Milwaukee Shockwave Driver Bits

[gtsgarage]

Last year I got a big set of Milwaukee Shockwave Driver Bits for Black Friday. It’s seems like when I use them in my m12 impact driver I strip the **** out of screws.

Anyone else have issues? Today I was trying to remove some decent quality screws that someone drove in with a dewalt bit just a day earlier. It was a joke. Stripped the **** out of them.

Is it me? Is it the m12 impact driver is it these damn bits?

Need a better solution.

Thanks for any thoughts.

 

[ChrisLS8]

Their bits I've ever used are garbage especially Phillips.

The DeWalt Maxfit are even miles better and my personal favorite are Vega bits. They are better than Apex and Zephyr imo

 

[darkzero]

I've heard people complain about the Milwaukee bits too. I've never tried them yet but just bought a set from BF. I'm a Milwaukee guy but have been using Dewalt bits for while. Haven't really had issues with them but I have broke some on occassion.

 

[superduty1]

I used some Milwaukee Phillips bits on a large project recently. I was not impressed. Midway through i switched to Makita - much better.

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk

 

[DFB]

I had the similar poor performances using the older "original" Milwaukee Shockwave bits mostly the #2 Philips tip but even the S2.

Because of that I have not tried them again

But I was under the impression that there are newer redesigned Shockwave bits on the market (a second gen so to speak) that were supposed to be better

I do see a lot of older bit sets being included in a package deal and especially with the less expensive tool sets to sweeten the pot. If you search for different sets and there has been quite a few in the past, many different part numbers are obsoleted as new stock.

All that said I absolutely love Milwaukee brand Shockwave bit holders I have both long and short I think they are the best, always spin true especially the long one, IMO most long 1/4 shank bit holders are junk.

Same goes for the 1/4" shank socket adapters and also the color coded nut drivers. Milwaukee's are superb. The socket adapters also spin true and the magnetic nutdrivers show no wear from impact use as cheaper stuff does

 

[DFB]

I probably have 250 2" Dewalt PH#2 tips. They were being dumped and I got them from the wholesale tool supplier I buy from for my Summertime flea mkt tool tent. They come 5 to a card, good thing because the tips really wear out fast.

Got a couple boxes of a dozen ea. Milwaukee Inkzall markers while I was there too Came out to .50 a piece Those I like a lot


Bosch Brand tips have always come highly recommended in the past. And the ones I buy loose bulk at my lumberyard hardware store off the counter display never let me down either. I have no idea of the branding

 

[Rabid Badger]

You just discovered why no other brand has tried to release bits with a lifetime warranty. It's not hard (well the bits are hard, that's why they eat screws) it's just stupid.

 

[Hammer1963]

I really haven't had a problem with the bits. They are not overly expensive so I look at them for what they are, consumables.

 

[BMack37]

The only thing good about Milwaukee driver bits are the case they come in. I'm sorry but if you like those bits it's simply because you haven't used better bits...and I'm heavily invested into M12/M18 tools and in the Packout line.

 

[Professional Tool User]

Those bits can't **** that much. I've had no issues with with my cheap Canadian Tire Maximum bits.

 

[DFB]

From my experience it wasn't that the bits break or nothing like that its more how they seem to fit into the fastener under power they cam out the screw heads

 

[ChrisLS8]

Those bits can't **** that much. I've had no issues with with my cheap Canadian Tire Maximum bits.

They really do **** that much

 

[mc4life27]

Last year I got a big set of Milwaukee Shockwave Driver Bits for Black Friday. It’s seems like when I use them in my m12 impact driver I strip the **** out of screws.

Anyone else have issues? Today I was trying to remove some decent quality screws that someone drove in with a dewalt bit just a day earlier. It was a joke. Stripped the **** out of them.

Is it me? Is it the m12 impact driver is it these damn bits?

Need a better solution.

Thanks for any thoughts.

Their first gen all black bits **** and I hated then and always used dewalt bits. But now with the gen 2 the ones that are sliver on the tip work great I no longer use dewalt bits


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[Yarpo]

Used a lot of the Milwaukee first gen shockwave bits. Good? Absolutely not. Was I able to finish my projects with them? Yeah. They're cheap consumables, use them if you can, otherwise throw them out and upgrade.

 

[Eric29]

I think they break easily under hard use. I was really disappointed.

 

[oflannabhra]

I recently bought the HD 114 bit collection just for the 4 cases. I replaced the bits with my Makita Impact Gold bits, and gave away the Milwaukee ones. My experience with them has been sub-par.

The cases are solid, but not quite perfect. Really compact, the inserts are adjustable and rotatable, and the closure clasp is really solid. My only complaints are that the inserts can be a bit sticky which can make it hard to get bits out.

I was dumbfounded when I discovered no one sells decent cases. Bosch sells an empty case (that I like better), for $5, but they don't sell any inserts!

 

[Bretny]

Phillips bits in a impact is your problem. Get some real screws, does.

Ok never buy a wood screw that's Philips unless it's for drywall.

 

[DFB]

Phillips bits in a impact is your problem. Get some real screws, does.

Ok never buy a wood screw that's Philips unless it's for drywall.

I agree S2 and T20-T25 work a whole lot better

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I actually found a very different bit last night than the usual PH2 or S2.

I had cleaned out my Shockwave bit case and was organizing all my open falling apart boxes of deck and drywall screws into some lidded storage cases I got from the TSC (that's going to make taking a series of assorted screw sizes to work a whole lot easier for smaller maintenance chores)

It was marked SPH2 was like S2 and a PH2 combined was in one the deck screw boxes and properly fit the head of those coated screws.

Looking online I'm not seeing anything like it though

 

[macs_rock]

@DFB Maybe a strange variant of Pozidriv?


I use DeWalt bits, they seem fine for home and amateur stuff. If I was doing any sort of professional screw driving I'd probably be using Makita Gold.

 

[TailGunner3000]

I second both Dewalt and Bosch bits. But a agree with those who suggest it's time to move away from phillips head screws in wood.

 

[DFB]

@DFB Maybe a strange variant of Pozidriv?


I use DeWalt bits, they seem fine for home and amateur stuff. If I was doing any sort of professional screw driving I'd probably be using Makita Gold.

No its not a pozidrive.

It has like a square point tip and then the PH cross. The older green coated deck screws had that double type of drivehead, mostly I just use an S2 bit as a PH2 doesn't really work well at all on those

Not a great picture but this is what it looks like

 

[JBH]

I was dumbfounded when I discovered no one sells decent cases. Bosch sells an empty case (that I like better), for $5, but they don't sell any inserts!

https://www.amazon.de/dp/B07C9KG46M/

PB Swiss has a modular bit block system with a couple hard plastic cases too.

 

[ChrisLS8]

I'm just saying, Vega bits are where it's at for Phillips. I usually get a week out of one at work doing metal framing and usually it still holds the screw well enough to the point I have to knock it off the bit but I just have a habit of changing everyone over on Friday before I knock out

 

[gtsgarage]

From my experience it wasn't that the bits break or nothing like that its more how they seem to fit into the fastener under power they cam out the screw heads

This is exactly the issue I’m having.

I see from all the comments I’m not alone, I still love my m12 tools.

 

[gtsgarage]

Phillips bits in a impact is your problem. Get some real screws, does.

Ok never buy a wood screw that's Philips unless it's for drywall.

Good point I’ll need to grab some new screws if I have to remove again.

 

[Hytekrednek]

Apex, Zephyr, and Wera bits are my preferred insert bits. I have others, but when working on something that MUST NOT be damaged from slipping bits, I reach for one of the above mentioned brand bits.
I have some of the first gen milwaukee bits too. They ride in my truck for those times I did not plan on needing a screwdriver. They work ok for that. Better than nothing, but yes, they are not that great.

 

[Hytekrednek]

No its not a pozidrive.

It has like a square point tip and then the PH cross. The older green coated deck screws had that double type of drivehead, mostly I just use an S2 bit as a PH2 doesn't really work well at all on those

Not a great picture but this is what it looks like

I know those as Quadrex bits. The quadrex bits sold by zephyr are awesome.

 

[DFB]

I know those as Quadrex bits. The quadrex bits sold by zephyr are awesome.

Now that's a name I have never heard before...

sounds appropriate though

I'll try searching that

Yessir..came right up

Thanks!


https://www.semblex.com/technologies/quadrex/

 

[Dakkyz]

Makita gold over here they are made in Japan they claim some Japanese type of steel and last along time especially for the price, their gold bit holders and 1/4 bit to square drives are pretty good as well.

 

[BMack37]

Makita gold over here they are made in Japan they claim some Japanese type of steel and last along time especially for the price, their gold bit holders and 1/4 bit to square drives are pretty good as well.

The long(er than 1") Makita gold bits are Japan. The 1" bits are China but still good.

Makita gold bits are definitely the best from the big box stores, no question.

 

[gearhead1]

I have the Milwaukee and I don’t like them either. I have tried others and I like DeWalt #2 Phillips the best. If you’re in a pinch, get the B&D from Walmart. If you can get to a HD or Lowes or wait for an online order, then get the DeWalt. I know Stanley B&D owns DeWalt, but the DeWalt bits appear to be a little different and work a little better.

 

[oflannabhra]

The current rumor I’ve heard about the Makita Impact Gold is that they are currently in their last production run. Makita has designed a new series/branding around a better and stronger material. Impact Gold will be phased out when they’ve sold out sometime in 2020.

The ImpactX series will be the mid tier, and the new one will debut 2021.

I’m not really for sure how wise this is on Makita’s part, as they have such a reputation with the Impact Gold brand.

 

[bonneyman]

Their bits I've ever used are garbage especially Phillips.

The DeWalt Maxfit are even miles better and my personal favorite are Vega bits. They are better than Apex and Zephyr imo

Just checked out Vega's website. Very impressive. Might have to give them a whirl.

http://vegaindustries.net/

Heard about the Makita Gold and then found a package on one of my pawnie runs. So far they have proven very tough.