Best screwdriver for roofing bolts?

KAS1 · Apr 28, 2013

When using heavy duty galv cable tray and all them roofers to wind down to flatten that lip (8 on each join), I always found a good pair of mole grips on the thread of the bolt an a spanner on the nut and bob's your uncle as they say and you can even snap the spare threads off with the mole grips a quick file and a dab of glav paint all done.

ipf · Apr 28, 2013

Might have solved the problem seeing as it's nearly 2 years ago

ShaneMiller · Apr 10, 2020

I used a large flat head screwdriver.

Mike Johnson · Apr 10, 2020

Original question was in 2011, some posts are like old soldiers, they never die. LOL

Highlander1971 · Mar 1, 2022

ARMEG do a roofing bolt driver bit, part code is TWGBDX.

Yozza19 · Mar 1, 2022

millwall ken said:
No mate, to the best of my knowledge NO such tool has yet been invented. In actual fact, the last time that a tool was invented, purely for our trade, probably was THE bush key.

Armeg do a purpose made end to fit in roofers can fit in impact driver or hex screwdriver

DPG · Mar 1, 2022

Blimey this is an old thread! 2011

Petej999 · Mar 1, 2022

brizospark said:
Is there such a thing as a purpose made cross head screwdriver for roofing bolts?

If not which size is best?

Anything that works for you large flat head for me

ipf · Mar 1, 2022

I thought of a comment……but some would accuse me of repeating myself almost a decade later…..

Mike Johnson · Mar 1, 2022

Back of a Bowie knife just ask Crocodile Dundee.

littlespark · Mar 1, 2022

Mike Johnson said:
Back of a Bowie knife just ask Crocodile Dundee.

That’s not a knife……

What is this thread? Back To The flippin Future?

nicebutdim · Mar 1, 2022

Good update though, with the Armeg driver. Great bit of kit.

SparkySy · Mar 1, 2022

I have the armeg as a lot of old stuff I come across has them as earth bolts, and yeah for what it is its expensive but it's been great for old rusted bolts in switchgear with a bit of impact driving and made life a bit easier!
I hate gutter bolts in anything (except gutters where they can be ground off) give me a normal bolt, torx, hex anything other than a slot heat or gutter bolt!!

nicebutdim · Mar 1, 2022

SparkySy said:
I have the armeg as a lot of old stuff I come across has them as earth bolts, and yeah for what it is its expensive but it's been great for old rusted bolts in switchgear with a bit of impact driving and made life a bit easier!
I hate gutter bolts in anything (except gutters where they can be ground off) give me a normal bolt, torx, hex anything other than a slot heat or gutter bolt!!

More than pays for itself within a few lengths of tray or trunking.

SparkySy · Mar 1, 2022

nicebutdim said:
More than pays for itself within a few lengths of tray or trunking.

Certainly does and saves a lot of choice language too!

nicebutdim · Mar 1, 2022

SparkySy said:
Certainly does and saves a lot of choice language too!

Hated roofing bolts for as long as I can remember and it's only been since buying this that I can stomach the thought of them. I'd previously ground down more than one big, ignorant flat blade, but nothing really got to grips with them properly.

SparkySy · Mar 1, 2022

They are a next level pain in the ---, I have a couple of big old yellow handled Stanley's that I've been using for about 15 years now!
A very clever and talented old engineer made me a driver for them using two halves of a penny washer tig welded to an old pozi 1/4" drive bit that I had for ages until I dropped it down a fixed downpipe I was gutted. He sadly passed away not long after I met him but that guy could make anything from nothing!

Mike Johnson · Mar 1, 2022

I think we are all agreed that roofing bolts are one of the worst things to come across and to top it all they usually have square nuts on them, two questions what do roofers use to put them on with, why are they still available.

SparkySy · Mar 1, 2022

Yes I don't know the answer to any of those questions tbh, they are good from the fact that the heads are low profile and relatively smooth for tray strut ect! Square nuts I've never really had issue with

Roofers probably use a hammer,
oh no sorry nail gun

edexlab · Mar 2, 2022

I posted this a couple of years ago, my solution to the roofing bolt, I just took a grinder to a 25mm flat wood bit with a hex shaft, it clips into the Wera handle and works fine, also doubles up as a small scraper/ prybar
I never use roofing bolts in my job now, never liked them anyway, but I still carry it as it's been so useful

SparkySy · Mar 2, 2022

That is a most excellent and cheap solution!

edexlab · Mar 2, 2022

SparkySy said:
That is a most excellent and cheap solution!

Yeah I was quite impressed with myself that day

Most people who have seen it, tried it out and had one of their own a few days later

SparkySy · Mar 2, 2022

If I didn't have the armeg I would have definitely made one tomorrow

XPLatEPS · Sep 29, 2022

brizospark said:
millwall ken ... yeah i'm definitely not an apprentice! unlike MOST members of the forum I'm not so egotistic to be afraid to ask questions on the forum as well as answer them! I thought that maybe someone had come across such a toll where as a screwdriver has two flat blades at 180 degrees from the other.

After all sometimes even if we have been doing things the same way for years, there may be a better way out there that someone else is pracising, Thats what the forum is all about aint it?!

There seems to be a hell of a lot of the 'regulars' on here who seem to be able to answer every post but never seem to post any questions!

Wish I was so knowledgeable!!!

Look at ARMEG. They do a dedicated screwdriver bit for M6 roofing bolts in two lengths. They are impact rated as well.

swaRRR · Sep 30, 2022

XPLatEPS said:
Look at ARMEG. They do a dedicated screwdriver bit for M6 roofing bolts in two lengths. They are impact rated as well.

Got one, it's rubbish. Doesn't grip properly due to roofers shallow slot.

KAS1

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