Impact drivers and bits

I'm not familiar with that driver, but ... If it uses wire detent bits and you insert a ball detent bit it will get stuck. Art

I just looked up that makita pn and it is wire detent. Have you tried here

i guess google is a little too complicated eh?

The driver is this one:

And I don't want 100. ;-)

Max

The makita 18v impact can be a bear on inferior bits. The ball detent is universal and you just need to buy better ball detent bits. I've used my 18v to drive sockets w/an adapter and totally twisted the adapter in circles or broke them. McFeeleys has good bits that last for me. There are others out there available locally. Shop around and see what works for you.

RP

Those impact drivers can break bits in a hurry if you're not careful. Square drives as well as Phillips head. I've seen some made specifically for impacts, but I can't remember where and I'm not googling right now sorry. I think McFeely's. JP

DeWalt has a series of "Impact Ready" bits. HomeDespot carries them.

But my problem is finding #2 Phillips bits (made by Makita) in quantities in less than 100.

Max

I found them at ACE Tool and they ain't cheap!

Max

Remind me to never buy another Makita tool.

I will whenever I replace mine with Bosch. ;-)

Max

I already did. ;-)

I have the Makita BD141 and it takes every bit I've found at home centers and hardware stores. Ball detent is the standard. I have no idea why you might be having problems. The only bits I couldn't fit into mine were the HF double-ended philips bits. They were 0.010" too large in diameter.

-- Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any one thing. -- Abraham Lincoln

Even cheapies from the Harbor Fright 10-packs work well in mine. I have trouble finding 4 and 6" lengths locally for a decent price, but Lee Valley has them and I buy from them during free shipping offers. I tried a 4" from HD and it broke on the third or fourth deck screw, but now I use torx screws for that.

-- Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any one thing. -- Abraham Lincoln

My Makita replaced a Bosch and I love both. YMMV.

-- Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any one thing. -- Abraham Lincoln

If you get regular drive bits intended for the typical drill and you push the bit to the limit it can distort the bit and make it difficult to insert and remove. Typically I have no problem with McFeeleys screw driver bits.

Consider also bit intended for impact driver use. Take Milwaukee Shock Wave bit sets for instance.

FWIW I have a 9.6 12 volt Makita impact driver, the green one, and I have an 18 volt Bosch Impact driver. I use the Bosch as a back up if I get that desperate. Probably will never buy a Bosch drill, driver, impact again. Over the past 15 or so years I have had the opportunity to use 4-5 Bosh drills, impacts etc. All have failed in some way except for the free Bosch impact that I some how won and don't use.

So can the 12 volt.

The ball detent

Correct.