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After another round of testing, our new first choice will be the Ryobi 300-piece drill and drive kit, and our new runner-up will be the Ryobi 95-piece drill and impact drive kit. We have added details below.

After another round of testing, our new first choice will be the Ryobi 300-piece drill and drive kit, and our new runner-up will be the Ryobi 95-piece drill and impact drive kit. We have added details below.

The full update will be launched in 2022.

For more than three years, we have been testing the drill bit set. After comparing Ryobi's 90-piece drill bit and drive set with the other 9 sets of drill bit and drive set in the fall of 2018, we are convinced that it is still the best for whole-house drilling. And driving needs. The other kits we looked at may have more parts digitally, but either have too many repetitions, bad cases, fillers you don’t need, or they lack essential add-ons, even if they are not for every job need. Only Ryobi can get the right combination at an affordable price.

With a perfect balance of basic elements and a durable shell that is easier to use than most products, this is the best universal set, even if the quality of its components is not better than other products we have tried.

May be out of stock

*At the time of publication, the price was $30.

Ryobi’s 90-piece kit packs the widest range of useful drill bits and accessories of all the kits we’ve tested into a well-organized, sturdy (enough) box that makes it easy to find and grasp the necessary drill bits. On some cheaper drill bits, it is lighter than other sets, but it compensates for this by including durable, more expensive drill bits (such as countersinks). In three years of use, Ryobi's multifunctional bit array can handle every household item we have used, and only one or two replacements are needed during the entire period-this will happen to any set. We also like that it is easily available at Home Depot.

Hitachi has many common parts and sturdy housings, but it does not have so many useful accessories, which add so much versatility and value to the Ryobi kit.

*At the time of publication, the price was $40.

If the Ryobi 90-piece kit is not available, we also like the Hitachi 799962 120-piece bit and drive bit set. It provides many of the same functions as Ryobi: a wide selection of general-purpose bits and various driver bits. However, it has no hole saws, drill stops and countersinks, all of which are owned by Ryobi. Hitachi's shell is more sturdy, but it lacks Ryobi's convenient transparent front. Otherwise, the two groups are comparable in price and part quality.

The 60-piece set is the smaller version of our main choice. It has all the same necessities, but in fewer quantities.

May be out of stock

*At the time of publication, the price was $13.

If you want to minimize your investment and get the essentials, then the Ryobi 60-piece drill and driver kit is a good choice. This smaller kit has most of the same items as our main selection, but in a limited number: only one hole saw and spade bits (instead of four each), and lacks a depth stop and 2-inch drive bit. We think the higher price of the larger kit is usually worth it, but if you need to pay less or if this is the only kit available, it will work fine.

With a perfect balance of basic elements and a durable shell that is easier to use than most products, this is the best universal set, even if the quality of its components is not better than other products we have tried.

May be out of stock

*At the time of publication, the price was $30.

Hitachi has many common parts and sturdy housings, but it does not have so many useful accessories, which add so much versatility and value to the Ryobi kit.

*At the time of publication, the price was $40.

The 60-piece set is the smaller version of our main choice. It has all the same necessities, but in fewer quantities.

May be out of stock

*At the time of publication, the price was $13.

For nearly 20 years, I have been happily destroying drill bits. During my 10 years of construction career, I worked as a carpenter, foreman and site supervisor in the Boston area, building high-end homes, and I have been writing and reviewing tools since 2007. In the latter role, I have published articles in Fine Homebuilding, This Old House, Popular Science, Popular Mechanics, Tools of the Trade, etc.

To gain more knowledge about the drill accessory kit, I talked to two other tool authors/contractors-Rob Robillard of Concord Carpenter and Mark Clement of the radio show MyFixItUpLife. (Robilard has an advertising relationship with some companies of the products in this guide, but he did not participate in the testing or evaluation of the products we recommend here. Clement has received review samples from the two companies, but has not received advertising compensation.) Research, I also found a great article on drill bits on The Family Handyman, which compares different types of drill bits.

If you have drill bits, you should have a complete set of drill bits. It doesn't matter whether you own a house or rent a house; you will eventually need a variety of drill bits and screwdriver bits. Some projects may be planned, such as assembling a piece of prefabricated furniture, but other projects may be unexpected, such as screwing on a tarp to cover a broken window. Even a simple project like a hanging shelf may require two or three drill bits of different sizes and several different drive drill bits.

Buying one drill at a time as needed means going to the hardware store repeatedly during the project to get what you need. Building a series in this way may also make you climax in emergencies. Buying Peacemeal drills will also leave you without a suitable drill box, so your collection will be difficult to organize and sort through. A complete set of methods is the way to go.

Of course, this guide is only helpful if you have a way to use the drill bit-we also have the best drill bit selection.

The right tools make DIY work easier and more likely to get professional-looking results.

After talking with our experts and drawing on my own wealth of tool knowledge, we discovered many considerations when buying drill sets.

Diversity: I don't know what kind of projects (or emergencies) you can handle, so it is essential to provide a collection of various bits. A large hole needs to be drilled to construct a birdhouse, and a small hole is needed to install a drywall anchor. For drive bits, the most commonly used is Phillips #2, but the trim panel can be fixed with Torx or square Robertson screws, and the old door hardware is usually slotted. Although you need all kinds of things, it is important not to go overboard. Mark Clement's advice is to stay away from toolkits that provide "every point in the world." He continued, “Unless you become a remodeling contractor tomorrow, most screwdrivers are more likely to be compressed into diamonds in your basement than to find a screw.” We seek a versatile combination that contains only the essentials.

Durability: We spent a few days drilling drill bits on wood, bricks, cinder blocks and 1/4 inch steel, testing them in hand-held rigs and drill presses, and honestly, we didn’t see any difference between high-end drill bits Brands and mid-range brands. All the fragments are intact, but they are not indestructible. It is important to remember that drill bits have a useful life, especially driving drill bits. It is wrong to think that you will never need to replace some in the future. It is best to find a set of reusable drill bits, especially commonly used drill bits (such as ⅛ inch size) or drive drill bits (such as commonly used Philips #2).

A test by Family Handyman confirmed our conclusions about durability. They used various drills to drive "75 holes in pine, 40 holes in oak, 20 holes in aluminum pipe, 20 holes in MDF, and 5 holes in 3/16-inch mild steel." All of them " There is no obvious slowness." The tester then continued to drill into the steel until the drill bit was too blunt to be used. At this point, most people give up after playing 20 to 25 holes. Some people took longer, but they came to the conclusion that "If you are a DIYer with less than 160 drill holes and work mainly on wood, you can work with any of them."

A decent case: A good drill case needs to be organized and durable enough for occasional use. It should also keep the drill bits well and snugly, so they won't fall off easily, but not so tight that you need pliers to remove them (this is the case with more than one tested unit). We did not expect these boxes to be indestructible, but we wanted a design that would not damage the hinges within one year of normal use. Although we did not set any type of requirements for the case layout, we did notice that certain designs can make it easier to quickly locate the content we want to use.

Our original testing in 2015 included Ryobi 90-piece drill and driver kit, Ryobi 60-piece drill and driver kit, Craftsman 100-piece drill and driver kit (no longer available), Milwaukee 48 89 1561, and Bosch T4031 (which has since been discontinued). The last two kits, which are generally considered professional grade, are marked by a durable housing and fewer items to choose from. For the 2018 update, we tested four other kits: VonHaus 100-piece drill and drive bit kit, VonHaus 246 drill and drive bit kit, Bosch MS4091 91-piece drill and drive hybrid kit, and Hitachi 799962 120-piece drill and drive set Drill bit group.

To test the drill bits, we put some of each kit into a drill press, and then drove them 15 to 20 times through wood, and another 4 times through 1/4 inch thick steel. We send masonry fragments through bricks and cinder blocks. Then we use each in a cordless drill and repeat the process.

For the screwdriver bit, we screw the 3 inch screw in for 2 x 4 seconds. With the screw bottomed, we move the bit in a circular pattern, just like in a mixing pot. This causes the drill bit to disengage from the screw and vibrate as it rotates. This is probably the worst thing you can do with the drive bit, and it quickly showed us the durability that we expect in the long term.

Our initial 2015 test was similar, when we were working with the help of two other carpenters-Aaron Goff with 12 years of high-end renovation experience and Mark Piersma with 14 years of experience. For this test, we drilled hundreds of holes in wood and cinder blocks to check the durability of the drill bit.

During the two tests, we also used all the kits in a more informal environment for many projects ranging from large (building bullpens) to small (sinking drywall anchors and fiddling with cabinet hinges). In the years between our 2015 and 2018 tests, we used pickaxes and competitors to build a chicken coop in concrete plaster, install floors, build stairs and handrails, and build two in concrete plaster A 6-foot wide UV-resistant sink masonry anchor curtain.

In these tests, we found that there is almost no difference in performance between different brands of drill bits. But these tests helped us zero the true distinction between a good set of drill bits: the smart choice of drill bits and accessories in a durable, well-organized, and easy-to-use box.

With a perfect balance of basic elements and a durable shell that is easier to use than most products, this is the best universal set, even if the quality of its components is not better than other products we have tried.

May be out of stock

*At the time of publication, the price was $30.

The most versatile drill set we found is the Ryobi 90-piece drill and driver set. This is a balanced hardware combination that stands out due to the variety and practicality of its parts. The other kits we looked at may have more parts digitally, but they either have too many repetitions, scary cases, not enough really important things, fillers you don’t need, or they lack essential additions Components, even if they are essential. Not every job is required. Ryobi meets the needs of those who want to be prepared for everything, providing a complete collection in an organized and easily accessible place.

For drilling, Ryobi is equipped with three different drill bit sets (one general type, one wood, one masonry) and four spade-shaped drill bits. It includes a hole saw for drilling larger diameter holes in four sizes. There is a countersunk hole that allows the head of the screw to look clean, complete, and stop deep to manage the drilling process. It also has a center punch to make indentations on thin metal or wood, so the drill will not drift as you drill. For driving, Ryobi is equipped with a good selection of drive bays and will not be overloaded with drive bays you will never use. The choice is so complete that both Goff and Piersma said they would buy a kit for themselves.

During our testing, we found that the durability between different drill sets is comparable, and no set can be distinguished from other sets. Since some drill bits are inevitably damaged, we appreciate that the Ryobi kit contains two ⅛ inch and two 1/16 inch general purpose drill bits. In my experience, these are the most commonly used and damaged sizes. Having a spare for each is a nice touch-there is a pair of slots ready to hold their replacements. Some competitor kits have similar copies of these common sizes.

The drive bits also remain the same, but those just have a shorter lifespan, which we have experienced a lot. It is wrong to buy that your needs in the drive bit sector have been permanently resolved. The good news is that it is easy to get a pack of additional drill bits, such as these DeWalt drill bits.

Philips #2 drill bits are the most commonly used and wear out quickly, so it is wise to have a backup power source.

*At the time of publication, the price was $8.

Ryobi's situation is very good. The bright green background makes everything clear at a glance. The front of the case is clear, so you can view the contents without even having to open it. Other companies have black housings, which makes it more difficult to locate specific bits quickly. The Ryobi housing can also hold the drill firmly. Sometimes we have to use nails or screws to pry out the drill bit, which is not ideal, but others are much worse in this regard and require us to pull out the driver bit with pliers. There are also holes on the back of the housing, so it can be directly mounted on the wall.

We also found that when the box was opened and laid flat, the transparent door became a good open tray area for storing small screws and other items accumulated during the project. When we put together some prefabricated furniture and install smoke alarms, this is useful to keep the parts organized. This is not a big feature, but just one of the many small points that make Ryobi stand out.

In addition to drill bits and screwdriver bits, the Ryobi kit also comes with many other accessories, which really complete the practicality of the kit. It has four depth stoppers, which are collars that can be locked on the drill bit to set it to a specific drilling depth. When I installed the keyboard tray on the bottom of the table, these prevented me from getting through the top of the table. Most carpenters I know will simply wrap a piece of blue tape with a suitable depth around the drill bit and stop drilling when it comes in contact with the wood, but using a depth stop is much more accurate, especially for those who are not used to it. The man with a drill.

Another excellent addition to Ryobi is the countersunk hole. This is a tapered drill bit that can carve a groove so that the screw head can be flush with the surface of the wood. For any visible screw head, it will make the appearance very clean. Even if the screws are to be painted with putty and paint, you can use a countersink to dent the head neatly. During my testing of the kit, the counterbore is probably the most commonly used part, not all kits we have considered have one. A similar countersink drill retails for about $8, and including it here does increase the value of the set.

Compared with some other kits, Ryobi's drive is very light. It has a total of 6 2-inch positions and 27 1-inch positions. When looking at Philips #2 drill bits (the most commonly used), the kit has only three 1-inch drill bits and one 2-inch drill bit. These are one of the least durable components in any kit. They will always need to be replaced after enough projects have been carried out. However, Ryobi only a few does mean that you will be faster than using a kit with a driver bit. Replace them. From a larger point of view, it would be wrong to ignore Ryobi and all the functions it must provide just because there are few driver bit options-replacing the driver bit is easy to get, and distinguishing the bit of the kit is more expensive and longer- Lasting, more difficult to obtain.

Ryobi's case (especially its hinge) is not the strongest case we have found, but it is still strong after three years of regular use, which proves to us that it can do the job.

Hitachi has many common parts and sturdy housings, but it does not have so many useful accessories, which add so much versatility and value to the Ryobi kit.

*At the time of publication, the price was $40.

If the 90-piece Ryobi kit is not available, we would also like the Hitachi 799962 120-piece bit and drive bit kit at a similar price. Like Ryobi, it includes a large general purpose drill bit selection and a separate set of Brad point drill bits for detailed woodwork. Hitachi has a slightly larger series of masonry bits and a very wide selection of drive bits. The case is more durable and compact than Ryobi's, but everything is tucked on two sides, and we begin to appreciate Ryobi's transparent face. The quality of drill bits is the same between different brands.

Compared with Ryobi, Hitachi's main disadvantage is its lack of diversity. It does not have so many shovels and lacks hole saws. It also lacks some convenient accessories that we really like in Ryobi: countersinks, drill stops and center punches. For these reasons, we prefer Ryobi, but as an alternative, Hitachi covers most of the same foundation with roughly the same investment.

The 60-piece set is the smaller version of our main choice. It has all the same necessities, but in fewer quantities.

May be out of stock

*At the time of publication, the price was $13.

If your budget is tight, we recommend that you use a 60-piece drill and driver kit. Although it is smaller than our main choice and runner-up, it still has the most basic elements. The 60-piece set has the same basic item selection as the larger set, but in fewer quantities. Compared to our main choice, there is only one hole saw size (instead of four) and only one shovel head (instead of four). You will still get a counterbore, which adds value, but it lacks the option of a depth stop and 2-inch drive bit, which is good. There are only 20 1-inch drive positions, which is less than the 90-piece Ryobi kit and Hitachi. It is usually worth spending a little more for the larger 90-piece kit, but Home Depot is also easy to get this kit at a very affordable price. If this is the highest amount you can pay, or if you need to set up some in a hurry and all of this is available, then this is not a bad choice.

After testing another six bit sets, our new first choice in the upcoming revision of this guide will be Ryobi 300 bit and drive kits. This is a very comprehensive set, including two complete sets of standard drill bits-a black oxide layer and a titanium coating-as well as a large number of the most commonly used size additional parts, a set of Brad point drill bits, masonry drill bits And a selection of spade-shaped bits, including four one-foot long. It also comes with many useful additional features, including hole saw sets, countersinks, center punches and depth stoppers for drills. There are also various screwdriver heads and nut screwdrivers. All of this is contained in a well-organized and easy-to-use case. This is really everything a DIY-conscious homeowner might need.

In the upcoming revision of this guide, our new runner-up will be Ryobi's 95-piece drill and impact drive kit. This kit is much smaller than our new first choice. It has the most basic necessities, but few extras. The kit contains a group of black oxide drill bits and four spade-shaped drill bits. There are five masonry drill bits and six Brad point drill bits. Rounding is a good choice for drive drill bits and nut drives. Compared with our first choice, it has far fewer options for each type of drill bit, and there are no hole saws, countersinks and depth stoppers (this is one of the most valuable parts in the 300-piece kit). In an area where there is a clear lack of options, we think this is a good enough choice for people living in apartments, or if you just want a kit for basic repairs but don’t plan to do any substantial DIY project.

VonHaus has two kits that we tested in 2018, 100-piece drill and drive bit kit and 246-piece drill and drive bit kit. The 100-piece option is similar to Ryobi, but usually costs more. The one-inch drive bits are stored along the perimeter of the housing and are difficult to remove. We need to use pliers to remove them. Their 246 pieces of equipment also experienced the same difficulty. The price of this 246-piece kit is usually twice that of Ryobi, and there are too many, including 11 ⅛ inch universal drive drill bits. This extreme redundancy is almost reflected in the size of each bit. Although it may seem beneficial to have so many additional features, they are unlikely to be used. After two years of extensive testing of the Ryobi kit, I only damaged a few (and it does come with the most commonly used size attachments).

In 2018, we also studied 91 Bosch MS4091 drilling and drive hybrid kits. The kit has a comprehensive selection of bits, although the selection is not as useful as Ryobi. It does not have a hole saw or spade bit, so it cannot drill larger holes. The box has site durability, which is an advantage, but removing the drill bit and screwdriver bit is a tedious multi-step process. These drill bits are divided into small rubber brackets, each of which is pressed into the housing. To get a little bit, you must first pry the rubber bracket out of the housing, and then pull the required drill bit out of the rubber bracket. To put it back, you need to do the opposite. This process will get old soon.

We also investigated but did not test the products of other companies known for their contractor-grade equipment. None of them can meet the needs of homeowners, and the wide variety of Ryobi kits makes them more suitable for general use. The Dewalt DWA2FTS100 100-piece screwdriver and drill bit kit has a considerable number of screwdriver bits, but it has very few drill bits, and no other accessories make Ryobi so successful. The Bosch MS4034 34-piece bit and drive bit kit and Makita B51661 66-piece contractor bit kit also have a similar situation. Each kit is equipped with only five general-purpose drill bits. Makita is also at the high end of the price range, and probably most of the investment is for large cases.

Milwaukee does not currently provide any integrated drilling and driving devices, but separates them into separate kits.

In 2015, we tested the Craftsman 100-piece drilling and driving kit, which is now discontinued. It does not provide anything similar to Ryobi's options (no hole saw, no countersink, limited drill bit options).

We also tested two professional-grade kits, Milwaukee 48-89-1561 and Bosch T4031 (which have been unavailable since then). These are good kits, but very incomplete when placed next to Ryobi. Because professional manufacturers assume that carpenters will have designated hole saw kits, spade drill bits, and countersinks, these kits only have drill bits and screwdriver bits (Milwaukee also has several nut screwdrivers). Another thing about the professional kit is that it takes a lot of effort (and cost) to make a bulletproof kit that can withstand the harsh daily environment of a construction site. As Piersma said of the Milwaukee jersey, "With this, you buy boxes, not parts."

Other professional kits, such as the Makita T-01725 or Dewalt DW2587 that we did not test, have the same fate as Milwaukee and Bosch because they provide smaller options when they are very durable. We also cancelled the 333-piece Garrett Wade kit. It has many options, but the cost of using the garage is too high.

The Ryobi multi-material drilling tool and drive kit (300 pieces) were the first items we noticed when scanning the Home Depot Black Friday sale. The kit is similar to our picks, but there are also many more standard common size twisted bits and a wider selection of drive bits. As of Black Friday, the kit is priced at $40, which is a bargain for people who want redundancy or want to go through a lot of basic work. Compared with our selection, the set does not provide a surprising number of additional accessories, but at this price, you can basically get many commonly used (and soon dull or damaged) basics for free. We will pay close attention to the price after Black Friday to see if this kit is still worth the money-we contacted Ryobi after seeing this kit and learned that it is an online-only special offer, we are not sure if it is Will be listed for a long time. To avoid confusion, please note that the kit is a new product, even if its page contains reviews dating back to 2013. If you look closely, you will see a label on the old review that says: "This review comes from: Mega Drill and drive kit (300 pieces)." The 2013 model is a Ryobi product of the "blue" era ; This neon green version is new.

Mark Clement, MyFixitUpLife, email interview

Rob Robillard, Concord Carpenter, email interview

How to choose a twist drill, home handyman

Doug Mahoney is a senior staff writer at Wirecutter, covering home improvement. He has worked in the field of high-end construction for 10 years as a carpenter, foreman and supervisor. He lived in a very demanding farmhouse with a history of 250 years and spent four years demolishing and rebuilding his previous home. He also raises sheep, raises a cow, and milks him every morning.

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