One of my first introductions to Vessel tools came 7 years ago, when they collaborated with Sears to launch Craftsman-branded ball grip screwdrivers. I have purchased a couple of additional Vessel ball grip screwdrivers since then, with each experience adding to my positive opinion of the brand.
Engineer, another Japanese tool brand, introduced me to the concept of keychain bit carriers.
These bit carriers, available from a variety of Japanese tool brands, provide a convenient way to store power-style screwdriver bits while also keeping them easily accessible.
Combining the two concepts, here’s the Vessel Ball Grip “carrying bit holder.”
I bought a couple of these from Amazon Japan, and it is now also available in the USA.
These Vessel Ball Grip bit holders are very different from the ones I have purchased and used from other brands. While other brands’ bit carrier keychains can only be used as bit holders, the Vessel Ball Grip can also be used as a screwdriver handle.
In other words, this is also a keychain-sized stubby screwdriver handle that works with standard 1/4″ hex power-style screwdriver bits.
So, you can use this as a stubby bit screwdriver handle, as a storage accessory, or both.
The idea of bit carriers has grown on me over the years, but being able to use them as screwdriver handles delivers next-level functionality.
This is a great product for general use, and also for minimalist EDC tool kits when you want a compact and customizable screwdriver.
I bought Vessel’s Japanese-version Ball Grip bit carriers, and they seem to work equally as well with US and EU power-style bits as they do with Japanese power-style bits, which have slightly longer shanks.
Press the spring-action plunger, the part the keyring passes through, to disengage the lock and remove screwdriver bits.
As the Japanese-style version works perfectly (in my experience) with US, EU, and Japan brands and styles of bits, it’s likely the English-language packaging card is the only difference between US and international model numbers.
Price: $10
Model: QB-22RU (USA), QB-22R (Japan)
Keep in mind that this is intended for use with 1/4″ hex power-style bits. I have found that it will also work with my 4″ insert-style bits, but I don’t have a wide variety of brands to test it with. Do NOT use this with short insert bits, they’ll get stuck.
The red version is available in the USA. If ordering from Amazon Japan (more on that here), there are a couple of other color choices.
