driver bits for hobby gun work

[Kiwishooter]

I have had Brownells and Snap-on bits for a long time. Just for a cheap range use kit I grabbed a Wheeler Engineering kit, made in Taiwan (not China). Those bits are actually stronger than the others I have. Hate to say it. And no I am not affiliated with Wheeler engineering or I wouldn't be a lathe monkey.

Thanks for the tip Alex, I don't know how many Snap On tips I've broken but he kept or replacing them, now we haven't got a Snap On dealer in the area it's becoming expensive to do warranty claims so I might look at the Wheeler kit and see how they last.

 

[tobnpr]

The Brownell's flathead bits are tits for smithing because they're hollow ground, and available in many blade widths and thicknesses for the oddball screws.

For "standard" stuff like Torx, I prefer impact-rated Milwaukee tips, they will not twist/deform as easily IME.

 

[sksshooter]

Thanks for the tip Alex, I don't know how many Snap On tips I've broken but he kept or replacing them, now we haven't got a Snap On dealer in the area it's becoming expensive to do warranty claims so I might look at the Wheeler kit and see how they last.

Everything i read and a few videos i watched said brownells warrenty is great for their bits. There is no returning them just call/email them which bit you broke and they send a replacement with no questions. Havent done it myself of course but was pretty consistant feedback from the things i looked at. Wheeler apparently does not have a warrenty or means of getting single replacements.

edit to add, i'm a bit ocd with my tools well most things, so not being able to have all matching stuff gets at me. warrenty aside brownells offers single bits for purchase as well so even if i have a need for something i don't have i can get a matching bit on its own.

 

[sksshooter]

The Brownell's flathead bits are tits for smithing because they're hollow ground, and available in many blade widths and thicknesses for the oddball screws.

For "standard" stuff like Torx, I prefer impact-rated Milwaukee tips, they will not twist/deform as easily IME.

when my wheeler t10 torx broke i grabbed a milwaukee and broke that one as well. i ended up remembering i had a set of torx screwdrivers i forgot i had and got the screw loose with it. I've since twisted another milwaukee. The brownells may well do the same thing but i know i can atleast get a replacement. if i had any since i would keep the screwdriver handle torx handy for breaking loctited screws loose instead of using the bits but you know how that goes... the smaller torx and flat blades are the only bits ive broken but when you can't replace it, its a problem when you need to put the screw back