Vessel has announced a new USA model of impact screwdriver set that they say will help you “say goodbye to stubborn screws and hello to smoother fixes.”
This isn’t exactly a new tool – you can find similar Vessel impact screwdrivers on Amazon and elsewhere – but from the looks of it this set comes with USA-standard-size power-style screwdriver bits.
Features include:
Advertisement
- Striking end cap
- Hex bolster
- Internal cam mechanism for “12° reverse rotation per strike”
- 6 standard bits + 1 screw extractor bit
- Cross #2, #3, Slotted 6, 7, Torx T25, T30, screw extractor cross #2
- Made in Japan
The set comes with a soft storage case.
The cross-style screwdriver tips are “JIS Drive,” which are designed to “fit all [cross-style] screws around the world,” including JIS and Phillips.
Model no. 238HWB7PU
Price: TBA
Vessel USA wouldn’t share with us the price, but they said it will be announced soon, and that the screwdriver set will be available at online retailers including Amazon starting in January 2025.
The way an impact screwdriver works, you strike the end cap and its internal mechanism converts the energy into rotational motion.
This strike-to-rotate action makes it easier to loosen tight fasteners in different conditions; the sudden shock to a fastener can sometimes do the trick. Impact screwdrivers are usually used to break stuck fasteners free.
Advertisement
The tip on the cross #2 extraction bit looks to be aggressively grooved, and should dig into damaged fastener heads.
Most impact screwdrivers look a lot like this Craftsman model, which at the time of this posting is $23 at Amazon.
There’s also this Lisle set, which is around $38.
Most impact screwdriver have a similar chunky industrial design.
Vessel’s approach is different, and looks a lot like their regular ball-handle screwdrivers and bit holders. It’s a big deviation from industry norms.
On the downside, the Vessel handle looks to have a lot more plastic in its construction than other impact screwdrivers currently on the market. Other impact screwdrivers can also be used for sockets and ship with a bit adapter, but this one has a built-in 1/4″ hex bit holder.
Vessel says that the included bits can be “also [used] with electric power tools.”
I’m not convinced whether this screwdriver would work well beyond fastener removal tasks, but I’m open to the possibility.
Jared
That looks awesome. I love my Vessel ball driver multi-bit screwdriver. I didn’t know there was an “impacta” version.
Although… does this still work well in manual screwdriving tasks? It also occurs to me that the balldriver aspect might be less important if this is strictly for impact-use. I.e. can I just use it like a regular screwdriver too – or is it going to feel “springy”?
CA
Surely you can still grip by the bottom end to use like a regular screwdriver. Sorry for calling you Shirley. I’m buying this set when it comes out.
ZC
I have a regular Vessel Megadora Impacta and the spring tension on it is strong enough that’s it’s difficult to compress by hand, so when I’m not hitting it with a hammer it’s basically just a normal screwdriver. Not sure if this will have the same spring strength though.
MattW.
I have had it since it came out in Japan almost half a year ago and its good. It’s better than the impacta ph2/3 single use drivers for a tool bag. There is some up and down play with the spring but paired with a variety of bits it’s perfect for stripped screw work in odd shapes torx ect. The philips but is serrated on the flutes and is great for its purpose. They are 13mm jis bits but it’s fine get one you won’t be disappointed. Works great on rusty t40-55 for automotive.
Jared
I didn’t see the serrations at first – but that seems like a good idea. A little like Wera’s laser tips.
I like Vessel for working on old Japanese machines. I realize JIS is obsolete and modern Phillips drivers should fit just fine – but some fit better than others. Vessel’s JIS-drive fits really well.
I’m restoring a 1976 Ford Courier right now and it comes up a lot. Though branded “Ford”, it was made by Mazda.
MattW.
It never fails a kiddo or family members have Hondas or toyotas and my impacta gets alot of use for rotor screws. I feel the pain but other than pb swiss and wera vde I’m almost all vessel annex ect. Half my bags is made in japan tools. You don’t buy 3x vessel usb 3 speeds if you don’t use them alot. Mp2x tach pack and sbld all have many of the same tools. Glad you found a truck you can actually work on i know someone who swapped a 22re into one of thoes and half a million miles later. My vote is to use jis screwdrivers all the time unless it’s laser tips or something special.
Jared
It seems strange they don’t have a bigger following. They’re a lot less desirable than old Toyotas, and hence less expensive, but there’s a lot of similarities. I have a 1977 Toyota Pickup too – if you squint, they’re not that different really.
Simple, lightweight machines with fully-boxed frames. It doesn’t have the venerable Toyota 22r – but there’s nothing “wrong” with the 1800cc Mazda VB. Plus, mine sat in a field for 30 years and there’s still hardly any rust (other than the driver’s floorboard). A Toyota treated that way would have a swiss cheese body and frame.
A W
I was helping a buddy move on Saturday and he had a very long, very stuck screw driven into a stud to secure a bookshelf.
This would have been perfect.
Joe A
I have the #2 and #3 Phillips Vessel Impacta drivers. They quickly became my favorite all around standard Philips screwdrivers. I’ve whacked them with a hammer a few times and they work well, but most of the time I just use them as regular screwdrivers. Top notch stuff. I’ve been eyeing the ratcheting ball driver set because, well, ratcheting (own an assortment of Snap-On, Williams, and LTT ratcheting drivers).
fred
Vessel is one of a few companies that also sell drivers and wrenches for threaded rod:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001HPNAPO
Robert
That is really cool.
Andy
Fred, thank you for always sharing the wealth of knowledge you’ve developed over the years. I’ve learned so much from your comments on this site.
Ray
I’ve replaced all the Phillips screwdrivers in my toolbox with Vessel JIS. When you use a JIS screwdriver it fits the Phillips screw head so well. Its satisfying, like this is the way it otta be.
Jerry
I have a Vessel impact screwdriver, well 2 actually, as well as a Lisle hand impact tool I think identical to what you have pictured
In my opinion, they are not interchangeable. The Vessel is much more a precision tool, the Lisle is more of a ‘big’ tool.
To better explain, if you have a screw stuck in something that is at all delicate, the Vessel all the way. It is more precision, lighter, with a longer, thinner shank to get into recessed areas better. It also requires much less impact with the hammer in order to get it to work properly. It works best with several light taps as opposed to one or two big whacks.
The Lisle, on the other hand, is what you use when you have a big hammer, and just want that pesky screw banged loose NOW, and will worry about collateral damage later.
928'er
Been a fan of Vessel tools ever since I stumbled onto the Craftsman branded screwdrivers with the 3-way reversible shanks. Bought 2 of them when Sears was clearing them out.
Since then I’ve acquired a pretty extensive collection of Vessel drivers and bits. I got the impact driver you linked to a couple of weeks ago. Same driver as the one in kit you posted about sans the extra 6 bits – just the +2 screw extractor. I agree that the extra bits would be of limited utility since the driver only rotates counterclockwise. But, since they’re impact rated, I suppose you could use them with another (reversible) 1/4″ impact driver – or just use them as screwdriver bits with another handle.
Jay Dee
Vessel also makes a more “standard” looking whack-it impact driver:
https://www.vesseltools.com/hand-tools/250001-detail
CoBlue
I have the rubber grip version of this one and I’ve found it to be excellent. It works vastly better than the (not actually all that much) cheaper manual impact drivers I’d previously used. Screws that could only be removed with great effort and patience come out in a straightforward (but not effortless) fashion.
I’m very happy with it. It’s not common to see that much improvement in a similar tool.
Dave P
I have 2 of the Lisle ones., and at least 2 other sets that I’m unsure of the brand without looking. They are “chunky industrial” because THEY WILL DO SOMETHING, like keep a bulldozer running, a piece of farm equipment fixed–keep the world working, so to speak. That little toy would be more for precision work or getting a stubborn screw out of your patio/deck. NOT the same thing…TOTALLY DIFFERENT TOOL for different applications; they are not comparable.
I’ll stick with what I have….
Doug
Should be good. All I use now are Vessel screwdrivers. Impressive. They know how to make a Phillips!