I have been putting in a lot of mileage this week, scouting out all of the early Black Friday 2021 tool deals at Home Depot and Lowe’s. The difficult part is that each store seems to have slightly different floor plans and deal selections, requiring me to visit multiple stores at different times to get as complete a picture on their as possible.
Over at Lowe’s, the two stores near me have only started putting out select promo displays, but they both have very prominent setups featuring these Wiha Terminator Blue screwdriver bit sets.
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If you recall, Wiha launched a new line of Terminator Blue screwdriver bits, and they’re exclusive to Lowe’s. So, of course there’s going to be a holiday display featuring these power tool accessories.
There are two sets on sale – an 8pc set featuring 1-inch insert-style screwdriver bits, and a 7pc set with 2-inch power bits. Both feature impact-rated screwdriver bits, suited for use with cordless drills, screwdrivers, and impact drivers.
Wiha Terminator Blue 8pc Bit Set (1-inch)
The 8pc insert bit set features a magnetic bit holder and (7) 1-inch bits in common sizes.
Bit Selection:
- Phillips #1, #2
- Square #1, #2
- Torx T20, T25, T30
- 1/4″ hex bit holder
I checked my records, and Lowe’s was selling this same Wiha Terminator Blue screwdriver bit set for the same price a few months ago (and presumably since then).
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So, this is really just a promotional display, rather than a deal-type of promotion. This time of year, most brands put together aggressively priced promotional assortments.
I wonder why Lowe’s and Wiha didn’t do that here. However, when you consider that the regular Terminator (red) bit set is priced at more than $17 on Amazon and around the same elsewhere, maybe these Terminator Blue screwdriver bits are already aggressively priced.
Maybe this is a good time to try these screwdriver bits, but if you miss out, you can pick one off the shelf later on for the same price.
Price: $9.98
Buy Now via Lowe’s
Compare via Amazon
Wiha Terminator Blue 7pc Bit Set (2-inch)
Lowe’s allocated half the display space to Wiha Terminator Blue 2-inch power bit-style bit sets, featuring a bit box and (7) screwdriver bits.
Bit Selection:
- Phillips #1, #2
- Square #1, #2
- Torx T20, T25, T30
You get the same bit sizes as in the other set, but with longer power bit-style lengths and shanks.
This set is the same undiscounted price as the 8pc 1-inch bit set, and it seems like a better buy. Over at Amazon, they have the Wiha 7pc Terminator (red) screwdriver bit set for $22.
Price: $9.98
Buy Now via Lowe’s
Compare via Amazon
I still haven’t tried these bits yet. The store displays almost appealed to me, and they still might, but I left both Lowe’s stores empty-handed.
The Wiha bit boxes interest me more than the bits, and so one or both of these sets might still land on my holiday season shopping list.
fred
Sets of bits seem to be one of the staples of the holiday season. I guess they make great stocking suffers and impulse buy items. On a per bit price it is hard to argue against them. But if you were to buy them over many years you are likely to accumulate many of the less commonly used bits. Sets that offer multiples of the more used sizes are better but we preferred to buy what we really used in bulk (like 100 pieces or more – sometimes 500 packs for PH#2 – at a time).
Stuart
I buy small bulk packs, but still find assortments to be convenient.
Yes, they often have some sizes I don’t use, but it’s still good to have them available, with the exception of too many slotted bits.
It’s easy to assess whether I’ll get my money’s worth out of a bit set deal. If I’m doubt, I put it back or wait.
fred
What I was hinting at – was that we might run through dozens of Phillips #2 bits on a project – so acquiring them via kits did not make sense. But if you use only a few bits at a time – and cross over among a few different styles – the bit sets might offer an attractive price.
The same can be true for other tools as well. Say you need socket wrenches in 5 different sizes. Buying a set that includes what you need plus several extras might actually cheaper than buying only what you need.
Julian Tracy
This reminds me of the Festool little belt bit holder and 10-15 bits it came with I bought years ago ($30?) Point being – no matter the brand they are basically expendable and so there’s no point in buying fancy brands in tiny little packages.
As long as you stick with the big 3-4, all their bits seems about the same amount “Meh?!”, so buy the Xmas packs for plenty of backup and choose based on who has the best bit cases. IMO, Milwaukee’s got decent cases with good asst’s and they get plenty cheap near Dec and after.
fred
I think (but only a thought – because no scientific tests were done) that we had some feedback that some bits were much better than others. What we could never get at was whether the cost of premium bit (say a Wera diamond coated PH2 bit($29 for 10) was worth it (in general carpentry work) versus an Apex bit bought in bulk ($78 for $500). I recall discussions about tossing bits at the first sign of wear – and starting jobs with fresh bits – so we probably tossed out a lot. But the Wera bit at $2.90 each would have to drive at least 18 times the number of screws to break even. Of course one would expect that the premium bit would fit perfectly and produce less cam out and potential for screw head damage. So, on critical assembly issues in our fabrication business we – used premium and stainless steel (where leaving particles behind was an issue) bits from folks like Hios, PB Swiss and Wera with torque controlled drivers. But for general carpentry in the remodeling business we mostly used decent quality bits bought in bulk. In the plumbing business I have no records that we bought bits – I think the guys mostly picked up replacement bits at the supply house or a Home Depot so I have no gauge on what they liked or if they had any preference.
Nathan
at the hobbist DIY level I will say that I really don’t bother with bit sets anymore.
A few years ago I got a set of 6 or so Dewalt flextorq bits that came with the mag collar. at the time I thought well this should do for a few projects and I’ll be getting replacements. I still have 2 of those philps left. all were 2’s. one they did last well, and two I really don’t use them that much either. So 2 of them died on one project but otherwise they have lasted me around 6 years now.
when I see tearing or wear on the ends of the bit I toss it right away. Didn’t used to but I do now. It’s not worth the effort to try to make a lightly worn bit work if I have another to use. 1 inch philps bits I have a number of them too – but they are only for the hand driver. I haven’t done it yet but I bet my next project with torx screws has be buying something like a set of dewalt, milwaukee, makita, ? torx bits in a group and using those for another 3-4 years.
So yes with respect to that 2 inch bit pack – its interesting the price is about right and the box is probably the most useful part of that.
AttachMount
I bought this set a while back. It is a nice general compact backup kit that lives in my tool belt. It comes in handy when I run across a odd ball fastener, if I drop, lose a primary impact bit or if I need a small extension. Pays for its self that one time when up on a ladder with a safety harness and your bit breaks.
Frank D
Somebody should sell bulk packs at big box stores with 2” and 3” bits, Phillips 2, Torx 25, R2, …
So tired of 1” bits in combo packs.
rob
Lowes literally sells Wiha 2” Phillips 2, Torx 25 and Robertson 2 in bulk packs.