About a year ago, I wrote about new Dewalt FlexTorq screwdriver bits that features torsion zones and machined high-precision tips. FlexTorq bits are impact-rated, so they can be used with drills, screwdrivers, and impact drivers.
The Dewalt FlexTorq magnetic Screwlock sleeve is also a neat accessory that I really liked about the FlexTorq system.
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Well… now there’s another new screwdriver bit system: Dewalt MaxFit.
Dusty wrote in:
Is there any difference between Dewalt’s MaxFit and FlexTorq other than where they are sold?
I attempted to look into the matter, and sent out some emails. I couldn’t see any differences, aside from how FlexTorq bits are black, MaxFit are silver. Both are rated for impact driver use, which is surprising, as impact-rated bits are often black, and hardened drill/driver/hand driver bits are often silver. Both types of bits have milled tips.
In marketing materials, the torsion zone of the FlexTorq bits is emphasized, although this is a feature of MaxFit bits as well, and the shock resistant steel alloy of the MaxFit bits is emphasized, although the FlexTorq bits must be shock-resistant as well to endure impact driver use.
It’s been about a month since I asked Dewalt about the official difference between their FlexTorq and MaxFit screwdriver bits, but nobody has gotten back to me yet.
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Dusty reached out to Dewalt’s customer service:
Thanks for investigating. DeWALT tech. support told me that they think that MaxFit bits are an upgrade of the FlexTorq bits, with MaxFit having a better-fitting head than FlexTorq while retaining the flexing neck.
They admitted that the main difference is what’s in the kits and where they are sold, and I’m not sure that they really knew whether the MaxFit bits were truly different than FlexTorq or just differently branded (marketing the head geometry instead of the flex neck). So, that’s what I can find out. I hope that you can get a definitive answer. Thanks again for your help.
Bit sets and bulk packs are packaged and distributed a little differently, with MaxFit bits being more available at retailers such as Home Depot, and FlexTorq being more available at Amazon and other independent dealers. But is that really the main difference?
It’s hard to compare prices, as there don’t seem to be identical offerings in both lines, but it looks like Dewalt MaxFit bits and bit sets are less expensive.
I haven’t received any details about the difference between FlexTorq and MaxFit bits through my official channels, and it seems that Dewalt tech support weren’t sure what to tell Dusty either. And so I’m turning to you, sleuthing ToolGuyd readers.
Can you figure out what the differences are between these two new styles of Dewalt screwdriver bits? If you’ve used both, which do you like better?
Cody
Flex torq bits are made more for impact drivers and the max fit say that they will work in both drill and impact but they can easily be broken in a impact driver. The Flextorq bit seam as good as the Milwaukee shockwaves. And the max fit bit seam to be made out of your standard drill bit material. And the magnetic screw lock sleeves that come with each set are not interchangeable because both bits are designed a little different.
Noah
They are certainly different. The machined profiles are different. I have both in PH2 and SQ1, I’ll take some pics and post them to Garagejournal.
jesse
Wouldn’t you think that DeWalt’s product development and marketing would have done a better job in avoiding this confusion? If Cody’s comment above is accurate, the magnetic screw lock sleeves are not interchangeable with each other. Hard to believe, or comprehend. WTH?
Cody
It’s true I own both sets. I don’t know why dewalt did it. But I will say the dewalt Flextorq bits have the best fitting Philips bits that I have ever tried.
Reggie
I think that SBD really runs into trouble with the fact that they sell at both Lowes and Home Depot, but those stores are…hard to deal with as a supplier. And they both want exclusive products (meaning not sold at the other one, they don’t seem to care if they’re sold at other other stores, Lowes only cares about HD and vice versa).
This competing pull and tug results in some extremely confusing product lines that may or may not be the same. This is one example, Power Detect vs Flexvolt Advantage being another. Then they become really hilarious at stores that carry both lines.
Then beyond all of this, they’re not good at just labeling their products. I don’t think they ever really officially clarified which batteries produce more power in FA/PD tools, so you have XR batteries like the 5Ah that still use 18600 cells, versus the 21700 cells that give you more output. I think with Power Detect they said something like “More power out of higher capacity batteries,” which means what exactly? Where is the line?
And it’s not even true, since say the 6Ah XR batteries have a higher discharge rate than the 8Ah batteries (though more voltage sag) so on most tools the 6Ah XR battery outperforms the 8Ah. Of course, the 6Ah FV uses slower discharge cells, so you’ll get more power from the 6Ah XR battery on a Flexvolt Advantage tool than the batteries that they say will give you more power.
Some of the battery stuff is unavoidable (voltage sag vs discharge rate of the different battery packs), but at least other brands clearly differentiate their product lines so you have some idea without checking the internet to try to sort it all out. And even then you will still have some folks that claim that say the DCD999 is more powerful than the 998, though they’re in fact internally identical.
Lord have mercy.
Stuart
While the FlexVolt 6Ah battery uses 18650 cells, and the 6Ah and 8Ah XR use 21700 cells, don’t forget that the FlexVolt has a 50% higher cell count.
Dmitry
How do you know 998 and 999 are identical internally? DeWalt is so full of shit
Stuart
I’m sure they’re similar, but I didn’t and wouldn’t say they’re identical internally.
I don’t know why Reggie said that – they could have seen a teardown somewhere (I haven’t) or are making an assumption.
Mike
It’s all just a bunch of hot air! I seem to break any of them. At this point I just use what ever I bought on clearance. Break down the kits into my storage bins and toss their bulky packaging. Now if I do find a brand that I like the fit of the phillips, I’ll go back and buy a couple 25 packs.
Joe M
I own a set of both. More because I was curious what the difference is. No regrets.
Having tested both, I would say buy whatever you can get of them. There’s no clear benefit to one or the other. The MaxFit bits might as well be called FlexTorq MaxFit. They’re the same size and design as the FlexTorq, and the FlexTorq Screwlock Sleeve fits the MaxFit 2″+ bits the same as it fits FlexTorq bits of the same size. And the MaxFit 1″ Magnetic Bit Holder with ScrewLock mechanism fits both sets the same as well, and its magnet holds screws on a 1″ bit the same as the ScrewLock sleeve does on 2″+ bits. The benefit is in how well they fit to a fastener. It is ever so slightly harder to knock a fastener off of a MaxFit bit than it is a FlexTorq, both with and without the Magnetic Screwlock Sleeves. I tested this on a Philips #2 and a Square #2, 1″ bits in a standard Bit Holder, as well as both the MaxFit Bit Holder without the Magnetic Sleeve over top of it, and with it. On 2″ bits I tried both with and without the FlexTorq Screwlock Sleeve.
Both are still consumables, the MaxFit doesn’t render them indestructible or anything like that. They do fit standard fasteners a little tighter, making them harder to drop. Beyond that, Drill or Impact Driver, doesn’t matter. the FlexTorq and the MaxFit behave the same. The promise that you’ll break fewer due to the Impact Driver’s torque isn’t changed for the MaxFit. It’s just a tighter hold on a fastener, with the shape of the ScrewLock magnet being slightly different on the outside.
Admitted Bias: I don’t own the FlexTorq Magnetic 1″ Bit Holder, nor do I own the MaxFit Screwlock Sleeve. Both lines have their own version of both devices, the Bit Holder for 1″, and the Screwlock Sleeve for 2″+ bits. I own the Sleeve for the FlexTorq system, and the Bit Holder for the MaxFit system. Also, I’m Canadian, so the colouring differs slightly than the American sets. The MaxFit Bit Holder has an over-sleeve that has the ScrewLock Magnet, and that is a slightly different design in Canada than it is in the USA. The Canadian one closely resembling the FlexTorq Magnetic Bit Holder, except larger diameter around. The numbers of bits I got in my MaxFit set may or may not be the same as the same model number set available in the USA.
Farid
Thank you for the useful information.
Grady
MARKETING! New year “new product”
joe
Maxfit to me sounds like thicker in the head for greater area grip and flextorq thinner in the neck area but i’m not really familiar with them.
Having said that, from what I have seen people use bits, it depends A LOT on the user too…Philip heads are still standard when they where first made for slippage. This means that they will slip if not enough down force from user, break if not held perpendicular or using the wrong drill speed.
I mostly get away with good head area grip and good perpendicular pressure using adequate speed because you can also break the head of the screw.
They come in packs of two, there must be some good innovation going on, at first look.
Garrett Looman
the flex torq will not break as easily, the reason they look the same is because both are made to also hold the screw in place to ease use in one handed applications. I personally love the flex torq, especially with cementboard. I would go through twice as many bits before they were for sale.