Paint Your Flipping Bits Already (Wickedly Usable Driver Bits)

[@skampp]

Dude that is one of the best shop tips I've ever heard, for real. Thank you. KZbin should just pin this to the front page.

[@MikeBramm]

When you buy boxes of screws that use the Torx bits, put a dab of paint on the box so you know which bit pairs with it. That way you only have to check the size once.

[@SandyMasquith]

Thank you!! “ a mess in a high-functioning way”. I need that on a t-shirt’

[@PatrickKQ4HBD]

Yeessss!

[@Pooky1973]

Perfect. Definitely need to be selling those Keith

[@MLDuffy]

take my $

[@kaceesavage]

It’s oddly satisfying to see them all mixed up. This is a solid system.

[@covati]

I love that system works with the inherent behavior of your “system”. Some people always put stuff away , some don’t. Don’t fight it, embrace it.

[@ronlizee]

Just want to let you know that Robertson bits (square) use a uniform colour system for each of the sizes. Still don’t get why the US does not use square bits. They are so much more convenient.

[@chiphill4856]

This is great! My implementation is to use yellow for Phillips, blue for torx, red for square drive. I did 1 yellow stripe for PH1, 2 yellow stripes for PH2, 3 yellow stripes for PH3 and so on for red and blue. I put clear heat shrink tubing over the stripes to preserve the colors. Thanks for the inspiration!

[@KeithsTestGarage]

Oh the lines take this to a new level…..

[@chiphill4856]

@@KeithsTestGarage Exactly, like a code...

[@t.e.1189]

For decades I have used color to organize my thoughts in highlighting word documents. It is so much faster zeroing in on a certain color first and then scanning those item of the same color to help locate information from the document later on. This makes so much sense to me. Never thought to utilize color in my shop for organization. Thanks!

[@Rob-Hannon]

Like it. 2 things I would do different for me. First I would clean them all with acetone or brake cleaner first. 2nd nail polish will hold up better over time. Colored heatshrink is another durable option. Digging that bit tray you made too.

[@KeithsTestGarage]

I wondered about cleaning them 2 years ago when I painted them, figuring surely the cheap acrylic paint wouldn't last. But I like to try those sorts of questions and am bewildered that it has held up on I believe all previously painted bits. Reason though is that the paint is commonly in the crevice which doesn't get rubbed. I guess if you were in a machine shop w/ more oils around, cleaning them would probably be a must. Good point on the nail polish. That already has the brush too.

[@ChristopherCondrup]

Plus, a lot of people already have various colored nail polish in their household. I used some today, painted the head of my keys for same reason as this video. Home keys one color, work keys another etc. Used a nectarine fruit as a pincushion to let the keys dry. Keep sharing good tips, y'all!

[@KeithsTestGarage]

Christopher Condrup oh man. Keys. Didn’t think of that. Have red and gray trailers. People borrow them a lot and I’m constantly insecurely giving them the maybe wrong key ring. Thanks for the tip. I’m painting them red or gray tonight.

[@waxingmoonjfs]

I used nail polish to identify keys and their padlocks 😅 it holds up a long long time even rubbing on a key ring, and it especially helps my ol man who might have 20+ keys between home/shop/farm and his work and not having the best vision, eliminate trying 18 keys before getting the 19th one right lol i tried uv cure gel polish this week to see how it'll hold up, i think its going to be even better (providing the correct wavelength uv light is used for the specific brand of gel). I used UV resin with mica pigment powders a while back to make 3d designed key heads, the metallic swirly orange on my Kubota tractor key is kick ass AND my ol man can't steal my key when he loses his and claim I must have lost mine actually (again 😂)

[@mattpeterson7074]

Your videos are awesome sir. So glad a friend shared your Holey Desk with me. Been going through a ton of videos, and you have some great content.

[@megyesimoments8630]

Your final comment gives me so much hope. Continue to be a mess in a high functioning way. Yes!! I don't have a need for perfect rows or being perfectly kept, but I have a strong need for streamlined identification so that I don't lose my place on what I am actually trying to think about. I am so glad I found this!

[@KeithsTestGarage]

I sort of stole this from Adam Savage, who called himself something like a "high-functioning hoarder"

[@blakeseufert7340]

Your content is underrated. More people should think about this stuff!

[@g.fortin3228]

hehe ...Bit therapy. Great idea. I think I'd still keep the like colors generally with each other give or take.. just for easy selection of length of same type bits.

[@MLDuffy]

if you find the acrylic wears off too quick use posca paint pens (enamel). will have to try this. TFP!

[@drewdryden6872]

Brilliant! I do love my productive yet messy work areas.

[@StratOvation]

This is frickin genius, definitely doing this!

[@yourtechjohn]

I like it. I have a collection of acrylic paint marker pens that I use to label tools, cables, cases, and more. More permanent than a label maker or even permanent marker. I think they would work pretty well for this application (once you got the paint flowing).

[@lhpl]

My Bosch bit box has coloured rings by type. However, if I were to implement such a system, I'd use the colour codes used for electronic components. Assign a colour to each type, and use one or two coloured rings to identify the size. Say Red is 2, and torx as a type. A 20 torx would be two red rings. Torx 25 would be red green (green being the number 5.) Torx 15 would be red brown green.. Rings are ordered from the mounting end to the "pointy" end, and rings that can be unambiguously omitted may be so (thus torx 20 could be just one red ring.) Of course more than three rings would probably become confusing very fast. Less is more.

Very, VERY useful! Just wish I had color coded hex since that's what I use 90% while working.

[@MakerAtPlay]

Cool and helpful idea. Thanks for sharing.

[@charliebowen4232]

Hey Keith, That is almost too awesome!! I know what I am doing this weekend!

[@artursmihelsons415]

Thanks for sharing idea! I definitely use it, because by now, sometimes, I'm spending too much time to find bit what I need.. 😂

[@papalevies]

That's how Wera sell their bits. Red for Phillips, teal for Hex, green for torx etc. They also put nice big numbers with the size on the colored label

[@markkoons7488]

I normally dislike music on videos but yours was, to my taste, excellent. Rather than manufacturers' colors, with my vision it would be an improvement simply to have a color for Phillips, another for Torx, etc. I'd imagined various of nail polish. What are your paints and where can they most likely be found?

[@KeithsTestGarage]

Nail polish is a good idea. I used basic acrylic paint from Walmart. Even the cheapest stuff is still on the bits, but the $2 dishwasher safe stuff is still thick, glossy and vibrant.

[@chrisstearns10]

I call that organized chaos👍👍

[@laronda10]

you sir earned a like and sub for this now, if i can just stop forgeting where i left my tape measure

[@KeithsTestGarage]

Thanks! I do have a video on the tape measure. But super secret: I switched to green.

[@78tag]

I didn't think anybody else's brain worked this way. I will use this, thanx

[@JanDreier-HH]

I want to copy that! What paint did you use. I could not make out the brand?

[@KeithsTestGarage]

Just the cheap acrylic stuff at WalMart. It's held up for 2 years, but I don't have them bumping around in the bottom of a tool bag. Others have recommended nail polish for durability.

[@JanDreier-HH]

@@KeithsTestGarage: Thank you!

[@kenzokan167]

Always a joy to watch

[@reddlief]

I use lacquer nail polish....got over 20 colors but only use 4...

[@ericmann7945]

So helpful, thanks 💯

[@johnf4085]

Sorry if I missed it, but do you mention the brand of paint you use? And more importantly, with this video being 3 years old, how has the paint lasted? I used some Sharpie paint pens on my bits and the paints starting to wear off after about a month, with the most used bits having no paint at all. But I think it's the but material. I'm color coding screwdriver sets for an electronics lab, and it looks like the bits are some cheap shiney metal that doesn't hold paint well. I want to try your brand of paint and see how it works but it still might wear off easy... Anyway, I'll see if I can find out what metal is used for the bits and buy a paint accordingly.

[@joberthalib9951]

My wife is now missing some nail paint. Thanks!

[@jimlee4649]

It's all fun a games until some DeWalt Torx bits or Makita Phillips bits work their way into the system :-)

[@KeithsTestGarage]

There will be war.

[@Pooky1973]

ANARCHY!

[@rickkempf77]

Thank you sir I am going to respectfully borrow your color coding system:0)

[@rabdlab]

You make me laugh. Very clever video production

[@jamesogorman3287]

Great idea

[@FearsomeWarrior]

Wonderful video.

[@derRoteKampfflieger]

Been doing a similar thing with tools. Imperial red, metric blue. Wera is big on this. I think there is some convention developing at least with European tool manufacturers. Driver bits are a huge industry, only because they are forcing them on us. There are some great videos on this. Resist the madness! Torx, E Torx, especially are a scam.

[@garmbeliblis]

Wait a minute! Where's the famous wicked fast bit organizer tray gone??

[@KeithsTestGarage]

Still there for the router bits. I have not used it for the driver bits yet. Maybe I should?

[@JasonPeltier]

Pretty smart!

[@firearmsstudent]

If you don't have a place for everything and everything in its place, how will you know if something is missing? I saw the end but that is not a good way to keep track of all the tools you have. You'll end up spending more money buying tools you don't need because they're hidden in some nook in your workspace. Good poke-yoke device with the color though, and thanks for sharing.

[@KeithsTestGarage]

I agree for 99% of the stuff in my shop. But bits are cheap. I'd still argue that your method is ideal though... up until the point that you keep kicking yourself for not being organized enough, leaving stuff around, misplacing it.

[@firearmsstudent]

@@KeithsTestGarage LOL the OCD never ends

[@tedfriesen9466]

The "Kreg" screws you mention are really Robertson and they already have a colour code. #1 (smaller than the one you have) is blue. #2 (the size you have) is RED and #3 (larger) is black. So please repaint your #2 Robbies to red or I'll get confused when watching your videos :(

[@brantlers]

Coolest thing ever

[@grumpywoodchucker]

This is genius.

[@78tag]

liked/sub'd - thanx again

[@chuckjohnson4048]

Ok, so when do you know you have checkmated yourself in this game?

[@KeithsTestGarage]

When you make a set for yourself, then decide to do a video on it and paint up another batch, then have a full tray and you have to hide half of them so your friends don’t organize an OCD intervention.

[@qchatgreg]

genius! im off to raid the kids colored paint box!

[@charleshanson9467]

If I might suggest a small improvement: nail polish or enamel, would have greater longevity from the abuse the bits take. I expect you’ll be reapplying that acrylic someday. Who knows, maybe it’ll outlast the bits anyway.

[@KeithsTestGarage]

A) you're right, nail polish would be a good idea and it also comes with a brush. In defense of acrylic paint, I expected it to rub off but it has lasted 2 years. But I think that's mainly because the paint is primarily in the crevice. And, that I don't hold the bit while spinning. Thanks for the comment

[@jsurette38]

I cringed each time you said "square bit". Being a Canadian the square 'Robertson' bit is king here. If you are doing any electrical work you must have a Robertson red or green screw driver (the colors indicate the size, yellow is smallest, then green, red and black the largest). Building a deck? All deck screws are Robertson red. If it was my choice, the world would be all Robertson or Torx, nothing else. Oh, and all metric. BTW, new to your channel, loving your videos!

[@nutsmcflurry3737]

The random mind is a beautiful thing.

[@jk00119049]

Just spray paint. Just spread those bits out on a sheet of cardboard and shoot them with spray paint. Wait for it to dry. Shake the cardboard, now spray again. Done. Some of the paint will wear off in spots over time but not ALL of it. You’re welcome.

[@gcranch9913]

A total failure if you happen to purchase a dewalt Torx. Lots of repainting if all of your bits are Milwaukee!

[@jacothy]

Should have used nail polish instead of craft paint, will stay on longer

[@Markomyt1]

Instant Sub... you think a lot like me. No offense...

[@matthewhoheisel4840]

I like you.