Which screwdriver kit and torque driver?

[Jason]

I'm tired of this cheapo Packmeyer gunsmith screwdriver set (same set as lots of other brands in the <$30 price range) that I have and want to invest in a good set with high quality bits. I want this set to the be one I use for years and years, only replacing bits as necessary. I need it to have the bits I'd need for working on all the standard American guns and the Euro ones like Anschutz and CZ, as well as most all the common types of scope mounts and rings. Any recommendations?

I also want a good torque driver that's accurate and easy to use to set torque on screws from scope rings to Anschutz action screws. It needs to work from about 10in-lbs to about 50 in-lbs. I also intend this to last me at least 10 years, so I want to get it right the first time. I'd also love recommendations on this.

Thanks!

[eeleater]

Jason

I would check out the screwdriver sets Brownells has. With their primary market being gunsmiths they have good quality and variety. They are not the least expensive- but you get what you pay for. It is also helpful to remember that with the replacable its you can modify one if needed, and the replace it.

Midway has a similar set- but I do not have experince with it.

Torque wrenchs are a topic in and of themselves. My suggestion would be to look around and get a "beam type". These are the ones you pull on the handle and the shaft bends, with the torque being indicated by a rod extending out from the axis of rotation to a bar near the handle. This design is not only relativly inexpensive- it is also among the most accurate- and does not require calibration.

The 'clicker' type have more that can go wrong with them- and are not as accurate. They should be "unset" when not being used (returned to a zero setting) but often are not, and this is reported to affect their accuracy. You also cannot "see" the torque exerted as you increase it.

There is also a design which has a beam attached to a dial indicator. These can be accurate- but are relativly expensive. Some can also record the maximum torque, which can be helpful in confined spaces.

[Jason]

Thanks for the advice, especially on the torque drivers. It sounds like you are describing torque wrenches, though, as I haven't seen any torque drivers like you describe and I haven't seen any torque wrenches small enough to deal with the small torque I'm talking about here. I want a torque driver for gunsmithing tasks in the 10in-lb to 50in-lb range. I have higher-torque torque wrenches available to use for other tasks.

Thanks!

[eeleater]

You can get both torque wrenches ( beam and clicker) in that range, as well as a screwdriver style clicker type- and a torque beam (in the form of a tube) which looks like a big funny screwdriver.

I have 1/4 in beam type from K-D tools which goes up to 60 in lb. I keep it in my range box as it is not too big. I think it was about $35 when i bought it years ago- but they still make it.
http://www.sjdiscounttools.com/kdt2955.html

I have one like this which goes to 80 in lb. Kind of bulky, so it stays at home
http://cgi.ebay.com/SEEKONK-SL-25R-1LBS ... dZViewItem

It seems that a lot of the torque drivers ( screwdriver clicker type) max out at about 36 in lb. I have a Utica screwdriver type that goes to 36 in lb which is handy for scope screws. At one point I though I had found a Utica which went to 100 in -lb- but it turned out it is in-oz

Here is one that goes higher . Wiha has some in your stated range that are not insulated
http://cgi.ebay.com/Wiha-Insulated-Torq ... dZViewItem

There are now more electronic reading ones on the market- but I have not paid much attention to those

[eeleater]

Almost forgot. Both Anschutz and Gehmann make small adjustable torque tools for use with guns. I have not used them (they do not show up on e bay that often).

[Jason]

How do you make that K-D Tools one that you linked first take standard screwdriver bits? That looks like a great one to get. Thanks for all the info. I think I might have to get the K-D one now and one of the Wiha ones in the future!

[eeleater]

I use a craftsman 1/4 square to 1/4 hex adapter. It has 42701 on it, but this comes up as a 1/4 in drive 3/16 hex on Google. I do not know if the part number changed- or the 3/16 hex has a 1/4 hex base and I replaced it. It does have a little metal ring inside to retain a scredriver bit.

I have several other similar adapters, some for 3/8 sq drive to 1/4 hex, and one 1/2 in drive to 1/4 hex.

In looking at Sears Craftsman on the net I found they have the k-d wrench for $54. They have other torque wrenches in in-lb- but they are much more expensive.

I did find a 1/4 in drive hex set- and it looks like they are all 1/4 hex base with the ends larger or smaller as needed.

[slowstdy]

Hi Guys, have you some rough guides to Torque settings for the following:
Scope mounts to rail.
Scope rings to scope.
Gun to wood mounting screws.
Thanks

[timfinle]

Snap on makes a 1/4 in drive in/lb torque wrench. I am not sure what the range is though.


I just checked and it is for 10 - 50 inch lbs. Here is the link.

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/tools.as ... apon-store

There is also craftsman at this link. They have a nice 0-75 inch/lb in 1 lb increments. Here is the link

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/search.d ... nics+Tools