Ryobi has come out with new diamond grit-coated impact-rated Phillips screwdriver bits.
In press materials, Ryobi says that their new diamond grit bits “deliver unmatched durability and performance.”
The new diamond grit coating means 20X longer life, less stripped screws, and 2X stronger grip compared to Ryobi’s standard bits.
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Ryobi says that their new diamond grit bits are:
an ideal solution for veteran pros and first-time users, reducing frustration while driving Philips head screws.
There will be 3 styles of diamond grit-coated bits. Shown here are 2″ power-style Phillips bits.
There will also be an extended-length 3-1/2″ power bit.
Finally, there will be 1″ insert-style Phillips bits.
There will also be two assortments, although product listings make it clear that only the Phillips-head bits have received the diamond grit coating.
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Sizes and Prices
- 1″ insert bits (5-pack, A96501): $4.97
- 2″ power bits (5-pack, A96502): $5.97
- 3-1/2″ power bits (3-pack, A96301): $6.97
- 1″ insert bit 22pc assortment (A962203): $9.97
- 2″ power bit 12pc assortment (A961203): $9.97
Ryobi diamond grit-coated impact screwdriver bits will be available exclusively at Home Depot.
ETA: May 2022
Steve
I wonder if others will follow suit, you see this coating on screwdriver sets, usually each retailer carries one brand. If the coating holds up maybe more pro brands will do it. Are there any others with diamond coated bits?
Also, you got the links for the two assortments switched.
Stuart
(Sorry, thank you, *fixed*!)
Diamond grit coatings have been available for a long time, although mostly (or entirely) with individual-sized screwdrivers.
Anti-cam-out ribs have been around for a while (https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/anti-cam-out-screwdriver-tips-aco-acr/%3C/a%3E%29, and there are other surface-roughening approaches as well.
Here are diamond-coated screwdrivers and drivers:
https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/stanley-screwdrivers-diamond-coated-tips/%3C/a%3E%3Cbr /> https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/craftsman-extreme-grip-ball-hex-keys/%3C/a%3E%3Cbr /> https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/stanley-fatmax-folding-diamond-coated-ball-hex-key-sets/%3C/a%3E%3Cbr /> https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/stanley-diamond-tip-screwdriver-set-refresh-2017/%3C/a%3E%3Cbr /> https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/5-must-have-tools-for-new-parents/%3C/a%3E (Husky diamond grit-tipped screwdrivers)
I don’t believe I’ve seen this on impact-rated screwdrivers bits though.
Collin
Wera
https://www.amazon.com/Wera-Diamond-Impaktor-Screwdriver-Phillips/dp/B005HFMYT8/
Raycr
Wera has ribs on their Kraftform VDE screwdrivers.
Craftsman had diamond bits on their black and gray screwdrivers for at least 7 to 8 years maybe longer. They were the first I ever saw.
Now even Harbor Freight has a screwdriver line with diamonds.
Tim
Remember when Milwaukee made a big fuss about these?
Pepperidge farms remembers.
Stuart
I don’t. What are you referring to?
Are you talking about Matrix Carbide? https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/milwaukee-tool-discontinues-shockwave-matrix-carbide-impact-screwdriver-bits/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
Charles_A
I’ve been pretty disappointed by Ryobi bits in the past, to the point that I’ve donated my remaining (new) stock to Habitat.
So – virtually any improvement would be welcome in my mind, however I’m not sure I track how a diamond coating could remedy what were soft-steeled, ill-fitting driver bits.
MM
I agree, there’s little need for fancy coatings or oddball features–I’m reminded of the old (and terrible) Vermont American “Claw” screwdrivers which had little serrations on the bit. Forget the gimmicks, just make the tips out of quality steel with good heat treatment, and shape them to fit the screw head properly.
OhioHead
Why use high quality materials on a bit/bit tip?
That just prevents more sales 😉, the product people chant to themselves when coming up with copywrite for these new accessories sell, sell, sell!!! 😜
Nathan
I was going to say I’ve seen this done before and they all seem to go discontinued at some point. Dewalt had hand screwdrivers if I remember and I thought milwaukee had some bits
regardless not the worst idea would be interesting to see hor it holds up with impact use. In theory it would be better.
fred
I’m always willing to believe that a brand/manufacturer can improve – but my limited experience with Ryobi accessories puts them at the bottom of my list when purchasing. I also note that bits really should be put into the consumables category. Too much work is marred by folks who try to stretch the longevity of their bits – rather than replace them at the first sign of wear. I have not had a need for buying many bits lately – but when we did – especially for our fabrication business – we bought in bulk (e.g. lots of 100) from Apex. In the remodeling business, I think that we tried out some Wera diamond coated bits – but don’t recall any groundswell of demand to buy more.
Ray
It’s my understanding that Philips bits are designed for use in automobile manufacturing to torque out. I have started using Japanese Industrial Standard bits. Trying to make a bit that’s designed to torque out so it won’t do what it was designed to do, is like putting lipstick on a pig.
Bruce
Just move to Robinson if you’ve got the flexibility to choose your own fasteners. I run a lot of phillips because that’s what most equipment comes with and that’s 99% of what I need to open up.
taras
This is an old myth that Phillips is “designed” to cam out. Henry Ford is responsible for the ubiquity of the Phillips screw.
He needed a screw that was easily self centered on a bit, to speed up the assembly process. He originally approached the Robertson company, but him and Robertson couldn’t agree to terms (Robertson had previously gotten screwed over in a previous licensing relationship).
So with no Robertson available to him, Ford went with Phillips, as it was the only other self centering/seating but design at the time.
Matt the Hoople
While I have heard in the past about Phillips being designed to cam out, that just doesn’t make sense. There are two reasons why. The first is that, with any fastener, you want to control the tightening torque. Relying on the screwdriver bit to cam out doesn’t seem like a good method to accurately control the torque as there would be a ton of variables affecting how easily the bit cams out. Shape of the bit, shape of the fastener, materials of construction, the angle at which they interface, the pressure applied to the bit, wear, etc. The second issue I see with the theory is that, if the fastener were designed to cam out, why did it become the primary design that has been in use for the last century? Seems that, during that time, Industry would have come up with a better alternative that would have been pushed in marketed to displace the Phillips bit a long time ago.
The self centering theory, make complete sense as I dread every time I have to work on my century old home and face a slew of slotted screws.
Jason Ingram
You’re close. Phillips bit for designed to come out to keep from breaking the heads off on aluminum aircraft. And if you want the best Phillips bits you need to get the pr better known as Philip Roberts bits. Those are the best you can get. As for me I’d rather just stick with torque head start points. Nothing like an old T25. Really and truly the worst when I had a job doing steel stud framing panelization in a Warehouse here in my city and we used number three square 5/8 panhead self tapping sheet metal screws and even today 3 years later it’s still not very easy to track down some number threes I know boss makes the best ones available. If you get the ones that have the double ends those things are perfect on the second setting of a gen 3 Milwaukee fuel impact. That third setting will just literally melt the drill bit off the end of the screw before I had the chance to even do anything. And if you are lucky enough to be able to get that self-tapping screwed and punch through on that third setting well then congratulations sir you have either just snapped the head off of your screw or in most cases snap that impact bit right in half so easily that you would think that it was broken before you even started ugga dugging.
Davethetool
And the marketing for magic, everlasting bits continues! When screws are all imported with cheap soft metal does it really matter or is this the “pig with lipstick” scenario we all keep falling for as we gladly empty our wallets for the next miracle bits?
On a personal note, I had a set of the Craftsman Diamond Professional Screwdrivers when they first came out in the 1990’s I believe. I developed such a dislike for them while using (compared to my ordinary craftsman acetate handle screwdrivers) I ended up giving them away. Seems I was always camming out Philips screw heads with them.
Jared
I recall reading somewhere that diamond coatings just press themselves into the steel with use. I’m not suggesting that’s true, just something I recalled reading.
However, even if that happens, I imagine they must work for awhile – which seems useful.
I like this idea generally. I wonder if the use of these diamond coatings could compromise the surface finish of fasteners, maybe allowing them to rust. Wouldn’t matter in some applications, but might for others.
Matt the Hoople
Yeah, I suspect the diamonds poke out like little points and then get thrust into the softer screw causing them to “bite in”. The improved bite and reduced “cramming out” likely reduces deformation of the screwdriver bit. The bit is likely not any tougher. Just that it see less abuse due to sticking better.
fred
As you say – some applications are more sensitive. In our fabrication business we had contracts/customers that required very strict FOD protocols. Sometimes even the smallest speck of detritus left in an assembly could be an issue. Stainless Steel bits were sometimes a part of the solution.
That sort of compares to our remodeling business – where a good sweep-up and vacuuming at the end of the day was probably the only “clean-room” technique that our carpenters were aware of.
TonyT
Yup, there’s a reason Wera makes stainless steel screw drivers.
JoeM
Interesting… Not sure they really Needed to do this… but it’s certainly nice to know they did… Someone other than the top-tier brands using the diamond grit does make more market sense. Plus, at the lower price point, you could stock up in bulk on these, and run them into the ground without any guilt, whatsoever.
Plus… Isn’t Ryobi in the TTi family anyways? Wouldn’t it make sense to have done this some time around the time Milwaukee came out with theirs? I know I’ve had to endure several years’ worth of disgust-shuddering while hearing everyone praise Milwaukee’s versions as “The Best Impact-Rated Bits” every year… I find my DeWALT MaxFIT and FlexTorq sets to be practically indestructible, and usually overkill for what I’ve used them for… yet they get called garbage next to the TTi-made Milwaukee impact bits. Shockwave or something? Ryobi having their own to maybe unseat Milwaukee would be interesting to see. A little bit comical, the two TTi siblings going head-to-head… but hey… The tool industry can be a lot of fun too!
Stuart
I’m sure these are not designed to compete with Milwaukee Shockwave bits.
JoeM
I know. I just find the idea of them unseating those Milwaukee Shockwave (?) impact bits to be fun/funny. Just some levity to accompany my praise to Ryobi for doing something that wasn’t exactly necessary for them to do. It’s kinda like a courtesy item. Free chocolate on your pillow at a hotel kind of thing.
In this case… Guilt-Free Diamond-Grip Impact Bits for your Ryobi needs. Not needed, but nice that they did it anyways! The rest is just my weird sense of humour. I get a chuckle out of the thought that someone, even you, Stuart, might pick up a set or two, and suddenly find yourself reaching for these instead of the infamous Milwaukee bits. Just a fun thought. Not serious at all. “Who would win between Superman and The Hulk?” levels of immature fun.
Stuart
I didn’t say I would buy these.
About the only Ryobi accessories I’ve purchased in recent years were their router bit sets, because it’s hard to beat the price to value if you need a quick variety for exploring new profiles.
I sent a router to my younger cousin, and included a Ryobi assortment plus a Freud/Diablo straight cutter.
Jason. W
Unless positive user reviews come in I would avoid these just like I avoid all other Ryobi accessories.
Emilio Gonzalez
More gimmicks. Wiha and Wera make good bits and these are wear items. They don’t last. I just purchased JIS bits from Koken Japan. I work on Subarus. I’d rather have good fitting tighter tolerance bits than some gimmicky coating. Just buy bits by the box.
They’re all going to get destroyed.
Ian M
Square drive (Robertson) is the way to go for screws and driver bits. The are so simple and I can’t recall ever stripping a screw head with a number 2 bit
Seaquell
The kreg jig square drive/Robertson screws seem to be harder to find engagement in a blind hole when you are working by feel, star drive seems to find engagement easier in my experience but both resist camout very well.
Bob Adkins
Phillips and Robertson (square) could use a little grip, star drive doesn’t need anything. I have a collection of several grits of diamond powder, and I love to try it on different things. It’s so cheap now that every metal shop should keep an assortment handy.
I always wondered why screwdriver bits weren’t carbonitrided. It’s what TiN coating promises to do but totally fails at. I guess it’s ab expensive process, I think it requires many hours of high temperature to infuse it .005-.010 into the surface of the steel.
KenZ
“Less stripped screws.” That literally means all the screws strip, but to a lesser extent on each screw. I think “FEWER stripped screws” is what they meant to say.
Robert
These coatings do work in my opinion, but don’t seem to hold up over the long run. I’ve found that a properly well machined bit will hold a fastener as well or better, and will hold up better in the long run than diamond coatings.