:
With how many times I have seen stripped out hex head bolts, my recommendation would be for a straight hex key for the masses. Unless there is an odd angle I personally never grab a ball hex. Even then I will often break it loose with a straight hex, then switch to a ball hex. Just seen too many people over tighten and strip hex head bolts trying to remove them.
Click to expand...

I pretty much agree with Peter C. The ball drive is great when need to come at an angle but, more often than not, unnecessary. I generally use T-handle drivers and wish that more of mine didn’t have the ball-end.

I do think, however, that the ball-type end goes well with the screwdriver type handle.
 
threesixright said:
My guess, lots of these “supplied” tools endup unused.
Click to expand...

While this is undoubtedly true, I will say that I do actually use the supplied TSO driver that came with my guide rail connectors, simply because it's convenient to leave it sitting right in the systainer alongside the guide rail squares and other accessories. Prevents me from having to walk over to the tool cabinet and fish out a hex wrench set just to quickly tighten a few screws that are all the same size for the same purpose.
 
It doesn't actually make any difference, they'll both do the job perfectly well - not worth a thread dedicated to the matter.

What would be useful though, is if you could spend your time on following up on this:

"look for a YouTube shortly from TSO showing two simple methods for accurately cutting narrow stock with a track saw using the TSO Parallel Guide.
We'll post on the FOG when this TSO YouTube is available

Hans"
 
Both do the job so really do not have one strong preference over the other.
 
Ball on the long leg; standard hex on the short leg for times when more torque is needed.  [smile]
 
TwelvebyTwenty said:
It doesn't actually make any difference, they'll both do the job perfectly well - not worth a thread dedicated to the matter.

What would be useful though, is if you could spend your time on following up on this:

"look for a YouTube shortly from TSO showing two simple methods for accurately cutting narrow stock with a track saw using the TSO Parallel Guide.
We'll post on the FOG when this TSO YouTube is available

Hans"
Click to expand...

[member=73278]TwelvebyTwenty[/member]  - point well taken.
Here's a screenshot of the video on the editing screen!

thanks for encouraging me!

Hans
 

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Sparktrician's suggestion is exactly what the Tengtools hex keys do. (Probably others as well, but didn't check.)

To you "doesn't matter" folks: did you ever try a straight key on the MFS? I found a ball end works much much better in that type of situation, where you can't insert the key in line with the head of the bolt.
 
I’ve broken just about every ball hex driver below 3mm on jigs and machinery.  3mm seems pretty borderline.  The better question is what do you prefer: phone calls and emails about stuck screws with screwdriver tips stuck in them? or no phone calls and emails about stuck screws with screwdriver tips stuck in them?  [smile]

 
I had problems with the ball end drivers so I found a Torx driver that fits the TSO guide rail connector screws and use that. I think it was a T15.

I have plenty of regular and ball end hex drivers but the Torx seem to work well (as in don't break) and I have a set with screwdriver handles that I rarely use on the smaller Torx fasteners so I stuck the ones I need in the Systainers of my TSC55 and also my DeWalt track saw.
 
A BIG Thank you to all who responded to our Question about Hex- or Ball Driver preferences for our particular applications. There was more to the issue as we continue to improve our products.

We are eliminating small standard commercial fasteners which are only available in 2.5mm socket heads and replacing them with custom engineered fasteners of the same thread size but with 3mm socket heads. This will enable our customers to make all TSO small screw adjustments with one 3mm Ball Hex Driver regardless of thread size.

That settles it:
Ball Hex Driver for our current 3mm socket head screw applications it will continue to be.

Hans
 
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