The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Guns, Politics, Gunsmithing & Reloading Gunsmithing GOT SOME en route. High quality gunsmith screwdriver set wanted. Which?Go | New | Find | Notify | Tools | Reply | |
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I've read the top tens top 20's etc, etc. and many of these lists were written by writers not "doers". What say you doers out there that have the knowledge to recommend what has worked fine for you? Magnetic tip, full sized screwdrivers that is. Been tiring of the tips fallingout and the wobble that goes with them. By the way, Brownells had nothing impressive. Saw some made in Czech Republic that seemed OK. CB Life itself is a gift. Live it up if you can. | ||
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I have had a set of Brownells Magna Tips for 30 years. Had to replace the original plastic box because it wore out! The originals are now sold as the "Thin Bit" set, while the standard set is full of thicker bits and about useless. Have replaced the smaller ones several times over the years, but they are cheap. If you do get them, I find that lightly stoning the sharp edges helps, and I also toss the whole bunch in the lead pot for a few minutes and draw some of the brittleness out of them. Far less prone to breaking when you really bear down on them. | |||
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I have a Brownells set that I have used for many years with the only issue being that the tip holder fell off the handle. I had to epoxy that back on. I also have a newer set of Wheeler screwdrivers that seem to be OK too other than breaking the smallest tip. Well OK, I've had small issues with both. "Peace is that brief glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading". | |||
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Bonanza if you can find them, now out of production. My range kit below with a full set. Another set in the shop tool boxes. Look close and you will see two mag tip handles, a box of bits is in the big section of the kit "Just in case". I have hundreds of screw drivers, some good, some not so good. But just buy a new batch or find some at garage sales. Grind the tip to fit the screw. I keep a box of them just for this purpose.  Range kit box is handy, everything in one place so I do not forget anything.  T7075 Aluminum, I made it way back in 1975.  Belt Grinder gives a nice hollow ground tip.  | |||
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Thanks all. Bought a new 8 piece set of gunsmith Forsters. No real need for magnetic tips. Much appreciated. CB Life itself is a gift. Live it up if you can. | |||
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Bonanza gunsmith screwdrivers have served me well, I bought my set in 1974. | |||
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Couple of handy tools for those really tight screws. Top is a hand impact driver, 3/8 tip, uses a 3/8 adapter for hex bits. Second item is a impact driver, used with a hammer. Secure the item with stuck screw in a padded vise and have at it. If I think it is a nasty screw I hit it with a 250 Watt Weller for a couple of minutes, soak it with Kroil, and put the item aside for a day.  | |||
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Bonanza became Forster years ago. Still have screw drivers. https://www.forsterproducts.co...t-of-8-screwdrivers/ | |||
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Thanks WoodHunter. Yessir Kendog. Forster's are still the same profile as the Bonanza. Hopefully the quality is the same and the reviews of 30 year use are no BS. Life itself is a gift. Live it up if you can. | |||
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Ive have had a full set of Brownells in the wood block for years, I grind my screwdrivers to fit mostly. Im satisfied with Brownells, the old ones I have that is??? They may be discontinued these days.. I haunt the pawn shops for screwdrivers of yesteryear, the ones with good steel, have maybe a 100 or more, and cut them as needed to fit..25cents each at the better pawn shops and the cheapo pawn shops...they also make great scrapers of various shapes and sizes.. Ray Atkinson Atkinson Hunting Adventures 10 Ward Lane, Filer, Idaho, 83328 208-731-4120 rayatkinsonhunting@gmail.com | |||
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About the Forsters I bought last year........ I had to remove a screw that that was so tight it took everything I had to back it out with the Forster driver. But it held up nicely and much to my amazement the driver had no distortion or twist and the screw was just fine. About the set of Tekton combination wrenches I wrote about a couple years ago, the appearance and fit is great and so are the box ends because they ride on the flat of the nut or bolt not the corner. But, the 5/8" open ends will flex on the really tough ones. I'm sure other sizes may as well. Just a heads up on what to expect if you buy a set. Life itself is a gift. Live it up if you can. | |||
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The real test for a screwdriver/bit is when you put it into the mill chuck and press down with the quill; then turn the shank with a wrench. That will separate the good ones from the bad, in two seconds. | |||
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Tom: I've used that technique for years. There's nothing worse than a POS bit that goes "crunch" and buggers up the finish around the screw. Dave Manson | |||
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For fixed blade drivers for gun work, the forsters are about as good as it gets. For insert bits, I use a Snap-on ratcheting screwdriver, or a Mac M45BD tiny bit ratchet (unfortunately discontinued) and use Zephyr or Apex bits. The bits Brownells sells (sold) were Apex. Zephyr are a little better, here's where to buy them: zephyr bits https://mrotools.com/zephyr-slotted-insert-bits.aspx You can get Apex bits from McMaster Carr, they won't tell you they're apex in the catalog or website, but they are going to send either Apex or Zephyr. I've always got Apex from them. I went to zephyr and bought a couple of every size, and a few spares in sizes that looked likely for grinding. That's as good a selection as you'll be able to get. Hollow grind them as needed on the belt grinder. Buy one of these blocks to hold the drivers. They wall mount or sit on the bench.    You can buy the bit organizers here: [URL=1/4" insert bit organizers Another smaller bit organizer that works good is: https://www.amazon.com/CASOMAN...Z0NsaWNrPXRydWU=]bit block organizer[/URL] https://m.media-amazon.com/ima...ZIPL._AC_SL1500_.jpg | |||
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The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Guns, Politics, Gunsmithing & Reloading Gunsmithing GOT SOME en route. High quality gunsmith screwdriver set wanted. Which?
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