recommend a good hex driver manufacturer?

[khyron]

Okay, I think I've had it with cheaply made, hard to hold, and overly expensive "hobby" tools with their pretty colors but cheap construction. I just snapped a 1/16" driver embedding the tip in a screw and the shaft in my hand (ouch) without even forcing the thing. A replacement tip apparently costs almost as much as the darn driver does, so forget that.

Now I'm thinking to myself, okay if I'm gonna have to replace it anyway, I want something better...

Does anyone know of a "real" tool company (one with a lifetime warranty and amazing quality, you full size car guys know what I'm talking about) that makes nice hex drivers in the kinds of sizes we R/C folks need?

Here are my "dream" hex driver requirements:

- offered in R/C sizes (.050", 1/16", 1.5mm, 5/64", 3/32", 2.5mm, and 3mm)
- tips are hardened steel, carbide, titanium, or other hard metal
- tips are perfectly straight, no ball ends needed
- handles are large, easy to hold in your hand like other drivers
- thick shafts that don't bend, giving accurate feedback
- one nice handle with interchangable tips would be ok too
- warrantied for life and easy to find at a store other than LHS
- reasonable price, but willing to pay for some real quality

So does such a thing exist? I see lots of other sets and tools out there at hobby retailers online but they all seem to be similarly hard to hold and sans warranty, and ball ends, I dunno, I've never needed one and they just strip things when you don't need them. Many, many thanks to whoever might have the answer to this riddle!

[Ball Racing]

I use Hudy, and dynamite red handles, and THS, I have poped some of the dynamites, but I was using great force.

Have not broke Hudy or THS.

But I have only been using them for a year or so..

[khyron]

I use Hudy, and dynamite red handles, and THS, I have poped some of the dynamites, but I was using great force.

Have not broke Hudy or THS.

But I have only been using them for a year or so..

Thanks, I see the THS tools available from a lot of places and while their handles are small they look easier to hold than the AE ones I have now. I guess I must be missing something though, why do people actually want small aluminum handles and springy thin shafts on their tools?

Do you happen to know of any online shops which carry the Hudy and Dynamite products in the US? I tried searching the "XSHOP" on RCAmerica but clicking on all the links to "tools" just kept bringing up stuff parts for a tire truing machine (not sure why) and searching their site for "driver" got no results...

[baih]

i use MIP hex drivers. they come with ball end tips also.
you can find hudy tools at www.stormerhobbies.com

[ErikRC10]

I use dynamite drivers and for the 4 years that I've had them haven't had a single problem with any of them. I put them through some pretty rough use to. I use them to pry stuff scrape stuff just about everything.

[AudiTT-Quattro]

I've gone Hudy for 3+ years and not a single problem yet.

SpeedTech carries Hudy tools at http://www.speedtechrc.com.

[khyron]

Excitement! I think I may have found a solution that's really what I'm looking for - precision hex "bits" that fit into standard tool handles (or standard tool handles with adapters). Here is an example of what I'm talking about:

http://www.wihatools.com/713inser.htm
http://www.wihatools.com/713mmser.htm
http://www.wihatools.com/753serin.htm
http://www.wihatools.com/753sermm.htm

This would enable me to use a strong driver shaft and big fat handle designed for use with other kinds of sockets and screwdriver bits that would be easy to hold without having to close your hand down around a tiny thing the size of magic marker...

[Giant655]

I use the dynamite drivers and they do the do! for their price ( I beleive they are slightly cheaper than those of hudy's and such, but are not as nice as the hudy driver either) but they get thejob done in good fashion

[brc358]

I have tried Dynamite,M.I.P.Hudy,Elite, and Ofna to try and find a decent tip that would not break or snap.
I threw all my Dynamites in a drawer,Ofna,and M.I.P in the toll box in my shop, and only carry Hudy to the track. This way I KNOW I will have the tool I need, when I need it, without having to worry about snapping a tip right when I need it the most.
So I have tried the most popular ones, and for me, you cant beat Hudy.