Hand Impact Driver Bit Recommendations

[HomeTheaterMan]

I broke my #3 bit to my Craftsman (Lisle) manual impact driver. I need a replacement and see a few alternatives on Amazon. There is the Lisle, but also a VIM set, a Tekton set, etc. They need to be a 5/16" drive. Do you all have any recommendations? I'd prefer to get a set that won't easily break this time.

 

[The Cobbler]

I've had good luck with VIM. About all I use is the #3 Phillips to get rusted and seized screws out of hollow metal exterior commercial doors . They can be rusted in solid ...

 

[Bogie1632]

Easily broken...that's the issue. Since its intended use is between the ends of a BFH and a stuck fastener I've had a few fail. Craftsman/Lisle, VIM, Proto, and a few others. Hit them hard enough on a stubborn fastener and they all seem to fail at some point. IMHO the VIM set seems to hold up the best. YMMV. 8 piece set for under $10, VIMIMPACT-8-03.

V/R
Bogie

 

[lardy1]

I broke a #2 phillips in my original set. I replaced it with a Lisle. No issues so far.

 

[bwringer]

As far as I could ever determine, the Lisle and Craftsman were the exact same tool. Not sure who the OEM was. The Lisle bits are a little spendy, but you might be able to find them on the shelf at a local auto parts shop. Not that I would know anything about mangling a bit on a Sunday with no spares on hand...

Anyway, yeah, keep some spare bits on hand. Whatever brand they are, they're subject to a lot of force so they get broken and mangled. You can improve your odds a lot by switching to a fresh bit for an especially challenging fastener.

 

[zkling]

Apex

 

[1foxracing]

If you using them for Honda brake rotor screws or old Japanese motorcycles get the Vessels. They are 8mm drive so they should work Craftsman.
https://www.vesseltools.com/handtools/screwdrivers/impact/431801-detail

 

[signcrafter]

I use vim I got off amazon. Think it was an 8 or so piece set and wasnt much money. Always been happy with my vim bit sockets.

 

[HomeTheaterMan]

Thanks guys. I ended up ordering the VIM from Amazon, even though it looks like it'll be about a month before I get them.

If you using them for Honda brake rotor screws or old Japanese motorcycles get the Vessels. They are 8mm drive so they should work Craftsman.
https://www.vesseltools.com/handtool.../431801-detail

Honda brake rotors are primarily what I use this tool for, although I broke the bit removing a door latch on a Hyundai. So I went to that site thinking I'd order those bits, but I just couldn't bring myself to pay more in shipping than the bits cost.

 

[nmantas]

OOOPS- I'm tired and didn't see you were just looking for bits and not a new driver.

The made in Japan Vessel's are cheap ($25 or less) on eBay with little visible usage. I have one just like this and it is 100 times better than the harbor freight version I had that didn't seem to do much:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vessel-Impact-Driver-No-2500-w-4-Bits/223975394865