Different shank hex bits

[6PTsocket]

I just bought a box of T25 head screws that came with a bit. The bit was very short and did not have the reduced diameter section to lock it into my Bosch 12 volt impact. It worked OK and did drive the screws without falling out but it was so short I could not see what was happening under the chuck. I looked on line and could find no info on the two shank styles. The one style just has little nicks in the shaft and the other has the reduced diameter section for the ball bearings in the chuck. Is the first type supposed to be in a magnetic chuck? I am in the market for a few 2" bits. I have read less than great reviews on Milwaukee inpact bits and know nothing about the new DeWalts. Makita Gold is well liked. Their T25's are double ended. Will they lock in my chuck. Trying to get information in a big box store is a joke. They had a small tornado in the local HF garden section so until they cleaned it up, it was closed off and only sales people could get you what you wanted. I told the guy I needed something from hose accessories and he ran off before I could tell him I needed an in line shut off valve and he came back with hose washers. I asked him how he decided that was what I wanted and got a blank stare. I am sure they go back to the group home after work.

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[fivespdcat]

Yes the 1" bits are supposed to go in a bit driver. All the other power bits should lock in without issue. I personally dislike most of the big box bits. They seem to wear out so often it drives me nuts. I moved on to Qualtool but other guys seem to like the Apex, Wiha or Zephyr bits. You certainly won't find any of those at HF though

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[Wamsutta]

I'm posting two catalogs and a source. The short 1 inch bits with the nicks in the shaft are made to go into a bit holder driver. The circlip in the bit holder driver grabs those nicks for retention. What you probably want are the longer bits.

http://products.apex-tools.com/Web Assets/Apex Fastening Tools_TC-100-EN.pdf

http://www.fsirivet.com/6bFQM3N9IqgAHoP/1330040891Zephyr_Screwdriver_Catalog.pdf

http://mrotools.com/

 

[LB-1911]

BOSCH 1-15/16 IN. T25 TORX POWER BIT 37721

http://www.acmetools.com/shop/tools/bosch-37721

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000WA3IHK/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Master List of Bosch Bits
https://www.boschtools.com/us/en/boschtools-ocs/screwdriver-bits-22072-c/

 

[Wamsutta]

You can also get the GRK brand at Home Depot. They're made by Wera.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/GRK-Fasteners-T-25-2-in-Steel-Star-Bits-2-per-Pack-772691874436/202349118

 

[T45]

There's some engineering at work here too. Those 1 inch bits are designed for hand tool, so your power tool is designed NOT to accept them. The power-bits have a deep notch cut out of the shaft to make them FLEX in a controlled manner. If/when you do use the one inch bits in a magnetic holder, in a power deivice, the holder-body now has the flex-groove.

 

[KnurledNut]

You can also get the GRK brand at Home Depot. They're made by Wera.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/GRK-Fasteners-T-25-2-in-Steel-Star-Bits-2-per-Pack-772691874436/202349118

GRK was acquired by ITW.
The majority of their stuff is now made in Taiwan.

 

[6PTsocket]

Not surprised about the bits. The screws were made in Taiwan.

 

[Wamsutta]

Which screws did you get anyway? I was going to say that if you got Spax screws, you have to use their bits.

 

[6PTsocket]

Thanks, I saw them when I bought the screws. That is what I'll go with. I drove around 15 screws with the bit in the box and it gripped well. I realize that is not much of a test. I have to put up some Gladiator gear track and I wanted a little longer bits to get the heads flush in the recess. I am also redoing some of my deck. If the GRK bits don't last I will go with one of the primo brands if I don't have to buy too many.

 

[6PTsocket]

Which screws did you get anyway? I was going to say that if you got Spax screws, you have to use their bits.

Über Grade R4 multi purpose #9 x 2 1/2 from GRK. I would have bought Spax but there was no small box in the size I wanted. They are OK for replacing the nails popping up on my old pressure treated 5/4 decking and will be OK for the gear track. If I was doing it again I would probably use #10 for the deck but these pulled down well. I will use #10 X 3s for replacing the warped , splitting 2x 4s that make up the bench that surrounds the deck instead of a deck rail.

 

[6PTsocket]

Thanks everybody for the links and advice. This why i like GJ so much.

 

[6PTsocket]

Which screws did you get anyway? I was going to say that if you got Spax screws, you have to use their bits.

Über Grade R4 multi purpose #9 x 2 1/2 from GRK. I would have bought Spax but there was no small box in the size I wanted. They are OK for replacing the nails popping up on my old pressure treated 5/4 decking and will be OK for the gear track. If I was doing it again I would probably use #10 for the deck but these pulled down well. I will use #10 X 3s for replacing the warped , splitting 2x 4s that make up the bench that surrounds the deck instead of a deck rail.

 

[rick carpenter]

The short 1 inch bits with the nicks in the shaft are made to go into a bit holder driver. The circlip in the bit holder driver grabs those nicks for retention.

These are the only small bit+bit holder system I trust. The bit is held very securely, but I still don't like even them. The only time I'll intentionally use a small bit is for the deck screws that must be used with the neon-ish blue bits included in the box.

 

[Wamsutta]

Über Grade R4 multi purpose #9 x 2 1/2 from GRK. I would have bought Spax but there was no small box in the size I wanted. They are OK for replacing the nails popping up on my old pressure treated 5/4 decking and will be OK for the gear track. If I was doing it again I would probably use #10 for the deck but these pulled down well. I will use #10 X 3s for replacing the warped , splitting 2x 4s that make up the bench that surrounds the deck instead of a deck rail.

I use those same screws; the R4's. They drive in real easy and the T25 never slips off. But when I need to pull two boards together, I'll use the Spax version.

 

[Firebrick43]

Be careful of the makita double end bits in your Milwaukee. In my fuel surge the torx end that is in the chuck fits into a recess in the shaft and after driving several screws become jam bed so bad that removal took several minutes of obscenities and a bench vise.

 

[6PTsocket]

I finally went with the DeWalt MAXFIT. I also grabbed a 2 pack of #2 phillips that came with the magnet. The DeWalt bits have no slop in the GRK screws, unlike the the insert bit that came with them. The magnet holds screws pretty well. That little 12 volt Bosch surprised me with how easily it drives screws. I thought I was going to have to go with a bigger one. Dirty little secret: When the Bosch first came out it was 10.8 volts. That is what mine says. Three 3.6 volt lithium batteries x 3 = 10.8 volts Like almost most batteries, they have a top charge when fresh off the charger and these briefly read 12 volts and quickly drop to 10.8. Everybody does it so Bosch had to go along.The same model tool and batteries are now12 volts. In Europe they are still called 10.8 volts.

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[alex71]

Funny you mention that..I have some Bosch 10.8 stuff and some 12V. The batteries are interchangeable. Good little tools. Now relegated to home duty in favor of M12, but still plenty of life left in them.

I finally went with the DeWalt MAXFIT. I also grabbed a 2 pack of #2 phillips that came with the magnet. The DeWalt bits have no slop in the GRK screws, unlike the the insert bit that came with them. The magnet holds screws pretty well. That little 12 volt Bosch surprised me with how easily it drives screws. I thought I was going to have to go with a bigger one. Dirty little secret: When the Bosch first came out it was 10.8 volts. That is what mine says. Three 3.6 volt lithium batteries x 3 = 10.8 volts Like almost most batteries, they have a top charge when fresh off the charger and these briefly read 12 volts and quickly drop to 10.8. Everybody does it so Bosch had to go along.The same model tool and batteries are now12 volts. In Europe they are still called 10.8 volts.

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