What hex drivers you using?

[Joshs4x4toyz]

Agreed, I actually dont use the MIP for more than a little maintenance anymore. If building a full rig, I like Dynamite knurled handles the best for sure (when not using speed tips). I dont have giant hands but hate the feel/grip of fluted handles on drivers or even automotive tools. Just grab the damn thing, dont need all that jazz lol.

[high plains drifter]

^^^ 100% agree. My MIP's are well made and always reliable but I definitely like better the simple knurled handles on my Dynamite drivers ( as well as my Hudy's)... easier and faster to grip and turn.

[JatoTheRipper]

The MIP handles aren't my favorite and it sucks that you can't replace the tips.

What about ball drivers? What are you guys using for them? I sometimes find myself needing a ball driver for RC's and I don't have them. It's not every build, but it's often enough that I'd like to pick up a high quality set?

[crawlinwithacat]

Originally Posted by high plains drifter

I definitely like better the simple knurled handles on my Dynamite drivers ( as well as my Hudy's)... easier and faster to grip and turn.

Agreed

Originally Posted by JatoTheRipper

What about ball drivers? What are you guys using for them? I sometimes find myself needing a ball driver for RC's and I don't have them. It's not every build, but it's often enough that I'd like to pick up a high quality set?

No suggestions here but have been working on my slash 4x4 and there are spots where a ball end would be nice. Interested to see what people say.

[Cesco]

Originally Posted by JatoTheRipper

The MIP handles aren't my favorite and it sucks that you can't replace the tips.

What about ball drivers? What are you guys using for them? I sometimes find myself needing a ball driver for RC's and I don't have them. It's not every build, but it's often enough that I'd like to pick up a high quality set?

I like hex ball end drivers, reconise the fact that you sometimes only can reach a screw under a angle. As for a suggestion. Ehm, well I use the ones from MIP and I love them. I guess the handle is a personal thing, as not all hands are the same. For me they are perfect.

I see Hudy also have ball end hex drivers, you can change the tips and handles are probably more what you are looking for. They have the honecomb aluminum handles.

Same thing for Arrowmax, so maybe those are options for you.

[trxrdr17]

Love my MIP set, pricey but worth it!

[WhiskeyThrottle]

I had a set of MIP that walked off at a race one weekend. I purchased a set of AE drivers but didn't want them to disappear so I got a set of drivers from turnigy for my pit box and I can't say they don't do the job. I have had them over 10 years now and they were dirt cheap with replaceable tips.

[fxman]

I throw my 2 cents in here: "WERA KRAFTFORM PLUS" from Germany (you can get them on Amazon).
Whenever I had a stripped screw or one that was overly tight (e.g. someone used a power drill to tighten screws), this one beat every single other hex driver I had so far. It is unbelievable until you try it out. The hex tip is shaped concave which just grips soooo much better than regular hex tips.

[odomandr]

Mip released the ball end speed tip set recently.

Also I saw a company making i.d. collars for the mip drivers
COLLAR SET for MIP hex wrenches, METRIC 1.5MM 2.0MM 2.5MM 3.0MM - Exotek Racing

Looked kinda cool if you don't have them well organized. I used a peg board next to my work bench that holds tools so I'm not super intrigued as my jimmies are easy to see and I know what size goes where...

I also grabbed one of the VP 8mm adapters as a cheap addition to my kit

[WhiskeyThrottle]

Originally Posted by odomandr

Mip released the ball end speed tip set recently.

Also I saw a company making i.d. collars for the mip drivers
COLLAR SET for MIP hex wrenches, METRIC 1.5MM 2.0MM 2.5MM 3.0MM - Exotek Racing

Looked kinda cool if you don't have them well organized. I used a peg board next to my work bench that holds tools so I'm not super intrigued as my jimmies are easy to see and I know what size goes where...

I also grabbed one of the VP 8mm adapters as a cheap addition to my kit

The older I get the more I wish they all would make ID'ing sizes easier by doing that or at least making the number size bigger.

[odomandr]

Originally Posted by WhiskeyThrottle

The older I get the more I wish they all would make ID'ing sizes easier by doing that or at least making the number size bigger.

I don't even know sizes anymore. I just know if red is too small grab blue if blue is too big grab red....

[JatoTheRipper]

Originally Posted by odomandr

Mip released the ball end speed tip set recently.

Also I saw a company making i.d. collars for the mip drivers
COLLAR SET for MIP hex wrenches, METRIC 1.5MM 2.0MM 2.5MM 3.0MM - Exotek Racing

Looked kinda cool if you don't have them well organized. I used a peg board next to my work bench that holds tools so I'm not super intrigued as my jimmies are easy to see and I know what size goes where...

I also grabbed one of the VP 8mm adapters as a cheap addition to my kit

I did see the MIP ball set. I may want to move away from MIP and to brand that allows you to replace the tips.

Those are awesome and much better than the cheap sticker and heat shrink that MIP includes. I have to order some! Thanks for sharing.

[trekslr7]

i always use my mip drivers and my dewalt gyro drill...way fasrer and easier for build/unbuild! dont go cheaper on tools..nothing more frustrating when you strip screws..

[MaX-D]

Originally Posted by JatoTheRipper

I may want to move away from MIP and to a brand that allows you to replace the tips.



.

This is the exact reason why I went with a different brand. I wanted replaceable tips. My 1.5 and 2.0 mm MIP driver tips got a little worn over the course of five years. Developed a little slop inside of the screw hex.

Sent from my LM-G710VM using Tapatalk

[mass-hole]

I just purchased MIP 1.5, 2 and 2.5 drivers.

[JatoTheRipper]

Originally Posted by odomandr

Also I saw a company making i.d. collars for the mip drivers
COLLAR SET for MIP hex wrenches, METRIC 1.5MM 2.0MM 2.5MM 3.0MM - Exotek Racing

Don't get these! The decals and heat shrink included with the drivers are better. Those at least have the size of the driver written at two spots. The Exotek sleeves only have the tool size written at one spot. It's a fail of a product unless you are OK with only colors showing when you set your tools down.

As you can see in my photo below, when the tool with the Exotek sleeve is set down in a certain orientation, you have absolutely no clue where the tool size is etched on the collar. On the MIP decal sleeves, you can see the size of the tool no matter what.

[Cesco]

The Exotek ones look nice and cool and I concidered buying them. What stopped me from buying them are these reasons:
1. They do not cater all MIP sizes.
2. As Jato already says, etching only on one side.
3. MIP already have a good system with their decal sleeves, the Exotek ones are more a sollution from before that.
4.They are kinda pricey.
5. If you have acces to a 3D printer there is a better 3D print option that you can customize if you want. And if you know a bit about 3D printing it is not hard to customize them so the hex size will show on 2 or more sides of the collar. Just by using different filament colors you can change the color for every size. If you look good enough you might even find a transparent amber looking filament to match the MIP handle color.
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3121411

I have a 3D printer, but I just sticked to the provided decal sleeves as the do the job just fine.

[1fox2go]

Team Associated has a good setup with the bits that store in the handle, they can also be used in a screw gun.

Their new updated version includes a nut driver for the wheel nuts too.

[Cesco]

As for power tools. My wife just gave me a power tool for my birthday, It is the one that I have seen beeing used by Josh (Harley Designs) and Matt from ScaleBuildersGuild. It is the DeWalt DCF680.

It is perfect for RC builds, already love it. It is a giroscopic screw driver.
Already have all MIP bits for it, so now wrenching will be a lot faster.

I have the EU version as that is where I live. Which means the 7.2V version (DCF680G2, but it is the same as the US orientated 8V version (DCF680N1).




I am really happy with it.

Now only thing I am missing. I have all the MIP hex driver bits, but the do not have any other options. Several Tamiya and Traxxas RC cars do not use hex, but JIS or Philips or Pozidriv and some nut driver bits. Looking for something that will match the MIP quality or at least come close enough.
Any tips, recommandations? Already looking at AE and Hudy.

[Cesco]

Mmm, by the looks of it. For power tool tips other then hex/allen/ball-end ones it seems it is not gonna be a one brand thing. I looked into it and made a little list, so everyone can make up their own mind what to get. It probably is not a complete list and I only focussed on everything non hex/allen/ball-end as you can get those powertool tips from a lot of RC companies.

What I found so far.

SOCKET / NUT DRIVERS 4.0mm
Traxxas, 8719-40, 4.0mm
https://traxxas.com/products/parts/8719-40


SOCKET / NUT DRIVERS 4.5mm
Traxxas, 8719-45, 4.5mm
https://traxxas.com/products/parts/8719-45


SOCKET / NUT DRIVERS 5.0mm
Traxxas, 8719-50, 5.0mm
https://traxxas.com/products/parts/8719-50

SOCKET / NUT DRIVERS 5.5mm
Arrowmax, AM-551155, 5.5 X 100MM
https://www.arrowmax-rc.com/xcart/nu...m-551155-.html
Hudy, # 175571, 5.5x90mm
https://www.hudy.net/xhudy/products/...62&kategoria=0
Team Associated, 1666, 5.5mm x ??? (length not specified)
https://www.associatedelectrics.com/...er_bit_5_5_mm/
Team EDS, EDS-551155, 5.5 X 100MM
https://www.team-eds.com/product-p/eds-551155.htm
Traxxas, 8719-55, 5.5mm
https://traxxas.com/products/parts/8719-55

SOCKET / NUT DRIVERS 7.0mm
Arrowmax, AM-551170, 7.0mm x 100mm
https://www.arrowmax-rc.com/xcart/nu...m-551170-.html
Hudy, # 177071, 7.0x90mm
https://www.hudy.net/xhudy/products/...63&kategoria=0
Team Associated, 1667, 7.0mm x ??? (length not specified)
https://www.associatedelectrics.com/...er_bit_7_0_mm/
Team EDS, EDS-551170, 7.0 X 100MM
https://www.team-eds.com/product-p/eds-551170.htm
Traxxas, 8719-70, 7.0mm
https://traxxas.com/products/parts/8719-70

SOCKET / NUT DRIVERS 8.0mm
Team Associated, 1668, 8.0mm x ??? (length not specified)
https://www.associatedelectrics.com/...er_bit_8_0_mm/
Traxxas, 8719-80, 8.0mm
https://traxxas.com/products/parts/8719-80

SOCKET / NUT DRIVERS kit
Traxxas has a nice kit with 6 nut drivers that you should be able to also use in a power tool. Smaller version of the one Jato posted 2 pages earlier.
6-Piece Metric Nut Driver Master Set
#8719, 4.0 mm, 4.5 mm, 5.0 mm, 5.5 mm, 7.0 mm, 8.0 mm
https://traxxas.com/products/parts/8719


PHILLIPS PH1 / #1
Arrowmax, AM-541135, 3.5 X 100MM
https://www.arrowmax-rc.com/xcart/ph...m-541135-.html
Arrowmax, AM-541140, 4.0 X 100MM
https://www.arrowmax-rc.com/xcart/ph...m-541140-.html
Hudy, # 164071, 4.0 x 90 mm
https://www.hudy.net/xhudy/products/...09&kategoria=0
Team Associated, 1672, PH1 (= 1.4mm) (length not specified)
https://www.associatedelectrics.com/..._bit_phillips/
Team EDS, EDS-541140, 4.0 X 100MM
https://www.team-eds.com/product-p/eds-541140.htm


PHILLIPS PH2 / #2
Arrowmax, AM-541158, 5.8 x 100 mm
https://www.arrowmax-rc.com/xcart/ph...m-541158-.html

Hudy, # 165871, 5.8 x 90 mm
https://www.hudy.net/xhudy/products/...10&kategoria=0

Team EDS, EDS-541158,5.8 X 100MM
https://www.team-eds.com/product-p/eds-541158.htm

SLOTTED / FLAT SL4 / 4mm
Arrowmax, AM-531140, 4.0 X 100MM
https://www.arrowmax-rc.com/xcart/fl...m-531140-.html
Team Associated, 1671, SL4 (length not specified)
https://www.associatedelectrics.com/...iver_bit_flat/

I looked at other brands like Losi, Duratrax, Tekno RC, Traxxas and others, I cannot find more options within the RC brands.
Might have missed one. Offcourse there are options outside RC brands, but they usually do not offer nut drivers.
For instance Wiha have some nice sets. https://www.wihatools.com/bits/bit-sets
Problem for our hobby is that the bits are often too short.

But to conclude. If you wanna expand your RC power tool driver bit collection with nut drivers, Phillips and slotted options. It is not as easy as with hex/allen options out there. You will need to mix and match brands if you like all the available sizes.
For the nut drivers Traxxas has the most sizes if you do not mind to buy their kit. Otherwise Team Associated has 3 instead of 2 sizes as the rest. Length wise no information on the Team Associated ones and the Traxxas ones. I send both Traxxas and Team Associated a PM to ask for the length of their drivers. No answer yet to both. For the rest Hudy is 90mm long and Arrowmax / Team ESD are 100mm long.

For Phillips, Arrowmax offers 3 sizes, the rest offers 2 sizes.

And for slotted / flat, it is either Arrowmax or Team Associated. No other options there.
I am gonna wait for the answers from Traxxas and Team Associated for the nut drivers. If anyone knows, please let me know.

For now I am tempted at the Traxxas set for the nut drivers and either Arrowmax or Team Associated for Philips/slotted drivers. Bit of a tool nut, so I guess I have the let go the quality thing a bit (or maybe not) if I want as much of a collection of sorts and sizes.

Anyway, hope this post is helpfull for everyone.

Edit 1: Traxxas sells the nut drivers also separatly, so just added those to the list above.
If you do not care of the pouch and handle of the kit buying them separately is cheaper.

Edit 2: Traxxas ones apparently are 4inch/100mm long and the Team Associated are 75mm.