Makita has a 35pc Impact XPS screwdriver bit assortment on sale for the Holiday 2021 shopping season, and it’s worth a gander.
This Makita 35pc bit set, E-01666, looks to be a good “try me” pack. It doesn’t have a lot of pieces, but it does offer broad selection for a set this size.
While not my favorite screwdriver impact-rated screwdriver bits, Makita Impact XPS has exceptionally good fastener engagement, and I’ve noticed that they are very slow to wear.
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I have not yet tested their “lasts up to 90X longer than standard impact bits” claims, but these screwdriver bits definitely deliver a more premium performance.
The reason I don’t buy these bits more often is because the price point can be a little high. However, it’s on my list to buy bulk packs in T20 and maybe also Phillips #2.
Special Buy Price: $14.97
Amazon has free Prime shipping or on $25+ orders for non-Prime members, and Home Depot has free no-minimum shipping on this item.
At the moment, a 3rd party seller on Amazon has this set listed at $13.99.
Also See: Makita 45pc Bit Set
Price: $19.97
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There’s also holiday season pricing on this 45pc set. This set gives you a little more than the 35pc, mainly a couple of extra sizes (such as a T40 1″ bit and PH3 2″ bit) and additional duplicates of popular sizes.
Joel
The quality of these bits sounds positive. Can anyone share an observation on the case design and quality. Having to grab a pair of pliers to extract bits from a case is a real pain.
Charles_A
I have the 45 piece set, and really like the case. The bits come out w/o needing a pliers and the bits themselves are grabby and haven’t worn out at all.
The 45 piece is my go-to set.
Just be careful to not insert one of the 2″ bits into the included holder. I haven’t done it, but I’ve read where people are physically unable to pull them out once inserted.
Stuart
Ah, so that explains the visual warnings on the product pages.
Jared
Wait – what? If you stick a 2″ bit into the hex bit holder it won’t come back out? Why is that?
Gordon
https://www.makitatools.com/products/impactxps
It’s tough to see but the base of the 1″ bits is a tad longer than the 2″ and larger bits. In the bit holder, there is a magnet as well as a spring ring. The base of the 2″ bits is short enough that the spring ring falls into that first recess. It is very, very hard to remove because you have to spread the spring ring.
Jared
Huh! Well I never even thought about it. Thanks for the heads up.
I mean, I’m not typically chucking a 2″+ bit into an insert bit holder anyway, but I know I’ve done exactly that a time or two to use it as an extension.
I bet this comes up because people use the bits with their drill instead of an impact driver – in which case the bit holder probably seems like an opportunity for quicker bit changes.
Gordon
I should add that I have the 60pc set as well as an XPS 12″ extension and neither have difficulties with the 2″ bits.
JR Ramos
I bought a couple of these 45pc kits two or three years ago just for the cases. Cases are great. Durable, slide lock is smooth and never moves on its own in a jumbled tool bag. Bits come out easily but generally stay put even with some jostling. The trays tilt forward but take a little oomph until they wear a little. I customized one of the cases to hold long tapered countersink drills and some grinding stones, deburring bits, etc. and only the 1/4″ round shank items are a little loose (the shorties of those sometimes come out of their hole). I’ve always thought Makita had great bits and accessories for the most part and knew these would be decent but I was pleasantly surprised at how good the bits are and they’ve become my most used. They certainly fit screw heads very well and the phillips tips have proven to be far more durable than my Milwaukee and Dewalt bits, little different grind but around the same durability as my Wiha bits. I’ll buy more as needed. I think the only better bits I’ve used were the old original Apex bits.
John
If you watch the testing video on their website, you’ll understand how they came up with lasts 90X times longer claim. It seemed a bit dubious at first, but makes more sense after they explain how the steel formulation and thin torsion shaft of the bit flexes just enough to prevent breakage. In my opinion, that precision tips will provide greater benefit with less cam-out. Screws seem to be softer these days, so a good fitting bit is critical. In many cases, you’re more likely to damage the screw head and not the bit itself.
Stuart
Different brands make all kinds of “lasts x-times longer” claims, and “standard” impact bits are rarely well-defined.
How much longer lasting are these compared to Makita Gold, or their other past and present lines? I couldn’t tell you.
But I like the design, which definitely performs well.
Rog
I have this same set but in the 45pc. Its my go-to set for everything, its a really great set and the best bits I’ve used.
Randy
I bought the 45 piece set. I’ve lost or broken or lost all of my T27 bits.
Mac
Love the Makita bits…I buy the bulk 2″ packs of t20 and they do last. Not terribly interested in a case or 1″ bits…so looks to be $14 for 12 bits and maybe a couple of nut drivers. That’s about on par with prices on bulk 2″ bits anyways so meh.
Still hoping for good deals on Makita chainsaws and the portable HEPA vac.
-Mac
Reno
How do they prove 90 x longer no don’t even call out the names that they use to prove there claim they just say standard bit
Next mouth they will claim 180 x longer !!
you would think the sizes of these companies that keep making these claims
could come up with something better and really show proof how good they are
there no value in this set
Lyle
So I’m a sucker for all kinds of plastic storage cases. I have a few different Milwaukee cases, a few Dewalt, and many Bosch, so I thought I’d try this set and see what the case was like. Also, I liked the look of the finish on the bits.
I had purchased the Makita magnet add-on a month or so ago but I couldn’t get it to fit in any of my Dewalt or Milwaukee bits so I just put it aside for the time being. So far, I like Milwaukee for the 1/4” hex shaft drill bits and the case that it comes in, the problem there is that the bits are tight and it’s hard/dangerous to pull the bits out with your bare hands because the bits could end up slicing your fingers. The case for it is pretty good though and I bought some empties from eBay a while ago. Every time the new Dewalt bit kits go on sale for $10, I buy a few of them. The bits are decent, but I find that they develop some surface rust fairly easily. I live in Hawaii and it’s a bit humid here at times. The Milwaukee bits (black ones) also get some kind of corrosion, chalky like buildup on the surface. I used to buy the Milwaukee 7? In one screwdrivers that came with the chrome plated 3” or so bits because they didn’t corrode. They also weren’t impact rated and didn’t grip anything that great. I’ve since moved on to trying Wiha, Wera, and Felo 2” – 6” bits and those all work (grip) well, but also do develop some surface corrosion.
I really like the finish on the Makita bits and I’m hoping that they don’t corrode easily. I compared all of the different kits that Home Depot had like the 45 and 60 piece kits, and none of them had the same value as the 35 piece kit. Many of the bits are 1”, which I consider basically worthless. Moving up to the 45 piece kit got a few more 2” bits, but also more 1” bits as well for $5 more. There was even a 100-piece kit with mostly 1” bits, but it was the bits with the black finish.
I even tried inserting the 2” bits in the holder and it worked fine. Didn’t get stuck at all. I even tried my Milwaukee and Dewalt bits and they didn’t get stuck either. I like the softer feeling of the blue plastic that the case is made of, but it’s really hard for me to like it more than the Bosch cases with the clear plastic cover. I basically take all the bit organization out of the Bosch cases and just fill them up with bits. I have enough of them that I can organize them, but then you also end up needing to drag 3 or 4 cases with you sometimes.
I really dislike the Dewalt cases. They would be excellent except I don’t like how the black latch sticks up if it’s by itself or it’s the top most case (if you join them). I don’t really need to join my cases together. If I need to take several with me then I put them in one of the Tanos mini systainers.