Impact Driver Bits / Recommended Accessories?

[oldschoolcraft]

First time impact driver owner as of last week. I can't believe I went this long without buying one. Hobbyist casual, so dont turn screws professionally, but it seems really sweet for even basic stuff like hanging up pictures.

I don't have any accessories for it yet. I went to Lowes and saw a bunch of bit sets and I figured I'd ask on here first.

I already have a full set of Brownell's Magna Tip (Zephyr brand I think) super high quality bits. But I am reading old threads here that suggest impact driver specific bits are softer metal, so they are less likely to strip the fasteners. I don't particularly want to use my nice $250 bit set with my impact wrench.

I am thinking I can probably get away with buying a few Philips #2 bits, the kind that are like 2" long, and also a 1/4" hex extension that lets you put any bits in the end. I don't think I need the full 50 piece sets I saw at Lowes.

But I don't know what I don't know and buying tools is fun, as long as I use them at least once eventually.

Do I need drill bits for this? I don't see why, because I have a nice HSS set of drill bits for my hammer drill driver. Would I ever want to use 1/4" hex shank drill bits in an impact driver over a drill driver, for any reason?

Perhaps for smaller holes which might give more control because the tool is smaller/lighter? Or perhaps to speed up jobs, like bring one tool, the impact driver, bring a 1/4" hex shank drill bit to do pilot holes and bring a Philips bit, and just alternate between the two bits, doing pilot holes and fastening?

Do I ever really want those 1/4" hex to 1/4" square socket or 3/8" square socket ends? I don't have any impact sockets in those sizes. I only have 1/2" impact sockets and just got a M12 stubby 1/2 impact, so not sure I'd ever really need to use an impact driver in this capacity?

I haven't done anything with Robertson screws, but those seem to be more common these days, maybe I need a few of those in the 2" long bits, along with the Philips 2 and call it good?

Do I ever want flat head bits for this? I have occasionally struggled to remove flat head fasteners by hand, due to slippage.

 

[nbpt100]

Since you are not going to used it all the time I would not worry too much about having impact bits or not. If you want to buy some philips impacts, go a head. They are the easiest to strip. I have been using non impact rated bits with my impact for the past 7 years. It has not really been an issues . I am not using it every day but I have built some some with it over the past 7 years. I mostly use Philips #2, T25 and occasionally a robertston. My preference is T25, no caming out like you get with Philips. It holds on the srew much better and it allows for holding the tool at a slight angle. You have to really try hard to strip them. Sometimes you can not choose which fasteners you are working with. Sometimes you have to remove stuff someone else put in.

I saw a nice 100 piece Kobalt bit kit at Lowes that had just about every bit you may run into. Including security bits, Pozi drive, robertson, torx, and more for about $15.

There are lots of options out there.

 

[CTyankee]

As someone who spent years driving 1000's upon 1000's of screws..JMO. The cheap bits are fine, when they wear out, replace them..and if you lose one you grab another from your stash. You can cover all the bases for next to nothing. Needs for a longer length can be solved 90% of the time with an extension. No need for driver drill bits, some nice countersink ones can be helpful to avoid splitting. Lastly...lose the Philips.

 

[NKlamerus]

I'm DeWalt through and through but I use milwaukee bits for everything.

Look into something like the 48-32-4024, you'll find yourself grabbing it, and the impact, for 90% of household duties. Covers most bases and you can add more popular drill bits when you wear out the first ones.

It comes with a socket adapter so you can try it out, a decent impact will break a 1/4" bolt though so don't get trigger heavy.

I don't carry a drill anymore in my tool bag, just an impact, same with the other 7/8 guys on the crew.

Definetly lose phillips! I'm a Robertson/square head guy but I find torx pretty nice as well, although the bits snap off or twist more frequently than robertson.

 

[Black300zx]

If you have a need to drive bolts, I picked up this Sunex nut setter set and I really like using it with my M12 impact

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01J7SBYOG/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[jeepinerdeep]

I like longer bits and nut setters for my M12 drivers. The Milwaukee sets that go on sale for $25-30 bucks are doing me just fine. I have 2 full sets of the VIM nut setters, hollow and magnetic, very nice.

 

[jeepinerdeep]

If you have a need to drive bolts, I picked up this Sunex nut setter set and I really like using it with my M12 impact

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01J7SBYOG/?tag=atomicindus08-20

That looks pretty nice too.

 

[jeffmoss26]

Driverback!
www.driverback.com

 

[CTyankee]

Driverback!
www.driverback.com

 

[pkpk]

I'm also a recent impact driver convert. I added one to my set of Dewalt 18v tools a few months ago, and I'm thinking of getting another to potentially phase out the regular drills altogether. Still getting used to how much power they have and how fast they work!

I'm DeWalt through and through but I use milwaukee bits for everything.

Look into something like the 48-32-4024, you'll find yourself grabbing it, and the impact, for 90% of household duties. Covers most bases and you can add more popular drill bits when you wear out the first ones.

It comes with a socket adapter so you can try it out, a decent impact will break a 1/4" bolt though so don't get trigger heavy.

I don't carry a drill anymore in my tool bag, just an impact, same with the other 7/8 guys on the crew.

Definetly lose phillips! I'm a Robertson/square head guy but I find torx pretty nice as well, although the bits snap off or twist more frequently than robertson.

I have this Milwaukee Shockwave set of impact drill bits - https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwauk...m-Drill-Bit-Set-23-Piece-48-89-4631/205879024 - which I'd recommend as well, the bits work great and for my modest needs I expect they'll last a while, but I kinda hate the box design, the bits get stuck in their holders and it's a pain to remove them and put them back into place. Do you have this issue? My "solution" has been to stick a rare-earth magnet on the shank of the 3/8" bit (which I rarely use) to hold a small finish nail, which I use to pry out the bits from the base. Just wondering if there's a better way...

 

[IndyGarage]

Buy a Wera Bitcheck set.

 

[oldschoolcraft]

If you have a need to drive bolts, I picked up this Sunex nut setter set and I really like using it with my M12 impact

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01J7SBYOG/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Those look really nice and I'm a big fan of Sunex. I almost clicked buy and then realized, why would I use an impact driver with nut setters instead of an impact wrench with sockets?

Maybe just because these are smaller sizes and clearance issues?

 

[Black300zx]

Those look really nice and I'm a big fan of Sunex. I almost clicked buy and then realized, why would I use an impact driver with nut setters instead of an impact wrench with sockets?

Maybe just because these are smaller sizes and clearance issues?

Depends completely on the application. If im pulling an exhaust, I'm grabbing an impact wrench and socket. Interior work or driving smaller lags - probably grabbing the driver and nuts setters. The shallow magnetic nut setter recess does a nice job holding long bolts and lags from wobbling when you're getting them started.

 

[jeepinerdeep]

Those look really nice and I'm a big fan of Sunex. I almost clicked buy and then realized, why would I use an impact driver with nut setters instead of an impact wrench with sockets?

Maybe just because these are smaller sizes and clearance issues?

For most applications, you may already have the driver and it's a clean setup. I'm still saving up for a square drive, but the last 2 years with the driver and nut setters have been good.

 

[jonshonda]

Ever since buying an impact, I only buy Square or Torx drive screws. They work much better with impacts then phillips.

 

[alinc100]

I'd buy a couple of these : https://www.acehardware.com/departments/tools/hand-tools/screwdriver-sets/2396869

OK it's Garage Journal I can confess,I've already bought 4 sets May get a couple more as stocking stuffers. I use #2 phillips everyday. they are brittle. We drive 1-1/4" to 2" self tapping pan heads through 1/8" aluminum into drywall and metal studs. Does not matter if we use the $2.50 each Wera bits or the .25 cent DeWalt bits. For home use the kit above should serve well. I do agree with a set like the Sunex nutdrivers as well. With an impact driver you'll start to lean towards hex,square,torx,etc as the screw tip holds better.

 

[n8n]

I guess the real question is, what are you using the impact for? Automotive? Deck building? Other?

I'm coming from an automotive centric perspective and when you say "impact" I'm actually thinking of my Snap-On hit-it-with-a-hammer impact. That's the Right Stuff for loosening troublesome door hinge screws, etc. I use the Snap-On bits that came with it for Phillips and Pozidriv, and I bought some Wiha brand impact bit holder sockets (those are the only ones I could find that were actually impact rated; the Snap-On bits all come permanently inserted in the 3/8" drive adapter)

https://www.wihatools.com/bits/bit-holders/impact-bit-holding-socket-with-retaining-ring-5-16-bit

and some Vessel brand JIS impact bits.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08HCT4KV1/?tag=atomicindus08-20

This way I can use the bits etc. with other tools like an air or electric impact, socket set, etc. and I can also use other 5/16"/8mm hex bits if I need something else.

the thing you need to watch is depending on what you mean by "impact" the hex size may be different. To a mechanic a standard impact bit is 5/16" or 8mm. To a carpenter it is probably 1/4" or 6mm.

 

[alinc100]

Also found this bit holder to be outstanding with truss head tek screws : https://www.homedepot.com/p/Makita-...c-Torsion-Insert-Bit-Holder-B-35097/203696915

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

Most of the time boxes of Torx or Robertson screws come with a bit. I have quite a few attachments for my driver. I tried the drill chuck and 90 degree drive but don't really use them.
I use a short (2-3") magnetic extension just about everything, my 6"-8" extension gets used as well.
I do use the 1/4" sq adapter quite a bit the 3/8" sq occasionally and rarely the 1/2".
As far as sockets I use old sockets from cheap sets when driving a large qty of screws (like construction) and yes they do wear out. I use impact sockets if its critical that the fastener not get damaged.

 

[spyerx]

for use on my m12 impact driver: mostly PB Swiss, or the below with an adapter
For 1/4, 3/8, 1/2 drive: mostly VIM, some tekton, bondhus, wera

i have a lot of bits... German cars

The better bits fit better, last longer, and break less. The PB swiss are like works of art.

Mine is all mechanics work, not construction type work.