Black & Decker Magnetic Color-Coded Screwdriver Set (17-Piece)

A straightforward set that covers the basics well

I keep a handful of screwdrivers within arm’s reach in the shop and a fuller set in the garage. After a few weeks working with this 17-piece Black & Decker set, I found it sliding naturally into both roles. It’s not flashy, and it doesn’t try to be everything to everyone. What it does offer is a familiar, dependable feel with a couple of thoughtful touches that genuinely help in day-to-day tasks.

Design and build

The first thing I noticed is how easy it is to grab the right driver without thinking. The color-coded handle tops clearly distinguish Phillips from slotted, so I stopped doing the “squint-and-spin” routine at the toolbox drawer. The shafts are chrome-plated, which has held up well in a damp garage where lesser tools start to freckle with rust. The tips are finished in black oxide. That’s not just a cosmetic choice—on small hardware and cabinet screws, the tips bite with a little extra friction that reduces cam-out.

Each driver has a hang hole at the base. If you use a pegboard, you can build a tidy, at-a-glance layout. I appreciate that because this set doesn’t rely on a multi-bit handle or a case; each tool is its own piece, ready to go. The trade-off is storage: if you prefer to keep everything contained, plan on a rail or a roll.

Fit and finish are solid for a general-purpose set. The shafts are straight, the tips are cleanly ground, and the chrome plating is even. On mine, one slotted blade had a very small burr at the edge; a couple of passes with a fine file cleaned it up. It didn’t affect performance, but it’s worth a quick inspection when you first unpack them.

In the hand

The handles are a comfortable, middle-ground diameter—big enough to apply torque without straining your grip, small enough not to feel clumsy in tight spaces. They’re firm, not squishy, with enough texture that I didn’t feel like I needed gloves to keep a secure hold. During longer tasks like swapping cabinet pulls across a kitchen, I didn’t get hot spots or blistering.

Balance is what you expect from fixed-shaft drivers: the weight sits evenly in the hand, and the shafts don’t flex under normal household and light automotive loads. You can lean on them within reason—tightening a hose clamp or snugging a hinge screw—without feeling like you’re going to twist a tip.

Magnetic tips that actually help

Magnetic tips can be a hit-or-miss feature. Here they’re tuned well for the kind of work most people do: strong enough to hold a fastener while you guide it into position, not so strong that you’re constantly picking up extra screws from the bench. On electrical cover plates, cabinet hardware, and the 8–10 mm screws you find around engine covers and interior panels, the magnets saved time and prevented dropped fasteners. The magnetization was uniform across the set I used, with only one smaller driver feeling slightly weaker—still useful, just not quite as “sticky” as the rest.

Real-world performance

• Household tasks: The set handled furniture assembly, outlet plate changes, cabinet hardware, door hinge tweaks, and appliance panels without complaint. The black oxide tips gripped well in both Phillips and slotted fasteners, especially on slightly worn screws that typically like to cam out. I particularly appreciated the positive feel when backing out old brass screws—less slippage means fewer chewed heads.

• Automotive odds and ends: This isn’t a mechanic’s specialty kit, but for general use—battery terminal covers, interior trim clips that use small screws, hose clamps, and light-duty hardware—the drivers worked as intended. The longer shafts reached around airboxes and reservoirs, and the magnetic tips meant fewer disappeared screws in engine bays.

• Tight spaces: There’s a reasonable spread of lengths, but this set is still a lineup of conventional screwdrivers. When I needed a stubby driver under a sink, I had to reach for another tool. If you regularly work in cramped quarters, you’ll want to complement this with a stubby or an offset driver.

• High-torque situations: The drivers handled “firm plus a quarter turn” torque. For stubborn, paint-bound, or corroded screws, I switched to an impact-rated bit with a driver handle. That’s not a knock against this set; it’s just recognizing where fixed-shaft drivers with polished shanks should yield to a more robust solution.

Durability and wear

After steady use, the chrome plating still looks clean with no orange speckling. The black oxide on the tips shows a little polishing where they’ve engaged screws, but the edges remain crisp and square. That crispness matters—once tips round over, slippage and damage follow. I didn’t see any twisting or mushrooming, and the handles didn’t develop play at the shaft interface.

I do recommend a routine wipe-down if you use them in damp or greasy environments. The chrome resists corrosion, but basic care keeps tools looking and performing their best.

What this set is—and isn’t

What it is:
- A straightforward, fixed-shaft collection of the common Phillips and slotted drivers most homes and garages need.
- Easy to identify at a glance thanks to color-coded tops.
- Durable enough for regular use, with tips that grip better than plain polished steel.

What it isn’t:
- A precision electronics set. If you’re opening phones or laptops, look elsewhere.
- A specialty fastener kit. There’s no Torx, hex, or square drive here.
- Insulated for electrical work. Don’t treat these as safety tools around live circuits.
- A ratcheting or multi-bit solution. If you prefer to carry one handle and a pocket of bits, this is a different philosophy.

Small usability notes

• The hang holes are genuinely useful. On a pegboard, I spaced them by size with Phillips on one row and slotted on another; the color coding makes that layout fast to scan.
• The black oxide tips clean up easily. A quick brush removes debris that can reduce bite over time.
• If you encounter a screw head that’s already damaged, seat the driver fully, keep steady axial pressure, and let the black oxide friction work for you. Resist the urge to twist harder without pressure—that’s how heads get worse.

Who will appreciate this set

• Homeowners who want a dependable, complete handful of drivers for routine maintenance and projects.
• DIYers who prefer fixed-shaft drivers over multi-bit handles for the better feel and torque control.
• Light automotive tinkerers who handle cabin and engine-bay odds and ends but don’t need specialty profiles.

Tradespeople who use drivers all day might want cushier, overmolded handles or insulated options, and anyone working on bikes, appliances, or vehicles with Torx and hex fasteners will need a companion kit.

The bottom line

The Black & Decker set gets the fundamentals right: clearly marked, well-finished drivers with magnetic, black-oxide tips and corrosion-resistant shafts. In practice, that translates to fewer dropped screws, less cam-out, and tools that don’t mind living in a garage. The absence of Torx/hex and precision sizes limits it to general-purpose duty, and there’s no dedicated carry case if that matters to you. But within its intended scope—household fixes and light automotive tasks—it’s a reliable, uncomplicated set that I kept reaching for.

Recommendation: I recommend this set for anyone who needs a solid, no-drama lineup of Phillips and slotted screwdrivers for home and light garage work. The magnetic, black-oxide tips and corrosion-resistant shafts make everyday tasks easier, the color-coded tops save time, and the overall build inspires confidence. If your projects demand specialty fasteners, insulated tools, or ultra-compact drivers, pair this with a complementary kit; otherwise, this set will cover most of what you’ll actually do.