Looking for New Impact Bits and New Drill Bit Set

[Mike Goetzke]

Impact Bits
I recently bought a new Makita impact gun that has many settings compared to my previous one and find I use it all the time now. I'm looking to get "impact" rated bits. I bought a Milwaukee set at HD last night but watching a review video looks like they are junk compared to DeWalt & Makita.

Drill Bits
I know HF tools are poor quality but I have a drill bit set that I must have bought 25 years ago from them and they have served me well. They sharpen well and hold the edge pretty good too. It's just I'm missing many bits now and time to buy a new set. I use the bits for wood and metal. Again when I was at HD I purchased a set of their Ti coated bits but may return them too after finding their impact bits are junk. I have also heard of Cobalt bits - much more expensive but worth it?

Any suggestions welcome along with favorite brand welcome!

Thanks
Mike

 

[rst]

I've been buying Wera impactors from chadstoolbox.com

 

[RustE]

Makita Impact Gold is my choice these days.  I purchased the 15 packs of 2-in. long bits in #2 Phillips, #2 Square, and T25 sizes.  Also have one of the assortments (forget which one) that was given as a gift.

I have a slightly older set of the Milwaukee impact (like 3-4 years) bits that are decent but the newest ones just do not look as good.  Bosch makes good impact bits too, although mine flash rusted rather quickly.

Take a look at the drill bits from Norseman or Viking.  Both are Made in USA.

 

[rvieceli]

I have both of these WIHA sets and they are both nice.

Thus one has more choices but is currently out of stock
https://www.wihatools.com/go-box-im...sLmNvbSIsICJrbF9jb21wYW55X2lkIjogIkhrVHNwTSJ9

This one is also great and the foam insert actually holds the bits if you happen to drop the case rather than scattering them across the shop floor.
https://www.wihatools.com/on-sale/terminator-impact-pocket-pack-28-pc-set

Ron

 

[Cheese]

I also purchased the Wiha set that Ron referenced. I like them a lot, and use them more often than the regular Festool bits.

The foot print isn't that much larger than the Festool Twin Box holder but there are 27 bits in the Wiha container compared to 10 for the Twin Box.

[attachimg=1]

 

[usernumber1]

i like the hilti stuff personally.

 

[Sanderxpander]

Is this really such a critical item? I don't really break one very often at all and once you have a set (like the Milwaukee, which by the way has worked well for me) just replace what you break/lose.

 

[Mike Goetzke]

Is this really such a critical item? I don't really break one very often at all and once you have a set (like the Milwaukee, which by the way has worked well for me) just replace what you break/lose.

My problem is with bits getting stuck in the driver. I see many of these new bits have a necked down section to take up some of the torsional impact so maybe I’ll have better luck with them.

 

[Alanbach]

Have you ever tried a Rapidaptor from Wera? I have two different lengths of these as well as one of their ring magnet holders. The Rapidaptor is the best bit holder I have ever had. It has almost completely eliminated both bits from sticking as well as bits from falling out. It is also super easy to put bits into it with one hand and to remove them the same way and I own many bits from many different manufacturers. No more two handed bit changes. 

 

[huntdupl]

Subscribed. My first dip into the motherland German brands ($$$) was the Wera Impaktor bit holder. Its pretty bulky and the holding power wasn't what I expected looking at its size and I'd really prefer locking. I wasn't sold on what I call luxury consumables. Still haven't found what I'm looking for also - Makita Gold was my go to (1st gen Impactx not so sure), Bosch Impact Tough seems okay, Milwaukee Shockwave was garbage on firt try but I found myself grabbing a 25 pack PH#2 box the other day. The price is hard to beat.

I agree the Wera Rapidaptor is fantastic and used primarily with my CXS. Smooth locking and great magnet. I'm not so sure how well it would hold up with impact over time.

Is this really such a critical item? I don't really break one very often at all and once you have a set (like the Milwaukee, which by the way has worked well for me) just replace what you break/lose.

My problem is with bits getting stuck in the driver. I see many of these new bits have a necked down section to take up some of the torsional impact so maybe I’ll have better luck with them.

Could it be the metal ring in the collect on the driver or similar? Real pain when this happens. In comes holiday deal...Wiha Tools has ther Terminator Impact bit set on sale for 40% off. Just order one and 25 pcs PH#2 box of bits, so we'll see how it goes.

As a tangent I offer this video: When to use impact bits.
Any Comments?

 

[Cheese]

I'm looking to get "impact" rated bits.

I have also heard of Cobalt bits - much more expensive but worth it?

Thanks
Mike

For general screw driving applications using a drill, I use the Festool equivalent (205097) of the Wera Rapidaptor. It works fantastic. However for use on an impact you'd need to use the Wera BiTorsion series bit holder or the Wiha SlimFix bit holder that I referenced in my previous post. It's impact rated to 600 in lbs.

If you drill a lot of steel, cobalt drill bits last longer. However they're mandatory if you drill stainless. Otherwise the stainless will work harden and you'll never penetrate the surface.
If you drill mostly aluminum, the cobalt drills tend to allow aluminum to stick to them unless you use a good lubricant.

I've standardized all of my twist drills (fractions, letters & numbers) to cobalt. That way I don't have to worry if I have the right bit. I use them on wood, aluminum, steel, plastic & stainless.

As already mentioned Norseman & Viking make good twist drills. I've also purchased Triumph, Hertel, Cleveland, Chicago Latrobe & OSG.

For brad point drill bits I'm switching over from Fisch to W. L. Fuller made in USA. I much prefer them over Fisch. I purchase them through Jamestown Distributors.
https://www.jamestowndistributors.c...zV5QIVMCCtBh3bGwJPEAAYASAAEgLv9PD_BwE#/filter:g_brand:W.L.%20Fuller