DeWalt TOUGHSERIES Screwdriver Set (27 pc.)

First impressions

A few weeks with the ToughSeries screwdriver set told me most of what I needed to know: this is a stout, jobsite-ready kit built for real torque and abuse, not a dainty drawer filler. The black chrome finish looks sharp, but more importantly it wipes clean and shrugs off the kind of sweat, dust, and occasional drizzle that quickly dulls standard chrome. The handles feel familiar in the best way—grippy without being gummy, contoured to index in the palm, with enough girth to lean into stubborn fasteners.

It’s not the lightest kit I own. There’s a solid, almost tool-bag-increasing heft to the full‑size drivers, and you feel the steel core. The upside is confident leverage; the downside is a little extra weight on the hip if you carry the whole set.

What’s in the box

This 27‑piece set is a hybrid: a core lineup of full‑size screwdrivers plus a bit driver and a well‑rounded selection of 1/4‑inch bits. The coverage hits common trades:

• Phillips: #1, #2, #3
• Slotted: 3/16", 1/4", 5/16"
• Torx: T10, T15, T20, T25, T27, T30
• Hex: 1/8", 5/32", 3/16", 3mm, 4mm, 5mm
• Square: SQ1, SQ2

Between cabinet work, electrical faceplates, HVAC panels, and furniture assembly, I rarely reached for anything outside this kit. Pozidriv isn’t included, and there’s no tiny T8 for electronics, so specialized tasks still need specialty drivers.

Ergonomics and control

The bi‑material handles are the quiet star here. They have a slightly tacky texture that stays sure even with sweaty hands, and the shaping lets me plant my thumb and forefinger for precise starts on delicate fasteners, then roll into a full‑palm grip to break torque. The flats on the handle keep them from rolling off a bench—a small but appreciated touch.

Balance leans toward the shank, which I prefer for control. On the #2 Phillips and 1/4" slotted—the two I use most—the torque you can develop is impressive without feeling like you’re over-flexing the tool. If you’ve wrestled with painted‑over switch plate screws, you’ll appreciate that leverage.

Tip fit and magnetics

Tip geometry is excellent. The MAX FIT profile is not a gimmick; it meaningfully reduces cam‑out on Phillips and keeps slotted tips centered in fastener slots better than most. On exterior deck screws (coated, Phillips #2), I could drive and back out without the skitter that chews up both the bit and the screw head. On cabinet hardware where finish matters, the positive engagement helps prevent slips that leave scars.

All tips are nickel‑coated and magnetized. The magnet strength is Goldilocks: strong enough to hold a 2–3" screw horizontally during starts, but not so strong that it drags filings or metal chips onto the tip and creates a mess. If you’re fishing screws at awkward angles above your head, you’ll appreciate the extra hand.

Build and impact capability

The full‑size drivers use through‑tang shafts tied into a metal strike cap. That combination, plus the solid steel core, gives you permission to tap them with a hammer when you need to persuade a frozen fastener or break paint bond. I used the 5/16" slotted with a few light mallet strikes as a makeshift impact to free a corroded machine screw, and the tip edges didn’t mushroom or roll. It’s still a screwdriver, not a chisel, but it can handle the occasional “do what you must” moment without complaint.

S2 steel bars are stiff and resilient. I intentionally leaned on the 1/8" hex to see if I could coax a bend while tightening a set screw; it held true with no permanent deflection. Over a couple of weeks, tips stayed crisp—no rounding on the Phillips wings and no splitting on the slotted blades.

Corrosion resistance

The black chrome is more than a paint job. The manufacturer claims up to 10x the corrosion resistance of standard plating, and while I can’t verify the number, I can say that after jobsite days in humid conditions, plus a wet afternoon in the back of a truck box, I saw no hint of flash rust or staining at the ferrules or tang ends. Wipe-downs are easy; dust doesn’t seem to cling the way it does to bright chrome.

Nickel‑coated tips also resist the dulling and oxidation that make drivers feel “sticky” in fasteners over time. If you work around salty air or on outdoor projects, this finish pays dividends.

Organization and portability

Here’s where I wanted more. The set doesn’t arrive with a dedicated hard case or a proper roll that keeps every piece locked down. For a 27‑piece kit, organization matters. I ended up parking the full‑size drivers on a magnetic rack in the shop and tossing the bits into a small labeled case. In the field, I carry a subset in a zip roll with elastic loops.

Two small improvements would make a big difference:
- Basic color bands or size markings that pop. As is, the all‑black aesthetic looks sleek but slows quick identification in low light.
- A molded case or roll that holds the full‑size drivers and corrals the bits. Even a simple tray would speed packing and keep strays from disappearing.

Everyday performance

• Electrical and finish work: The #1 Phillips and 3/16" slotted give excellent feel for delicate starts, and the magnet holds tiny screws without drama. The handles don’t mar painted surfaces as easily as harder plastic.
• Cabinetry and hardware: The #2 Phillips and SQ2 carry most of the load. The positive tip fit reduces near‑misses that would otherwise mar finished faces.
• Outdoor/rough carpentry: T25 Torx bits bit cleanly into structural screws, and the bit driver handle offers decent leverage. If you drive dozens of structural screws daily, you’ll still want an impact, but for occasional hardware it’s solid.
• Automotive and mechanical: The metric hex bits cover a lot of interior work and small brackets. The strike cap came in handy to reseat a clip without hunting down a punch.

Durability, warranty, and value

Between the S2 shafts, through‑tang construction, and strike caps, this set is built to be used—not babied. The black chrome hides scuffs better than bright finishes and hasn’t shown signs of flaking. A limited lifetime warranty backs it, which aligns with my expectation for a professional‑leaning kit.

Value depends on how you’ll use it. If you want a compact pocket set for quick fixes, this is overkill. If you’re building out a core hand‑tool drawer that can transition from finish work to light demolition tasks without a second thought, the ToughSeries set earns its keep.

What I liked

• Secure, comfortable handles with real torque and control
• MAX FIT tips that bite and resist cam‑out
• S2 steel, through‑tang shafts, and strike caps for tough tasks
• Black chrome and nickel‑coated tips that resist corrosion and clean up easily
• Versatile bit selection covering Phillips, slotted, Torx, hex, and square
• Useful magnetization without being overly grabby

What could be better

• No dedicated storage case or roll included
• All‑black, non‑color‑coded handles slow quick ID
• No Pozidriv and no smaller Torx sizes for electronics
• Slightly heavier than comparable non‑strike‑cap sets

The bottom line

I reach for the ToughSeries set because it feels trustworthy in hand and unfussy in use. The combination of precise tip geometry, robust construction, and corrosion‑resistant finishes means I can throw it in a bag, take it to a job, and not think twice about conditions or the occasional hammer tap. I’d prefer a proper storage solution and faster visual ID, and I wouldn’t mind seeing a few additional specialty tips in the mix. But those are refinements, not deal‑breakers.

Recommendation: I recommend the ToughSeries screwdriver set to pros and serious DIYers who want a durable, jobsite‑capable kit that prioritizes grip, tip fit, and longevity. If you value a strike‑cap design, robust shafts, and a finish that holds up in real conditions—and you don’t mind sorting your own storage—this set will serve you well for a long time.