Input requested on picking out drill and driver bit sets

[stickshift]

I need to get drill and driver bits for a 3/8" drill driver and a 1/4" hex impact driver, and figured holiday sales are a good time to do it. No need (or budget) for high end stuff as I'm a casual DIY'er.

I have no drill or impact driver bits, and trying to figure out which bit sets will let me piece together a decent set in terms of coverage, without a lot of duplication. With that said, here's some of the sets that are currently on sale:

Lowes:
42-Piece Impact Screwdriver Bit Set $10

51-Piece Drill/Driver Set $15

91-Piece Drill/Driver Set $20

Sears:
Craftsman 54pc Power Driving Set $10

I'm thinking I should get the Lowes 42pc impact bit set, which has the 1/4" hex to 1/4" square and 3/8" square adapters, which alone are probably worth almost $5, or half the price of the entire set. And then I guess a drill bit set.

Thoughts?

 

[diesel research]

What is the intended use of the drillbits? Plastic? Fiberboard? Plywood?

 

[stickshift]

What is the intended use of the drillbits? Plastic? Fiberboard? Plywood?

Yep, materials like that, well not so much the plastic, but wood variants. Maybe occasionally thin metal (for hobby type stuff).

 

[archirelic]

For not too much more, Dewalt had/has some sets at Lowes as well. Check them out...I've always been impressed with bits/bit sets from Dewalt.

 

[Outlawmws]

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00964088000P?prdNo=9&blockNo=9&blockType=G9

This set gives you very basic drill sizes and driver bits as well. I don't care for the aluminum hex on the drills, (prefer steel...) but for light use should be OK.

EDIT, I thought you were asking about drill motors as well...

 

[diesel research]

what kind of drill or driver do you have, stickshift?

 

[stickshift]

what kind of drill or driver do you have, stickshift?

12v 3/8" drill driver and 12v 1/4" hex impact

 

[stickshift]

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00964088000P?prdNo=9&blockNo=9&blockType=G9

This set gives you very basic drill sizes and driver bits as well. I don't care for the aluminum hex on the drills, (prefer steel...) but for light use should be OK.

Seems like a pretty good set for my needs. Too bad it's not on sale.

 

[ChrisF250]

If it were me Id definitely go with some impact bits

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_n...ita+impact+bits&rh=i:aps,k:makita+impact+bits

 

[stickshift]

If it were me Id definitely go with some impact bits

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002MPQF1O/?tag=atomicindus08-20

This Makita 62pc set looks like a good value, but gets heavily panned in the reviews. Maybe I'm expecting too much from an inexpensive set.

Of course, since I'm a casual DIY'er, I can probably make use of inexpensive bits, and pick up higher quality bits on an as-needed basis.

 

[stickshift]

12v 3/8" drill driver and 12v 1/4" hex impact

Scratch that. Dewalt 20v 1/2" drill-driver and 20v 1/4" hex impact.

 

[stickshift]

So I saw a few deals yesterday and snapped them up. Here's what I picked up:

A. DeWalt 26 Piece Impact Ready Screwdriving Set $10

B1. Dewalt 59-Piece Black Oxide Metal Twist Drill Bit Sets Includes 27pc Rapid Load Set, 18pc Screwdriving Set, 14pc Black Oxide Drill Bit Set. $20

B2. Dewalt 42-Piece Drill/Drive Set (no link), 28 1" bits, 13 gold ferrous oxide drill bits ranging from 1/16" to 1/4", 1 magnetic drive guide. $10

Between A and one of the B sets, do I have decent coverage such that I can call this a wrap? Should I keep B1 or B2?

 

[jjjrmx5]

So I saw a few deals yesterday and snapped them up. Here's what I picked up:

A. DeWalt 26 Piece Impact Ready Screwdriving Set $10

B1. Dewalt 59-Piece Black Oxide Metal Twist Drill Bit Sets Includes 27pc Rapid Load Set, 18pc Screwdriving Set, 14pc Black Oxide Drill Bit Set. $20

B2. Dewalt 42-Piece Drill/Drive Set (no link), 28 1" bits, 13 gold ferrous oxide drill bits ranging from 1/16" to 1/4", 1 magnetic drive guide. $10

Between A and one of the B sets, do I have decent coverage such that I can call this a wrap? Should I keep B1 or B2?

stickshift, for the $40 you spent, you should be well covered, but there are a few caveats with those sets. If I;d take something back it would be B2 as the two above them covers impacts bits for the impact driver and A covers std drill bits, quick change drill bits and std bits for the drill/driver.

If you work on a job site or in the field where drilling holes with the 1/4" hex shank drill bits is preferred (and they are far quicker-especially for changeouts), then the sets will suit you, but if you need precision holes in precise spots, then a std round drill bit in a keyed or keyless chuck is what I prefer as the hex shank drill bit do or can wobble just by design and the bit holder's nature. Set A covers both which is good.

For the impact bits for your impact driver, it comes down to durability, personal preference and what sizes you use most often and can you replace commonly used bits individually or in bulk if necessary.

A deck builder will go thru square drive bits or PH2 bits more than anything, thus most mfgrs sell them in 5, 10 or 20 bit packages. If just using around the house, what you have above is fine, and if you start going thru a particular size, can buy something to get you by or move to something that suits your needs better or that is more redily available if necessary.

Like hand tool sets, bit sets give you a wide range of everything, but some is usually not necessary depending upon how you use your tools. Some folks love the 2" and 3" long bits while others find teh 1" bits adequate.

You'll figure out what you need to supplement once you start to put things to use.

 

[stickshift]

Cool, thanks for the rundown.

Sounds like this should cover most of my needs at a fairly low cost, and as you say, I can supplement where needed, whether it's round drill bits (though it seems the smaller drill bits are round shank and they switch over to hex shank once over 1/8") or a particular driver bit.

Yeah, I'll return B2, and be done with $30 of drill, driver and impact bits.