DEWALT Ratcheting Hex Key Wrench Set, 31-Piece (DWHT70265)

Another great tool for my collection

Seriously. This spent over a year on my wish list before I finally got angry enough at hex screws to order the set. Now I think back of all the things in my house — furniture, bikes, equipment, paintball guns, you name it — that have hex screws or bolts and am angry at myself for it. This set seems obscure on the surface until you really start to think how much stuff these days comes with hex bolts. The answer’s a lot more than you’d expect. You’ll use this far more than you anticipate.

As a tool and set, it’s great. The quality is top-notch and having multiple length bits is superb. I’ve yet to really run across one that I needed and didn’t have. The ratcheting handle works alright but the huge win for these is that they also fit into both impact drills (with the smaller speed chucks) and regular old drill/drivers. Thickness and strength are superb but if you do manage to break it, DeWALT backs these with a lifetime warranty.

The ratcheting T handle it also pretty nice if you don’t want to dig out a drill to tighten up the loose bolt here and there. It does provide a decent amount of leverage, but I did feel I was over-torquing it a bit when really cranking down on it. It’s worth having around for tighter spots or if you’re taking this set with you on the go (camping, etc) and don’t want to pack an entire shop.

The fit of the hex key is also top-notch. Mine don’t boast a substantial amount of wear yet so after a few years they may loosen up but — as of now — they actually end up sticking in the hex key head which I prefer. Also worth noting that these are straight hex keys. They don’t have the ball-end so you won’t be able to get them in at angles very well.

As others have stated, the case is the achilles heel of this set. It feels cheap, the insert is sub-par for DeWALT and the little bar holding the bits seems always on the verge of breaking. It’s also extraordinarily (and unnecessarily) massive. I really hate it. That said, the trade off is a set of T-Handled hex keys which take up a ton of workbench space, a folding set which aren’t always ideal, or a ‘loose’ set which you’ll end up having some fall out. In short, the case is bad but no worse than this set’s alternatives.

I did compare the length of the long bits to a ‘regular’ Rigid bit case and it looks like they’ll fit once empty. If you don’t mind the disorganization and these getting banged around a little, you could probably reuse a regular case. I don’t have an empty one yet, though, so haven’t tried.

Side note: once I had this seed planted in my mind, I did look for less expensive alternatives at Harbor Freight, etc since I thought this one was a bit pricey. At that time (May, 2015) I didn’t find any. Having now owned this set and used it a surprising amount of times, it’s worth the price any day.

Racheting action is crisp and smooth with plenty of grip, bits are strong and durable even against rusted in bolts.
Surprising quality from DeWalt.

Product is good. Deliver time was mor than expected as it was imported from outside india.

Good collection of hex screwdrivers and the ratchet makes jobs easier.

Gute Sache
Geiles Werkzeug

Great quality!