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09-22-2011, 06:49 PM
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Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Florence, AL
Posts: 626
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Hex/Allen vs. Torx(Plus) vs. Phillips
Ok.. I'm tired of stripping out phillips head screws.. Just driving me nuts. I'm also redoing the interior of our bird, so I'm thinking about replacing all the phillips with either hex/allen head screws or Torx screws..
The things that obviously are a down side that I can think of is the lack of common tools. If I break somewhere finding a Torx 15 bit may be hard. However, if I keep a tool kit with a couple Torx bits, I'm golden.
So, I'm wondering if anyone has come up with any other reasons to stay away from something other than phillips?
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09-22-2011, 07:07 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Orlando, FL
Posts: 1,077
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I had a problem stripping Phillips head screws, until a few months ago someone suggested touching the screwdriver tip to some valve grinding compound. The compound really grips the screw. Between the compound and using good tips I have not since had any issues with stripped screws at all!! I carry a small tube of it in my flight tool kit.
__________________
Chris Smith
Maule M5-180C (Sold)
RV-6 O-360 CS (Sold)
RV-4 O-360 FP (Sold)
Full-time in the other type of RV....
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09-22-2011, 07:39 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Paso Robles, CA
Posts: 1,177
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Maybe try a new aircraft bit? Screw too!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tram
Ok.. I'm tired of stripping out phillips head screws.. Just driving me nuts. I'm also redoing the interior of our bird, so I'm thinking about replacing all the phillips with either hex/allen head screws or Torx screws..
The things that obviously are a down side that I can think of is the lack of common tools. If I break somewhere finding a Torx 15 bit may be hard. However, if I keep a tool kit with a couple Torx bits, I'm golden.
So, I'm wondering if anyone has come up with any other reasons to stay away from something other than phillips?
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Screws hold a large part of aviation together.
Cadmium Plating protects the aluminum, so stick with it. Stainless steel is corrosive to the aluminum when there is any moisture present.
Use decent aircraft screws and Aircraft Spec driver bits. Yes they wear too, so does the fastener, but the object is to fasten parts together with no short or long term damage to the airframe.
We sell quite a few these to repair stations
http://www.gen-aircraft-hardware.com...ephyr-bits.pdf
Last edited by GAHco : 10-07-2011 at 08:47 PM.
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09-23-2011, 12:37 AM
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Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,256
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I've had far fewer galled heads once I got a couple of good Phillips screwdrivers (Snap-On #1 and #2). The Crapsman screwdrivers were okay for some stuff, but when it comes time for serious assembly, good tools are worth the price. There are probably better ones than Snap-On out there, too, but they work very well for me.
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Steve "Flying Scotsman"
Santa Clarita, CA
PP-ASEL, ASES, Instrument Airplane
RV-7A N660WS flying!
#8,000
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09-23-2011, 09:26 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 240
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I've had particularly bad luck with interior screws lately myself... I'm using nothing but good Snap-on and Wiha drivers and bits, but even so it's far too easy to strip them out, especially on the screws that are impossible to drive straight, like the ones that hold the center tunnel cover on forward of the spar carrythrough on the 7. It seems like the holding torque of nutplates is higher than the stripping torque of the head. I ended up running a tap through all the nutplates that hold screws that are hard to get at.
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Ian
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09-23-2011, 10:40 AM
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Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Aloha, or
Posts: 282
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Tools!
Got a cordless electric screw driver from snap-on recently and is my current favorite tool. Makes removing a large number of screws pretty easy. Clutch lets the tool slip instead of the screw. Turning the tool by hand locks the clutch.
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item....re&dir=catalog
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James Bagley Jr
RV6A flying
RV6 #2 tail done and wings done
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09-23-2011, 10:46 AM
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Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: 8I3
Posts: 3,564
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tram
Ok.. I'm tired of stripping out phillips head screws.. Just driving me nuts. I'm also redoing the interior of our bird, so I'm thinking about replacing all the phillips with either hex/allen head screws or Torx screws..
The things that obviously are a down side that I can think of is the lack of common tools. If I break somewhere finding a Torx 15 bit may be hard. However, if I keep a tool kit with a couple Torx bits, I'm golden.
So, I'm wondering if anyone has come up with any other reasons to stay away from something other than phillips?
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Microfasteners.com has 100deg torx: http://www.microfasteners.com/catalo...Category=FCMXS
button head:
http://www.microfasteners.com/catalo...bCategory=SBXS
I love 'em...they don't strip and they can be torqued tighter than phillips screws. I completely avoid phillips head screws if I can.
__________________
Please don't PM me! Email only!
Bob Japundza CFI A&PIA
N9187P PA-24-260B Comanche, flying
N678X F1 Rocket, under const.
N244BJ RV-6 "victim of SNF tornado" 1200+ hrs, rebuilding
N8155F C150 flying
N7925P PA-24-250 Comanche, restoring
Not a thing I own is stock.
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09-23-2011, 10:46 AM
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Houston, Tx
Posts: 163
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Well.. You could always convert to camloc's. 
__________________
Bill S.
A+P, RV Dreamer + Schemer
RV-9 preplans in hand
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09-23-2011, 11:40 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: SC
Posts: 12,887
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It depends on the location of the screw
In difficult to reach places, such as up under the panel, fuel tank cover, or along the sides of the seat pans, I use cap screws. Under the seat cushions, I use pan head screws.
To access those cap screws I use three tools that I keep in my traveling tool bag. One is a bit driver that has a storage compartment in the end of the handle. I keep four bits in there; flat, Philips, and two sizes of allen bits. To get to those hard to reach spots, I use a flexible extension that can accept a bit one end and inserted into the screwdriver on the other end.
Of course, those tools can also be used in a cordless drill, to speed installation and removal.
__________________
Bill R.
RV-9 (Yes, it's a dragon tail)
O-360 w/ dual P-mags
Build the plane you want, not the plane others want you to build!
SC86 - Easley, SC
www.repucci.com/bill/baf.html
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09-23-2011, 12:43 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 240
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along the sides of the seat pans, I realized when it came time to install the pans that I had never installed those nutplates. I knew they'd be a chore, both to install the nutplates as well as to install and remove screws, so I put speednuts and PK screws there instead 
__________________
Ian
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