Square Drive Bit for DWC 18-4500

papester

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Jan 24, 2017
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Does anyone know of a #2 Square Drive Bit that will work in the DWC 18-4500 with the collated screw head? I found a Torx and Philips bit, but nothing for a square drive.

Any help would be appreciated.

 
If it take Centrotec tooling, Festool isn't a fan. Beyond that, drywall screws tend to be Philips because they cam out easily as the depth is reached. Square drive/Robertson grip the screw "mo better" and that's an issue for drywall applications which is the intent for this tool.

If you want to use square drive for some other purpose, I see that the BH-DWC bit holder appears to be a normal .25" holder, so you should be able to use the short mag-retained bits from anyone. I know I have some short DeWalt #2 square drive bits in my cabinet.
 
Link to the Festool PH bit so that people have a handy reference for what it looks like.

    https://www.festoolusa.com/accessory/769124---ph2-af-55-3x#Overview

  The length is listed as 152mm. I am not sure if that is the total length or the round shaft length. [member=63872]papester[/member]  do you have one to measure?  I imagine the length and possibly other dimensions are critical for the DWC to operate properly.

  It is not Centrotec, just regular ball detent.

    If this  is  for a deck or wood project, I am interested to know how well the DWC 4500 (rpm) works?  From what I understand it does not have a lot of torque for driving into wood on wood. I don't know that for sure though. I do wish the DWC 2500 (2500 rpm) was available in the USA.

Seth
 
I used it for 1/2 plywood  window and door board up.i wished I had the 2500,but it did work.i was about twice as fast as the screw in hand by the guy next to me with  about a two dollars extra  for screws for the day
 
I plan on using the DWC to hang 1/2" Plywood for my shop walls. I have found other 6" square drive bit's, but they all had shafts that would not fit inside of the DWC.

[member=25351]rst[/member], have you used the Snappy Bit with your DWC?
 
A long Kreg bit *almost* works- it's too fat to go thru the feeder.  Length is within 1/8" of perfect.  It looks like the depth adjustment can cover that, so if nothing else pans out, you could do the old "spin the bit against the belt sander" trick until it fits.
 
papester said:
[member=25351]rst[/member], have you used the Snappy Bit with your DWC?

I own the Snappy 6" $2 square drive bit, but do not own the DWC. (I also have the 3" #2 and #1 Snappy bits for Centrotec) They are good products. Hopefully, the diameter is compatible. Of course, your other option is to modify a long .25" #2 square drive bit by cutting a recess farther up from the end and rounding off the corners so it will fit into the Centrotec chuck. Files with the bit chucked up in a lathe or "whatever" will work for that. I made some like that prior to buying the Snappy products.
 
Jim_in_PA said:
your other option is to modify a long .25" #2 square drive bit by cutting a recess farther up from the end and rounding off the corners so it will fit into the Centrotec chuck.
The DWC doesn’t have a centrotec chuck. It takes standard 1/4” hex bits.
 
  [member=63872]papester[/member]  Just out of curiosity why not just use torx?  Do you already have collated square drive screws?

Seth
 
Spandex said:
Jim_in_PA said:
your other option is to modify a long .25" #2 square drive bit by cutting a recess farther up from the end and rounding off the corners so it will fit into the Centrotec chuck.
The DWC doesn’t have a centrotec chuck. It takes standard 1/4” hex bits.

If so, then there should be plenty of square drive options, but if clearance is an issue, then the OP may need to chuck it up in a lathe or drill and use a file to knock off the corners in the area of interference.
 
Jim_in_PA said:
Spandex said:
Jim_in_PA said:
your other option is to modify a long .25" #2 square drive bit by cutting a recess farther up from the end and rounding off the corners so it will fit into the Centrotec chuck.
The DWC doesn’t have a centrotec chuck. It takes standard 1/4” hex bits.

If so, then there should be plenty of square drive options, but if clearance is an issue, then the OP may need to chuck it up in a lathe or drill and use a file to knock off the corners in the area of interference.

    It's not the 1/4" hex shank and detent engagement or the shape of the hex portion that is the problem. That part is a regular 1/4" hex , ball detent.  The issue is finding a bit that is the correct length and also has the correct diameter of the round shaft portion to fit and function properly in the auto feed head of the DWC.

      Link to the Festool PH bit so that people have a handy reference for what it looks like.

    https://www.festoolusa.com/accessory/769124---ph2-af-55-3x#Overview

 

Seth
 
Ah...that has a heavily reduced diameter. I see what the challenge is for sure. If Snappy happens to make a regular .25" hex version of the long square drive bit it may work, but it will be close.

EDIT: the shaft diameter of the Snappy 6" square drive is .249". Based on the photo above of the DWC Phillips bit, I'm going to guess it may be too large in diameter, but that's strictly a guess. Slimmer than that might also be pushing things with a square drive/Robertson because they do not let go of the bit very easily.
 
If you go to Amazon and put:

6" #2 Square Drive Bit

In the search box, a bunch of products come up and some look like they may have a more compact shaft.
 
SRSemenza said:
  [member=63872]papester[/member]  Just out of curiosity why not just use torx?  Do you already have collated square drive screws?

Seth

Yes, Senco only makes square drive wood to wood collated screws.
 
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