I’ve been getting some questions and requests – what’s the best screwdriver bit accessory set to go along with my new cordless drill driver kit? I’ve search around and FOUND IT!
This Milwaukee Tool 70pc Shockwave screwdriver bit set is the one to buy for anyone who bought their first drill/driver, is giving someone a cordless drill for the holidays or housewarming gift, or wants a decent bit assortment for their own use.
Advertisement
Price: $9.88 with free shipping
I’ll explain why, just please hold on a moment.
*cue elevator or phone call holding musing*
Sorry to make you wait, I just ordered a set for myself. I mean, $10 with free shipping, and for bits I could definitely put to use.
Advertisement
This is a very good variety! Normally you could expect to get maybe 40 different Phillips screwdriver bits in a set like this, or similar.
Instead, you get 33 different screwdriver bit sizes and styles, plus a bit holder.
The bits are mostly 1″ insert bits, but that’s fine by me, and you do get a couple of 2″ power bits that can be used without the bit holder in impact drivers and drill chucks.
At first I thought the little “tic tac” box of bits was a bulk quantity of Phillips bits or similar, but it holds an assortment too.
You get a total of 6 Phillips #2 bits, 5 Square #2 bits, and 3 T25 bits – these are the most popular construction fastener sizes. The rest of the 70pc set gives you Torx, slotted, Phillips, and square bits, as well as hex bits in inch and metric sizing.
This is the best holiday season “special buy” assortment that I can remember seeing.
I think this is the best screwdriver bit variety pack for anywhere near this price. Do you agree or disagree? Most assortments focus on giving you more but they never really have the sizes or styles you need.
This assortment could be more complete, such as with 1/4″ shank nut drivers, but for $10? Even then, one nut driver won’t help – I can’t tell you how many bit sets I have, with none of them ever providing the nut driver sizes I need.
Wait, You Want MORE?
There’s also a 120pc set that you might be interested in, priced at $25. That set has a little more variety, but it’s mostly more bits in popular construction fastener sizes.
Dave
1” bits that need holders, no thanks. I have a small peanut butter jar clear full of them that I need to give away. Wait, I tried that… none of my associates wanted anything to do with them……
Tom D
I agree the short bits really don’t have much of a place for me anymore, but man is it hard to find quickbits in hex.
Joel Spangler
I am with you. I absolutely abhor the 1 inch bits. Can’t tell you how many times I have had them fall out of the magnetic holders. When they get slightly stuck in a screw. Have you found a good assortment kit with only 2 inch bits?
Tom D
I found an Irwin set on clearance once akin to this https://www.americanfreight.com/br/pdp/irwin-tools-impact-performance-series-fastener-power-bits-20-piece-set-with-pro-case-and-magnetic-screw-hold-attachment/198227
Lewis
https://www.acmetools.com/shop/tools/milwaukee-48-32-4531
Must have for 1” bits anymore. Nothing gets stuck in a screw.
Will
Got to get a nice locking bit holder.
Big Richard
I’ll third that feeling, Dave. Needs more of the longer 2″ power bits for me. A lot of them come with nut drivers, too, which I also have 5 to 6 redundant sets of. For $5 more, I got this one:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/DEWALT-MAX-IMPACT-Screwdriving-Set-30-Piece-DWAMI30/308496364
Only downside was no 2.5″ square #2 bits, had to buy a 2-pk to put in there for an additional $2.
blocky
Over the last couple years, I’ve picked up a lifetime supply of Phillips and Torx, but I still grabbed 2 of these because I love this assortment. Having that full complement of SAE and Metric hex is awesome for installers and rapid assembly. I keep a Wera bitcheck-30 with a custom selection in every toolbag bc I never know when a client is going to ask me: “Can you take a look at something?” And being able to chuck it into a drill makes quick work when I’m doing random expo furniture.
I also like these cases for 1″ bits, bc you can customize the loadout, and set all the rows facing upwards for quick grab. It’s a very compact way to keep 84 assorted bits on hand.
Richard Schneeman
Wiha has some good impact rated hex bits but they are pricey.
Andy
It’s a killer deal. Milwaukee bits are decent. God know I don’t need them, and I really hate power bits, but for anyone trying to build up a solid selection of bits, you aren’t going to beat this.
A W
Thanks so much Stuart!
Stuart
You’re welcome!!
A W
Just opened these up sheet Christmas.
My favorite part compared to my old Shockwave bits is the high visibility markings now in silver at the base of each bit. The old stamped ones were much harder to read. Very helpful in telling the metric from SAE allen keys, for example.
James C
Nice variety. You don’t always get hex bits in these sort of kits.
Those inserts are somewhat modular but I don’t think they’ll work with the wider case version I have. I like how the inserts can be rotated. By aiming the 1″ bits straight up they’re easier to grab and you can fit way more in the case. I just need another set so I can combine more inserts in a single case.
fred
You could try this sort of egg-crate bit storage:
https://www.freezone.tw/
Then purchase a box that is something like 1-1/2 inch deep – cut a piece of the egg-crate to fit – then glue it in.
James C
That’s a great idea. I don’t know why it never occurred to me to add some other kind of organizer to the case. Thanks!
Sean
Thank you Stuart for this post! I just purchased this set. Great deal
Stuart
You’re welcome, and thanks for mentioning it! I sometimes worry that deals I like won’t be as popular or interesting as I predict.
Tom D
When you have referral links do you want just get a ball of cash at the end of the month/year or do they give you a breakdown of which were popular, etc? $10 free shipping is an impulse buy for many.
I would have grabbed this but I’d already grabbed the bigger one earlier.
Stuart
Reporting depends on the retailer. I try to check every now and then, but I generally have to dig deep for insights; most programs don’t readily show what’s purchased or popular.
I’m usually driven by my personal tool interests, and by requests or reader reportings.
Last year one or two deals were based on what readers reported using a coupon code on, that’s when checking can come in handy.
I’m taking a look now, and… this does look to be a reasonably popular deal.
The recent Dewalt oscillating blade deal seems to be more popular: https://toolguyd.com/dewalt-oscillating-multi-tool-blade-deal-10292020/
King duck
I would gladly pay 5x for a kit like this in 2” and without all the duplicates. Although I’m tempted to buy this kit because I don’t have a nice adjustable case and I really like the adjustable case.
Frank D
Same … the shorty bits are nice to have … but often times you cannot use them because of the fat 1/4 bit adapter, while needing to get into a small recessed area.
I have downsized my screwdrivers I carry, in favor of a WIHA and VERA multi driver … only to get stumped so many times because of the fatter bit holder head, preventing me from getting to screws.
fred
I suspect that lots of these kits get bought adding mightily to the number of bits that get manufactured and never get used. We probably had a kit – sort of like this – in every truck for those “just in case” situations that probably never came up. But the facts were that it was #2 Phillips and #2 Robertson, plus a few Torx bits that we used most and, therefore, bought in bulk. This kit does look nice and the price seems good – so it will likely show up under a lot of Xmas trees.
Harry
Thanks for Sharing!!!
The kit might not be perfect, and I never use the square bits but, It’s still an excellent value that can’t be beat. Keep the Black Friday deals coming!!!
L3
Personally I think this is a more useful set, for $5 more:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee-SHOCKWAVE-Impact-Duty-Steel-Driver-Bit-Set-45-Piece-48-32-4023/301024184
James C
I agree. That’s the full-width case which would be better for me to mix and match the pieces with another one I have.
So this one has some double-ended bits. I haven’t seen those in Red before. Are they new? Anyone try them?
L3
I have one of the #2 Phillps/ 25 Torx that i use pretty regularly, those are my 2 most used screws. Seems to be holding up pretty well, better than the Irwin that I also have used quite a bit.
Jason Gloekler
Even better the packout bit set with 100 PCs for now 49 bucks is a super deal.
Jeremiah Ducate
Thanks for this Stuart. I think this set is excellent for what it is. People have mentioned the downsides to 1″ bits, which I can’t argue with but I still use them primarily. I think I’m going to get one of these to go with a bosch 12v drill and recip set I’m giving someone for Christmas as a diy resource.
This set is a wide variety of bit types and includes a good assortment of hex bits which is fairly rare. It also doesn’t have a particular excess of just one type. As mentioned There are a number of better sets out there but not at this price point and most amateur occasional users don’t actually wear out bits often except phillips and I find mostly from poor use.
This combined with a set of drill bits and a set of nutdrivers should last the average homeowner or renter decades.
I see it frequently saving time searching for an odd bit size or having to pause a project and go buy one.
Jason S.
This is a great deal! One for me and one for my old man. Thanks for recommending it.
Clay
Picked up two at lunch along with the Milwaukee speed square combo and 2 12″ Husky bags, all of which i knew about from here.
Thanks, Stuart!