IRWIN Tools FAQ: Cobalt Drill Bits, Kompakt Screwdriver Set, Bolt Biter Sockets, and Saw Blade Changes

I'm the office administrator who places most of our tool orders—roughly 60 to 80 orders a year for an 85-person company. I manage about $70,000 in tool and consumable purchases annually across six or seven vendors. I report to both operations and finance, so I care about specs, restock dates, and whether an invoice will survive an audit. This page is the FAQ I wish I'd had when I took over purchasing in 2022.

Are IRWIN cobalt drill bits worth the higher price?

For steel and stainless, yes—in my experience. Cobalt drill bits IRWIN makes are priced above standard high-speed steel sets, but they use M35 cobalt steel, which holds an edge at higher temperatures. Standard HSS bits will get through mild steel, but they dull faster when you're drilling repetitive holes in harder metal. We switched in 2024 after a bad experiment with a budget set. The budget set cost $38 less—or rather, $38.74 less. It chipped on the fifth hole of a stainless handrail job. I ended up spending $52 for a rush replacement plus roughly three hours of crew time while they waited. That's the textbook definition of penny wise, pound foolish.

As a price reference, a five-piece IRWIN M35 cobalt drill bit set runs about $18 to $35 based on online supplier listings I checked in April 2026. Verify prices before you order. That's not a universal rule. If you only drill mild steel once a month, HSS is probably enough. For weekly production work, cobalt is the better investment.

What is the Kompakt screwdriver set, actually?

The Kompakt set is IRWIN's compact multi-bit screwdriver system. The handle stores bits inside the shaft, so it's shorter than a full-size driver but much more useful in a pinch. It is not a replacement for a full tool bag.

We keep one Kompakt set in each gang box, and another in the office drawer. The surprise wasn't how often people borrow it. It's that I stopped buying loose single screwdrivers for small jobs. If you see the word 'Kompakt' on a set, you're getting a bit driver with a small footprint, not a magic tool.

Does the Drive Bolt Biter impact extraction socket set really remove rounded bolts?

Yes, if you use it correctly. The Drive Bolt Biter impact extraction socket set is an impact-rated socket with spiral teeth on the inside. You drive it counterclockwise with an impact wrench or impact driver. The teeth bite into the head of a rounded or stripped bolt, and the spiral design helps it grab rather than cam off.

When a machine guard bolt rounded out last month, the Bolt Biter set removed it without drilling or heat. Well—not much cussing. Use it on bolts you plan to replace, because the socket will mark the head. It's a removal tool, not a re-installation tool.

The one caveat: choose the socket that just fits over the bolt. Too big and it won't grab well. Our three-piece set covers the common sizes we see, though bigger sets are available for heavy equipment.

Should I choose a Bolt Biter socket or a traditional screw extractor?

They solve different problems. A Bolt Biter socket grabs the outside of a damaged hex head. A screw extractor drills into the end of a broken or stripped fastener and twists it out. If the head still has shape, use the socket. If the head snapped off, you will need an extractor.

We stock both. Screw extractors come as a set with left-hand drill bits, and you usually need a center punch to keep the bit from walking. One rule from our shop: don't let a rusty bolt get to the point where you need either. A little penetrating oil and steady pressure prevent most of our removals.

How to change the blade of a circular saw

Disconnect power first. Unplug a corded saw or remove the battery from a cordless saw. Then find the spindle lock, usually a button near the blade housing.

1. Press the spindle lock to keep the blade from turning.
2. Use the included wrench or hex key to loosen the arbor nut. On many circular saws, this nut is reverse-threaded, so loosening direction can surprise you. Check the arrow on the guard or the manual.
3. Remove the nut, outer washer, and old blade.
4. Check the new blade's max RPM rating against your saw's RPM. If the blade is rated lower than the saw, don't install it.
5. Match the blade's rotation arrow to the saw's direction arrow, then reassemble. Tighten the arbor nut snugly, but don't add a pipe for leverage.
6. Spin the blade by hand to make sure it isn't rubbing the guard, then test cut a piece of scrap.

If the arbor nut won't move, don't hammer the wrench. Re-check the spindle lock. Sometimes you need to rotate the blade a little before the lock fully engages.

It sounds like a lot. The first time I did it, it took about 20 minutes—or rather, 15 minutes once I found the right wrench. It gets easier.

What are IRWIN tools night packages?

I see this phrase in our internal search logs, and I think it means either overnight delivery or an after-hours grab-and-go tool kit. I can't point to a single official 'night package' product, so here's how we handle it.

Our night package is a small tote in a locked cabinet. It holds a Kompakt screwdriver set, a handful of IRWIN cobalt drill bits, and a Drive Bolt Biter impact extraction socket set. That tote has saved us on weekend maintenance calls when the supply house was closed. If you need a true overnight package from IRWIN, ask your distributor about next-day options—just compare the shipping cost with what downtime will cost you.

In 2024, we paid $86 to overnight a small extraction socket to a jobsite. That was more than the socket itself. We should have stocked the tote earlier.

How do I avoid counterfeit IRWIN tools when ordering online?

Counterfeits are out there, especially for popular items like Vise-Grip clamps and bolt extractors. I now check three things before ordering: the seller is an authorized distributor, the listing has the official IRWIN part number, and the packaging isn't a generic reprint. If the price is 30% to 40% below every other listing, assume it's fake or gray market.

In 2023, a third-party listing shipped us lookalike locking pliers. The seller accepted the return, but we paid return shipping and lost a week. That's not worth the savings. I'd rather spend an extra few minutes verifying a source than order the wrong thing twice.

What should you stock before you need it?

If you're ordering for a maintenance crew, don't wait for a breakdown to build your kit. Our checklist for each work area:

• One Kompakt screwdriver set per gang box or bench.
• A five-piece IRWIN cobalt drill bit set for metal work.
• A Drive Bolt Biter impact extraction socket set for rounded fasteners.
• Spare saw blades marked with the correct arbor size and max RPM.

An informed customer is easier to help. If you know the tool specs before you call, you'll get a faster answer and a better price. On the tote, I tape an inventory card with the part numbers. It takes ten minutes to update, and it saves a 7 a.m. text asking what to order.