The Bucket Boss Bitkeeper is a somewhat unique drill bit case.
I remember looked at this novel drill bit organizer and thinking “wow I could totally use that!”
I purchased my Bucket Boss drill bit holder back on 2007 for $2.50. At that price, why not?
Advertisement
The photos on this page were taken in 2012. Yep, after 5 years it showed no wear because it saw zero use.
It wasn’t that this was a bad product – I actually really liked the design – but that it didn’t serve my needs.
This bit holder has two sizes of drill bit slots, plus another compartment at the bottom for screwdriver bits, socket bit adapters, or other like-sized accessories.
Fast forward to present times – 2023 – I gave it away recently in a bulk donation box. Or at least I think so. If not, it’s in one remaining bin filled with gear that’s waiting to be passed along to new users.
I reacquainted myself with the Bucket Boss drill bit holder somewhat regularly over the years, every time I sorted through my assortment of unused tools and miscellaneous gear.
Not a single time did I think “I really could have used that recently.”
Advertisement
My drilling and driving tasks tend to change often, depending on the project. I think that this drill bit holder would work a lot better for the type of user that rotates between the same couple of drill bits for repetitive projects.
For my needs, small bit indexes tend to work better.
My version has a belt clip at the back.
The newer model is a bit different. It has a more streamlined design, with no bulk pocket. There’s a loop at the top, and a large pass-through belt loop.
It’s unsurprising that Bucket Boss updated the design a bit, seeing as how 16 years passed since I bought mine.
I liked the idea of it, but the accessory case just wasn’t practical for my purposes, and I never even saw any opportunities to try to force it. In 16 years, not once did it come in handy.
I say all this because I think the Bucket Boss drill bit holder is a neat and potentially useful product, just not for me.
Am I being too generous? In trying my best to avoid tunnel vision or a “if it’s not for me it must be junk” type of mindset, am I seeing utility where there is none?
Can YOU see potential usefulness here?
MoogleMan3
To this day I’m still looking for the perfect EDC bit holder case. I’ve tried a bunch including dewalt, bosch, multiple small cases designed for other things, etc. None of them fit *every* feature I want in a bit holder. Trying the new milwaukee cases next; they do look promising.
William Adams
What do you need an EDC bit holder case for?
How many do you need to carry?
In what way do you need to access them?
My most successful design for actual usage has been small folding holders which fit in an Altoids tin:
https://community.carbide3d.com/t/making-a-hex-bit-organizer/7471
David Z
As William asks, it would be interesting to read about what you are looking for. Maybe one of us has seen something from a smaller company. Personally, I’m just curious, too!
Scott K
Does this holds the bits well? I would think that having two sizes of openings would make it easy for the bits to spill out.
I like the markings on the stock hard case that came with my bits because I don’t have to try and read the tiny print on the actual bits.
I also prefer the way newer cases keep bits visible so you can readily tell what you have or what you’re missing.
Norm
This is the one I use.
https://www.mcmaster.com/2961A61/
I’ve had the metal style and knocked it over, bits everywhere. Not to say I haven’t knocked this one over when it was open, because I have, but when it’s closed, everything doesn’t spill out.
David Z
They make you log in to see the page. They should just hide the pricing if that is the issue.
Luke
It opened just fine for me. Straight to the product page with the price, no login prompted. If you actually have a mcmaster account, you may have a cookie that’s re-directing you to login so they can track your inventory interests.
Birdog357
That looks like something I would use. My tools live in a detached garage so I have to drag things in when I need to do something around the house. I’m frequently up on a ladder doing whatever it is I’m doing so having them on my belt would be nice.
James
I have a bunch of bit cases in a Packout drawer on my truck. Drill bit kit for SS, multiple drill bit kits for general purpose, screwdriver bit kits (2”/6”), spade bits, etc. In the same drawer is a canvas bag filled with miscellaneous bits, including a couple of old bit cases with smaller bits (high quality 1/8” stubbies, etc). This drawer also has small diamond hole saws, ceramic bits, etc. Holesaws and mandrels are packed into a 1/2 sized Packout organizer
For everyday use, in my tool bag there’s a little soft Bosch case not unlike the one here with 2” screwdriver bits of all head types, as well as 6” bits of the most common heads. I also carry imperial and metric nut drivers in the tool bag at all times.
For drilling, I only keep Christmas tree (step drill?) bits in 3 sizes in my tool bag. I find that 50% of all holes can be done with my Christmas trees (industrial maintenance – water purification so electrical / plumbing / install) and if I need something else it’s so specific that it’s better to keep ALL my drill accessories in one place and walk to my truck to get exactly what I need.
If I’m doing an install or something, I try to move around from task to task until I have a list of things from my truck that is longer than 1.
I do see some guys rotating through the same couple of bits for some tasks which might make this bit holder useful. I’m always amazed by the Greenlee boxes etc on sites that seem to have 10s if not hundreds of bits (drill and screwdriver) scattered around. I always wonder how much the profit margins get driven down and the job prices driven up simply because guys don’t take care of these small items…
fred
For on the go – most of my drill bits reside in the plastic cases they were sold with – and stored with the larger toolboxes tool bags or cases holding a corresponding drill or impact driver.
But I do a lot more drilling these days in my shop – where I count 33 drill indexes (mostly Huot) stored in cabinet drawers. I have drill bits in inch, metric, letter and number sizes. Most in jobber length – but others in aviation, mechanic’s, screw-machine, spotting and taper lengths. I also have some variety in point and flute geometry – for drilling metal, plastics and wood. While most of my drill bits are HSS I have some sets of cobalt alloy and solid carbide bits for drilling hard materials.
Reduced shank (SD) bits reside in stands. Most of my longer (6 to 12 inch) bits reside in shop-made stands. Some of those (for aviation length bits) were cobbled together from tall cans (baked beans) stuffed with cutout circles of building foam.
My wood-cutting auger bits are almost exclusively stored in tool rolls (some pretty ancient) – but I have a pair of Bora tool rolls for my Irwin and Star-M metric auger bits:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00G534Y1M
MM
Speaking for myself, I don’t think I’d ever use this. It falls into a middle ground that I don’t really have a use for. When I’m using an impact driver or drill it tends to fall into either of two situations. In the first case I’m doing a lot of the same thing: drilling a bunch of the same size hole, driving a bunch of the same size screw, etc. This only requires one or two bits so I’m not going to bother with a special holder at all, I’ll keep one bit in the drill and the other in the onboard bit storage on the drill or impact. In the other case I’m doing a more complex job where I might need a variety of bits, and in that case this pouch isn’t big enough. I have a toughcase organizer packed with hex shank drills, security Torx bits, inch & metric nutdrivers and hex bits, extended length bits, extensions, and so on. If I have an involved or unknown job I’d rather grab that. At least for my purposes this is excessive for the simple jobs and insufficient for the big ones.
ParamountPaint
I could see using it for kitchen installs. I often use various bits and fasteners depending on the geometry of what we’re putting together.
I solved my problem by buying more drills and impacts, so I didn’t have to change bits around, but that’s probably not the most economical policy. Economy aside, it’s a pretty efficient way to operate.
MFC
$18? Why do I keep getting shocked by prices? I noticed snacks at the store went up by 10% last week. There were whole rows of individual servings of crackers/chips/treats for $2.98 in Lowes. They’ve been that much for a year at least, now they are $3.28. I mention it because Lowes gives three “free” snacks/drinks per month in their mvp program for any snack $3 and under, now it costs $.28 for those same “free” snacks.
Clay
Had a bad experience with Bucket Boss not standing behind their products so I will no longer buy anything from them.
Caveat emptor.
Nathan
I exclusively use Milwaukee 1/4″ quick insert drill bits and their new case with the clear lid is the best storage container thus far. The old style made it difficult to get the little bits out.
Nick
I second this. They call them “packout compatible” I believe. And yes, the older (and bigger) red cases would always leave me with sliced fingers trying to pull the bits out if I didn’t have gloves. They have a case that comes with a bunch of impact tips too. Thus, one labeled “screw inners” and one “hole makers”.
Wasd
Trend Snappy drill holder does the job for me I use it every day at work and it’s still going strong after 2 years.
I have the large one but they also make a smaller holder similar to the one posted here
Trend Snappy 30-Piece Tool Holder with Quick Release System, Heavy-Duty Polyester, Velcro Fastening, SNAP/TH/1 https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B003G2Z63A
Dave
I have big trend snappy holder and it is nothing but disaster. Bits always falling away. No one who had it will recommend ever