Got Tired of Driver Bits Breaking, or Camming Out Screw Heads

[foakes]

Like a lot of us, I have a few hundred 1/4" driver bits for various work and projects around the property.

Mine are mostly mixed up, and I seem to always pick the wrong ones when in the middle of a job. 

So, after looking online for the best impact driver bits —- and not really getting the straight dope —- I asked one of our resident tool experts, MarkT —- what he would recommend.  He gave me some solid recommendations —- then he also sent me link to Project Farms.

Weird name, right?  But this guy is basically the unbiased Consumer Reports for tools and many other products.  Extensive testing, takes no free merchandise, buys everything without getting any manufacturer discounts or freebies.  Talks REAL fast —-  but he is the real deal.

No BS, just facts and reasons for recommendations after very thorough testing of different tools and products.

What I wanted was some high quality driver bits.

Surprisingly, the most expensive ones were not always the most
durable or longest lasting ones.

For example, Harbor Freight Hercules brand were rated near the top, and a good value.

Other top contenders were Milwaukee, Klein, Bosch, and Wiha.

Yesterday, between Church, lunch, and Sue's Municipal Band Concert where she plays the flute —- I went over to Harbor Freight and picked up some magnetic Hercules hex drivers in Metric & SAE.  Then the clerk also told me that I could use a coupon to get either a Metric set or an SAE set of Warrior magnetic hex drivers —- for $2.49.  Told him I would take both sets.

Bought some other stuff like impact rated extensions, by Hercules.

Then went across the road to Lowe's and picked up a nice set of WIHA blue TST impact drivers for $35.  These are rated to be 120X longer lasting than the average impact driver bits.  We'll see... WIHA has always been a top notch tool company for me.  Their tools just work effectively, hold up well, and have tight tolerances.

OK, so now I will test the bits and see which work the best and hold up.
I do a lot of electrical, carpenter, mechanical, and woodworking jobs.

My preference on screws and drivers are hex head, star, square, and lastly Phillips.

Will test and report back over the next few projects.

My drivers are Ridgid & DeWalt 18V, and Milwaukee 12V.

Best, Fred

https://www.projectfarmreviews.com/list

[jtwill98]

You received very good advice, both on the bits and the mention of Project Farms youtube channel. 

I've followed the Project Farms channel for several years and normally just jump to the end of his videos to see his test summaries.  He runs test on many subjects, tools, etc.

[MACflyer]

Have used Harbor Freight Hercules hex drivers and no complaints. Thanks for the info on Project Farms.

[Gfish]

Given the same quality metal, square head screws seem to be easy to work with. Torx and Phillips are more difficult for me to bit-size correctly.

[happyhooker]

I always seem to end up using more Phillips than anything else; not sure why; old habits die hard, I guess.  But, I can't put the twisting force to Phillips that I can with Torx & square. 

Frank