What's up with black PB Swiss bits?

[Ohio Andy]

I noticed this PB Swiss Set if driver bits, C6.990, on Amazon:

Amazon.com

All of my PB Swiss bits are colored with easier to read markings.... and the case usually has a clear top.

PB Swiss 1/4" Bit Set, C6, Assorted, 30pcs in BitBox (PB C6.990)

Shop the world's finest tools from elite brands like PB Swiss, nepros, KTC, KNIPEX, Ko-ken, KEIBA and more..

drpd.cc

PB C6 990

www.pbswisstools.com

Did I miss something? If a different part number was listed, sure, but I expected "color-coded by screw type so that you have the right bit, quickly at hand" and a clear top on the case.

 

[Ohio Andy]

And one of the reviewers say:

Description is misleading - these are Astro bits - not PB Swiss. PB Swiss bits are color coded.

So it is safe to say that the only thing that this matches as it relates to PB Swiss is that the "style" and what is included matches what you get with a PB Swiss set.

 

[jimf]

Yes, I agree; the Amazon listing appears to feature a counterfeit PB Swiss product.

The box is certainly different and while the product description mentions color-coded bits, the photo shows otherwise. Interestingly, the product number is "PB Swiss" and the brand name is "アストロプロダクツ". Geez...

 

[AJHD]

Ignore. I was incorrect.

 

[Ohio Andy]

I went ahead and marked it as incorrectly labeled. I mean their part number might be the same as PP Swiss, but if so, that is intentional deceit.

 

[Wamsutta]

Yeah what's up with that? I thought all PB Swiss bits were pink or turquoise.

 

[KnurledNut]

The bits pictured look like PB Swiss to me and they aren’t black.

 

[Ohio Andy]

The bits pictured look like PB Swiss to me and they aren’t black.

The only ones that are black are on the Amazon site. They are not PB Swiss, but, they are listed as PB Swiss

 

[Steel_Rain]

PV Swiss

 

[Ohio Andy]

Oops, that typo is mine

 

[Steel_Rain]

Oops, that typo is mine

My bad, I thought the ad actually read as “PV Swiss”.

Don’t give them any ideas though.

 

[Ohio Andy]

My bad, I thought the ad actually read as “PV Swiss”.

Don’t give them any ideas though.

Would have been better if it had...

One reviewer said that they were really Astro bits. I don't know anything about Astro bits

 

[RTM]

I noticed this PB Swiss Set if driver bits, C6.990, on Amazon:

Amazon.com

All of my PB Swiss bits are colored with easier to read markings.... and the case usually has a clear top.

PB Swiss 1/4" Bit Set, C6, Assorted, 30pcs in BitBox (PB C6.990)

Shop the world's finest tools from elite brands like PB Swiss, nepros, KTC, KNIPEX, Ko-ken, KEIBA and more..

drpd.cc

DRPD is a member here, go ask them

Howdy from DRPD!

Lurked here for some time and have discovered many of my favorite premium tool brands here. A few members have poked us to start posting so here we are. My name is Mike and I'm from DRPD; we're a US-based retailer of premium imported tool brands, namely, PB Swiss, nepros/KTC, KNIPEX, USAG and...

www.garagejournal.com

 

[Ohio Andy]

DRPD is a member here, go ask them

Howdy from DRPD!

Lurked here for some time and have discovered many of my favorite premium tool brands here. A few members have poked us to start posting so here we are. My name is Mike and I'm from DRPD; we're a US-based retailer of premium imported tool brands, namely, PB Swiss, nepros/KTC, KNIPEX, USAG and...

www.garagejournal.com

Intend to buy from them, just need to decide if I will wait for Black Friday..... And what I really want is our of stock at their site :-(

 

[KnurledNut]

The only ones that are black are on the Amazon site. They are not PB Swiss, but, they are listed as PB Swiss

Those are the ones I’m talking about.

 

[KnurledNut]

The set pictured on Amazon in the solid black box is genuine.
I thought that was so, but I wanted to check my old catalog before stating that matter-of-factly.
Here is the same exact set pictured in the 2018 PB Swiss catalog:


That being said, this style is older and has been updated by the current design:


And as I stated earlier, the bits in the old set are not black.
Its just a bad picture that doesnt really show the plasma coating that well.
If you zoom in, it becomes pretty obvious.


Unrelated to these sets, PB Swiss does private label some bits that dont follow their standard color coding.
Here’s some examples I personally own. These are all PB:

 

[Ohio Andy]

The set pictured on Amazon in the solid black box is genuine.
I thought that was so, but I wanted to check my old catalog before stating that matter-of-factly.
Here is the same exact set pictured in the 2018 PB Swiss catalog:


That being said, this style is older and has been updated by the current design:


And as I stated earlier, the bits in the old set are not black.
Its just a bad picture that doesnt really show the plasma coating that well.
If you zoom in, it becomes pretty obvious.

Wow, you da-man.... Impressed

 

[billspreston]

Late to the party here, but @KnurledNut has it right – that is just a poor quality outdated photo and a (recently) discontinued SKU.

The BitBox design was updated to a clear top – I believe somewhere around 2018/2019 before DRPD's time so I'm not positive.

The size markings on bits have been through a few iterations – first engraved, then laser engraved (like in the OP's photo) and then they went through a few different versions of the laser markings into what we now see today. The laser engraving kinda sucked as it left burn marks on the bits, but the current marking style is super nice – large and clear.

 

[username2]

Well, it is アストロプロダクツ brand, so you know it's good.

 

[Dave455]

Thought I’d add my few cents worth to this.

When I first started buying PB Swiss (or PB Baumann as they were) bits, they were all plain steel bits. So if you see one, it might not be fake, simply old!

These are original bits from the 1990’s. Although some wear can be seen, it’s barely noticeable.


Sometime later (early 2000’s if memory serves) PB switched to TiN coated bits, with coloured bands.

The colour of the TiN coating denoted the type of bit, and the coloured band the size.

These were not a total success. The TiN coating was lovely, but they couldn’t consistently paint the coloured bands, and you only need colour coding to see the type of bit quickly - you can see the sizes.


PB then ditched the coloured bands, leaving us with the bits we have today. The black (well, more brown) bits are simply the colour coding for regular / slotted bits.

Very good bits. Probably the best. The coating prevents corrosion and also reduces wear. Nothing much I would change about these now.

 

[cbracer]

I have that exact older style black bit box and I prefer it to the newer clear ones. For sure not a fake. It was more of a flexible plastic material and had a bit rounder corners. The bits in the picture do have the correct color, they are just older and the photo has poor lighting. It's hard purchasing PB bits if you want them to look identical because some have the round colored paint and some don't. The newer ones are marked so much better as the older ones from just a couple years ago had very small size markings which were more difficult to read.

 

[JMLangford]

When you highlight アストロプロダクツ and translate it to English (from Japanese) using Google, it translates to Astro Products