Bit sets

[Fluelikesymptoms]

I made a thread quite some time ago about good bit sets and got lots of good feedback. Some recommend sunex, zephyr, Apex etc. I have finally found the perfect bit set that fits the bill for me and got excited, well until I saw what the bill would be lol

https://shop.pbtools.us/1-4-Screwdriver-ToolBox-with-ninety-C6-1-4-Screwdriver-Bits-C6992.htm

I'm gonna round this up to a 400 dollar set after tax :tard:

It's also listed on amazon for 450

I've searched the bay and none to be found.

I really like everything about this set, it has just about everything, even bits I probably wont use, which would satisfy my fetish. It has a good variety of power bits. The case is perfect which is something I have been looking for.

Does anyone know of a quality set this extensive that is more affordable?

I found this set on zoro:

https://www.zoro.com/proto-multi-bi...YBkXGxbOylFrxKuOLNO2PO4YQxreqZQwaAnbLEALw_wcB

The price seems much more reasonable but dont really have much experience with there bits. I know they make the duratek screwdrivers which are good but dont know much else.

Theres not alot of information available, idk what they are going by ISO or DIN? Do they have anti cam? How durable are protos bits? Do they wear quickly? The COO is Taiwan, which I'm not opposed but if it's cheap Taiwan quality I'd rather get some HF/tekton bits, or just not get either.

I'm looking for more of a complete screwdriver bit set than I am looking for 10+ Phillip's bits. I already have impact bits.

Anybody who can recommend me a set with a case as good as the pb swiss one, gets extra street cred. (Holds everything, organized, but not a whole lot of unused bulky space)

 

[Spacey_G]

Check out the Sunex 9729 kit. It has just about every type of bit imaginable and multiples of the most common. Good selection of power bits too. And it's affordable.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01J7SBT7S/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[measuredtwice]

Since you say you already got good feedback in another topic, it would be helpful to merge the topics so that people don't spend time rewriting the same suggestions.

If you like that box, you might also like this boxed set from Felo --> https://www.amazon.de/dp/B00M490WT4/

I have PB Swiss bits and I do like them. But I think the Felo bits would be good enough for most folks. Here's a side-by-side comparison of slotted bits from both brands.

Welcome, Legion Prime!

Here are some side-by-side comparisons of Felo & PB Swiss...

Felo 6.5 x 1.0 mm on the left. PB Swiss 6.25 x 1.0 mm on the right. Both have similar shape though PB Swiss markets their bits as having "parallel tips" and Felo makes no mention of it.

My favorite storage for bits is ammo boxes (blue box in the photo). They are very compact with no wasted space. I made a post about storage here --> https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=425476

 

[Dave455]

I’m a great fan of the PB Swiss bits, I use them more than any other, and have done so for close to two decades. Good bits, no regrets.

But... I’ve also noticed that the further a tool has to travel, the poorer the value it tends to be. That’s partly due to shipping costs, especially for small batches that get sent by air, and partly due to currency fluctuations, that cause an importer to set a price that covers his costs, no matter what. Of course, it’s partly due to greed as well...!

I see this a lot with U.S. tools in the U.K. The prices are high, which I accept (and often pay for the quality) but often the prices are way higher than they should be, until you find an importer who gets their act together, when prices tumble!

I can’t help feeling that you are suffering from a bit of that here. The price of that PB bit set here in the U.K.(admittedly without British sales tax, but shipped from Switzerland) is $200. And that’s the price for a ‘one off’ to Joe public. There’s probably a better price to be had for trade customers. So, I can’t help feeling there’s a better deal to be had for you!

I agree with the comments regarding Felo though. Historically not as refined as the PB Swiss, they are getting better and better, and they’ve always been rugged! If you can get a decent deal, go for ‘em!

 

[Chevota Guy]

Depending on the actual type and range of bits that are needed, these three sets are very versatile. First two made by Wera and the other by Festool for their Centrotec drivers.

View media item 97472
View media item 97474
View media item 97473

 

[Fluelikesymptoms]

When you start looking at that type of price, I'd go with the MAC set. I have 3 of these sets, and love them. I think the bits are zephyr.

https://www.mactools.com/en-us/Screwdrivers-and-Bits/Bit-Drivers-and-Bits/SBDR123SA/123-PC-1-4-Hex-Drive-Mac-Grip-Ratcheting-Bit-Driver-Set

Throw the ratcheting driver in your get rid of tools, and put a Snap-on driver in there instead, and you have a real nice set. The SO driver fits perfectly. Red handled one looks like it belongs there.

That is the same thing as the proto set unlinked above right?

So is zephyr making the proto/mac bits?

 

[Wamsutta]

After studying the picture on the right, I now see what they mean by "parallel" tips. The angle of the ramp curvature is identical on both sides of the PB Swiss bit. That is some very impressive machine work and attention to detail.

 

[measuredtwice]

After studying the picture on the right, I now see what they mean by "parallel" tips. The angle of the ramp curvature is identical on both sides of the PB Swiss bit. That is some very impressive machine work and attention to detail.

Here's the description of parallel tip from the PB Swiss catalog.

 

[mikebaker1129]

Zephyr makes a good set ZBB4 I believe for about $25-28. Great quality bits, but my set is not impact rated.
You can buy a few singles off the EBay if you want to try a few out.

 

[Fluelikesymptoms]

Edit: Scratch my recommendation. I just called MAC, and the set is now Country of Origin Taiwan, just like the Proto one from Zoro. I'd pass and buy a cheaper made in Taiwan set, or buy a better quality one from somewhere else.

They had a good thing going with the older sets, the bits were quality USA made and they had an excellent small ratchet included, the MR5BD. They're some of my favorite ratchets I own.

Now that they've cheapened the quality, no reason to buy this set. Back when they were USA, they were one of the best ways to get a comprehensive zephyr set.

This was my thoughts exactly, I could probably find another Taiwan manufacturer with similar quality for less than what mac is asking.

Which isnt entirely out of the question, but I prefer quality bits that will last. I'm wanting quality bits, and an extensive set. I would get the 30 piece zephyr set mentioned below, but I want something more extensive. That is the purpose and topic of this thread and why I haven't bumped an older thread to life.

I would buy the pb swiss if it wasnt 400 dollars here in the US. Does nobody know of an quality alternative?

 

[measuredtwice]

The PB Swiss set really isn't particularly extensive. It doesn't have the odd ball bits that are in the imported sets. I'm not sure if PB Swiss even makes some of the bits that you'll find in imported security bit sets.

Most quality industrial bits are sold in multiples, not sets, because they're intended for sale to industry. You could buy the Zephyr set (quoted price above is out of date) and add the odd ball bits separately... but you'd likely have to buy those bits in multiples of 6.

Felo is more accommodating to consumers and they sell different sets. You could buy the Felo set that I linked above and also buy the Felo security bit set. Photo below.

Other German manufacturers also make similar sets. The Felo bits are made in Germany. Some of the other German brands might not be.

 

[measuredtwice]

I almost forgot... Wiha used to sell a "bit collector" set. I'm not sure if they still make them in Germany or if they make them in Vietnam now.

Also there are some Hazet sets with cool boxes.

 

[JBH]

Since you say you already got good feedback in another topic, it would be helpful to merge the topics so that people don't spend time rewriting the same suggestions.

If you like that box, you might also like this boxed set from Felo --> https://www.amazon.de/dp/B00M490WT4/

That is my go-to bit set, with the dupe PZ and PH bits replaced with SQ bits. However, Würth has one that's as comprehensive as it gets. The only thing of note missing is inch security hex.

View media item 92521

 

[Spacey_G]

However, Würth has one that's as comprehensive as it gets. The only thing of note missing is inch security hex.[/IMG]

The Wurth set is also missing security Torx Plus (the five-lobed Torx Plus with center pin).

The Sunex kit I posted above has both of those styles. That kit is as comprehensive as it gets.

 

[Wamsutta]

Here's the description of parallel tip from the PB Swiss catalog.

They seem to be talking about the flat part that goes into the screw slot. I'm talking about the curvatures that lead up to the flat part. They're identical.

 

[JBH]

The Wurth set is also missing security Torx Plus (the five-lobed Torx Plus with center pin).



The Sunex kit I posted above has both of those styles. That kit is as comprehensive as it gets.

Maybe Sunex demands higher standards from their suppliers, but that set looks a lot like a Craftsman set I bought and quickly returned. Most of the security bits were drilled off center, and the PH2 offered markedly inferior fit compared to Felo/PB Swiss/Schröder/Wera/Wiha/Witte. The Würth set is comparable in quality to the above and the case (foam-lined metal) is excellent. I do not like that plastic case style.

 

[Milton Shaw]

Not mentioned Kein makes a set of security bits set with at driver that's available at Home Depot for about $30. This gives a lot of the oddball bit shapes for security bits. I have several and even keep one in the car. Every body should have one.

 

[Spacey_G]

Maybe Sunex demands higher standards from their suppliers, but that set looks a lot like a Craftsman set I bought and quickly returned. Most of the security bits were drilled off center, and the PH2 offered markedly inferior fit compared to Felo/PB Swiss/Schröder/Wera/Wiha/Witte. The Würth set is comparable in quality to the above and the case (foam-lined metal) is excellent. I do not like that plastic case style.

I was commenting on the completeness of the sets. I can't speak to the quality of the Wurth bits, but the Sunex kit—at least the one I have—does not have the quality issues you saw with a similar looking Craftsman set. Lots of the bit sets look similar. That doesn't mean they're of similar quality.

 

[HenryAZ]

I've added security sets in hex and torx from Wiha for when those are needed.

 

[Steve_P]

VIM VHC 77 is a very comprehensive set, excellent machining, and durable. I have it and also a lot by Wiha