Dewalt’s new DWA2SLVIR Screwlock sleeve is a magnetic attachment that slides and secures onto their FlexTorq impact-rated screwdriver bits. There are plenty of magnetic 1″ hex bit holders out there – even impact-rated ones – but there aren’t many options to improve the screw and fastener retention of 2″ and longer power bits.
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The magnetic Screwlock sleeve has two spring-loaded ball bearings that allow it to slide onto the new Dewalt FlexTorq reduced shank bits. Once the sleeve moves past the screwdriver bit tip, it is retained by the bit and can slide freely along the reduced shank, giving it a little room for adjustability.
Once the sleeve is attached to a bit, the bit tip is extended forward to engage fasteners magnetically held to the Screwlock sleeve.
The Screwlock sleeve maintains solid magnetic contact with screw heads, but is very firmly retained on FlexTorq bits. When you pull back on your impact driver, the sleeve moves with the screwdriver bit instead of being left behind attached to the screw. This does mean that attachment and detachment requires a little strength, but not to the point where you have to break out some pliers.
I used the Screwlock sleeve and Dewalt FlexTorq impact bits on a few fasteners, and am still in the honeymoon stage where I can see no fault. These might be the best impact bits I have ever used, but I must admit that part of this is thanks to the Screwlock magnetic sleeve’s stellar performance.
The sleeve feels light, thanks to its machined aluminum housing, but it is also solidly built. It looks like the magnetic insert, which is a cylinder that allows screwdriver bit tips to pass through, is press-fit and possibly glued into the Screwlock sleeve. There doesn’t seem to be any easy way that a retaining clip could have been used. In any case, the entire attachment feels nicely made, and I don’t think I’ll ever have to worry about it falling apart.
I now prefer using FlexTorq bit and Screwlock sleeve combination over Makita’s Impact Gold bit holder. The Makita bit holder works well with 1″ bits, but must be pulled apart every time a bit needs to be changed. Dewalt has a couple of new bit holders coming out as well, and I hope they work as well as this attachment does.
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There are a few downsides.
Magnetic bit holders typically transfer magnetic forces through attached screwdriver bits, which means fasteners are typically only retained through contact with small bit tips, resulting in weak magnetic attraction. The Screwlock sleeve provides much strong magnetic attraction through greater surface contact area, but the tradeoff is that a Screwlock and bit combination is going to be bulkier. There will be times when you won’t be able to use this attachment to help drive fasteners between obstacles.
This attachment only works on Dewalt’s FlexTorq screwdriver bits. There’s nothing that Dewalt could have done differently, but I am still left hoping for a magnetic bit retention mechanism that works with standard 2″ and longer bits.
One attachment by itself costs close to $9, which is a tad bit high in my opinion. A bulk pack of 25 is priced at about $68, which is a lot better, but what are DIYers, individual workers, or small teams going to do with 25 magnetic sleeve attachments? A pack of 5 for $15 would be nice, and a pack of 2 or 3 for $10 would also be good.
Since these sleeves only work with Dewalt FlexTorq screwdriver bits, you’ll either need a bit assortment or bulk pack of bits to use them with. One of the assortments comes with a Screwlock sleeve, which saves you from having to pick one up separately.
Buy Now(1 Sleeve via Amazon)
Buy Now(25 Sleeves via Amazon)
Alternatively, you can also get the Screwlock magnetic sleeve with the 40pc assortment, which is priced at $30 and also comes with a few nutdrivers, a bit holder, and a selection of 1″ and 2″ FlexTorq impact bits.
Buy Now(40pc FlexTorq Assortment)
Related Accessories: FlexTorq Bits, FlexTorq Holder Rapid Holder via Amazon
Overall, this is a simple but very well executed attachment that greatly enhances Dewalt’s 2″ and longer FlexTorq impact screwdriver bits. A FlexTorq bit + the Screwlock magnetic sleeve makes for a winning combination. No more dropped screws!
Thank you to Dewalt for providing the review sample unconditionally. Review samples are typically given away, donated, or retained for editorial and comparison purposes.
Joe M
They’ve also got this little buddy on the market for 1″ FlexTorq bits.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GMHDRMS/
They also have a RapidLoad Adapter in this family coming. I have a set of FlexTorq bits and the packaging on the back showed their new design.
Stuart
That one and the rapid adapter are linked to in the post. I haven’t tried them yet, but they seem to work similarly to the Screwlock sleeve.
Joe M
Ah, I didn’t see that when I read this earlier…
Stuart
If you missed it, others could too, so I added some additional text to help them stand out a little better.
Some of Dewalt’s past adapters weren’t very good, and so I’m glad to see some new ones enter the mix. I’ll see if I can get my hands on some of the others to test out.
mike
I recently purchased the flextorq set that comes with this attachment. It is a nice bit set. Recently used it to repair my deck in backyard.
3″ screws were no issue to drive.
Michael Quinlan
“I now prefer using FlexTorq bit and Screwlock sleeve combination over Makita’s Impact Gold bit holder. The Makita bit holder works well with 1″ bits, but must be pulled apart every time a bit needs to be changed.”
Yes, Makita’s magnetic sleeve must be removed every time a bit needs to be changed, but how is this any worse than DeWalt? Makita: remove sleeve, remove bit tip (from holder), insert new bit tip (in holder), attach sleeve. DeWalt: remove sleeve, remove bit (from tool), insert new bit (in tool), attach sleeve. I don’t see how one is more or less efficient to use than the other.
With Makita you can buy the bit holder and sleeve for ~$6, and use it with any bits you already have. With DeWalt, the sleeve cost ~$9, plus you have to buy new bits for any bit type/size you want to use with the sleeve.
Stuart
Don’t get me wrong, the Makita bit holder is great, but it’s not without its faults. For one, it holds bits so securely that removing bits sometimes requires the use of pliers.
I prefer the Makita over standard bit holders, but find myself preferring the Dewalt combination even better. But there are pros and cons to both which make neither the *perfect* solution.
I’m crossing my fingers that the price of these will drop to where I can have one on each of my most commonly used Phillips, Robertson, and Torx sizes.
Joe M
I didn’t mention this before, but I do find one small flaw with the Magnetic Screwlock sleeve. In the kits it comes in, like the one I have, there’s no dedicated place for it to sit in the case. It just rolls around, free. The only option is to hook it onto one of the bits all the time, but this adds an unnecessary step in using it. It seems petty and stupid, but I would prefer it had its own little insert in the case, so you can be sure it’s not going to come falling out when you open the lid. This would be exceptionally annoying if you’re high up or on a ladder, or even at the top of the stairs. So, that is one small downside to it, not mentioned in the article.
Dan
This is a bit pointless IMO as I only use bits longer than 25mm when access is restricted as they cost more so making long bits fatter is not what i want, I stick to my Wera ring magnet bit holder when i need bits to stay on.
mikeh
I REALLY want some of the 3 1/2 inch #2 bits but can only find them in the 50 count boxes and I really don’t need that many…who wants to split a box…
Dewalt Rep
Model # DWA3PH2IR is a single bit.
Just do a google search and you can find some retailers.
matt
So these new bits look just like Milwaukee bits, just saying..
Chris
and better in every way possible… The shockwave bits in most cases are terrible and strip out way to easy
Matt
How do you know have you tried them?
Javier
I have the outgoing impact ready bits and love them, can’t wait to try these new ones out and really dig that magnetic sleeve.
Chris
I’m still having a hard time to find them anywhere though, but haven’t been into a home depot or anything lately
Noah
I actually finally saw this in Sears! They were in the middle of clearing out the old Impact Ready and starting to stock these. Picked up a pack of PH2 insert bits. Really liking them so far. I think I still like the Makita Gold better, but these are just as good if not better than the old DeWalt and worlds better than the Shockwaves.
mike
Look on Amazon.
Dewalt flextorq – http://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-DWA2T40IR-Impact-Driving-40-Piece/dp/B00GMXFK3G/
Chris
In canada myself and amazon.ca doesn’t have them, even hard to find on ebay…
Joe M
Try Blackrock Tools online. Get a hold of their customer service, they can order in basically anything. I’ve been dealing with them for about a year, and they have never let me down. And they’re a Canadian company.
mike
Just a little fyi,if you order the sleeve from the link Stu gives above,you also get a flextorq bit in the package.
Might be good for folks that wanna try these out.
Joe
Hitachi also has a Mag Bit which will hold 3″ deck screws and they are impact rated. Pretty impressive bits, much better than the cheap ones with magnetic rings around them in my experience.
http://www.amazon.com/Hitachi-115003-Phillips-Magnetic-Driver/dp/B008Q3053U/
Javier Canzobre
Last minute news on this, its $4.80 on amazon, grab bit while you can
Julie Feltham
They are in Lowes! They have changed over to the new bits in the run. They also carry a 30 & 35 bit cases that have both types of mag drivers!
Jonathan
Just checked it one out at a DeWalt Factory service center in Portland today, I have also tried Makita’s Impact Gold bit holder. Over the years I have tried a variety of magnetic bit holders.
That said none match up with the power or flexibility of applications (cordless or hand tools) I have found that the Fastcap “Tip Mag” offers.
I have used one for the past two years. The magnets are strong enough to grab 10-12 3″ screws out of the box. It will pick up my Leatherman Wave with the tip of P2 or S2 bit. ( The website shows a impact driver hanging from a screw with the magnet – kinda of like the “Outlaw deck screws” [ https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/outlaw-fasteners-screws/%3C/a%3E ])
They are a little spendy ($11 + S&H) but if you sign up for their weekly e-mail they send out a a $10 off any purchase in the e-mails. So it makes it basically a little more that the cost of Priority mail shipping to try it out.
Fast Cap Tip Mag
One of the days I will try their “Taper lock” bit holder (“the harder you pull the tighter it gets, but easy one hand removal when slid forward). I can think of the many times I have had to resort to pliers to remove bits from some holders, and other times had the bit left in the screw head.
Disclaimer: I like a lot of Fastcap’s products but I have no affiliation with the company.
Lawrence
How do you change the bit?? The bit that I used broke but I can’t get the sleeve off to put it on a new bit. I feel stupid in missing something.
Stuart
Carefully pull it hard? The sleeve is held on by spring detents. I would try to drill a 1/4″ hole through a small piece of plywood, secure the plywood in a vise, put the bit through the hole, bottom end first, grab the bit with strong pliers, and give it a careful yank.
EG
I put in my first bit and could not get it out. I finally had to remove the sleeve that holds in the bearings in order to remove it. Put it back together ans it still works fine. You can carefully push the sleeve out of the indent without totally removing it from the unit. That will give you access to the ball bearings.