Best Phillips 2 Insert Bit

[measuredtwice]

What do you think is the best Phillips 2 insert bit? Not limited to the ones in the photo. Curious about what are your favorites.

I've been picking up insert bits when I find a good deal or when I need to pad an order to get free shipping.

Here are a few side-by-side for comparison.

I'm not sure if the Vessel is JIS or vanilla flavor. I included it since some say they use these bits on all Phillips. In my opinion, it is great but not the best fit on vanilla Phillips.

I find the classic Wera bit was underwhelming. I much prefer Wera's Airplane and Reduced Head bits. I just got these but they seem much better.

Sad to see that Wiha bits are no longer made in Germany (or Europe). I asked about the Bit Selector kits that are commonly advertised as made in Germany and a sales person told me the plastic case is made in Germany and the bits are made in Vietnam. The bits do fit pretty good. I think the impact bit has a better fit than their standard bit.

I'm happy that Felo is still making their bits in Germany. The quality is good and they are both readily available and inexpensive.

The Snap-On (Zephyr) and Apex and Montana Brand are some good old USA manufacturing. The Montana brand is sold locally at Menards and fits like a glove.

PB Swiss seems popular but some of the less expensive bits fit just as well. Some say the PB Swiss last much longer. I just got them so I can't comment on how long they last.

Top Row:
Wera 071011 (Czech) —Stainless
Wera 072072 (Czech)
Wera 134920 (Czech)
Wera 346281 (Czech)
Wera 135009 (Czech)
Wera 380156 (Czech)
Wera 056662 (Czech) —ACR
Snap-On SDM222IRB (USA) —ACR
Apex 440-2X (USA)
Apex 446-215 (USA)

Bottom Row:
Wiha 71102 (Vietnam)
Wiha 76502 (Vietnam)
Felo 10317 (Germany) —TIN
Felo 52471 (Germany) —TIN
Felo 30205 (Germany)
Vessel 2H (Japan)
PB Swiss C6-190.2 (Switzerland)
Montana Brand (USA)
Dewalt (China)
Generic (China)

 

[Fix Until Broke]

This one...

Asking which phillips bit is best is like asking which STD is best...

The SnapOn/Wera with the teeth have worked the best in my experience. I see that Milwaukee has carbide ones out now, not sure if they have any "texture" on them or not, but as mentioned, it's a flawed design so choose the best of the worst...

 

[Stadger]

With all those bits shouldn't you be doing the testing and tell US which is best and why?

 

[Wamsutta]

Try these out:

Apex 446-2X
Zephyr D1227AARI / D1227XXRI

 

[measuredtwice]

This one...

star-drive-bit.jpg

Asking which phillips bit is best is like asking which STD is best...

The SnapOn/Wera with the teeth have worked the best in my experience. I see that Milwaukee has carbide ones out now, not sure if they have any "texture" on them or not, but as mentioned, it's a flawed design so choose the best of the worst...

LOL

With all those bits shouldn't you be doing the testing and tell US which is best and why?

Haha! Except for the Snap-On and 1 Felo, the others are recent purchases. I just got all the Wera bits today. I added a few preliminary observations/opinions. Would like your opinions too.

Try these out:

Apex 446-2X
Zephyr D1227AARI / D1227XXRI

Thanks!

 

[Mr. T]

I know you’re being serious and trying to help but IMO the premise of this thread is like asking “what’s the best way to get kicked in the nuts?”

Sure, some are better than others, but if I can help it, I’ll avoid the situation entirely.

 

[ChrisLS8]

I prefer of all the brands I've tried including Wera, Zephyr, Apex and others is.....DeWalt Maxfit

 

[SARG]

Wow ... some of those are pricey. I just ordered some (75) Dewalt yesterday for about 30 ¢ each.

 

[DHCrocks]

I am stating to dislike phillips, seems like they are never manufactured to the same tolerances. One bit will never fit well for every application. I switch between Dewalt, PB Swiss, Bosch, Wiha and Milwaukee Trying each one to see which is the most snug fit which takes time. More times then not, this is the one that fits the best.

https://www.boschtools.com/us/en/boschtools-ocs/impact-tough-insert-bits-itph2r1b-145600-p/

The Bosch PH2R with the reduced head seems to go in the deepest and seat the best most of the time. the runner up would be the PB swiss, but at several times the cost I only use them in hand driven applications. If the driver is used I'll use the Bosch.

 

[Yarpo]

Wow those Montana bits are pretty cheap. 20 of them for 11 dollars. Going to have to pick some up next time I go to Menards.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

Zypher, IMO. They hold up like my snap ons, but cheaper.

 

[Back In The Saddle]

I bought a pack of Bosch bits years ago when I was doing some drywall work on the side. It came in a case like a pack of toothpicks. Thousands of screws later, I'm still on the first bit.
But Fix Until Broke is speaking gospel. Drywall? Phillips will suffice. Going DEEP into solid wood? Get the star drive.

 

[Macchina]

I've been experimenting with bits lately and just got the Makita gold which seem really promising. My best bits by far however have been Bosch standard ribbed bits. I'm still on my original 15 pack from probably 8 years ago:

 

[Iron Oxide]

Greetings. A newbie post and happy to be here. I know the tread just started and first exposure and all but, could the JIS Phillips be an answer to the majority of the unhappiness here. Japanese hardware is prevalent here and a Japanese Industrial Standard Phillips bit has a slightly shallower tip so there is more contact on the flutes giving a lesser turn-out damage. JIS is common in industrial and automotive but, I am not familiar on the carpentry side of things.

 

[plinker]

https://www.amazon.com/Vermont-American-16462-Phillips-Drywall/dp/B00004YXB6

I've found these V/A P2R "drywall" bits to hold up rather well and they fit screws better then most I've used, particularly ones on Fords that are somewhat shallow. Not very good on JIS screws though. They are also pretty inexpensive depending on source.

 

[KnurledNut]

Ive used quite a few. I really like Apex. They last and last. Im hammering on a 492 power bit right now. And I like the 446-2X reduced tip in my SO ratcheting driver. The Zephyr ACR bits are pretty good too.

 

[ChrisLS8]

Another badass one I've been using with HEAVY impact use and they last days (which is crazy in my line of work) which is the Vega 1" bits

 

[JBH]

I haven't found much difference between DIN-compliant PH bits (Felo, Witte, Wera, Schröder, PB Swiss, Würth, Toptul etc.). American ones don't seem to fit as well.

 

[Hytekrednek]

Zephyr and Wera are my 2 preferred. I tossed all my other lesser bits in the trash.

 

[Hytekrednek]

Zypher, IMO. They hold up like my snap ons, but cheaper.

SO bits are made by Zephyr, at least they used to be.

 

[Hytekrednek]

Zephyr also makes all the bits for Brownells, which are very good bits.

 

[Danglerb]

If you do a crazy amount of PH, chances are its mostly of the same type fastener, so get what fits that best, and keep some spares and toss bits at the first sign of wear.

 

[Hytekrednek]

If you do a crazy amount of PH, chances are its mostly of the same type fastener, so get what fits that best, and keep some spares and toss bits at the first sign of wear.

this is the reason I keep several brands of Phillips on hand in all the sizes. There is always one that fits best, usually it is either Zephyr or Wera, but the others do get used some. I keep many bits on hand in all styles and sizes possible, multiple brands of many. Probably have 75 different sized standard/slotted bit from wide to narrow to thick to thin, and in between sizes too. Good bits that fit properly make a huge difference. Cheap bits might be ok, might not? I can not leave a mark on the stuff I work on 50% of the time, so I just go for perfection and try to never leave a mark or any sign that the item has ever been worked on. As a side effect, I tend to be very particular about my bits fitting properly, and they must NEVER break, or at least very rarely. For screws that the bit will just not fit right due to damage or poorly made, there are a few tricks to help, depending on the exact issue. I use lapping compound or GripTite often on worn/damaged screws and this really does help. Once out though, I replace with a new fastener.

 

[nerraw117]

apex are my favorite. I work with stainless screws alot and they not only bite the fastener the best they also break less. I go through alot of milwaukee, snap on, irwin etc.

 

[measuredtwice]

Thank you to all who gave their opinions on the best bits.

For those who start twitching at the mention of Phillips It doesn't make much sense to me. But that's the way of the internet--haha! I don't like Phillips either. But like it or not they are common in the USA and you won't be able to remove one with a torx or by cursing at it--haha! I have lots of torx bits also.

 

[mike93lx]

use it til it is worn out, throw away and install a new one. spending more than a buck at most is crazy, IMO

 

[measuredtwice]

use it til it is worn out, throw away and install a new one. spending more than a buck at most is crazy, IMO

So which <$1 bit do you recommend?

19 of the 20 in the photo were $1 or less. Most were 50 cents or less. It's easy to find deals on bits. I even paid less than 50 cents for the stainless Wera bits although they retail for much more.

The 1 out of 20 that was over $1 is the PB Swiss. It's the exception, not the norm. I had to see if all the hype on the interwebz was real.

 

[mike93lx]

So which <$1 bit do you recommend?

19 of the 20 in the photo were $1 or less. Most were 50 cents or less. It's easy to find deals on bits. I even paid less than 50 cents for the stainless Wera bits although they retail for much more.

The 1 out of 20 that was over $1 is the PB Swiss. It's the exception, not the norm. I had to see if all the hype on the interwebz was real.

i was probably overshooting it saying $1 as I was thinking of longer than 1" bits.

for 1", i buy 30 packs, but it's been a long time. Looks like $10 or less: https://www.lowes.com/pd/DEWALT-Tough-Grip-30-Piece-1-in-2-Phillips-Shank-Screwdriver-Bit/999928896

 

[measuredtwice]

i was probably overshooting it saying $1 as I was thinking of longer than 1" bits.

for 1", i buy 30 packs, but it's been a long time. Looks like $10 or less: https://www.lowes.com/pd/DEWALT-Tough-Grip-30-Piece-1-in-2-Phillips-Shank-Screwdriver-Bit/999928896

Thank you for the link. Those look better than the Dewalt bit in my photo. I bought those Dewalt bits... oh... probably 10 years ago... The ones that I bought weren't very good and I don't use them. I haven't tried any of the new ones like the Tough Grip in your link or the Maxfit that someone else recommended.

 

[ajchien]

Last I bought something like 200+ dewalt bits I’m still going through. With 1/4” impact use, I think about the number of screws I can drive before chewing up the tip. Dewalt has been my favorite for screw/price ratio.

Isn’t there supposed to be some new Milwaukee forever bit coming out soon?

.... I found it... from staurt’s website:

https://toolguyd.com/milwaukee-shockwave-matrix-carbide-impact-screwdriver-bits/

 

[KnurledNut]

Isn’t there supposed to be some new Milwaukee forever bit coming out soon?

.... I found it... from staurt’s website:

https://toolguyd.com/milwaukee-shockwave-matrix-carbide-impact-screwdriver-bits/

I wouldnt get these. They are having problems with them failing prematurely. Like first use. Dont know if its a bad batch, or bad design, but i wouldnt be surprised if they end up replacing or recalling them.

 

[BarryWells]

Makita gold

 

[Fix Until Broke]

Thank you to all who gave their opinions on the best bits.

For those who start twitching at the mention of Phillips It doesn't make much sense to me. But that's the way of the internet--haha! I don't like Phillips either. But like it or not they are common in the USA and you won't be able to remove one with a torx or by cursing at it--haha! I have lots of torx bits also.

Phillips - a necessary evil that will likely never go away, like NPT threads and statute units (inches, pounds, etc). Bad ideas to start with, but is so embedded in our products and "culture" that we'll never get rid of it.

See 3:30 in this video - the whole thing is good, but relevant part is here...

 

[BarryWells]

The Robertson makes them all look like the idiots they are.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I used to use whatever I bought in a set. I bought a 15 pack of DeWalt bits and have been happy with them.

While some may hate the Phillips bit, it's a lot better than a straight slotted screw

 

[anetode]

While some may hate the Phillips bit, it's a lot better than a straight slotted screw

I suppose in the same way that having chlamydia is a lot better than having AIDS

 

[todo]

I just paid $20 for 20 Apex #2 Phillips on Amazon. Didn't like it much but I was down to my last 1 or 2 of these Apex bits and they are getting harder to find in stores. Apprenticed with an old gentleman that swore by them, and I do as well. They grab better than anything I've ever used.

 

[Hytekrednek]

Zypher, IMO. They hold up like my snap ons, but cheaper.

snap on bit are made by zephyr

 

[Hytekrednek]

I just paid $20 for 20 Apex #2 Phillips on Amazon. Didn't like it much but I was down to my last 1 or 2 of these Apex bits and they are getting harder to find in stores. Apprenticed with an old gentleman that swore by them, and I do as well. They grab better than anything I've ever used.

Got a link?

I buy Zephyr #2 ACR bits. Apex and Zephyr are nearly the same quality/price.

 

[ChrisLS8]

For use in an impact driver I've used every one and by far and away the best is the Vega regular tips (non reduced)

Far better than the Apex and Zephyr imo