Quite a few professional tool brands have recently come out with new high-torsion impact driver screwdriver bits. We reviewed Makita’s Impact Gold bits, and they worked great. We have also been using Irwin impact bits, and they perform pretty well too. Although I have never tried them, Milwaukee’s Shockwave bits seem to have a solid reputation.
Dewalt’s Impact Ready bits have been okay, but they are somewhat simply designed. I bought a few Dewalt impact bit sets in recent years, not because they were the best bits available, but because they provided good performance at value pricing.
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Impact drivers have grown in popularity in recent years, with newer models sporting brushless motors and other advanced features such as electronic torque and speed settings. With a lot of professionals using impact drivers on a regular and even daily basis, there is a strong demand for high quality bits.
Good bits won’t cut it any more, users are demanding great bits.
So what separates great bits from good ones? There are a couple of factors, but what it ultimately comes down to is better fitment and longer life.
Similar to the new Makita and Irwin impact bits, the new Dewalt FlexTorq screwdriver bits are designed with more precise tips and reduced-diameter torsion zones.
CNC-machined (or possible just corrected) precision tips lead to better fitment between screwdriver bit and screw, which lowers the likelihood of stripping, and the FlexTorq torsion zone is designed to absorb some of the excess torque and impact energy that would otherwise travel to the bit tip and increase the risk of fastener or bit tip damage.
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In other words, these new bits are designed to fit better and last longer.
Dewalt has also come out with a new magnetic Screwlock bit holder and bit retention system that is said to reduce wobbling and minimize bit and fastener drops.
Dewalt Screwlock and FlexTorq bit holders and impact screwdriver bits presumably work best together, but look to be compatible with other brands’ standard 1/4″ hex impact-rated screwdriver bits and bit holders as well.
Buy Now(via Amazon)
Approximate Pricing: (50) 1″ Phillips #2 bits (DWA1PH2IRB) are $25 via Amazon, and (50) 2″ Phillips #2 power bits (DWA2PH2IRB) are $50 via Amazon.
There will be a wide range of bit sizes and styles available, such as Phillips, slotted, Pozi, square, Torx, hex, Frearson, hex security, Torx security, Clutch Type G, Clutch Type A, and Tri-Wing. Bit lengths will range from 1″ to 6″, with 1″ and 2″ bits being the most common.
Dewalt FlexTorq bits will be available in 50-piece bulk packs, as well as smaller quantities. There looks to be at least one bit assortment available – model DWA2T40IR (Amazon listing).
According to Amazon, many (if not all) of these new bits are manufactured in China.
First Impression
Honestly, while a little excited about these new impact-rated bits, I cannot shake the feeling that they might be a me too product where Dewalt is simply following in competitors’ footsteps.
Dewalt has come out with innovative drilling and driving power tool accessory products in the past, such as their Pilot Point drill bits that we love for general purpose drilling tasks, and so I am optimistic that these bits will at least be a step up from their current line of impact bits.
Josh
When I’ve tried the Milwaukee Shockwave bits I’ve found them to wear very quickly and not fit particularly well; this is with both Phillips head and torx head bits. I plan to steer clear of them in the future
Aellynh
I’m going to have to second this comment. I picked up a few of their P2 bits in varying sizes. Ran into a lot of issues with the black oxide finish wearing off and the bit ended up rusty very quickly. This wasn’t just at the tip either, the entire bit would lose its black oxide finish from simply rolling around in a tool box/container. Pretty disappointed by the Milwaukee bits.
Noah
Yup, also agree. Tried out the Shockwave P2 thinking it must be an improvement over DeWalt. Nope. It starts to wear almost instantly. All Phillips bits wear, but the Shockwave plain don’t fit. So I went back to the DeWalt, that was until the Makita Impact Gold came out.
fred
When I left active employment last year – for a more relaxed existence – we were still in pursuit of the ideal bit. While we understood all too well that even pricey Wera (Diamond coated Impaktor bits come to mind), Wiha, Apex or Snap-On bits are sadly a consumable commodity – we were always on the lookout for something good with better fit, less cam-out and improved wear. Newbies on the jobsite quickly learned to inspect/change out bits, not try to power-drive brass screws on expensive hardware, set driver clutches at appropriate torque settings, pre-drill pilot holes on hardwood trim etc. Buying bits in lots of 50 helps get the unit price down – but we’d often buy 1000 Phillips #2 or 500 Robertson #2 bits with an order – so larger bulk ordering discounts helped even more.
mnoswad1
i see “seasoned” guys that still don’t understand the clutch or that bits are consumables. As I tried to explain once that it was a consumable part……..they crew just looked at me and said “consumable? what are you TALKING about?”……no explanation was going to work on that crew. They just didn’t care either way. “Yeah whatever.”
Btw, these were professional set builders in brooklyn.
Bkelley
I certainly hope they r better than their torx impact bits which just snap after 40-60 1″ screws. The milwaukees r garbage but nice cases tho! I’ll give the black n yellows a shot but not going to hold my breath
Javier
I really like my dewalt impact ready bits. I never tried the makita gold but do want to try them based on the reviews. I even tried Milwaukee shockwave and those are junk so I wonder if these dewalt bits that look similar are going to fare the same as the Milwaukee.
John S
I am skeptical these can compare to the new makita gold line, but it does seem that the impaktor’s are the top of the line option for now.
Any thoughts on the quality of PB Swiss’s bits? Are they impact rated?
Stuart
PB Swiss bits are phenomenal. I reviewed the PB Swiss Insider a long time ago, but my affinity for the bits hasn’t diminished. They are NOT impact rated though. As PB Swiss mainly focuses on hand tools, I don’t think they have any plans to make impact-rated bits.
Colin
The Milwaukee’s I used held up nicely, not sure what others complaints were about them… I’ve yet to break one under normal use.
John E
+1 on the Milwaukee shockwave bits being junk. Bought them for the first and last time a year or so ago. Cam out too easily and tips are soft. Not a big fan of DEWALT’s regular bits either but haven’t tried these new ones. Mostly use #2 sq drive and hate magnetic bit holders with a passion. Usually buy the Kreg bits (2 pack of 3″ and 6″ #2 square) from Lowes for $3.48. Have only snapped one in a year using in an 18 volt impact wrench and the tips are still all sharp. Worth every penny.
fred
I too (for my home shop) like the Kreg driver bits – preferring the ones with hardened tips:
Link
Veto
I like Wera Impaktor bits the most. Tried Milwaukee and they seem to wear out faster than the Wera. Wiha Maxxtor are pretty good too, but kind of hard for me to acquire. Might try these and the Makita Gold soon.
Hang Fire
If it’s not a locking bit like the lower one pictured, it’s not a great bit by definition, and I’m not interested in it. The idea of putting a second loose socket to absorb/waste energy in something called “impact” or “impact ready” baffles me.
Joe
Those Milwaukee shockwave bits are awful. The P2 bits are too small and don’t fit the head of a normal screw well.
I used one for a day and threw the rest out. Everyone that I know who has tried them had the same complaint. They’re just very poorly designed.
truckdriver
I have actually had my best luck with my non impact rated Irwin and Snap On/Zephyr bits in use with my impacts. I still have my Mac rebranded Irwins 7 years after I bought them and always used in my impacts from my Bosch 10.8 to my M18 fuel. I will also say that the Milwaukee Shockwaves were junk in my experience. The tips rounded/wore out with minimal use. I hope these Dewalts are better but I suspect they are from the same supplier as the Shockwaves as they use the same design. I hope I am wrong. I used mine mostly for working on my Semi which invovles lots of stuck steel into aluminum screws. Until I found the Irwins and S-O bits I was shattering the tips off everything I tried.
tom b.
I agree that these have the feel of a ‘me Togo’s offering from Dewalt, but I’ve always been satisfied with their accessories, so I’m willing to give them a shot.
tom b.
Stupid auto correct!
That should read ‘me too’ offering, not ‘me Togo’s’ .
Guess i have a new username!
Noah
Been using one of these bits for a few weeks now, (yes, one bit for a few weeks), and I am impressed! DeWalt has made a great bit that works in both impact and non impact applications.
Mason
JUNK! I’ve bought numerous sets of the dewalt impact bits and still cringe. A certain blue hardware store is close to me, but I refuse to buy ‘kobalt ‘, only thing worse than dewalt! I’ll go back to the regular bits from harbor freight next time I’m there, quality seems to be about the same. No way you should be able to break impact tips 4 or 5 screws in using basic 1 1/2″ screws.