Torx screwdriver rusting and wearing out screw heads/ stainless steel screwdriver

Been using a Torx 30 screwdriver for three years to mount foil wings, I knew the tip was rusting and I am always in saltwater so no surprise. But what I did not realize is the T30 tip was getting smaller from it rusting away and that caused the tip to round off the inside of the T30 M6 screws, last time almost thought I was not going to get the screws out! The only stainless steel screwdrivers I could find are made by Wera, got a T30 for the foil wings/stab. and a Philips #3 for the mast screws and board vent screw. Found replacement T30 M6 screws in A4 from Boltdepot.com.

I have a full set of Wera bits and a driver in my gear. The bits do corrode but they don't fall apart like a regular tool. So far it's been almost two years of continuous use.

If they made a T handle I'd definitely buy it.

Smear a little bit of lanolin surrounding the area, either in a grease form or from a spray can with straw like nozzle. It's water proof, highly effective & possibly do it yearly or twice a year.

Preventative maintenance. Worx a treat! Ex farmer, there's methods in our madness.

Try this:

Inox MX4 Lanox it's Lanolin Anti- Corrosion lubricant.

Yeah, the chrome has worn off the tip, and the black areas are corrosion. It will slowly eat away the tip, took mine three years before it started to get small enough to damage the six inner points of the T30 screw head. You are wearing off the "red" iron oxide with use, and leaving behind the blackish corrosion (carbon?), but it too will wear off (that is why the high wear tips are shinny), and the cycle will just keep repeating.

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redrabbitz said..
Smear a little bit of lanolin surrounding the area, either in a grease form or from a spray can with straw like nozzle. It's water proof, highly effective & possibly do it yearly or twice a year.

Preventative maintenance. Worx a treat! Ex farmer, there's methods in our madness.

Try this:

Inox MX4 Lanox it's Lanolin Anti- Corrosion lubricant.

Only nipple creams for breastfeeding are recommended by google and amozon when i search lonolin, lol, apparently they have the same ingredient, made from sheep wool, interesting.

I use bosch hand screwdriver with bits, it gets rusty just sitting in the car, and bits get stuck, i leave it in a glass of vinegar for a day and clean it with an old tooth brush later, didn't have any big problems after one year of usage.

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Sea Lotus said..

redrabbitz said..
Smear a little bit of lanolin surrounding the area, either in a grease form or from a spray can with straw like nozzle. It's water proof, highly effective & possibly do it yearly or twice a year.

Preventative maintenance. Worx a treat! Ex farmer, there's methods in our madness.

Try this:

Inox MX4 Lanox it's Lanolin Anti- Corrosion lubricant.

Only nipple creams for breastfeeding are recommended by google and amozon when i search lonolin, lol, apparently they have the same ingredient, made from sheep wool, interesting.

I use bosch hand screwdriver with bits, it gets rusty just sitting in the car, and bits get stuck, i leave it in a glass of vinegar for a day and clean it with an old tooth brush later, didn't have any big problems after one year of usage.

Like I said it took 3 years before it became an issue and started to damage the T30 screw heads, would rather use a SS T30 screwdriver than have to replace otherwise good A4 screws.

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Riowind said..
McMaster sells stainless steel torx bits part number 2604N18 that fit in a standard 1/4 inch hex drive. You can use either a magnetic bit screwdriver or a 1/4 inch nut driver with electrical tape to hold in the bit.

okay thanks Riowind, that would of been cheaper, but the torx 30 from KC tools was $13, not including shipping. I used my Wera PH3 today, I like that I can hold the shaft with the fingers of one hand (very smooth) and spin the handle quickly with my other hand to remove the long mast head screws.