Hex Drivers, Ball Drivers, Nut Drivers, Oh My!
 

Ok... I have decided to make a big upgrade in the quality of tools I have. I am going to invest in some quality drivers of all kinds (and have looked at Wiah, Bondhus, Snapon etc.) but what I really want to ask is... WHAT SIZES DO YOU HAVE? There are a million "sets" out there from different companies, metric driver sets, standard sets etc. but all of these tend to share a few of the same sizes but then have different sizes at the extreme ends. I am finishing up a Sig LT-40 ARF with an OS 46AX but know that I want to have nice tools in the future for other kits so I really am willing to spend the cash now to buy stuff, just don't want to buy too much stuff that frankly I will never use.

I know that the easy answer is buy the sizes that fit the stuff on my current model but what do you think are prime sizes of stuff for most common RC airplanes for...

1. Hex Drivers (Metric and Standard)
2. Nut Drivers (Metric and Standard)
3. Screwdrivers (Slotted and Phillips)
4. JIS (worth it when you are running OS engines?)
5. Unique Drivers (ie. longer shaft for low end needles etc.)

Also can I get away with a quality, quality set of Ball drivers and not buy straight Hex drivers, or should I get both?

I want to get a nice setup with quality tools of every single size I need and will likely need in the future for RC airplanes, but not so many as to have tools I simply never, ever use.

Thanks so much!

RE: Hex Drivers, Ball Drivers, Nut Drivers, Oh My!
 

I'm not going to recommend specific sizes right now but I also wanted to mention that some servos use JIS screws in their assembly. Case screws and output arms. Futaba is one.

RE: Hex Drivers, Ball Drivers, Nut Drivers, Oh My!
 

This depends on whether you use all the standard gear that comes with a plane or replace it with better quality gear when you build. I have 3 different sets and sometimes that is not enough. Problem is that we have 3 different standards, Imperial, Metric and then occassionally some othe weird stuff that nothing seems to fit.

Don't think there is a correct answer to this question but rest assured you will think you have everything covered and then something else will jump out at you and need a different sized driver or hex key. It is just the nature of the hobby

RE: Hex Drivers, Ball Drivers, Nut Drivers, Oh My!
 

You can't go wrong with the two Bondhus sets you mentioned. One is yellow, the other red (metric). They do not break, or wear out. My sets have been in the tool box for well over a decade.

Ball drivers are fine for running the threads, but I use the L wrench to torque.

RE: Hex Drivers, Ball Drivers, Nut Drivers, Oh My!
 

For those that don't know, JIS just stands for Japanese Industrial Standard and they are a slightly different size of Phlips screw driver. I have a set but they were a gift. I don't feel they are really a needed item, I went for a lot of years without them. If you know how a philps driver is made you will understand that philps drivers vary a lot from manufacture to manufacture and the same holds true with JIS. If you must own a set then by all means buy them, mine do fit better then the ones I bought at sears but not enough to worry about. I do have several sets of long handled ball drivers too, some I bought at Sears and I like them and I also have sets from other places like Tower, they are good too.

RE: Hex Drivers, Ball Drivers, Nut Drivers, Oh My!
 

I think I have a reasonable soultion to half the problem, let me know what you think...

I will buy the Bondhus 7 piece metric balldriver set: http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LX9123&P=ML
The set has: 1.27, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 4 and 5mm sizes.

I will also buy the Bondhus 8 piece standard ball driver set: http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LX9121&P=M
The set has: .050, 1/16, 5/64, 3/32, 7/64, 1/8, 9/64 and 5/32 sizes.

Finally I will buy the Bondhus 22 piece L wrench metric and standard set: http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXVCV9&P=ML
The set has: .050", 1/16", 5/64", 3/32", 7/64", 1/8", 9/64", 5/32", 3/16", 7/32", 1/4", 5/16", 3/8" and 1.5mm, 2mm, 2.5mm, 3mm, 4mm, 5mm, 6mm, 8mm and 10mm sizes.

Here is the logic (let me know if I am nuts)... I will use the high grade (well as high grade as an L wrench can be) L wrenches ONLY to start a screw and do the final torquing and use the ball drivers for the rest of the wrenching. I figure that saves the ball drivers from excess wear and tear, the L's should be good enough for now to save me from buying straight hex drivers for the time being, and finally the L's come with a ton of sizes in the odd event I need something not in the ball driver kits.

Does this seem like a reasonable plan somewhere in the middle of buying a complete set of ball drivers and hex drivers...?

Finally anyone with thoughts on common nut driver sizes, brands to consider for nut drivers, and is getting a few JIS screwdrivers for the O.S. Engine screws worth it?

Thanks...

RE: Hex Drivers, Ball Drivers, Nut Drivers, Oh My!
 

Now I want more tools.

RE: Hex Drivers, Ball Drivers, Nut Drivers, Oh My!
 

Now???? I always want more tools.

Jack

RE: Hex Drivers, Ball Drivers, Nut Drivers, Oh My!
 

the ball drivers are desigened to let you reach and turn a socket head screw other than straight in. To really tighten it to full torque thoug requires a straight allen wrench. The bal drives will strip the heads and the wrench if to much torque us used.

Get your wrenches from some place other than Tower or Horizon, or what ever. Try Enco for expample. They have the same wrench sets at a better price and more imortant a better quality.

If you buy every type of allen wrench, you will end up with a tool box of them. After using them for close to a half century, I've found out that you need half as many of the larger sizes and four times as many smaller sizes. The smaller the size, the quicker they round off and start slipping. You can grind this worn spot off and get "new meat" on the ends, for a while. The ball end wrenches are a one time shot. when the wear and start to slip, throw them away, or grind the ball completely off and end up with at straight wrench.

The small sizes will last for a half dozen uses befor needing sharpening, (the end ground off) while the larger sizes will last forever. I still have my set of allens from when I was an apprentice machine repairman back in the 60's. The smallest size thoug was 1/8", for a 1/4" set screw, something I seldom used as it was so small. Later sets from when I worked on the early Tabulatiing machines IBM made had a lot of the smaller sizes, and some special four flute and 6 flute ribbed wrenches. I've still got a lot of those, although most are a lot shorter than when I first got them.

I had a "First" out at the field last week. I had an allen wrench break at the bend. That is the first one in close to 50 years. It was one of the cheap Dubro wrenches. Buy good ones and you will have them forever, or till you loose them or loan them and never get them back :(

Don

RE: Hex Drivers, Ball Drivers, Nut Drivers, Oh My!
 

screw drivers...get a 0, 1, and a number 2 phillips.....
standard screw drivers small enough to reach the low end needle and large enough for 1/4 28 wing bolts
needle nose and slip joint plyers

RE: Hex Drivers, Ball Drivers, Nut Drivers, Oh My!
 

For ball drivers I want a 1.5, 2, and 3mm, 5/64, 3/32, 7/64, 1/8, and 9/64. I did get some of the nicer Bondhus that keep a screw attached while placing it but then I found these http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXSN10 and I much prefer them. Have ordered some more to keep at my build table and will move the Bondhus to my field box once they arrive. Because I prefer a nut driver to install/remove sparkplugs the only size I can suggest for now is a 5/16.

I'm still frugal enough that I save slot and phillips head screws just in case I need them but pretty well change them out for allenhead equivalents anymore. They're just that much better although the cheaper ones still will roundout when you least expect it.

The main advantage to the ball driver is you don't have to be in perfect alignment. The disadvantage there is a potmetal screw may roundout since a ball driver hasn't the full contact area a hexkey does. Nothing's perfect but I still like these the best.

Regards,

Clay

RE: Hex Drivers, Ball Drivers, Nut Drivers, Oh My!
 

Ball drivers are one of the great inventions of western civilization.

You do not need to buy JIS screwdrivers- just a touch with a Dremel will modify ordinary screwdrivers to fit OS muffler screws. See http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_41...m.htm#4195965/

RE: Hex Drivers, Ball Drivers, Nut Drivers, Oh My!
 

I used to live for the Fathers Day sale at Sears. Every year I was down there buying myself some new type of Chraftsman tool or tool set. I have broken some tips off of some long handled ball wrenches and rounded the L wrenches that I bought at the cheap tool places. I see a nice set of drivers that will go into or onto a drill being advertised that look very good. These are great for at home assembling and I have made a few by cutting off a couple of long ball drivers but I have to chuck these up in my heavy old corded drill, these new ones look about perfect for my use. Never enough tools!! JIS?? Up until about the last year no one ever heard much about them, now they seem to be the new rage. As I mentioned, I have a set but wouldn't bother going out and buying them, it's hard to notice any difference between them and the ones I bought at Sears.

RE: Hex Drivers, Ball Drivers, Nut Drivers, Oh My!
 

Nut drivers are something I've rarely used on a model plane.
A 5/16 will fit a glow plug.
Sizes to fit the nuts for #4, #6, and #8 screws might be useful on rare occasions.
I've ruined a couple of JIS screws on engines. I bought socket head cap screws to replace them ratherthan buying JIS drivers.

RE: Hex Drivers, Ball Drivers, Nut Drivers, Oh My!
 

I got a very complete set of metric and standard hex wrenches at Sears Hardware store (Craftsman brand). They are L-shaped wrenches with a ball on the long end, and a regular flat hex end on the short end. I believe they were about $20 for each set, but they are excellent quality (hardened steel), the ball end on the long side is good for long reach and lower torque bolts, and the short end with the flat tip is perfect for higher torque bolts.

Here's a combo deal on both sets I bought, $29 for standard and metric:

[link=http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00946274000P?mv=rr]Craftman 26pc Standard & Metric Hex Driver Set[/link]

Most of my planes have a mix of standard and metric. Great Planes hardware seems to be standard, while engine hex bolts are usually metric.

RE: Hex Drivers, Ball Drivers, Nut Drivers, Oh My!
 

I use nut drivers all the time but nothing special, just the driver/handle that came with my Sears 1/4 inch set of sockets. Small wrenches in #2&4 would be nice. Now that Carr mentioned it I will try to remember to get them next time I am looking at tools.