DeWalt 35-Piece Impact Ready Drilling/Fastening Set

A compact kit I actually keep in my bag

I keep one compact case in my drill bag that covers 90% of what I do—this 35‑piece DeWalt set. Over the past few months it has handled cabinet installs, deck repairs, light mechanical work, and a mix of service calls without forcing me to hunt for add-ons. It’s not perfect, but the combination of bit fit, torsion performance, and the included accessories makes it a practical everyday driver kit.

What’s in the set and how I use it

My kit came with a sensible spread of 1-inch and 2-inch impact‑ready bits (Phillips, Torx, square, slotted), a pivoting bit holder that can lock straight or pivot, a magnetic screw‑lock sleeve, three impact nut drivers, and a 1/4" hex to 3/8" square adapter. There were also a couple of deep impact sockets in common SAE sizes. Different versions of this 35‑piece layout exist, so contents can vary, but the core driving bits and holders appear to be standard.

The highlights for me:
- The 2-inch bits have DeWalt’s FlexTorq torsion zone. They can flex under load, which matters when you’re burying structural screws or running longer fasteners into dense material.
- The magnetic screw‑lock sleeve is genuinely helpful for starting screws one-handed overhead or when you’re leaning off a ladder.
- The pivot holder earns its keep inside cabinets and around framing where you can’t get straight-on alignment.

Fit and driving performance

Bit fit is where this set wins. The CNC machining shows up in fewer cam‑outs and less “rock” in the fastener head. My most used sizes are PH2, T25, and square #2; all seat positively in deck screws and structural fasteners from a handful of brands. On sheet metal, the smaller Phillips bits don’t chew up heads like cheaper sets do, assuming you keep speed moderate and let the clutch do its job.

With impact drivers, wobble often comes from sloppy holders rather than the bit itself. Using the included holders, the stack-up is pretty tight. The standard holder gives me minimal runout; the pivot holder introduces a bit more wobble when angled (that’s inherent to the mechanism) but is fine for coarse-thread screws and lag screws if you control trigger speed.

FlexTorq does what it claims

The torsion zone in the 2-inch bits is not a gimmick. I’ve snapped plenty of cheap 1-inch Phillips in framing work when a screw hangs up and the driver hammers away. Swapping to the 2-inch FlexTorq bits noticeably reduces those sudden failures. The flex is subtle—you can feel the driver pulse being absorbed—but it’s enough to spare both the bit and the screw head. On a day installing ledger screws, I ran through a dozen long fasteners into PT lumber with one T25 bit that still looked serviceable afterward. The 1-inch bits don’t have that same cushion, so I reserve them for lighter duty or when I need minimum length.

Holders and sockets: useful extras, with caveats

The magnetic screw‑lock sleeve is the accessory I use most. It’s a sliding collar that captures the screw head and keeps it from flopping around. It doesn’t magnetize the bit itself; it magnetizes the screw via the sleeve, which makes it more secure than a basic magnetic holder when you’re reaching into awkward spaces. The trade‑off is that shorter screws can sit a little deep in the sleeve, so you sometimes need to pull the collar back slightly to get a clean start.

The pivoting holder works best at slower speeds with firm axial pressure. I use it for cabinet hinge screws and in stud bays where the driver can’t square up. Expect a little more wobble; that’s normal for angled driving, and the solution is to let the tool do the work rather than pinning the trigger wide open.

The nut drivers and 1/4"‑to‑3/8" adapter are solid. I’ve spun hex-head lags, self-tapping screws, and a handful of smaller bolts with no rounding. The deep impact sockets in my set are a welcome bonus for light mechanical tasks, though there aren’t many sizes. If you live in metric hardware, plan to supplement with a dedicated metric set.

Durability and wear

These are consumables, but they’ve lasted better than most of the mixed kits I’ve used. After repeated use in pressure-treated lumber and structural screws, the T25 and SQ2 tips show normal finish wear but still bite properly. I’ve yet to twist a 2-inch FlexTorq bit, and I’ve only chipped one 1-inch Phillips after a week of driving into metal studs at high speed—a failure mode I expect from short non‑torsion bits.

The sockets and nut drivers have held up fine on an impact driver, and the adapter hasn’t rounded or split. If you exclusively run high-torque mid-torque impacts, dedicated impact sockets are still a better long-term buy; but for “carry one kit” convenience, these earn their space.

Case and organization

The plastic case is compact and light—about 225 mm square and roughly 45 mm tall, weighing around a pound loaded. It fits neatly in a drill bag or service pouch. Bit retention is decent; bits clip securely and don’t pop loose in transit. Heavier items like deep sockets can migrate if the case takes a hard drop. My fix was to rearrange the modules so the heavier pieces sit between rails and to add a thin foam pad in the lid. The latch closes positively and hasn’t popped open in my truck.

I also appreciate that there’s room to add a couple of longer specialty bits. I keep a 6" PH2 and a 6" T25 parked along the hinge-side cavity, and they ride fine without interfering with closure.

What it’s great at

• Everyday driving with an impact driver: framing screws, deck screws, cabinet hardware, electrical boxes, and light mechanical fasteners.
• Tight spaces and odd angles, thanks to the pivot holder and the screw‑lock sleeve.
• Reducing broken bits on heavier fasteners when you stick to the 2-inch FlexTorq sizes.

Where it falls short

• Drilling coverage is limited or absent depending on the variant. If your day is mostly drilling holes, you’ll need a dedicated impact‑rated drill bit set.
• Metric coverage is thin. The sockets in my kit were SAE; plan to add metric if you routinely service machinery or vehicles.
• If you prefer a traditional magnetic bit holder that magnetizes the bit rather than the screw, the screw‑lock system can feel unfamiliar. It’s excellent for retention, but a separate magnetic holder is still nice to have for small fasteners.

Tips for best results

• Use the 2-inch FlexTorq bits for high‑torque tasks; reserve 1-inch bits for lighter duty or where length is constrained.
• With the pivot holder, reduce speed and maintain steady pressure to prevent wobble and cam‑out.
• Employ the screw‑lock sleeve for one‑handed starts and overhead work. Pull the sleeve back slightly for short screws to avoid interference.
• Add the few specialty sizes you use most (long PH2/T25, a metric nut driver) to make the case a true one‑and‑done kit.

The bottom line

I recommend this DeWalt 35‑piece set. It’s a compact, thoughtfully chosen assortment that covers the bulk of daily driving tasks with better-than-average bit fit and meaningful torsion performance. The screw‑lock sleeve and pivot holder aren’t gimmicks—they solve real problems in awkward positions and when you don’t have a second hand free. While the drilling coverage and metric selection are limited, the core driving components are strong, the case is portable, and the bits hold up under impact use. If you pair it with a small drill index and any metric pieces you need, it becomes an everyday set you’ll actually keep in your bag and reach for first.