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Milwaukee has some really cool stuff out there so I always get excited when I get a package from them. I just got a whole bunch of these 2 inch shockwave impact bits so I’m really excited to put them to the test.

First Impression

At first I was a little standoffish at these bits just because I have used other electricians tools while I’ve been out in the field and they’ve had very similar style of bits on their tools and I just don’t like the design of them. I will not judge them before I use them so let’s see how they perform.

Functionality

What I was surprised to find out is that these are magnetic. A lot of other brands and other versions of these tools that you’re going to find are not magnetic. The biggest pain in the ass as an electrician that we deal with is that we use so many screws are always working over our head or working out in front of us and then screws tend to fall off so that’s why every 5/16 or 3/8 or 1/4 in nut driver is magnetic because it holds the screw as you’re working. It doesn’t just keep falling out on you. I’ve found with any kind of drill extension that doesn’t have a retractable sleeve is just not worth my time to use. I utilize that sleeve because even when you’re working with materials that aren’t magnetic, as some screws are just not magnetic, it at least keeps them in place and doesn’t let the screw fall on the ground, where as these don’t have any sort of sleeve so you have to rely on hopefully the manufacturer making them magnetic, otherwise you have to use both of your hands for every single screw that you put in. You can’t just stick a screw on the bit and hold it up in there. The screw will fall off, and it will fall off all the damn time, and that just pisses me off more than anything.

When you take these out of the package, they have a slight magnetism to them, and I do mean very slight. You can pick up one of these tips with another one so you can tell that there’s magnetism there, however I found that when putting screws on them, the magnetism is really weak. Depending on what kind of screw you’re using, you’re still gonna run into the same problem, which is why I say having a sleeve over something like this just makes a lot more sense. I know that some guys love these because there’s a bunch of different tips that they make in 4 inch, 2 inch, 8 inch, and in several sizes and styles. When using it, the 2 inch bit is too short. Personally as an electrician, I need things that will get into deep crevices, preferably, bits that are at least 4 inches deep because the other problem is the tool itself. The impact driver gets in the way a lot. Once you start trying to stick the tip of that drill into something you end up hitting the drill or the battery gets in the way. Maybe having a 3 inch or 4 inch version of this would be a little bit better. That’s what I would like to use, and also having stronger magnets on it would be great because again half the screws you’re going to try are just not going to magnetize.

Info from HomeDepot.com

Milwaukee Shockwave Impact Duty driver bits are engineered to be the most durable, best fitting driver bits on the market. The optimized Shock Zone geometry is unique for each tip type to provide up to 30x longer life and absorbs 3x more torque versus other impact bits. The Precise Fit Custom Machined Tip prevents stripping and reduces wobble while the Custom Alloy 76 Steel and proprietary heat treat process maximizes resistance to wear and shock. Shockwave driver bits are built to deliver extreme durability for the most demanding applications.

• Optimized shock zone geometry absorbs peak torque and prevents breaking

• Custom machined tip prevents stripping and reduces wobble

• Custom alloy 76 steel maximizes resistance to wear and shock

• Limited lifetime warranty

• Includes 15-piece

Summary

All in all this isn’t a game changer for me. I will probably give most of them away, but they are quality in how they’re designed and why they’re designed. They are meant to be used on impact drivers, which is great because most Phillips tips that you put on a drill are not meant for that extra impact. It’s just meant to grip the screw and turn it. The Milwaukee bits we tested today are actually called shockwave because they’re meant to be put on an impact driver and have the shit knocked out of them. That is the design, purpose, and use for them. I think they do a good job of standing up to that as they don’t strip out very easily. I’m just not gonna use them and the really aren’t a game changer for me. I like the old Dewalt with the slide a lot better. I rate these a 3 out of 5.

For more detailed information on this 15-Piece Screwdriver Set CLICK HERE.

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