Various Star Bit screwdrivers

[ComputerScrapper]

When we first started scrapping computers we were selling the hard drives whole but we found out that we were losing money on them as a whole. So we started tearing them down...The lid is generally sheet aluminum and the rest of the case is cast aluminum, while the disc itself is plated in platinum.

The problem is that nearly every hard drive maker uses different sizes of star bit screws....Some of them have three different sizes in one hard drive...The more hard drives we got the more runs to the hardware store I had to make for more star bit drivers.

[rca987]

About a month ago, Home Depot had a Husky 3 set ratcheting drivers with about 80 bits for $7.00. Includes the small bits,. In all, I believe there are about 20 different stars in all sizes.

The set includes stars, hex, torx, phillips, flat heads, and a few converters.

It was on clearance, so there may be a chance it's sold out by now (I believe it a sale from Christmas)

[j&jscrap]

I ran into that also. I lucked out and found a nice set on sale that I use.

[ComputerScrapper]

Thanks I will check into that....It never fails that I find something that I do not have in the way of tools. Started tearing down the first of 30 monitors today and several of them have a screw on the collar that holds the copper yoke in place that I do not have a bit for. I managed to get a few of them done by jamming a small flat head into them but that started to fail so I guess it is off to the hardware store for me until I can get to one of the big box stores. *sigh* the life of a scrapper :-)

[TJMETALRECYCLERS]

Yup!
I run in to that on several things with Computers and monitors. Be sure and check that steel collar. Most of them are stainless and I save them up and take them in about once a month. The screw itself maybe stainless and may not be, but most often, the one closest to the bottom WILL BE stainless.

[TJMETALRECYCLERS]

BTW, what are you doing with the circuit board from your hard drive?

[ComputerScrapper]

I seperate the hard drive boards from the rest...They are worth about $9.00 a pound so I keep them in a different area....They do pretty decent on Ebay...They refer to them as hard drive logic boards.

[wavecrazed]

Harbor frieght has a security bit set. 10 dollars or so. has about 30 bits.

[Mechanic688]

Here's the one I bought to go with my cordless screwguns. I think there is just about every bit available right now and the set was $9.95. I have seen them at Menard's. The screwguns have paid for themselves 10 times over. They will last a full day of breaking down smaller stuff before they need a charge.

[stephenholseberg]

NorternTool has the best security set ,that i have found on the market.

[Torker Man]

Just buy the ones you need, I would never use small bits like Phillips #00, #0, #1, or T5, 6, 7, 10, 15 Torx sizes on a screw gun, they are far to fragile!!

Buy quality!!!!!!!!!!!!!

After spending the past 12 odd years in the tool game, if you take no other piece of advice from me, take this!!

BUY THE BEST TOOLS YOU CAN AFFORD!!!!

Not the cheapest you can find.

Example. A T10 Torx screwdriver from Snap-On or Stahlwille etc might cost about $25, but you could get one at lowes for $10. That is no good when you break the lowes one 4 times a year caus its made from chees now is it?? LOL

Cheap tools get very expensive in the long run!

Just My $2.95

[hobo finds]

Harbor frieght has a security bit set. 10 dollars or so. has about 30 bits.

Are the security ones the torx with the dot in the middle of it? I need to get this set!

[PartTimeScrapper]

YES it is.

[Mechanic688]

Hobo, just look for one like I posted, their in the box. There's over 90 bits and adapters in it.

[PartTimeScrapper]

this set looks nice.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/32-pc-6-LONG...item41580ec276

[Torker Man]

Are the security ones the torx with the dot in the middle of it? I need to get this set!

Thats correct, but I say again, they are fragile. The security bits (with the hole) are much weaker (less metal) than the others, therefore, ONLY use the security ones when you need to.

[IdahoScrapper]

There's all kinds of security screws out there. I used to run a vending business and some of the screws were a round flathead with 2 holes. Looked kinda like a snake bite.

[Mechanic688]

If you look in the set I showed up above on the upper left, 2nd row down there is the bits for your screws with two dots. Tork, you might hollar quality but most of this breaking down with the smaller bits I have used with one of the two screw guns like I showed and the torque on the screws was not tight enough to break any of them so far. If you get a super tight screw, you'll just stall the small motor in the gun.