I always loved Robertson (square), the traditional Canadian favorite. The other day I was obliged to drive and un-drive a whole pile of GRK structural screws.
They are my new preference. Now, we need to teach the world and make this a new standard.
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My only peeve with the star drive-too many driver tips.
Not real noticeable difference either between their close neighbors.
GRK's are at least color coded so they look different in the tip box.
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That's all I buy now. Not GRK's per se, but torx screws. They put anything else to shame.
There is a big diff beyond just type of driver tip.I got talked into using some Swansecure SS trimheads instead of GRK for a deck job.So many of the damn things snapped off that dealing with them cost me far more in labour than I saved on the screws. Never again!
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Bruce
I like the Simpson lags fro structural. They are almost as good as GRK.I own stock in Simpson, so I should be pimping for them.
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They get enough pimping through the IRC, although your help would be appreciated.
The ones readily available around here are ProFit. Never have a problem with them. They aren't cheap...about 100 dollars for a twenty-five pound pail. The stainless ones are outrageously expensive. But I don't trust anything but stainless in treated stock anymore.
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Welcome to the
Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
where ...
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You are reportedly the cult member with the longest tenure, and actually invented the secret handshake.
With that in mind, have you found any driver tips which last longer than the color coded GRK tips?
The GRK tips have always performed and lasted great for me, just curious if you had ever found something better.
JimNever underestimate the value of a sharp pencil or good light.
Their colour coded are the best.several years ago, I mentioned to the area sales rep at JLC LIVE that I had a problem with the ones I was using snapping off because the screws were so solid.He said they were aware of the problem and fished out a handful of the colour ones to give me, saying that they were thinking of putting their name on them to market, please let him know if they were better than I was using. I haven't found anything better since then and was glad they started making those available. I think he said there was some diamond chip grit embedded in that colouring to give better grip too. The only ones I have a problem with are the small yellow T10BTW, his wife just passed on a couple days ago.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
>>saying that they were thinking of putting their name on them to market,...<<
They have done it. GRK right on the bit to cover bulk sales, have seen some that were in a blister pack.
I have their complete bit set although have not found / bought the screws to use all of the different sizes.
A couple years ago, when I was in the supply house buying my very first tub of 425 - 3-1/8" screws, I had picked up two of the GRK green #25 bits. While at the counter another guy was standing there eyeing my stack of stuff, he said "you need more bits, many, many, more bits"; I thought perhaps he knew what he was talking about and went back and got 2 more.
8 or 9 tubs later, I am still working on those 4 original bits. I don't seem to be organized enough to use one bit to exhaustion, so 3 of my 4 have at least some use - still have one that has never been used.
The only GRK bit that I have broken was a red #15 - after a couple hundred 2-3/4" screws ...... it did say specifically not to use with an impact driver, but the screws run in so nice with impact.......
Thanks,
JimNever underestimate the value of a sharp pencil or good light.
"They have done it"I know, have bought a few dozen since then so they've made back the investment on the free ones they gave me.I was just sharing some ancient history from before they had started marketing them. Call me a beta tester- or anything else, just call me for dinner!"it did say specifically not to use with an impact driver, but the screws run in so nice with impact......."I never noticed that. All I use for drivers are the impacts.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
>>have bought a few dozen since then so they've made back the investment on the free ones they gave me.<<
You remember the movie ------"the first one is free....."
>> I never noticed that. All I use for drivers are the impacts. <<
I would have bet money that it said "no impacts" on the 2", red, #15 blister pack which I bought. I checked the package (still has one new bit in it).
It doesn't say anything about impacts -- I feel better now! I must have hallucinated that non-factoid.
Therefore, my projected life span for a GRK #15 bit, driving 2-1/2" screws, just became ~200 screws. Not bad at all!
Jim Never underestimate the value of a sharp pencil or good light.
I know that for my other bits, Apex out-performs every other brand I've tried in the last 30 years. And perhaps Apex Torx would out-perform the GRKs.But the GRKs perform so well, and the color-coding is so convenient, that I haven't bothered to taste-test -- the GRKs are all I use.BTW, I started color-coding bits long before my first GRK. I have used jackknife-style, chrome-handled Allen wrenches my whole career, and when I needed to add metric sizes to my kit, I bought a set with red plastic handles to differentiate.Euro-style furniture connectors are great, but I've gotten spoiled by my cordless. So when I found an Ace set of metric 1" insert bits, I snapped them up, and immediately painted them with a red Magic Marker to let me know at a glance that I've got a metric bit here.It was well worth the time spent.AitchKay
Edited 5/1/2009 9:28 pm ET by AitchKay
An interesting exercise is to drive a 2.5" GRK into the side of a 2x4 and see how far it will go. (Be sure to use a long bit.)
While I can see the joy of using a star drive for decks or mechanicly feed guns, I still like my square drives for everything else.
You put a screw on the bit, and it stays even without a magnet. The bit works like a 3rd hand in that way.
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Rebuilding my home in Cypress, CA
Also a CRX fanatic!
Look, just send me to my drawer. This whole talking-to-you thing is like double punishment.
Problem I have with square drive is that they cam out even worse than Phillips.
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. -John Kenneth Galbraith
"Problem I have with square drive is that they cam out even worse than Phillips."
Especially with stainless, which I'm using more & more of lately. I'll only buy star drive stainless these days.Mike HennessyPittsburgh, PAEverything fits, until you put glue on it.
Same here.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
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I'm no pro, but have always liked the square drives for that reason too...especially when working over head (which I should avoid doing anyways). Probably the least important reason, but I also like the aesthetics of them once installed.
Edited 5/1/2009 2:28 pm ET by darrel
Once they're started, the GRKs drive better than anything else.But for starting a long screw one-handed, give me a Robertson drive any day!AitchKay
I've never seen, or used GRKs. I can get star drive Power Pro bronze coated ceramic trim head or exterior big heads. They're great.
Thread configuration is so good I can drive a #10 3 1/2" with an 10v Impactor. They also help keep the wood pieces together, and pull them tight. Not nearly as shiny as SS, either.
Now I wish I could give Brother Bill his great thrill
I would set him in chains at the top of the hill
Then send out for some pillars and Cecil B. DeMille
He could die happily ever after"
Power Pro aren't very good for screwing into end grain though. I find that the serrated threads spin out too easily of you over drive them.
hmmmm, I haven't noticed that. It seems, since we started using impact drivers and Viagra, most of our screwing problems have disappeared...http://www.tvwsolar.com
Now I wish I could give Brother Bill his great thrill
I would set him in chains at the top of the hill
Then send out for some pillars and Cecil B. DeMille
He could die happily ever after"
"kinda" awesome, heck they are almost magical the way they drive so easy
That's just how I talk.