Screwdriver bits can get lost in a pouch, tool bag, or tool box, and the larger the bag or box, the easier for these guys to get lost in there if you put them in their loose. Doesn’t it stink to have to pause a task or project to hunt down a missing screwdriver bit, bit holder, nut driver, or other such cordless power tool accessory?
Engineer Inc makes a Bit Pit keychain-style accessory that keeps an individual screwdriver bit in a safe place.
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I’m going to be frank here – Engineer Inc’s Bit Pits never quite fulfilled my vision of how I’d use them, although I do see how others might find them useful. Influencers have been oohing and aahing over this type of bit storage accessory for a few months, and so I guess they’re growing in popularity. Or, maybe it’s just a social media trend, I don’t know.
Basically, the Engineer Inc Bit Pit is a quick-release bit holder, but you can’t actually use it as a screwdriver. That’s the part that frustrates me – it’s just a storage device, meant for keeping your 1/4″ hex 2″ power bits easily accessible and exactly where you put it.
The last I checked, these didn’t play nicely with 1″ bits.
These are pricey, too. At $10 each they seem expensive, but the build quality reflects the price. If you want something similar for cheap, you could modify a bit holder yourself for storage purposes, although a locking bit holder will cost at least as much.
I bought a silver and a green back in 2012 a couple of days after I posted about them, and I remember the sting of that Amazon order. $10 each? For bit holders that aren’t effective as pocket screwdrivers?
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I suppose you can rig them up to be more useful, such as with a purchased or 3D-printed fingertip handle. But still, these are designed purely as storage devices.
They are quite good at their task, though, and I think Bit Pit is clever and appropriate naming by Engineer Inc. But it’s a matter of needing what they can do.
If you need a place to dock your screwdriver bits, and your drill or driver doesn’t have any fancy magnetic or spring steel bit holder built-in, these are more secure and practical than the many magnetic wrist-straps and tool wraparound accessories on the market.
All this is to say that I have grown to appreciate the theoretical benefits of this accessory, although I ordered a pair just after posting about them back in 2012, and ultimately didn’t need then. They were unnecessary when I had them at-hand, and somewhere else when I really could have used them. Maybe I’ll dig them up again and give it another try.
I think they’re neat designs and well-made. This isn’t something I’d buy again for personal use, but maybe your needs and wants are different.
If you could use it, I think you’ll like it.
Price: ~$10
What do you currently use to keep a screwdriver bit or two easily retrievable?
Jason
Seems like you could use the split ring as a sort of handle.
Aaron
I always add a couple bit holders to new drills using Sugru. Works well enough for short term storage. Similarly pricey, but indispensable stuff around the shop.
Stacey Jones
I saw these and considered buying, but they looked to bulky to store many on a keychain. Especially glad I passed since they don’t work as drivers. I did buy these though and love them: https://www.bladehq.com/item–KeySmart-Nano-Socket-Stainless–55277. I think they were like $2 each, wherever I got them.
fred
I suggest Ullman bit holders:
https://www.harryepstein.com/1-4-vinyl-bit-holder.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIvI_Cxbbj6QIVAY_ICh0UjgVOEAQYASABEgIRmPD_BwE
Not as elegant but cheaper.
Cheaper yet (free in fact) – is what I do – use some of those bottles you get your RX pills in. I wrap some rubber bands (get them free most every day with my US mail) around the body and top – to provide a better grip.
Joe
Hi Fred, but how is the 1/4” bit held tight enough for turning screws ?
fred
I should have made it clear that my suggestions were for cheap bit storage in your tool tray, toolbox or tool bag – not as a bit driver.
The Engineer one is not good for turning screws either and costs somewhat more. I guess if you want to hang bits off your keychain or belt loop the Engineer ones are nice. They probably work better than with longer bits than the Ullman – which is designed to hold insert (1 inch long) bits.
Joe
ok. Your idea is good for storage. I’m going to look for a small ‘script bottle tonight. thanks
fred
In the remodeling business – we used to buy many bits in bulk – especially Phillips #2’s . Some brands came in plastic dispenser boxes which could be reused. Sadly – the Apex ones we liked – came in cardboard boxes in lots of 100 or 250
Blocky
Drill a hole in the base of that bottle and put a split ring on it. Some of this tiny pill bottles are slim and can probably hold 5-6 bits.
Greg
Really they only time I could see this coming in handy is for longer bits, and scenarios where maybe you’re swapping those long bits around fairly regularly (and only those bits, not needing to carry around a full bit set), or as the article states, keeping things handy in a disorganized setting.
Joe Hanson
I only see a use for this to carry a back up bit if you forgot, lost, or dropped your bit such as for a guy who might work up high or climbing a ladder or working on towers or an antenna.
Frank D
I would not mind this to strap a backup bit or two on some drills, when working up high, or in awkward places where switching bits would be required … but at $10/pc … I will pass and wait.
Marvin McConoughey
Concur, Frank. This is an OK $5 item selling for double that amount.
fred
Its probably a $5 item with $5 Amazon “free Prime shipping” added on.
That’s an annoyance with Amazon – that they do not offer quantity discounts to account for different shipping costs. I’m sure that it makes things a lot simpler for them – and adds to their profitability – but also increases costs to the consumer on many small items.
Chris
They can’t save you money because they’re too stupid to figure out how to save money for themselves on shipping in the first place.
If I ordered this $10 bit holder, it would arrive at my door in a 2+ cubic foot box with a handful of those “air-pocket” things to “cushion” the item as it sails across the cardboard seas.
A sensible company would send it in a small cushioned envelope or tiny box that could easily fit in a mail box…a sensible company…
Frank D
We get plenty of tiny to small items, parts, etc in padded envelopes from AMZ. For us it is rare they waste space on a disproportionate oversized box.
Stuart
I posted about this 8 years ago (https://toolguyd.com/engineer-bit-pit-and-edc-screwdriver-bit-holder/ – I didn’t include the link initially because I’ll be redirecting that link to here) and at that time it was $10 plus shipping.
I had a $77.30 order, including these two items, and paid $6.18 for shipping.
Now, it’s $10.41 including Fulfilled by Prime shipping.
William Adams
and now it’s out of stock.
John S
I don’t know about these. It looks like they could get expensive quickly if you want to keep a bunch of bits handy, but I once had a Bosch bit pouch about 2″ wide you could put like 15 bits in. It clipped to your belt, so it was always handy. Sadly, it was a cheap PoS, and the velcro wore out in less than a year. If I could find something similar but better made, I’d be a happy man. (Maybe throw in that new Fuel compact bandsaw I’ve been dropping hints to the wife about for weeks now).
Wayne R.
These days there are a lot more people handy with sewing machines than a few months ago. Find & buy the material you want to use, then find someone who knows how to use their machine?
skfarmer
it used to be that most cordless tools had a spot to hold a bit or two and didn’t have a hook to hang them from a tool belt or pocket. now most tools have a hook or the option to add one and no bit storage.
i would like having both options.
Lyle
All of my Dewalt drills and drivers have both. Some came with them and some I had to buy as an accessory.
DeWALT N268241 Belt Hook Kit (2 Pack) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GUTR508/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_N5R1EbGJH9KGA
DeWalt (2 Pack) Bit Holder for 20V Max DCD980 DCD985 DCD980L2 DCD985L2 # N131745-2pk https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GUTR3P0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_w6R1Eb7YAXQA2
Blocky
Bitmags look pretty good. They mount where the clips mount and hold 5 bits.
Mac
I agree. Still expensive and the magnets are not strong enough to hold nut setters.
Champs
If you are more into the idea than execution, your local bike shop probably carries some variations on the theme in its repair section.
The (discontinued) tool I keep with my road bike has integrated bit storage, a swiveling head, and fits on a split ring if you’re into that.
William Adams
Could you post a photo? I’ve been trying to track bike multi tools but can’t recall having seen this one.
Dennis
If you want to carry around a usable screwdriver/bit-holder on your keys just get the TorqKey Screwdriver. It was featured on this very website 9 years ago.
https://toolguyd.com/county-comm-torqkey-mini-keychain-screwdriver-bit-holder/
Dust
I had one, it would always lose the bit it was supposed to hold on to. The bit releases by pulling the collar forward, so when you pull your keys out of your pocket it ejects.
Frank D
That sounds like it could be a problem indeed, if it catches on something and by the pull on the keychain it would release …
I can see how they designed it the way they did, in that you pull away from the keyring to release typically … vs holding the keyring and pushing/pulling that way.
Mmmmmmm.
Gregg
I bought some of these last year and hang them off the side of my veto pro pack ring. No more searching for bits.
Bob
$10 bucks and it doesnt even turn a screw? Pass.
The cheap plastic friction fit sleeves hold a bit but wont turn a screw and those are like $1 for a 10 pack?
Even if you climb towers/ladders for a living eveyone has pockets.
Meh. If it makes you happy have at it. But I will pass.
Nick Marques
I’ve been using these for years and I can’t imagine life without them.
I added several to a Nite-Ize S-Biner and clipped it to the hole in the Bosch PS22 belt-clip, so I always have a few of my most used bits at the ready.
These things are great.
Years ago, precisehandtools.com worked me a deal for several at a time somewhere around $8/each including shipping. They removed the packaging for me to save on shipping costs from the UK. I can’t seem to find them on their site anymore.
Nick Marques
Nevermind,
Found them.
https://precisehandtools.com/en/misctools/141–bit-pit-hex-driver-bit-holder-engineer-dr-61-4989833012618.html
William Adams
Still trying to feel my way through storing/carrying a reasonable assortment of 1/4″ bits.
Best in this category is the CRKT Getaway driver which is actually a useful enough tool (hampered only by its proprietary bits w/ ball-bearing retention system) that I haven’t been able to justify buying anything for pocket carry since (save for the Bitky’s which I quit carrying in my pocket when I lost one of the 3). I’m quite curious about the tool which Champs mentioned though.
Really regret not catching one of Peter Atwood’s BitBuckets, and will have to revisit this sort of thing again when I have sufficient discretionary funds.
Oleg K
Kinda makes sense if you think about how many bits you normally use… Makes carrying the whole box of bits pointless. I’m definitely getting a few!
Bushman
There’s a picture of how it’s intended to be used:
https://precisehandtools.com/1214-large_default/-bit-pit-hex-driver-bit-holder-engineer-dr-61.jpg
And it makes total sense for this specific purpose (say, where only tethered tools are allowed). It’s quite secure, doesn’t depend on chip-collecting magnets or generally unreliable friction, can be operated with one hand.
Price doesn’t make a lot of sense, though. But it might be explainable if it’s actually Japanese.
It could be easily made of a QD chuck by drilling a hole in its shank. A chuck of the same quality would probably cost about $5.