Torque/Clutch Drill Bit Driver to Prevent Stripping Sheet Metal

[crakarjax]

So I was watching my hvac repair guy the other day and he had this awesome bit driver on his cordless drill that torqued the sheet metal screws just right to prevent stripping the sheet metal. I would LOVE to find one of these but I have scavenged the internets to no avail. Does anyone know what those are called or where I can find them? Thanks!

[richard2717]

Are you sure it wasn't the drill itself that had the clutch? Most of the smaller ones do and you can set them at different settings depending on the material

Richard

[ETsC10]

Hmm. Sounds handy!

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When I was in the cabinet trade, we had a pneumatic drywall 90-degree angle screw
gun with a tease throttle on it...worked well when precise screw seating was needed.
It took a hex-shank bit held with a pull release collet.

[crakarjax]

Originally Posted by richard2717

Are you sure it wasn't the drill itself that had the clutch? Most of the smaller ones do and you can set them at different settings depending on the material

Richard

After more searching I am wondering if your suggestion is right; I assumed he was using a dewalt 12v impact because it had the hex pull-release collet, and also his bit holder was not a simple-looking bit holder, it was chrome and looked like it was not one-piece. I'm going to ask him about it if I have him back out here, but in the meantime I might play with using the clutch on my regular drill to see if I can find a suitable setting.

Who knows, maybe my imagination just invented a really useful bit holder? If so, anyone know how to write a patent?

[richard2717]

I think this is probably what you saw in his drill . It is a quick change chuck that allows you to change different size bits without having to uncollar the drill. You basically pull back on the black section and it releases the bit. The impact sound you may have heard would have been the clutch in the drill set to a weak setting which would have sounded similar to a rotor hammer when engaged.

[johnnyclack]

I vote w/post #5, I use a number of these at work & home. Sears makes one of the better bit holders I use. You can find them at most HW outlets

[crakarjax]

My impact already has a quick release collet, and his looked like it had one as well. His attachment, if anything, was a standard 1/4" magnetic hex holder similar to the one in your pic, except his was longer, thinner, and chrome instead of grey. I'm sure those hvac guys zip in and out 1/4 hex sheetmetal screws all day, so that's why I thought he might have some "trade secret" tool or something.

[richard2717]

You mean like this? I bought several of them a while back in various lengths. I think I have a 4,8,12 and 18" one for getting it to hard to reach areas

[crakarjax]

Originally Posted by richard2717

You mean like this? I bought several of them a while back in various lengths. I think I have a 4,8,12 and 18" one for getting it to hard to reach areas

What is that? I think it looked more like this:

[richard2717]

Yep what your showing in that picture is same thing I have above only shorter. The one I posted a pic of is either 10 or 12" long. And yours still has the hex end on it to go into the drill. I over torqued a bolt with this one and broke it off. If you look close you can see where it now slips a little in the drill when I use it. LOL

I build and instal signs for a living so these little guys are worth their weight in gold sometimes

[johnnyclack]

{Tip} :

To keep it from slipping in your chuck, weld a small bead on the shank where it seats

[crakarjax]

Originally Posted by johnnyclack

{Tip} :

To keep it from slipping in your chuck, weld a small bead on the shank where it seats

[crakarjax]

I tried setting my drill clutch to 1, but it was still too much torque and stripped the sheetmetal screw. I am now convinced that there is an elusive bit holder in the wild.