[Closed] What screwdriver bits?

I have a set of magnetic Wera bits that have lasted for (literally) tens of thousands of screws used with a Hitachi 18V Li-Ion!!

Use good screws! And buy one decent set of bits.

Are you matching the right bits to the screw? It took me an embarrasingly long time to notice the difference between Pz and Ph.

Impact drivers are better at protecting the heads of the screws, I use them particularly for getting screws out rather than getting them in, but the tips fracture after a while rather than wear out.

The best I ever used were screwfix's Erbauer ones that came in a box of 50 and seemed to just fit screws really well and lasted well but they're no longer available. Now I use the tictac boxes of Dewalt ones that aren't quite as good as the erbauer, even though they cost more, but they're good enough.

edit - mind you - we are talking about Chateau Footflaps here - i guess you're not driving 4x30s 🙂

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I cheat, I use Ulti Mate Screws which come with their own specific anti-cam out driver in each box.

I did check and the bits and screws are PZ2, the screws are Gold Screws (I have a trade case from Screwfix), so not the cheapest. It's only the big screws which do this as the torque to get them all the way in is quite a high - eg I have to set my drill driver to drill mode rather than torque limited to get them in.

The bits are Wera magnetic bits with diamond coating...

Does sound a bit like user error, sorry. Wera bits are generally considered the best AIUI but 50 screws isn't many. Impact driver will be better, if you have a lot of screwing to do you won't regret buying one. If you are using a drill driver it shouldn't be in drill mode.

double post

At high torque, even with pozi and good bits, you still need plenty of weight behind the driver to prevent cam-out.

For larger screwsizes into very dense wood you might need to be thinking of piloting or driving in and out in and out to reduce the torque.

If you need [i]that [/i]much torque, then maybe drill some pilot/clearance holes first with a plug in drill?

If its needing that much oomph maybe pilot drill first. I pulse the trigger with heftier screws too (probably to no real effect at all)

By 'drill mode', I just mean the torque limited is off, it's still on the low ratio gear (the proper drill mode is just a high ratio gear and roughly twice the speed, but half the torque).

If you're driving at such high torque that you need to lock the clutch out (clicking to drill mode) and you cant hold the bit in the screw with your own weight, then you need to be using pilot holes or similar.

I think basically it needs a pilot hole, but I'm too lazy to drill one. Was wondering if an impact driver might be better as it's less likely to cam out. Very hard to get enough weight on when drilling horizontally against the floor eg the lower frame for this bench trashed a single Wera bit.

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Cheap plug in drill.
Pilot holes a mm or so less than the shaft of the screw.
Driver set to drill mode for speed.

Then also consider using smaller guage screws of the same length - i.e. 100mm x 5 instead of 6s.

If the larger screws are the main bother - some 5s and most 6s will need a Pz3

Then also consider using smaller guage screws of the same length

That would probably be the solution. My Wera bits had lasted years until these two benches and now I've trashed three bits in a WE and only used 100 screws....

If the larger screws are the main bother - some 5s and most 6s will need a Pz3

I did check, these are PZ2, a PZ3 bit won't fit.

Was wondering if an impact driver might be better

Was wondering if an impact driver might be better

STW solution: throw a bundle of money at the problem 🙂

I'm just after justification to buy another drill.....

I used to have a problem with screw heads so got some of those Wera diamond coated ones which didn't last long.

Then I got a big case of Reisser R2 Cutter screws and a little Tic Tac pack of DeWalt PZ2 bits and I only change the bit because I think it's probably about time. Never seem to slip.

Those screws don't need a pilot unless you find the 2 pieces separate as you screw them.

Reisser/Spax/Wurth will all make your job easier. I'm surprised that anything like Goldscrews are being used on footflaps' bench. 😯

🙂

STW solution: throw a bundle of money at the problem

The real solution is to throw a gas nailer at the problem 🙂

I'm a cheapskate for inner tubes and screws.....

Missed the bit about gold screws. That'll be part of the problem. Spax all the way. Last load I bought came from Ironmongery Direct at a good price

Dewalt do a bulk pack. eBay has them in boxes of 25 for sub £5.

I had sort of thought a screw was a screw. Is there a big difference? I normally just buy cheap and cheerful from Screwfix or Toolstation.

Magnet & Howdens stock Riesser R2 Cutter screws. Sometimes getting them today is worth the extra. (Not so much extra with an account)

Very hard to get enough weight on when drilling horizontally against the floor eg the lower frame for this bench trashed a single Wera bit.

Knee on the ground, elbow against groin, wrist against knee and lean into it. Then make the old-man noise as you get back up again.

(This is a bit like DD's 'Twister on the Radio')

I had sort of thought a screw was a screw. Is there a big difference? I normally just buy cheap and cheerful from Screwfix or Toolstation.

I don't really get on with toolstation screws - a bit snappy, I actually don't mind goldscrews from screwfix. I've got a Wurth account and their ones are good, but not (to my mind) so much better that I can be bothered to wait a day for delivery rather than buy goldscrews over the counter. I've used stuff like Reiser and Spax for really big screws but don't bother for cooking-joinery, especially if I'm paying for them (I find most spax evangelists I meet are spending their bosses money rather than watching their own margins.

I had sort of thought a screw was a screw.

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Impact driver all the way ..I use nothing else now

Oh and even with impact put some force behind the driver

The best bits I have used had diamond fragments impregnated in the surface of the bit to bite into the screw head. I went through 2-2500 screws with one bit on my decking but can't remember what make they were