Good Phillips Driver Bits

[mscher]

The cheapies #2 Phillips bits never last and the Irwins from Menards, including the "professsional" harder bits, last about a long a a good butter
knife.

I'm tryine to drive 3" screws, through a 2x4 into old 2x2 poplar.

Any other brands user's swear by and not swear at?

 

[Cofe]

Re: Good Phillips Driver Bits

I have had a hard time finding good Philips driver bits also. I use a impact driver and it shatters bits that are too hard.
The best that I found so far are Black and Decker 3 pack bits at wallyworld.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Good Phillips Driver Bits

I imagine they are decking screws...... I would get a handful of Dewalt or Milwaukee bits. Have you tried the square head deck screws..... they seem to drive in a bit better with the proper bit.

I have a dedicated set for use on my guns but I would NEVER put them in a drill driver.

 

[JB]

Re: Good Phillips Driver Bits

It is very easy to mix up Phillips and Reed and Prince screws and bits.

Phillips are the pointed ones and they will not do well driving R&P screws which need a R&P (flat tip) bit. The Phillips bits cannot "bottom" in the R&P screws. R&P bits usually do okay driving Phillips screws.

That is probably academic because every deck screw I have ever used was Phillips, square or Torx and intended to be used in relatively soft wood.

 

[dr_bowtie]

Re: Good Phillips Driver Bits

I just got some of the Irwin "Blue" label brand and I really like those...

but as mentioned, for long screws either use Square head or Torx...I have been using torx for long screws...3in and up...those dont strip...

 

[Tacklewasher]

Re: Good Phillips Driver Bits

Use Robertson screws and bits instead.

 

[Cofe]

Re: Good Phillips Driver Bits

Phillips are the pointed ones and they will not do well driving R&P screws which need a R&P (flat tip) bit. The Phillips bits cannot "bottom" in the R&P screws. R&P bits usually do okay driving Phillips screws.

JB that is good to point that out. (No punn intended)

Wanted to clarify that the Black and Decker bits I recommended are not cheap, and gold in color.
B&D also make some bits that are not up to snuff.

 

[dwco5051]

Re: Good Phillips Driver Bits

I have had good luck with Milwaukee bits. Use them mostly in my drywall gun but also for any other use as in hinges etc. Like others have stated I prefer either torx or square head for longer screws in decks and all. Since a Phillips is tapered it requires constant pressure as the screw goes forward, the others are a little more forgiving if you back off a little.

 

[Bifflefan]

Re: Good Phillips Driver Bits

I can add two words to this:

Pre-Drill.

It takes more time but in the end you still have your sanity....

 

[Jeep Man]

Re: Good Phillips Driver Bits

Don't buy from usual retailers. Go to your local industrial/electrical supplier. As a side note, being north of the border, we are spoiler with Robertson screws...no slippage. I think they are now available in the US, except they call them square head.

 

[JustJason]

Re: Good Phillips Driver Bits

Go with snap on if you want the bits to last. But if your screwing into decking I would go with square bit personally. All bits work better to if you use a cordless screw impact driver vs a cordless drill.

 

[Tacklewasher]

Re: Good Phillips Driver Bits

Don't buy from usual retailers. Go to your local industrial/electrical supplier. As a side note, being north of the border, we are spoiler with Robertson screws...no slippage. I think they are now available in the US, except they call them square head.

But it is frustrating to go into a Home Depot in Canada and see them selling "square head" screws. I end up shouting at the signs that they are Robertson screws.

Much like the day I saw that Canadian Tire was selling 6 gal gas cans. Nearly got escorted out of the store that day.......

 

[EsoxRanger]

Re: Good Phillips Driver Bits

Go to your local siding or sheet metal distributor ond buy some Malco brand drivers. They are very durable. Robertson "square drive" is my favorite too. Most electrical stuff comes with a screw that will accept either a Robertson or a Phillips bit these days.

 

[Bigprairie1]

Re: Good Phillips Driver Bits

But it is frustrating to go into a Home Depot in Canada and see them selling "square head" screws. I end up shouting at the signs that they are Robertson screws.

Much like the day I saw that Canadian Tire was selling 6 gal gas cans. Nearly got escorted out of the store that day.......

I'm with you on this Tacklewasher. It is indeed that ol' (Canadian) 'Robertson' screw and screwdriver.
I supplied some equipment to Folgers-Proctor&Gamble in Sherman, Texas about 12-15 years ago and some of the electrical controls stuff used the Robertson screws. They asked what is was and I smiled and realized they couldn't support it locally. So I supplied with with about 1000 extra fasteners and a dozen 'Robertson' screwdrivers. I joked with them about trying a few homeprojects with these over the philips...they wouldn't go back.
BP

 

[642mx]

Re: Good Phillips Driver Bits

+1 on the Snap On bits. Nothing lasts as long IMO.

 

[lowkee]

Re: Good Phillips Driver Bits

Another bit to keep in mind is if you are using 'coated' (decking, etc) screws the coating will fill in part of the slot, so the bit won't go as far in as the bit manuafacturer intended. I strip more decking heads than anything. I hate them. Too bad I bought a 50lb bucket of them and feel obligated to use them all, especially since screw prices have gone through the roof (pun intended) recently.

The square heads are awesome. I don't think I've ever stripped a square headed screw and I've only ever used one cheapo bit. Never seen a torx headed screw, but I can see that suffering from the same issue as the coated philips.

 

[Tim Frank]

Re: Good Phillips Driver Bits

But it is frustrating to go into a Home Depot in Canada and see them selling "square head" screws. I end up shouting at the signs that they are Robertson screws.

Much like the day I saw that Canadian Tire was selling 6 gal gas cans. Nearly got escorted out of the store that day.......

Used to be in the tool business and "Robertson" is a very tightly controlled trademark/proprietary label. So you can't use the term without royalty or licence fees. "Square drive" is OK.

Why the concern about 6 gallon gas tanks?

 

[rbh]

Re: Good Phillips Driver Bits

I imagine they are decking screws...... I would get a handful of Dewalt or Milwaukee bits. Have you tried the square head deck screws..... they seem to drive in a bit better with the proper bit.

I have a dedicated set for use on my guns but I would NEVER put them in a drill driver.

yup good old robertson #2 will hold up to screwing better than a phillips any time.

 

[Jeep Man]

Re: Good Phillips Driver Bits

But it is frustrating to go into a Home Depot in Canada and see them selling "square head" screws. I end up shouting at the signs that they are Robertson screws.

Much like the day I saw that Canadian Tire was selling 6 gal gas cans. Nearly got escorted out of the store that day.......

Problem stems from the legal side of things. P.L.Robertson has the patent, but either didn't get a US patent, let it expire or sold it. Those screws made elsewhere cannot be called "Robertson Screws".

 

[Jeep Man]

Re: Good Phillips Driver Bits

I'm with you on this Tacklewasher. It is indeed that ol' (Canadian) 'Robertson' screw and screwdriver.
I supplied some equipment to Folgers-Proctor&Gamble in Sherman, Texas about 12-15 years ago and some of the electrical controls stuff used the Robertson screws. They asked what is was and I smiled and realized they couldn't support it locally. So I supplied with with about 1000 extra fasteners and a dozen 'Robertson' screwdrivers. I joked with them about trying a few homeprojects with these over the philips...they wouldn't go back.
BP

We did the same years ago when I was installing Central Office phone equipment with GTE Sylvania. When we had a US site, we supplied them with a healthy amount of Robertson screwdrivers.