DeWalt 1/2 in Drive Combination Impact Hex Socket Set (15-Piece)

Why this impact hex set earned a spot in my truck

I reach for impact-rated hex sockets more often than I expected—caliper pins, industrial guards, drain plugs, big furniture anchors, and the occasional stubborn set screw on equipment. After several weeks of jobs with this DeWalt impact hex set, I’ve come to appreciate its balance of durability, fit, and sensible size selection. It isn’t flashy, but it gets the work done without fuss, and that’s exactly what I want from a 1/2-inch drive set built for heavier hex fasteners.

Build and materials

The sockets are made from heat-treated CR-440 steel with a black oxide finish. In use, that translates to two things I care about: they take a beating from an impact wrench without twisting or chipping, and they resist corrosion reasonably well. I put them through a couple cycles of wet, gritty jobsite use, wiped them down at the end of the day, and they still look right—some finish wear on the working ends, but no rust blooms and no deformation on the square drives.

DeWalt’s laser-etched size markings are large and high-contrast. I could read them after a day of grease and brake dust with a quick thumb wipe. I’d still love stamped markings as a backup on any socket, but the etching here is deep and legible.

Fit and engagement

The hex geometry is crisp with a slight chamfer at the lead-in. DeWalt’s “DirectTorque” concept is intended to reduce rounding by loading more on the flats than the corners. On internal hex fasteners, that means a snug, positive feel with minimal wobble. I was able to break free several corroded 10 mm and 8 mm socket head cap screws using an impact wrench without any signs of cam-out or peening the fastener socket. The corners of the hex ends on the sockets stayed sharp after repeated high-torque hits.

I also checked the fit in a few common problem areas:

• Brake hardware: Some caliper slide pins on European cars are 7 mm, which this set doesn’t include; but for 8 mm and 10 mm, engagement was clean and square.
• Machinery guards and motor mounts: Plenty of 6 mm and 8 mm fasteners—again, the sockets seated fully and didn’t rock under load.
• Large service plugs: The 17 mm and 19 mm sizes handled drain/fill plugs with an internal hex without rounding the plug or bruising the socket.

Overall, tolerances are tight without being fussy. I didn’t need to tap the sockets into place, even on slightly burred fasteners.

Size coverage and depth

This is a 15-piece set that combines SAE and metric in a single case. Coverage is as follows:

• SAE: 5/16, 3/8, 7/16, 1/2, 9/16, 5/8, 3/4
• Metric: 6, 8, 10, 11, 12, 14, 17, 19

The selection makes sense for a 1/2-inch drive impact set: it skews toward larger internal hex sizes you’d realistically hit with an impact wrench. You won’t find tiny sizes here, and you won’t miss them in this format. What you might miss is 7 mm in metric and 1/4-inch in SAE, both common for smaller cap screws—but I’d expect to cover those with a 3/8-inch drive set anyway.

Depth is “intermediate,” and that’s been a sweet spot for me. These reach into modest recesses without being so long they flex or wobble. I used them on recessed cap screws in pulley guards and didn’t need an extra wobble extension. For very deep wells (certain recessed plugs or hardware behind obstructions), plan on using an extension or a dedicated deep hex bit socket. The intermediate depth does keep the mass down a bit, which makes them easier to control on a high-torque impact.

Impact tool compatibility

Two retention features matter: O-ring and pin-detent compatibility, plus the usual hog ring friction fit. The sockets have proper through-holes and chamfers, so they click confidently onto pin-detent anvils and stay put on hog ring anvils without being a fight to remove. I didn’t experience any rattling or unintended release, even when working overhead.

They’re rated for impact, and in practice they behave like it. I pushed the 12 mm and 14 mm sizes hard on rusted bolts with a mid-torque 1/2-inch impact and didn’t see any torsional twisting of the hex shafts. The square drives didn’t mushroom, and there’s no hairline cracking at the junctions.

Case and organization

The hard-shell carrier is better than average. The hinge opens flat and feels robust; the latch hasn’t popped open in transit. Each socket has a dedicated spot with a positive retention—you have to tug to remove them, but not so hard it slows you down. Size labels are readable, and the layout keeps SAE and metric clearly grouped. The footprint is a touch large for a 15-piece set, but the rigidity and hinge quality make it drawer-friendly and jobsite-proof. I tossed it in the back of a truck repeatedly and didn’t find sockets scattered the next day.

Day-to-day usability

A few practical notes from the field:

• The 1/2-inch drive format is the right call for these sizes. Torque transfer is confident, and the sockets feel planted on the anvil.
• The black oxide isn’t slippery. With gloves on, I could pull sockets from the case and handle them without playing “soap bar” in colder weather.
• Laser etching is helpful when you’re bouncing between SAE and metric under a lift—quick ID, less trial-and-error.
• I prefer the intermediate depth over standard shallow for most of my tasks. It prevents the impact wrench’s nose from bumping into adjacent features and gives just enough reach to clear flanges.

Durability so far

I’ve put enough high-torque cycles through this set to reveal weak heat treats, and I haven’t found any. No chipped edges, no rounded hex flats, and no deformation on the square drives. The black oxide has wear polish where it should—on the business ends—and it’s holding up elsewhere. I haven’t needed the lifetime warranty, but it’s reassuring to have for an impact-rated set.

What could be better

• Size gaps: I’d love to see a 7 mm in the metric range to cover more brake hardware, and 13 mm would occasionally be handy. For SAE, a 1/4-inch would round out the lower end, even if it’s more at home in 3/8-inch drive.
• Marking redundancy: Laser etching is clear, but stamped or embossed backup markings would be nice for the long haul.
• Case footprint: It’s sturdy, but a slightly slimmer profile would help for crowded carts.

None of these are deal-breakers given the intended use. If you routinely work with smaller hex hardware, pair this with a 3/8-inch drive hex impact set and you’ll be covered.

Who it’s for

• Mechanics and techs who need larger hex sizes for calipers, plugs, and heavy equipment maintenance.
• Fabricators and installers who see bigger socket head cap screws in structural assemblies.
• DIYers who want one impact-rated set that covers both SAE and metric in the higher-torque range.

If your work lives mostly in the 3–6 mm space or tight engine bays, this won’t replace a compact 3/8-inch drive hex bit set.

Recommendation

I recommend this DeWalt impact hex set for anyone who needs reliable, impact-ready coverage of larger internal hex sizes in both SAE and metric. The fit is precise, the heat treatment is trustworthy under real torque, and the intermediate depth hits a versatile sweet spot. The case is robust and keeps everything organized, the size markings are genuinely readable in the mess, and the sockets play nicely with both pin-detent and hog ring anvils.

You’ll want to supplement with a smaller 3/8-inch set if you often tackle 7 mm, 1/4-inch, or other small sizes, and I’d welcome a couple of those gaps being filled. But as a foundation for heavier hex fasteners, this set earns its keep.