DeWalt Screwdriving bit set with ToughCase+ system

A few weeks with a PH2 workhorse

I tossed the DeWalt bit set into my everyday kit for a kitchen remodel and a small deck repair, figuring a 30-pack of 1-inch #2 Phillips bits would either be a mindless convenience or an exercise in swapping chewed tips. It leaned strongly toward convenience. If your world is held together with PH2 screws, this is a no-nonsense way to keep your driver fed and your small parts sorted.

What you actually get

• Thirty 1/4-inch hex, 1-inch-long #2 Phillips bits
• A Small ToughCase+ with a clear lid, clip latch, and a removable, customizable bit-bar
• Bits made from hardened steel with a black oxide finish
• Impact rating up to 2,000 in-lb

Everything here is purposefully simple. There’s no assortment of sizes, no specialty coatings beyond black oxide, and no torsion-neck geometry advertised. It’s a bulk pack of the most common Phillips bit, in a compact case that plays nicely with the broader ToughCase+ system.

Case and organization

The case is the standout convenience. The clear lid makes it easy to confirm you’ve got PH2s loaded before you leave the shop, and the clip latch snaps closed with satisfying certainty—no surprise spills in the bottom of a tool bag. The patented bit-bar is removable, which means you can reconfigure, clean, or just dump thirty tired bits out onto a rag and reload new ones quickly.

The case connects to other ToughCase+ units, so I clipped it to a mixed-driver case and a drill index and carried them as a single bundle. The “Small bulk” footprint also nests inside DeWalt’s Small and Medium ToughCase+ shells, which keeps the odds-and-ends from multiplying in a drawer. After a couple weeks of daily toss-in, toss-out use, the hinge and latch still feel tight.

Minor nitpick: the bit-bar takes a firm pull to remove the first few times. It loosens a touch with use, but it’s still a two-finger job, not a one-thumb flick. I’ll take snug over sloppy.

Fit and driving performance

I ran these in a brushless impact driver rated around 1,800 in-lb. The bits seat crisply in standard PH2 screws—decking, structural screws with Phillips heads, cabinet screws, and an assortment of machine screws. There’s no exotic “bite” coating here, so technique matters: keep the driver aligned, apply steady pressure, and let the tool hammer. With that baseline, cam-out was controlled and predictable.

The tip geometry feels correct. In softer materials (pine framing and fence pickets), I could bury 3-inch screws without the bit skating. In hardwood face frames and pocket-hole applications, pre-drilling helps, as always with Phillips. If you’re coming from Torx or square-drive fasteners, remember that Phillips is designed to release under overload; no bit will rewrite that physics. But the edges on these tips stayed crisp long enough that I didn’t reach for a fresh bit until late on day three of constant use.

Impact rating and durability

Hardened steel and a 2,000 in-lb rating are the right baseline for modern impact drivers. I didn’t experience any torsional twisting, fractures, or chunks breaking off the tips, even in occasional abusive scenarios like backing out half-stripped stainless screws from weathered deck boards. The black oxide finish does what it should—reduces initial friction and staves off premature wear—though it will polish on the contact faces quickly. That’s cosmetic.

Corrosion-wise, black oxide is not a rust-proofing miracle. Keep the case closed in the rain and don’t store the bits wet. After a few damp mornings, I saw no flash rust, but I also wipe my bits down if they get genuinely soaked.

As consumables, these hit a sensible balance. Over the test period (a couple hundred screws driven and removed), I retired two bits: one for a softened tip after repeated work in hardened screws, the other after the hex shank developed minor rounding from living in a wobbly old bit holder. With thirty in the case, replacements are a non-event.

Length and access

These are 1-inch bits. In a quick-change collet, that’s compact and great for close quarters. If you’re reaching into a pocket hole, recessed cabinet hardware, or behind hinge cups, you’ll want a bit holder or extension. Plan on throwing a magnetic sleeve into the case if you like fasteners to hang on the bit; these are not magnetized out of the box. The 1/4-inch hex shanks lock positively in standard holders, and retention was reliable across DeWalt and third-party accessories.

Real-world tasks

• Decking touch-ups: Drove and pulled #10 screws into pressure-treated boards without deforming the tips. No bit breakage.
• Cabinet install: Consistent bite on face-frame screws; a bit holder was necessary for recessed angles. Minimal cam-out when I kept pressure steady.
• Electrical and hardware swap-outs: Short length helped inside boxes and under sinks. Quick changes in a keyless collet made it easy to swap to a pilot bit and back.

In all cases, the “just works” factor was high. I didn’t think about the bits much, which is the best compliment I can give them.

Where it falls short

• Variety: It’s PH2 or bust. If you need Torx, square, Pozidriv, or even Phillips in multiple sizes, you’ll want a mixed kit. This is a replenishment pack disguised as a set.
• No torsion feature: Some premium impact bits use visible torsion zones to soak up spike loads. These rely on material hardness and tip geometry. They held up fine for me, but if you’re brutal on bits, you might prefer a torsion-neck design.
• No included holder: Not a problem if you already own one, but a simple magnetic bit holder in the case would make this immediately more versatile.
• Black oxide limits: It’s a solid wear finish, but it’s not the last word in corrosion resistance or grip. Not a flaw—just know what it is.

Value and who it’s for

If your work heavily favors #2 Phillips—remodeling, drywall, general carpentry, facilities maintenance—buying thirty identical, impact-rated bits makes sense. You get predictable performance and the convenience of a connected, compact case that you’ll actually keep organized. If you’re building decks with Torx fasteners or doing a lot of European hardware with pozi heads, this isn’t your one-and-done set.

DIYers doing a renovation or two will appreciate how forgiving the bits are in an impact driver and how inexpensive it feels (in time and attention) to swap a tired bit without hunting around. Pros will appreciate the work rhythm: run a bit hard, retire it, move on—without pausing to scrounge the bottom of a tool bag.

Tips for longer life

• Use a holder or extension when you need reach; forcing a short bit into a tight angle invites cam-out.
• Let the impact driver do the work—high speed, moderate pressure, straight alignment.
• Pre-drill hardwoods and dense composites when practical.
• If the tip looks glazed or rounded, replace it before it starts damaging screw heads.
• Keep the case dry; a tiny dab of oil on bits you won’t touch for a while goes a long way.

The bottom line

The DeWalt bit set is exactly what it claims to be: thirty impact-rated PH2 bits in a compact, connectable case that stays shut, shows you what’s inside, and makes reloading painless. The bits handle real-world impact torque without drama, the tip geometry holds up respectably, and the black oxide finish wears in without flaking.

There’s nothing flashy here, and that’s a strength. Your money buys usable bits and a storage system that integrates neatly with other DeWalt cases. The trade-offs—no variety, no torsion neck, no holder—are easy to accept if you already live in a world of PH2 fasteners.

Recommendation: I recommend this set for anyone who drives a high volume of #2 Phillips screws with an impact driver and wants a reliable, organized stock of replacements. It’s a practical, low-friction way to keep the most common bit on hand, and the ToughCase+ makes it more useful than a bulk bag of loose steel. If you need a broad bit assortment or rely on Torx/pozi daily, look for a mixed set instead and treat this as a PH2 refill down the line.