Vessel has announced a new USA model of impact screwdriver set that they say will help you “say goodbye to stubborn screws and hello to smoother fixes.”
This isn’t exactly a new tool – you can find similar Vessel impact screwdrivers on Amazon and elsewhere – but from the looks of it this set comes with USA-standard-size power-style screwdriver bits.
Features include:
- Striking end cap
- Hex bolster
- Internal cam mechanism for “12° reverse rotation per strike”
- 6 standard bits + 1 screw extractor bit
- Cross #2, #3, Slotted 6, 7, Torx T25, T30, screw extractor cross #2
- Made in Japan
The set comes with a soft storage case.
The cross-style screwdriver tips are “JIS Drive,” which are designed to “fit all [cross-style] screws around the world,” including JIS and Phillips.
Model no. 238HWB7PU
Price: TBA
Vessel USA wouldn’t share with us the price, but they said it will be announced soon, and that the screwdriver set will be available at online retailers including Amazon starting in January 2025.
The way an impact screwdriver works, you strike the end cap and its internal mechanism converts the energy into rotational motion.
This strike-to-rotate action makes it easier to loosen tight fasteners in different conditions; the sudden shock to a fastener can sometimes do the trick. Impact screwdrivers are usually used to break stuck fasteners free.
The tip on the cross #2 extraction bit looks to be aggressively grooved, and should dig into damaged fastener heads.
Most impact screwdrivers look a lot like this Craftsman model, which at the time of this posting is $23 at Amazon.
There’s also this Lisle set, which is around $38.
Most impact screwdriver have a similar chunky industrial design.
Vessel’s approach is different, and looks a lot like their regular ball-handle screwdrivers and bit holders. It’s a big deviation from industry norms.
On the downside, the Vessel handle looks to have a lot more plastic in its construction than other impact screwdrivers currently on the market. Other impact screwdrivers can also be used for sockets and ship with a bit adapter, but this one has a built-in 1/4″ hex bit holder.
Vessel says that the included bits can be “also [used] with electric power tools.”
I’m not convinced whether this screwdriver would work well beyond fastener removal tasks, but I’m open to the possibility.
