High quality 1/4" bits

[rice rocket]

My father has an issue. He buys EVERYTHING at Harbor Freight. Is it part of getting older (he's 63 now) and wanting to hold onto that 401k as long as possible? I buy him nice stuff, and he uses his crappy HF tools instead, and ruins screws and bolts in the process. I was helping him install a shower this weekend, and stripped two of the 8 bolts we were working on.

So I came up with a plan.

He has an attachment to an 11-in-1 screwdriver that has a bunch of 1/4" bits in the handle. I need to replace all those bits with GOOD ones that don't crumble on the first twist (and proceed to ruin every other screw it comes in contact with).

Any ideas?

I have a Beta, Hitachi and Milwaukee bit set, I haven't really done a back-to-back comparison on tolerances and fit though.

Next...a set of wrenches and sockets...but I'll work on this first since he's working less on cars nowadays and more on the house.

 

[zkling]

Wera, Wiha, Apex

 

[neophyte]

Wiha makes really nice 1/4" bits. If you want USA made bits you probably want bits made by Zephyr or Apex. Wera, Felo, Athlet, PB Swiss, and Witte also make good bits.

 

[Bruce Lancaster]

When you buy him the good stuff, don't just hand it to him. Wait til he's asleep and start replacing the HF with the goodies...on the bits, he probably won't even notice...

 

[Veto]

In my opinion, Wera makes the best bits. Hands down.

 

[CWP1616L]

Apex or Zephyr

 

[stratman977]

My dad is just as bad. He gets mad when he keeps stripping deck screws and you look at his phillips bit and its completely worn out. I tell him that he needs a new bit and it will stop happening and yet hes still using the same bit everytime we work on something. I can get him new ones but they will sit around until he forgets where the came from and ends up giving them back to me cause he thinks he doesn't need them.

He will use those good bits you replaced for the cheap ones and think how great his harbor freight tools are and buy more. It's a lost cause.

 

[sweetcretin]

Does he just not notice that the bit is ruined? If its in rough shape, it's time to replace it.

 

[ChevyEFI]

I have nothing but good experience with apex 1/4 and 5/16 bits in the last year or so. One app. was a problematic torx bolt situation; multiple others broke. The others were to part-fill a multi- screwdriver like you plan on doing.

 

[ChevyEFI]

He will use those good bits you replaced for the cheap ones and think how great his harbor freight tools are and buy more. It's a lost cause.

. So likely true.

 

[bob15]

Apex or Zephyr

Who sells Zephyr, beside Snappy?

I found only one place MROtools, but also read a lot of negative comments. I e-mailed zephyr, last weekend, still waiting for a response.....

bob

 

[CWP1616L]

Who sells Zephyr, beside Snappy?

I found only one place MROtools, but also read a lot of negative comments. I e-mailed zephyr, last weekend, still waiting for a response.....

bob

MRO tools is the only place I see online, but I haven't ordered anything from them yet. Where are you seeing the negative comments? I'd like to read them.

I got all my Zephyr bits from Snap-on.

 

[matt stott]

I chew through bits at work- with both hand and power tools. I used to use Snap-on pretty exclusively, but I use PB Swiss bits now- and only PB Swiss. They just seem to be made to a higher standard and seem to last 2-5x longer than other bits. Their color coding makes identifying bit size and type very fast, if you need to change out often. Wera is a very close second for me- they also make very durable bits.

Matt

 

[bob15]

MRO tools is the only place I see online, but I haven't ordered anything from them yet. Where are you seeing the negative comments? I'd like to read them.

I got all my Zephyr bits from Snap-on.

Looking now for the poor reviews, believe I misspoke. The poor reviews were from "MRO Center" and I was thinking I was looking at "MRO Tools" on the website. After being burned in the spring with a similar company as MRO Center reviews show, I was leery on trying someone new.

My apologizes for the mix-up.....but being that i never order from either, I cannot comment good or bad, but MRO Tools might be a company worth looking into.

MRO Center reviews:

http://www.resellerratings.com/store/MRO_Center

MRO Tools:

http://www.resellerratings.com/store/MRO_Tools


bob

 

[sselander]

I handed my dad a really good set of impact bits for his old hand impact driver since I knew we would be using it and I remembered the bits were beat to hell last time I used it. His smile was priceless.

 

[theknurl]

in a word.......Apex

they invented the quick change bits....I mean the ball bearing chuck ones

 

[CWP1616L]

Looking now for the poor reviews, believe I misspoke. The poor reviews were from "MRO Center" and I was thinking I was looking at "MRO Tools" on the website. After being burned in the spring with a similar company as MRO Center reviews show, I was leery on trying someone new.

My apologizes for the mix-up.....but being that i never order from either, I cannot comment good or bad, but MRO Tools might be a company worth looking into.

MRO Center reviews:

http://www.resellerratings.com/store/MRO_Center

MRO Tools:

http://www.resellerratings.com/store/MRO_Tools


bob

I highly recommend the Zephyr reduced diameter #2 Phillips magnetic screwdriver bits. They work excellent for shallow depth Phillips head screws. They sink down into the head further than regular Phillips bits.

Zephyr D1227AA = Snap-on SDM222CZ

 

[theoldwizard1]

DeWalt Impact Ready bits

 

[Danglerb]

Bits wear out, all bits. You could try to educate him on how good bits don't ruin fasteners and slip, or throw out all his bad bits and replace them from time to time.

I use HF bits more than any other except for bit sockets, and I haven't had any trouble. OTOH I don't need a bit to slip more than once or twice before I replace it, and I try real hard to always fully seat any bit and use the correct size.

 

[Supe]

It's a lost cause.

Let your Dad be. It doesn't appear to bother him and if it does, he should be the one to initiate the idea to try out a quality tool. If he's 63 and he still hasn't cottoned on to the idea of a quality tool, he's not likely to have that eureka moment now. Buy him something else that he'd actually appreciate.

 

[stratman977]

Let your Dad be. It doesn't appear to bother him and if it does, he should be the one to initiate the idea to try out a quality tool. If he's 63 and he still hasn't cottoned on to the idea of a quality tool, he's not likely to have that eureka moment now. Buy him something else that he'd actually appreciate.

It's old age. I see him suffering and tell him why he's having a problem but I guess he just doesn't care. I don't think it was a cheap bit, its just driven too many screws and needs replaced.

My dad bought everything that said "Sears Best" on it back in the 70's.

 

[jeffmoss26]

I like the Apex bits we have in the tool crib here at work.