Spyder Stinger Spade Bit Drops Bosch Daredevil in Speed Tests
Spyder is forging a name for itself by driving deeper into the power tool accessories category. Making it in a competitive space means more than just producing a product—it has to perform. We tested the Spyder Stinger spade bit against Bosch’s Daredevil and Irwin’s next-gen Speedbor bits to see if it can compete against the best.
Pros
- Fast boring speeds
- Threaded tip pulls the bit through wood
- Smoother boring action than most spade bits
- Competitive pricing
Cons
- Individual bits aren’t available yet
Recommendation
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Spyder Stinger spade bits are the fastest, smoothest self-feeding spade bits we’ve tested—even over Bosch’s Daredevil. Irwin’s updated Speedbor is faster, but you have to drive that one yourself. If you’re looking for a combination of speed and low-effort hole boring, Spyder Stinger spade bits are the way to go.
Spyder Stinger Spade Bit
Design
On the surface, Spyder uses a threaded tip for their spade bits, eliminating the need to drive the bit forward as you bore. However, there are some intricacies we noticed actually affect your results.
First, the tip itself has a groove cut through the threads on two sides. This helps keep the threads from clogging up and helps maintain boring consistency.
It doesn’t sound like a big deal, but our Bosch Daredevil spade bits frequently get clogged tips that we stop to clean out.
There’s a shallow V cut on the front end of both cutting edges, presumably to help with chip ejection. It does a fine job there, helping you create a satisfying pile of chips under each hole you drill.
Each Spyder Stinger spade bit has a 1/4-inch hex shank. The shape helps keep it locked down in your drill chuck or lets you pop it in your impact driver.
Performance
For our benchmark testing, we use a 1-inch spade bit boring through 5 layers of glued up 3/4-inch OSB subfloor.
As I made a few initial holes, two things became immediately clear. First, these bits are fast. And second, they’re surprisingly smooth. As our Makita XPH07 powered the bit through, it didn’t have as much chatter as many of the spade bits we’ve used.
Now about that speed…
With a stopwatch in Chris Boll’s hand for official times, we drilled several holes. When we averaged them all up, the Spyder Stinger spade bit took exactly 3.00 seconds.
With the same drill and material, Bosch’s Daredevil averaged 3.66 seconds, clearly giving the speed advantage to Spyder.
Irwin’s new Speedbor is still faster, though. Its 1-inch bit made it through with an average of 2.31 seconds.
Price
Lowe’s has Spyder Stinger spade bit sets in 6-piece and 14-piece options. The 6-piece set normally runs $17.98, though it’s on sale for $9.98 at the time of writing. The 14-piece set runs $24.98, down from its original $29.98 price tag.
Depending on where you like to shop, those prices are close to Bosch’s and generally lower than Irwin’s.
The downside is that there aren’t any individual bits available at the moment. If you only use a few sizes, these might not be the best option for you.
The Bottom Line
Spyder Stinger spade bits are the fastest, smoothest self-feeding spade bits we’ve tested—even over Bosch’s Daredevil. Irwin’s updated Speedbor is faster, but you have to drive that one yourself. If you’re looking for a combination of speed and low-effort hole boring, Spyder Stinger spade bits are the way to go.
Want to check out more Spyder accessory reviews? Check these out!
24T Framing Circular Saw Blade
Stinger Auger Bits
Diamond Cut Off Wheels
Spyder Spade Bit Specifications
- Model: Spyder 11001
- Number of Pieces: 14
- Includes: 1/4, 5/16, 3/8, 7/16, 1/2, 9/16, 5/8, 11/16, 3/4, 13/16, 7/8, 15/16, 1, 1-1/8 all packaged in the same pouch
- Price: $24.98
- Model: Spyder 11002
- Number of Pieces: 6
- Includes: 3/8, 1/2, 5/8, 3/4, 7/8, 1
- Price: $12.98
- Bit Type: Spade bit
- Bit Length: 6-1/2 in.
- Shank Type: Hex
- Material: Black oxide coated HSS
- Warranty: 30-day
