Hi-Torq screwdriver bits with a hole in the middle

[Penners]

I have to dismantle an appliance to fix it, but it's been assembled using a type of Hi-Torq screw that I haven't seen before. You'll be familiar with the star-shaped socket in a Hi-Torq screw, but these ones have a small post in the middle of that star-shaped socket. So a Hi-Torq bit can't be inserted unless it has a hole in the middle.

I haven't come across these before, and I've been searching online for a set of bits to fit these screws - without success. I suspect this is because I don't know what they're called.

Can anyone help, please?

 

[Me!]

Anti Tamper

 

[Penners]

You're a star, Me! That's just what I want!

Thanks very much indeed.

 

[LadyArowana]

You're a star, Me! That's just what I want!

Thanks very much indeed.

You are going to tamper aren't you?

 

[Penners]

Good grief, no! I just want to sit and admire my new Torx Anti-Tamper Bits.

Think of them as spangled high heel shoes, in your terms.

 

[atticman]

Hi Penners,

They're anti-tamper screws, but you can buy a set of Torx anti-tamper bits at Maplin that fit in a standard hexagonal drive screwdriver.

They come with a whole host of other useful bits like triangular Crosspoint, flat with a slot missing etc etc.

 

[Feltwell]

Toolstation are cheaper if you've got some other items to order to get you to £10 for the free carriage:-

http://www.toolstation.com/shop/Pow...t Sets/Security Bit Set 25mm/d80/sd650/p92461

I've had this set for a while, it's fine.

 

[Penners]

Thanks Feltwell. Unfortunately I've already ordered the ebay set.

Actually, when I look at both sets, the ebay one has quite a lot more varied types of anti-tamper bit in it, so I'm not unhappy.

 

[LadyArowana]

Actually, when I look at both sets, the ebay one has quite a lot more varied types of anti-tamper bit in it, so I'm not unhappy.

Sounds like a plan, that's a lot more things you can not tamper with.

Good grief, no! I just want to sit and admire my new Torx Anti-Tamper Bits.

Think of them as spangled high heel shoes, in your terms.

Exactly when did you sneak a look in my shoe closet?

 

[Penners]

Just a lucky guess, Marm!

:wink:

 

[worms]

You're a star, Me! That's just what I want!

Thanks very much indeed.

I thought I had all the variations on this that I needed including the ones shown above, but this morning my aged coffee grinder has died and what I need is essentially a torx drive in negative - the six pronged torx is male on the screw head, so I need it to be female on the driver. :? Anyone know what this is called? Or is my brain just not in gear his morning?

 

[Penners]

worms, I have in the past managed to undo a torx screw by getting an ordinary allen hex key to fit the star-shaped socket. I wonder whether a very small standard hex socket spanner might fit your "male" torx heads.

If not, then it may have to be the Mole grips...!

 

[Feltwell]

Worms, it's just called female torx as far as I'm aware. I've never seen drivers for them, just sockets. You can buy single sockets on Fleabay, or sets like below.

http://uk.ebid.net/for-sale/5060028...oogleshop_uk&gclid=CNC7yYe6lbYCFYfJtAodKXsAwA

Alternatively - if they're not too tight then a normal 6-sided socket might be persuaded to shift them, even it that approach lacks mechanical sympathy.

 

[Penners]

normal 6-sided socket might be persuaded to shift them, even it that approach lacks mechanical sympathy.

"Mechanical sympathy" eh?! I'm afraid nothing in this house gets that. It either works or it gets the big hammer treatment.

With the notable exception, of course, of the Managing Director. She gets sympathy, deference and humble submission. :roll:

 

[worms]

Worms, it's just called female torx as far as I'm aware. I've never seen drivers for them, just sockets. You can buy single sockets on Fleabay, or sets like below.

http://uk.ebid.net/for-sale/5060028...oogleshop_uk&gclid=CNC7yYe6lbYCFYfJtAodKXsAwA

Alternatively - if they're not too tight then a normal 6-sided socket might be persuaded to shift them, even it that approach lacks mechanical sympathy.

Thanks, these look like they are just the beasties I need! The screw is deeply recessed in a hole that is barely bigger than the head of the screw, so it probably is impossible without exactly the right tool and sadly the mole approach won't work! Since the coffee grinder is an essential piece of kit I have a strongly vested interest in getting this sorted!

 

[Feltwell]

Sorry Worms, I think you'll struggle with what I've suggested then. If they are that deep and the hole is only just bigger than the head then the drive end of those sockets will get in the way.

Try googling "External Torx" or "E-Torx", I think they are sometimes called that. Also "Female Deep Torx socket" or possibly "Torx nut driver".

Make up your own sexual innuendos on those!

 

[Feltwell]

normal 6-sided socket might be persuaded to shift them, even it that approach lacks mechanical sympathy.

"Mechanical sympathy" eh?! I'm afraid nothing in this house gets that. It either works or it gets the big hammer treatment.

With the notable exception, of course, of the Managing Director. She gets sympathy, deference and humble submission. :roll:

Clearly the advanced school of mechanics there Penners, as practised by several car garages I've had the misfortune to come across.

"It won't move"

"Hit it wiv an'ammer"

"It still won't move"

"Hit it wiv a bigger'ammer"

 

[Penners]

Since the coffee grinder is an essential piece of kit I have a strongly vested interest in getting this sorted!

Coincidentally, it was our de Longhi espresso machine that prompted me to start this thread in the first place. A large, fully-leaded coffee in the morning is regarded as an essential to life by Mrs P and me. I find that the domestic machines have about a 2-year life, after which their performance starts to deteriorate rapidly. Having failed in the past to rectify this, I'm determined that this machine is not going to give up the ghost on me. Hence the need for the special bits to get the bl**dy thing dismantled!

 

[Penners]

"It won't move"

"Hit it wiv an'ammer"

"It still won't move"

"Hit it wiv a bigger 'ammer"

You've just quoted the fundamental principle that underlay my entire 4-year engineering training course. It's served me well for 50 years.

 

[Penners]

Female ...Torx

Why do I have this uncanny feeling that those two words were just meant to be together?