New dewalt twist bits for impact drivers
JFink
| Posted in Tools for Home Building on
Check out the latest ToolHound blog:
http://finehomebuilding.taunton.com/item/7627/new-dewalt-drill-bits-fit-for-an-impact-driver
Justin Fink – FHB Editorial
Edited 5/14/2009 2:00 pm ET by JFink
Edited 5/14/2009 2:45 pm ET by JFink
Replies
Link doesn't work. Get "Page not found"
you are too quick! I had a technical error (warning: editor at the helm) and had to re-post. I hoped to get it back up before anybody noticed. Give it a couple of minutes and you should see the blog. If not, let me know!Justin Fink - FHB Editorial
That's cool. I use drill bits in impact drivers a lot, and haven't had a problem... even with cheap bits. Now, the screw driver bit holders are another story... got any leads on good one's? DeWalt's aren't that tough.http://www.tvwsolar.com
Now I wish I could give Brother Bill his great thrill
I would set him in chains at the top of the hill
Then send out for some pillars and Cecil B. DeMille
He could die happily ever after"
"Now, the screw driver bit holders are another story... got any leads on good one's? DeWalt's aren't that tough."I bought some pricey Bosch philips bitts that are specially hardened and supposed to get better grip when the driver isn't perfectly aligned, but my makita LXT impactor shattered them after just a few screws.I pulled out some cheapo Irwin drywall bits that I had bought in a package of 50 for $6 or some such, and they work great. Go figure.BruceT
Every Bosch bit I've used has broken off, and usually in a totally inappropriate place. Kobalt has been the best and the least expensive for bits. I haven't found a bit holder/extension that holds up, thoughhttp://www.tvwsolar.com
Now I wish I could give Brother Bill his great thrill
I would set him in chains at the top of the hill
Then send out for some pillars and Cecil B. DeMille
He could die happily ever after"
I've sworn by Apex bits and holders for over 30 years. I've never found a longer-lasting insert bit, or a holder with a magnet as strong.I started out with Apex in the pre-cordless era, when I found a 1/4" hex bit adapter for my full-size Yankee. I bought mine over 30 years ago, and similar adapters (maybe not Apex) are still available through Mcfeely's.But FHB just paid some guy for his tip of taking a Yankee screwdriver bit to a machinist to have a 1/4" hex bit holder welded on!Sheesh! FHB doesn't do that good a job of vetting their tips! And I just busted them in January for paying some guy for a tip first posted in '83!AitchKay
I'll check out their holders. I lose the Kobalts before they break or wear out, and they are cheap<G>http://www.tvwsolar.com
Now I wish I could give Brother Bill his great thrill
I would set him in chains at the top of the hill
Then send out for some pillars and Cecil B. DeMille
He could die happily ever after"
I hope they work better than their "Impact Ready" extensions.
Drive a couple dozen screws and the driver point is permanently attached to the extension......
Jim
I keep an el cheapo keyless chuck w/ 1/4 hex shaft with my impact driver. It generally has a 1/8 bit chucked up, but I can change that bit out for other sizes. And I only need regular old drill bits. So far this has worked fine for pilot holes and such, up to 1/4".
Jim x 3
If possible, please post your comments after the blog post - I'd love to create a conversation over there that is accessible to everybody, not just those people who read "breaktime". Thanks!Justin Fink - FHB Editorial
I've been using impacts for years now and have forever been looking for good quality 1/4" quick-release shank drill bits.
Seemingly - no one makes good ones.
All of the ones that have come in various Milwaukee and Dewalt bit kits have been JUNK, with capital letters.
Snappy, the brand that has made a quick-release system since before impacts even got popular, has a set of QR hex bit holders that you can insert your own bits into, but even just the holders are about $5-8 a piece.
Makita and Dewalt make a metal chuck on a QR hex shank that is specifically for impacts - the impacting action tightens and loosens it - they run about $25 and work great, but add a bit more wobble to the drilling action as it's one more link in the chain. Plus - it's still not as handy as a set of bits with their own shanks.
The other day though, I finally found the first set of high-quality drill bits with 1/4 QR shanks that I've ever seen, and I've been looking around.
They are made by Norseman, a USA company, and the package goes as far to say also they are made in a union shop.
They had a 7 pc set, upto 1/4", and a 11 or 15pc set.
I paid $26 for a 7 pc set. Pricey, but they look to be off a very high quality. Finally a good set of bits for my impact.
I also have the Makita LXT hybrid impactor/hammer drill/drill/driver gun, so this bit set will stay with that.
A lot less wobble than when using my Makita impact-ready metal keyless chuck attachment.
I looked on Norseman's site, but they didn't have any reference to the QR sets at first glance.
Even my 5 y.o. daughter means 5 times 0 = 0, so if the Dewalt bits are 5 times better than the crappo drills in all of their other bit sets, that doesn't mean a lot. Dewalt's not really known for making high-quality accessories. No question they are made in China I'll bet.
I hope they are decent, as I'll add to this Norseman set I have. I was happy with the older Black&Decker "Bullet" drill sets years back,and those are now brander Dewalt, but in general they don't try to make things better as years go by - only cheaper.
Julian
Julian - this is really great info. Would you mind copying and pasting it as a comment below the blog? I'd love for people who don't read breaktime to know about these bits. Thanks!Justin Fink - FHB Editorial
They also can be used to drill holes (also faster, by the way),
I have to differ on that point. If anything, they seem to be slower at drilling holes. While I do find an impact driver delivers more power for boring through old joists and beams, your typical twist bits don't need the extra kick of an impact driver. To my experience, a regular drill is the best option for twist bits up to 1/2". Maybe anything larger might justify breaking out the heavy artillary, the impact driver.
btw, I use an 18 V. Dewalt drill and impact driver.
~ Ted W ~
Cheap Tools! - MyToolbox.net
See my work at TedsCarpentry.com
I tend to think of a drill being a precision instrument.
Hex shank bits, by their very nature tend to sit loose in the chuck of an impact driver (if they didn't, they would be impossible to remove).
Do you run into any problems with sloppyness using a drill bit in a hex holder?
Tu stultus es
Rebuilding my home in Cypress, CA
Also a CRX fanatic!
Look, just send me to my drawer. This whole talking-to-you thing is like double punishment.