Bosch 9 pc Universal Concrete Screw Installation Kit (SDS-plus)

Why I reached for this concrete screw kit

I’ve installed a lot of concrete screws over the years—ledger brackets, bottom plates, conduit straps, and dozens of tap-on fixtures—and the two things that make or break the job are accurate holes and clean workflow. The Bosch concrete screw kit hits those two targets well. It pairs SDS‑plus masonry bits sized for common concrete screws with matching nutsetters, so I can drill and drive without hunting through different cases. It’s a compact, purpose-built kit that feels like it was designed by someone who’s spent time on a ladder with a rotary hammer in one hand and an impact driver in the other.

What’s in the kit

This 9‑piece kit centers on two SDS‑plus carbide masonry bits in the key pilot sizes for concrete screws: 5/32 inch (for most 3/16‑inch screws) and 3/16 inch (for most 1/4‑inch screws). The bits come in short, practical lengths—the working lengths span roughly 1/2, 1, and 2 inches, with overall lengths of about 1, 2, and 3 inches. That sounds tiny on paper, but for screw anchors it’s the right call; shorter bits start straighter, run truer, and are easier to control in tight spaces.

The kit rounds out with hex‑drive nutsetters for installing the screws after drilling. These live in my impact driver while the SDS‑plus bits stay in the rotary hammer. The combination keeps the pace up and reduces tool swapping or fiddling with adapters.

Setup and compatibility

• Drive type: SDS‑plus. You’ll need a rotary hammer with an SDS‑plus chuck to use the included bits.
• Tip material: Carbide.
• Intended material: Concrete (and it handled mortar and block fine in my testing).
• Nutsetters: 1/4‑inch hex drive for a driver sleeve or an impact driver.

If you only own a standard hammer drill with a 3‑jaw chuck, this kit isn’t a drop‑in solution. You’d need an SDS‑plus adapter (which I generally avoid for heavy masonry work) or different bits. On the flip side, if you already run an SDS‑plus rotary hammer—and many pros do—these bits are exactly what you want for consistent pilot holes.

Drilling performance

Bosch’s centric conical tip does what it claims: the bit noses in accurately and resists skating on harder aggregate. I like to start a shallow dimple, square up, and then lean on the hammer action; the bit tracked true and didn’t walk off layout lines, even on a broom‑finished slab.

Chip evacuation is solid. The flute design carries dust out efficiently, which matters more than it gets credit for. Cleaner flutes keep drilling temperatures down and maintain hole diameter. On cured slab and older block, I could feel the bit maintaining bite rather than glazing. In side‑by‑side holes with an older generic bit, the Bosch bit cleared faster and needed less push.

A couple of practical notes:
- Use rotation + hammer mode; rotation‑only will be frustrating.
- Mark your target depth with tape or a stop collar—these short bits make it easy to hit the right embedment without overshooting.

Hole quality and fit

For concrete screws, hole consistency is everything. The 5/32‑inch bit left snug, repeatable holes for 3/16‑inch screws; I didn’t see the “spinout” you get when a hole runs wide. The 3/16‑inch bit sized properly for 1/4‑inch screws as well. After blowing or vacuuming dust, screws set firmly without over‑torqueing.

If you’re used to longer, whippier bits, the shorter overall lengths here are a welcome change. They reduce flex, improve perpendicularity, and cut down on hand fatigue because you don’t have to fight the tool to stay on line.

Driving the screws

The included nutsetters fit securely and ran true with no noticeable wobble. I used them in an impact driver at a moderate setting, and they transferred torque cleanly without cam‑out or rounding off screw heads. Having the nutsetters in the same box as the drill bits is more than a convenience; it made it easy to keep a consistent, repeatable workflow from hole to hole.

Pro tip: After drilling, clear the hole—two quick blasts with a hand blower or a squeeze bulb, or a vacuum pass. You’ll get higher holding power and fewer snapped screws. The flutes help, but concrete dust still needs a manual assist for best results.

Durability over a workday

I ran the 5/32‑inch bit through a dozen holes in cured slab and about the same in CMU. The carbide tips held their edge well, and the cutting face still looked crisp after the set. I didn’t hit rebar in my runs; carbide will chip if you do, but the bit’s centering and stiffness make it easier to feel aggregate changes and back off before you bind.

Heat buildup was minimal thanks to decent chip flow and short dwell time. If you’re drilling continuously in hard aggregate, pause occasionally to keep the bit cool and extend life.

Ergonomics and workflow

The short lengths make the kit great for overhead work and tight corners—think strapping EMT on a basement ceiling or fastening a sill plate near a stem wall. The reduced leverage also makes it easier to keep the bit square without bracing your whole body behind the tool.

I appreciate that everything lives in one small kit. With a rotary hammer in one hand and an impact driver pocketed with the nutsetter, the pace is fast and repeatable. It’s the small quality‑of‑life benefit that adds up over a long install.

Limitations and trade‑offs

• SDS‑plus only: If you don’t own a rotary hammer, this isn’t your kit.
• Limited diameters: It covers 5/32 and 3/16 inches—perfect for 3/16 and 1/4 screws—but nothing larger. If you also set sleeve anchors, wedge anchors, or big structural fasteners, you’ll need additional bits.
• Short working lengths: Great for screw anchors, not for deep embedments or through‑drilling thick materials. For that, you’ll want longer SDS‑plus bits.
• Concrete focus: It works on mortar and block, but it’s not a universal masonry set for tile, brick veneer drilling with glassy glaze, or precision stone work.

These aren’t flaws so much as scope decisions. This kit is purpose‑built for concrete screw installs, and it sticks to that mission.

Who it’s for

• Pros and DIYers who already own an SDS‑plus rotary hammer.
• Electricians, plumbers, HVAC techs, and carpenters who routinely install 3/16 and 1/4‑inch concrete screws.
• Anyone who values accurate, repeatable pilot holes and a quick drill‑and‑drive workflow.

If you’re an occasional user with only a hammer drill, you might be better served by a hex‑shank masonry bit set and a couple of separate nutsetters.

Tips for best results

• Mark hole depth based on the screw’s embedment requirement; these short bits make precise depth easy.
• Always blow out or vacuum holes before driving.
• Let the hammer action do the work—don’t lean so hard that you widen the hole.
• Keep a spare 5/32‑inch bit if your job is heavy on 3/16‑inch screws; that size sees the most use and will dull first.

Value

As a 9‑piece package, the kit covers the common sizes and couples them with the nutsetters you actually need. You’re paying for carbide, SDS‑plus compatibility, and a more controlled drilling experience. For frequent concrete screw installs, the productivity boost and hole quality justify the spend. For occasional use, it’s still attractive if you already own a rotary hammer; otherwise, the buy‑in to SDS‑plus may not pencil out.

Recommendation

I recommend the Bosch concrete screw kit for anyone with an SDS‑plus rotary hammer who regularly sets 3/16 and 1/4‑inch concrete screws. The centric carbide tips start cleanly, the flutes clear dust efficiently, and the short, stiff bits deliver accurate holes that hold screws reliably. The included nutsetters streamline the drill‑and‑drive sequence, and the whole kit slots naturally into a pro workflow. If you need larger diameters, deep‑reach bits, or don’t own SDS‑plus, this won’t cover every scenario—but for its intended job, it’s a well‑thought‑out, durable, and genuinely useful kit.