A $2 Bit That Makes Screw Hooks and Wing Nuts Effortless

The small problem no one sells a solution for

If you've ever had to install a row of screw hooks — the kind you put in a ceiling joist or a wooden beam to hang things — you know the drill. Literally not the drill. You do it by hand, your fingers get sore, and the last few never go in quite as straight as the first ones. It's one of those minor frustrations that exists because there's no obvious tool for it.

I came across this bit almost by accident while browsing AliExpress for something else. A 65mm hex-shank driver specifically shaped to grip butterfly nuts and screw hooks, so you can drive them with a power screwdriver or drill. It costs $1.97 after a 51% discount. I ordered it mostly out of curiosity.

Honest review — what actually works and what doesn't

What surprised me is that it's not cheap-feeling. The metal has real weight to it, the hex shank fits standard drill chucks without wobble, and the finish looks clean. For a sub-$2 tool, the build quality is better than I expected.

In practice, it does exactly what it promises. Drop it in your drill, set it to low speed, and it drives screw hooks cleanly and consistently into wood. No stripped threads, no crooked entry angles from hand fatigue. I did about a dozen hooks in a few minutes that would have taken me much longer — and much more effort — by hand.

Worth noting, though: the slot opening inside the bit accommodates diameters up to roughly 5mm. One reviewer on the product page specifically flagged this, saying they needed at least 6mm and had to find a workaround. This isn't a flaw in the manufacturing — it's just a fixed design dimension — but it's a real limitation you need to know before buying. If your butterfly nuts or screw hooks are on the larger side, this specific bit won't grip them.

What else could you get for $2?

Honestly, not much that's useful. At this price point you're usually looking at plastic adapters that strip on the first use, or generic bits that don't fit cleanly. This sits clearly above that tier. In a hardware store — assuming you could even find a specialty bit like this locally — you'd likely pay $5 to $10 for the equivalent, and many stores simply don't carry it at all because the demand is niche.

The value here isn't just the price. It's that this tool fills a genuine gap for a specific task that most people are currently solving with their bare hands.

Buy it if... / Skip it if...

Buy it if you regularly install screw hooks, cup hooks, or need to tighten butterfly nuts by the handful. Buy it if you're setting up a garage, workshop, shed, or storage area where hooks are involved. At under $2, it's the kind of tool you buy and keep in the drawer for whenever the moment arrives.

Skip it if your butterfly nuts or hooks are larger than roughly 5-6mm in diameter — you'll need a different or larger bit. Also skip it if you need something for heavy professional use day in and day out; this is a home and hobbyist tool, not a contractor-grade accessory.

My honest take: it's a genuinely useful, well-made accessory for a very specific job, and the price makes it a no-brainer for anyone who does occasional DIY. The diameter limitation is real and worth knowing, but for standard small hooks and butterfly nuts it works exactly as described.

Price: $1.97 (was $4.01)

Check it on AliExpress: https://www.ali-ex.com/40RUmI