Milwaukee Shockwave Impact Duty
Equipment from “Milwaukee” is considered eternal. Even if the screwdriver is not let go of your hands every day, the edges do not break off. The Milwaukee Shockwave Impact Duty series showed an amazing result in tests - 6088 screws with one bat!
There is no need to talk about a clear cut of the corners; it fits perfectly into the screw and does not damage the head. There are bits of different formats in a row. The downside, however, for model 1 is the price. You will have to pay $10 per piece. But a set of 30 cue balls with a holder will cost only $75, and this is a real saving!
DeWALT FlexTorq
And here is another American manufacturer, widely known among us. We cannot say that these are the best bits for a screwdriver, since in the test they showed a result of 2600 screws, but their price is 2 times lower.
DeVolt claims that these attachments have the most correct geometry, so they do not tear the spline. But what’s really convenient is rotating the torsion core by 15 degrees around its axis. This prevents the screw from stopping abruptly.
The complete set includes all varieties: 3 cross sizes Ph and Pz; Torx; flat slotted bits. Diameters: 25 and 57 millimeters.
Types of bits and their purpose
The variety of attachments for power tools can be classified as follows:
- Basic. The most widely available on the market are the options for cross slots of the working part. This category includes bits with a flat slot, various types of sprockets, and hexagons. They are used in the assembly of household appliances, electronics, furniture and in the automotive industry.
- Combined. This type is distinguished by the use of a different type of working body instead of a shank. The equipment is used on both sides. These attachments are preferred by home craftsmen.
- Special. Various anti-vandal protection systems for military, medical and space equipment. Supplied with equipment. This also includes various attachments with changing the angle of the twist axis. Used rarely and individually.
All this abundance differs in size, quality requirements and technological level of tool production.
The ends of the working parts of the bits
Bits for nuts and bolts
To tighten nuts and bolts, nozzles (heads) with external and internal hexagons are used. They are included in the main range of most screwdriver manufacturers. Each set has its own standard sizes. The effort required to tighten bolts and nuts is greater than that of self-tapping tools, so a screwdriver for these purposes must have a serious power reserve.
With anti-vandal slot
The desire to make it difficult to access the inside of electronic equipment has led to the creation of various locks, bolts with special heads and corresponding attachments or fork keys.
Important! Among the anti-vandal pairs, bits marked SP (snake eye) are known; they are often used when assembling imported equipment.
Professional bits
These nozzles are designed for a long period of intensive use and are made from high-quality metals and alloys. They are most often made by hot stamping or forging and are subjected to modern heat treatment.
The working part of the bits is coated with titanium or diamond coating, which distinguishes it by color.
Professional products
The design feature of the professional bit is the presence of a smaller diameter neck (torsion bit) between the slotted head and the shank. When screwing a self-tapping screw into metal when touching the head of the structure, the neck compensates for the impact effect and does not allow the screw head and slot to be destroyed, and with tension it will sink it flush.
Drywall bits
Gypsum plasterboards are a convenient material for interior decoration and are very common.
The material is extremely fragile and special bits for power tools must be used to secure it. The limiting sleeve between the shank and the spline prevents pressure on the HA sheet, therefore it does not destroy it, the surface remains smooth, and abrasive dust does not harm the splines of the head and bit.
Drywall nozzle
Fork bits
The name “fork” is one of the simplest options for anti-vandal protection. It looks like a flat slot with a cutout. The shape of the cutout varies.
The spline is structurally weakened, so high-quality alloy and heat treatment are used for manufacturing. Special nozzles with different (three- or four-bladed) working parts are used in military and space technology.
Spring and magnetic
To fix the attachment in a tool, magnets are most widely used in professional kits. This allows you not to waste time searching for a bit, since both the shank and its seat wear out over time, and the magnet holds it securely.
Important! Precisely hitting the screw head allows you to tighten it more reliably and faster, which reduces the time for the operation.
Spring bit
The need to tighten fasteners at an angle to the axis of the screwdriver led to the appearance of a flexible drive between the spline and the shank. Most often this is a spring, giving an angle, for some tools, greater than 90°.
How do professional screwdriver bits differ from regular ones?
Tool attachments for professionals differ from others in the quality of metal, coating, and manufacturing technology. This combination provides long-term reliable use of screwdriver bits during intensive use of a conveyor assembly or non-standard operating conditions.
The best bits for a screwdriver, despite the cost, should be chosen by builders and car mechanics. The price of a real set of professional bits is quite high, so it attracts counterfeiters.
Important! The cost of counterfeit and low-budget products is close, and if you manage to disguise a cheap product as a premium product, the profit increases many times over. Choosing expensive attachments requires a scrupulous approach.
Wiha MaxxTor
And here is a very controversial set of bits for a screwdriver. The body is made of high-strength, high-alloy steel, but in tests it only tightened 1,333 screws. But the turning radius of the torsion core here is incredible - 60 degrees. For comparison, similar equipment from other manufacturers does not exceed 15.
Overall, these are good bits for professional work. Although the edges will break faster, she is a pleasure to work with. It will especially show itself with hard wood and metal. By the way, the line has all sizes and shapes, except for the SL flat slot. This cannot be called a minus, since they are practically not used anywhere.
Wera Impaktor 851/4 IMP DC
A very interesting model, which has no analogues in our rating yet. The basis of this bit is the adapter. It contains 1 more torsion bar, which increases the degree of rotation. There is almost no recoil from the impact driver.
"Vera" positions "Impactor" as the best bits with a cosmically long service life. Reinforcement of the impeller with diamond coating prevents the slot from being worn out, and the gentle movement of the 2 cores makes it easier to tighten the screws.
By the way, the color of the protective plastic depends on the slot. The dimensions are also written on it, so you don’t have to look for which bit is where.
Help in determining the best screwdriver attachments
To determine the best bits for a screwdriver, you can use information in construction reference books, get advice in specialized stores, or find the right site on the Internet. The latter method of obtaining information is preferable for most today.
However, you should not neglect to familiarize yourself with visual examples of various bits displayed in sets in stores and markets. Seeing and carefully examining the attachments, so to speak live, is considered by many to be a better way to get acquainted than looking at photos of screwdriver bits on construction sites.
This makes it easier to navigate the variety of types of attachments and choose the most durable, practical, and long-lasting ones.
Read here: Nylon ties - installation tool and technology for using plastic clamps
Makita Impact Gold
Excellent professional screwdriver bits from the power tool mastodon Makita. The series received the name “Gold” because of the titanium coating, a characteristic golden hue.
In tests, it did not show a huge result, only 700 screws. But, this is a line of double-sided equipment. If the edges are erased at one end, you need to turn it over and you can continue working. The metal is highly magnetized, so the screw does not fall off.
The series includes all types of screwdriver bits, except SL (flat slot).
Bosch Impact Control
And now old Bosch has entered the ratings. For entry-level craftsmen, they answer the question “what are the best bits for a screwdriver to buy?” It only makes sense to buy Bosch Impact Control as a set. Firstly, there are all sizes and a good bit holder. Secondly, the price for 1 unit is only 100 rubles.
But Bosch beat its competitors not only in price. The set contains bits of different lengths, so you can even disassemble equipment with it - it can handle hard-to-reach places. In addition, the equipment comes in a convenient plastic case and a container for screws.
KRAFTOOL 26154-H42
If you feel sorry for the money on Bosch, another German brand, Kraftul, will save you. This 42-piece set costs just over $15.
By the way, if you count the number of accessories, it turns out that there are only 41 items. For some reason, Kraftul decided to count the case itself.
The set includes good chrome vanadium cue balls and several bit holders. By the way, there are also ¼-inch to 3/8 adapters. The quality does not cause any complaints and the set is quite good even for assembling furniture or construction.
But you shouldn’t expect quality from the kit like the DeWALT FlexTorq. The bits will wear out relatively quickly, and under heavy loads they can even become screwed.
How should a screwdriver attachment work?
Any screwed fasteners have a peculiarity: they are created exclusively to the standard size of the nozzle adapted to them. It must fit tightly, without play, into its grooves and protrusions, and reliably transmit torque.
Manufacturers of screws, self-tapping screws and screws produce not only a wide range of their products, but also screwdrivers for them, attachments for screwdrivers - bits. All these products are strictly standardized, which should be taken into account when choosing.
Bits may be sold separately or included with the manufacturer's tool kit.
It’s easy to check the quality of the bit’s compliance with the head of a self-tapping screw or screw: you need to tightly fix the fastening element, for example, in a vice, and insert the bit with a screwdriver into it, but do not turn on the latter.
If tight contact is created between the mating surfaces and there are no backlashes, then everything is fine: you can work. Otherwise, two parts will suffer at once:
- a self-tapping screw that cannot be reused or completely used;
- nozzle due to damage to the edges due to the beating force of the torque.
A damaged bit has a characteristic appearance - erased edges of the working edges.
In some cases, it may be easier to screw in one or two self-tapping screws by hand than to use a screwdriver. A special handle is used for these purposes.
Metabo 626704000
A set with unstable quality. On the Internet, users were divided into 2 parts: those who liked the set, and those who threw mud at it in every possible way. Overall, the set is good. There are the most common sizes: 2 types of bits, chrome-vanadium alloy does not fail when working on a construction site. Depending on the slot, different pieces of paper are glued to the nozzle. Also included are 2 bit holders: magnetic and mechanical.
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The set is often counterfeited, and you can even find a replica in a large store. As a rule, a fake Metabo has dry, flimsy plastic on the case, and the latches almost do not hold the lid. The bits are “plasticine” and even under light loads they curl into a screw. This is not what you want to get for $30.
How to evaluate the quality of screwdriver bits
The best attachments for hand tools are those that match the purpose of the work: wood, plastic or metal. Then by frequency of use: one-time work or conveyor and, finally, a combination of price and quality of a particular set.
Basic quality assessment criteria for a screwdriver
When purchasing a screwdriver, the user receives a set of attachments most adapted to this model. If you need to purchase or update the kit, you should pay attention to:
- the bat should sit in the seat without play;
- the length of the products corresponds to the nature of future work;
- appearance, shape of nozzles, markings without defects;
- tool material: R7 is sufficient for working with wood, R12 for metal, steel hardness 58-60 HRC.
For professional work on a conveyor belt, you need to take an even more critical approach to the chemical composition, heat treatment, coating and manufacturing technology of products.
Important! You can also purchase the required kit on Aliexpress, but it is better to come to a specialized store with your own screwdriver and check, test and select the necessary attachment on the spot.
