Top 3 makers of impact driver bits (If you believe Slash Gear)

[Packard]

Slash Gear, a publication I am not familiar with, listed DeWalt, Milwaukee and Bosch as the three manufacturers of impact driver bits that are most durable. I have linked the article below. I Googled “slash gear, reliable source” and it appears that the Internet considers them a reliable source of information.

For what it is worth:

3 Impact Driver Bit Brands Least Likely To Break During Use - SlashGear

Breaking bits mid-task is more than annoying. These brands are known for lasting longer under repeated stress and heavy use.

www.slashgear.com

As an aside, I learned from reading the article following the one linked, that Black & Decker now owns Craftsman. I’m not sure how that affects my opinion of Craftsman, however.

Prior to this, I had thought that Lowes had some ownership because I observed they were heavily stocked with Craftsman products.

 

[leakyroof]

Doesn't Stanley own Dewalt? I know I've seen the BIG TOOL COMPANY display of Brand and Ownership here on FOG a couple of times, but I always forget who owns what or who. For 1/4" hex drive impact sockets . I'm totally happy with Milwaukee. Especially the ones having a magnet on the inside of the socket. I have a few of their bits as well, T25 and others for Torx headed wood screws/construction screws.
I have two matching sets of 1/4" drive bits rated for impact from Matco Tools. Being Matco, they of course didn't make them, but the quality has been outstanding. For almost daily use each week, year after year for the past oh 8-10 years, I've only broken 2 bits, a #2 Phillips, and just recently, a T30 Torx. That one is on order since the sets were supposed to be lifetime when I bought them. I brought in my replacement bit from the Home Set to fill in while the new one is on order. No idea who actually made them, but they've held up really well.

 

[leakyroof]

For chucks/holders, I've still never lost to wear, or damaged, my WERA 3" long chuck. It's simply flawless. Even the plating or finish on the tool doesn't seem to wear at the hex portion that goes into whatever impact driver you're using. My favorite part of the tool is the push to insert chuck style. I much prefer this over the more common pull-the-chuck ring back, to allow the bit to fit . With the WERA, you just push the bit into the chuck, it's on, and you're ready to go..

 

[Michael Kellough]

Bits rarely break on me but I’m more concerned about keeping the wood from splitting than driving the screw as fast as possible.

If a lot of torque is required to drive the screw it’s likely to split the wood so I’ll drill a pilot hole.

If it’s just construction grade timber I might simply put a clamp on the stock to prevent it from splitting,
if the screw is near the end where splitting is more likely and will compromise the strength of the connection.

 

[Packard]

The little shorty Phillips head bits torque out and can get ruined. The hardened heads on drywall screws don’t help. i see people using drywall screws everywhere—even in situations that call for strong screws. Drywall screws are hardened and the heads can snap off fairly easily. I think just is why they are designed to torque out easily (and trash those cheap Phillips head bits).

My concern with the referenced article was I never heard of Slash Gear. I mean, who are they?