Have you ever felt annoyed when your driver bit rounds out before putting in the last decking screw? Or been frustrated when your driver bit snaps, leaving a scratch on the metal surface? Did you know that different driver bits are suited for different applications?
To ensure you're getting the optimal performance and maximum durability out of your driver bit, the right driver bit must be used for your application.
To also extend the life of your driver bit, it’s important to avoid cam-out. To minimize the chances of cam-out, the bit should be the correct size to match the fastener and have the correct amount of pressure to ensure the bit stays engaged.
There are two main types of driver bits within the Alpha range: standard and impact / torsion bits.
Alpha Standard Driver Bits
These bits boast exceptional strength and are manufactured from S2 raw material with full body hardness. These bits are shock resistant, magnetised, have precision machined tips and can be accurately hardened. The extensive Alpha standard driver bit range includes the widest range of head styles including both Phillips and Pozidriv ribbed designs which provide extra grip.
Standard driver bits are suited to applications when load is gradually increased, such as fastening wood screws into timber, or in precision applications where head accuracy is very important, such as aerospace.
Recommended applications:
- Cordless Drill
- Regular impact and regular torque loads
- Drywall, soft or thin woods, veneers, plastics and acrylics
- Driving screws into threaded metal
- Driving fragile screws such as brass
Standard driver bits tend to be more brittle than ‘impact’ driver bits meaning the head will hold its shape longer but can break when using an impact driver.
As the industry has transformed from hand driving screws to the modern-day impact driver, the standard driver bit is not often up to speed with the powerful torque of today’s drills, which is why Alpha created a vast range of impact and torsion driver bits.
See the full Alpha standard driver bit range here.
Impact/Torsion Driver Bits
The continued development and ever-increasing torque of modern impact drivers has led to the advancement of impact torsion style driver bits. These bits are designed to handle the extreme rise in torque compared to more traditional drill drivers.
Impact torsion driver bits have a narrower shaft than standard driver bits. This narrow shaft is called the torsion zone designed to absorb high torque stress and reduce bit fracture. Excess stress is removed from the bit’s tip and released into that shaft which has a larger surface to dissipate the pressure.
This design allows the impact driver bit to have a much greater torsional strength than a standard driver bit and allows it to continue spinning without breaking even when significant stress is put on the bit.
Impact torsion driver bits are manufactured from more ductile raw material. This means they can bend under pressure, and then go back to their original shape.
They are most suited to applications where instantaneous impact occurs and the head of the driver is fully seated in the screw. This is mostly when fastening metal to metal, aluminium and other fabrication applications.
ThunderMax Driver Bit
With most tradies using impact drivers for most of their onsite work the highest performer and new generation of impact driver bits is the Alpha ThunderMax Impact range.
This range has been specially developed and tested in Australia to outperform every other impact torsion bit in the widest range of applications and suit the most popular impact driver guns in our market.
The ThunderMax has a torsion zone that provides maximum strength for high impact and extreme torque loads, lasting 50 x longer than standard driver bits.
Perfect for metal-to-metal fastening when extreme tightening down is required, the Thundermax has a precision machined tip to avoid slipping for longer life.
Other features include:
- Premium quality S2 raw material for superior performance
- Optimum full body hardness for longer service life and less wear
- Black oxide finish for extreme corrosion resistance
- Superior magnetism helping the bit hold the screw and prevent cam-out
MaxDrive Torsion Driver Bit
The MaxDrive Torsion Driver Bit has a specialized dual torsion zone meaning the bit can handle maximum impact loads, extreme torque capacity and twisting.
With 30 per cent more torque than standard bits, the MaxDrive can be used for metal-to-metal fastening where extreme tightening down is required.
Some recommended applications include:
- Impact Driver
- Large, long gauge screws
- Large gauge self-drilling screws into metal
- Coach screws into hard wood
MaxDrive features a precision machine tip for ideal fitting and breakage reduction, specially formulated coating for greater durability, premium quality S2 raw material, full body hardness for longer service life and superior magnetism helping to prevent cam-out.
See the full MaxDrive Torsion Driver Bit range here.
Thunder Zone Impact Driver Bit
The Thunder Zone Impact Driver Bit has 10x the life compared to standard bits and can withstand high impact and high torque loads, especially during metal-to-metal fastening when tightening down is required.
Thunder Zone features an engineered spiral torsion zone distributing the applied impact and torque evenly throughout, meaning cam-out is minimized extending the bit’s life.
Recommended applications:
- Impact Driver
- Concrete screws
- Long large fasteners
- Perfect for screwing down plywood sub-floors
Thunder Zone features a compression forged tip for ideal fitting and breakage reduction, premium quality S2 raw material, full body hardness for longer service life and superior magnetism helping to prevent cam-out.
See the full Thunder Zone Impact Driver Bit range here.
All Alpha driver bits, standard and impact, are developed and tested by our product development team at our Newcastle facility. The team use a CNC machine and a Hyper Torque Tester to execute fair and accurate testing.
