=== JIM HOLSONBACK wrote
 
---------------TORX
 
> Hi, Phil (And Roy) We were talking about
> Tamperproof Torx - -
 
 PM>  So I wasn't exaggerating when I called the
 PM>  stuff kryptonite.
 
> Its hard metal OK - kinda reminds me of the metal
> they use in those drywall screws, which I use for
> all sorts of things, and I have to watch out,
> because using my 3/8" variable speed electric
> drill, those screwheads will tear up a
> phillips-head bit in short order if the bit ever
> starts to slip in the slots.
 
 Yeah, I really like those drywall screws too, and
 I've also been using them everywhere for years.
 Easy to use and great threads. But I'm not so sure
 they're of similar metal; they may be
 hardened/tempered [I don't know] but I find them
 brittle -- they snap under certain circumstances.
 Which I doubt the Torx would do, judging by my
 unsuccessful attempts trying to snap off the
 Torx's center pin [which is ridiculously thin].
 
 I'm of course generalizing from a small sample
 -- a tiny sample in the case of the Torx; there's
 a only half dozen screws in the kitchen mixer I'm
 trying to disassemble.
 
 And the drywalls are from one manufacturer;
 maybe there's a better quality brand out there,
 but I'm stuck with the big cartons I have.
 
 If you need a stronger type for outdoor use,
 there's another screw that looks very similar to
 the drywalls  [but slighter thicker, and usually
 painted green for rust resistance] that also have
 deep sharp threads and are also as easy to use as
 the drywall. But they have a square slot
 [Robertson? head], not Philips. Actually less
 slippage than Philips. If you like using the
 drywalls, you'll like these.
 
 I see I'm rambling all over the place, but
 it's about stuff I like to do, as opposed to
 spending forever trying to extract a few Torx.
 
> I saw where you're going to try some more with the
> alternative methods.  That's fine, but if you want
> to look for the tamperproof bit(s) - I don't find
> any in the Sears Tool Catalog I got about a month
> ago from the local Sears Store.
 
> A quick internet search on "tamperproof torx" will
> display a lot of supply sources. They are often
> bought/sold in sets. I looked at a few of the
> webpage hits, and quickly found individual bits
> for $4 or so and sets for about $10 for a set of 7.
 
> Buying an individual bit might be OK if you can be
> sure of the size. FWIW, the two sizes which
> usually come with the small "computer repair
> toolkits" are T10 and T15.
 
 Thanks for the information. Appreciated.
 
 I haven't decided about buying the Torx bits yet.
 I've got so much stuff accumulated as it is that
 I've been phoning around to see if anyone has a
 set I can borrow, since this is -- I hope -- a one
 shot deal. And yes, not being sure of the size
 could be a problem -- especially since if I do end
 up buying, I have no sample to bring to the store,
 not having been able to get a single one of them
 out yet. Sears not carrying them is a bummer but
 I don't think I'll have too much of a problem
 tracking some down if necessary.
 
 While this whole thing really isn't a big deal --
 and there's no rush -- as I said in another post I
 think this is a ridiculous situation with no good
 reason for it. What should be a simple 10 minute
 project becomes a time-consumming hassle.
 
 

--- Maximus/2 3.01